Towing Jeep Grand Cherokee That Has Quadra-Lift Air Suspension

[Ready2Travel]

Just purchased and set up to tow 4 down a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited that has the "Off-Road Adventure II" option that includes the Quadra-Lift Air Suspension.

Will be using a Roadmaster 10K BlackHawk II towbar. Just had the Roadmaster base plate installed (EZ4 with crossbar) along with an SMI Air Force One braking system. I installed the base plate on the last toad we had myself and said never again, so found a hitch company experienced with installing base plates and brake systems (they did 3 last week) and paid them to do it.

Have previously been using a "Brake Buddy" and think I'm really going to like the ease of hooking up the AF1 when getting ready to tow.

The Jeep owners manual gives good instructions on preparing the Jeep for towing, however I'm not sure what can or should be done with the air suspension.

When they were going over the instructions on hook/up & towing at the company that did the install the tech indicated he set the air suspension to 2 to make the height difference of the motorhome/Jeep closer. I understand the max difference should be no more than 3 inches or a drop hitch should be used. With the air suspension at 2 the height of the hook up on the Jeep was 20-1/2", motor home was 21-1/2" After I got home and unhooked set the air suspension back down to 1 and the Jeep hook up height measured 19-1/2".

My thinking is that having the Jeep 2" lower is going to be OK and it will not be necessary to raise the suspension to tow. For those of you with Jeeps with air suspension what do you do? If you do raise it does the height stay up when towing?

Also, do you have any other advice about towing a Jeep Grand Cherokee, I sure see a lot of them on the road?

Do not want to get into discussion on the wobble here, have been reading about it and am following the other threads on this.

[FlyingDiver]

I wouldn't bother raising the suspension if you're at 2" or so.

I have an '14 JGC with the same package and suspension. I use a Blue Ox setup, but it tows just fine. No issues at all.

[lass]

My 2017 Summit manual says to tow at ride height. I’ll have to turn off the entry/exit feature when I start towing behind the RV.

What I don’t understand is when you reach 55 mph, the Summit goes into aero mode which lowers the suspension below ride height. ?????

[Dennis_K]

I had a 2012 and now a 2014 with the air suspension. Between the two I have towed over 40,000 miles. I don't mess with the ride height, just leave it in the normal position.

[Trans. Cajun]

I tow a JGC Summit with air suspension. I follow Jeep manual which states to have Suspension in low position. I would do that then adjust hitch height if necessary. You will love the AF1.

[Ready2Travel]

Originally Posted by lass

.......
What I don’t understand is when you reach 55 mph, the Summit goes into aero mode which lowers the suspension below ride height. ?????

Good question. I'm thinking that it will not go into "Aero" mode with the ignition off but not sure. In Areo mode it lowers another inch and would be right at the 3" limit.

[lass]

I didn’t mean to imply that it will change height with ignition off. It will not.

Aero mode lowers it .6” from normal height and the entry/exit mode lowers 1.6”. You will have to use normal ride height for towing.

[Ready2Travel]

Originally Posted by Trans. Cajun

I tow a JGC Summit with air suspension. I follow Jeep manual which states to have Suspension in low position. I would do that then adjust hitch height if necessary. You will love the AF1.

Must have missed it but looked in the manual and you are correct, it says:

"4. If vehicle is equipped with Quadra-Lift air suspension, ensure the vehicle is set to Normal Ride Height".

Later in the manual it says under Note:

"If the vehicle is equipped with Quadra-Lift air suspension, then engine should be started and left running for minimum of 60 seconds (with all doors close) at least once every 24 hours. This process allows the air suspension to adjust the vehicle's ride height to compensate for temperature effects"

Thank you for your input. Will not be raising the air suspension to tow.

[Ready2Travel]

Originally Posted by lass

My 2017 Summit manual says to tow at ride height. I’ll have to turn off the entry/exit feature when I start towing behind the RV.

What I don’t understand is when you reach 55 mph, the Summit goes into aero mode which lowers the suspension below ride height. ?????

Good point on turning off the Entry/Exit Mode. That would lower the suspension automatically another 1.6" if enabled. Had mine turned on and it really does not make much difference getting in and out, just disabled it so there will be one less thing to remember when hooking up.

Thank you for your input.

[texoz]

I'm getting ready to setup out 2011 GC Overland for tow. My plan is to have a pro install the base plate, then configure with a blue ox tow bar and patriot braking system. Any thoughts on the tow bar for a class III hitch, and "attachments" to protect the tow from stone chips etc.

[Trans. Cajun]

On my 2015 GC Summit I use the Avail tow bar 10,000 lb (super easy to unhook), Blue Ox base plate, Blue Ox Kar Gard Shield (works great, no chips after 6,000 miles); however, I chose the Air Force One braking system. I would not change a thing; works great. Good luck and enjoy.

[texoz]

I heard from the company that is installing the base plates etc. that the blue ox patriot 2 is not compatible with the orientation and size of the brake pedal in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Does anyone know if this is the case?

The installation company recommended the RVi3.