Towing an Airstream Basecamp With 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

It truly is no solution that a single of our most loved motor vehicles of all time is the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. And that enjoy turned straight to lust in 2018 when Jeep dropped the insane 707-hp Trackhawk version of its five-passenger family members hauler on us. Stuffed with the exact supercharged 6.2L V-8 engine as the Dodge Charger and Challenger Hellcats, the all-wheel-travel Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will run from zero to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, go through the quarter mile in 11.6 seconds, and operate to a best speed of 180 mph. People are Jeep’s estimates, in any case, as what we ended up extra fascinated in tests in the course of our modern 7 days with the Trackhawk was the vehicle’s 7,200-pound towing capacity. We are just odd like that, you know.

When you assume of tow rigs, we’re guaranteed that the Grand Cherokee, and primarily the Trackhawk, just isn’t one of the to start with motor vehicles that arrives to brain. Nonetheless, when Airstream arrived to us and asked if we would like to examination out just one of the company’s newest vacation trailers, the Basecamp 20, that very little lightbulb clicked on in our head. So numerous folks, ourselves integrated, have tested the Trackhawk on, properly, the keep track of. But not incredibly a lot of have done the unthinkable and hitched up a trailer to exam the vehicle’s remarkable towing capacity.

So, designs were being created, authorization slips signed, and off we set to decide on up the shiny new aluminum trailer with the most impressive factory Jeep ever constructed. Upon arriving to get the trailer we discovered the unit we were to be towing was essentially the Basecamp 20X, the version of Airstream’s Basecamp that athletics a 3-inch raise and off-street tires. We considered we had been having the more street-oriented normal Basecamp 20, which would have much better matched the Trackhawk. No problems, though—we hitched up and soldiered on.

While on the outdoors the Trackhawk puts on a terrific entrance as a significant-general performance corner-carving equipment, and it definitely is each and every little bit of that, it really is also an extremely competent tow automobile. Apart from sheer horsepower, the Trackhawk employs several technologies that aid in trailering. 1st off, the Trackhawk desires to be equipped with Jeep’s Trailer Tow Group IV that features a fullsize spare tire (equipped with run-flat Pirelli P Zero tires, the Trackhawk doesn’t normally arrive with a spare), four- and seven-pin trailer wiring plugs, and a class IV receiver. At just $995 the towing package deal is a definitely strong offer. Having said that, we wish it bundled a trailer brake controller, as very well, as without the need of a single you’re nevertheless left heading to the aftermarket for a considerably less-than-glamourous answer.

The greatest enhancement when it comes to towing prowess with the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is reached by putting the automobile into Tow manner. Alongside with Monitor, Activity, Car, and Snow, Tow not only modifications throttle sensitivity and transmission shifting, it also adjusts the vehicle’s suspension damping and ability distribution. Beneath standard driving conditions the Trackhawk’s MP 3015C all-wheel-push transfer circumstance sends 40 p.c of motor torque to the front and 60 per cent to the rear. Snow mode splits the torque 50/50, when Monitor swaps to an aggressive 30/70. Apparently, when in Tow manner the Trackhawk sends 60 per cent of torque to the entrance wheels and 40 to the rear, the inverse of normal.

So, the true concern: How did it tow. In limited, astonishingly perfectly. The Airstream Basecamp 20X has a base weight of just 3,500 lbs . and a max GVWR of 4,300 kilos, which we loaded it to. At this fat we definitely weren’t taxing the Jeep any, but it was a respectable check, nevertheless. Needless to say, acceleration was barely affected. The Jeep pulled challenging away from cease lights and merged very easily in website traffic. We tried using our finest to remain at the California trailer speed restrict of 55 mph but often observed ourselves jogging at speeds most of the place would consider normal for towing. Happily, there was no tail wag or sway to report, and the trailer stayed straight and correct to the vehicle (even with becoming a one-axle unit). We did use the use of a wi-fi Bluetooth trailer brake controller (which was presently affixed to the trailer) through our towing experience, but we’re confident the Trackhawk’s large Brembo brakes (six-piston, 15.75-inch front and four-piston, 13.78-inch rear) would be up to the undertaking without having.

The EPA estimates that the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk will attain 11 mpg in the metropolis, 17 on the highway, and 13 mixed. Over the program of 221 miles of towing we averaged 9.95 mpg. Regardless of being in the one digits, we had been rather amazed to not be as well significantly off of the EPA mixed estimate. Without the need of a trailer in tow we managed to traverse 418 miles and averaged 13.22 mpg. The unloaded gasoline financial state amazed us, as nicely, as we got really employed to listening to the supercharger whine and did not assume to get everywhere near the EPA rating.

Unloaded, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is an amazing piece of components, as effectively. It really is a lot quicker and speedier than any man or woman can lawfully use on the street (it’s incredible how many police you see on the street when driving anything with 700 hp) and captivated additional focus than any other car we have examined lately. On much more than one event we ended up flagged down on the freeway and yelled at by other drivers. “That is a Trackhawk! 700 horsepower?!? Really like it!” Thumbs-up were being plentiful, as well.

Our exam device carried a foundation rate of $86,900, which is a steal for the quantity of car you get. On prime of that we extra the Signature Leather-based offer that extra Laguna leather-based seating and leather-based-wrapped decrease panels for $5,000. The High-Efficiency Audio package brought 19 speakers and an 825-watt amplifier for $2,100. The dual-pane panoramic sunroof and black painted roof included a further $2,100 each individual. The purple seatbelts extra $95 to the selling price tag and were truthfully our most loved alternative. All this brought the whole value to just above $101,000, which is nevertheless a cut price looking at $250,000 supercars do not even pack this considerably firepower underneath the hood.

This was one of the most tricky vehicles for us to send back at the stop of the week. It is beautifully snug, unbelievably fun to drive, draws in attention in all places you go, and you can easily fit a loved ones of 5 an all of their things. If we have been pressured to discover something to complain about, it would be the fact that you can convey to the system is getting old many thanks to its incandescent interior lights. A few touchups these types of as an interior lighting refresh would go a extensive way. Nonetheless, we also know that a new Grand Cherokee is slated for the 2022 model 12 months. Does that necessarily mean that 2021 will be the last calendar year for the Trackhawk? We certain hope not. Dodge is releasing a Durango Hellcat for just one yr only, 2021, and the Durango shares a great deal in widespread with the Grand. So, if you might be in the current market for one particular of these tremendous Jeeps you experienced improved get in line swift, just in circumstance!

2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk

Base value: $86,900
Cost as tested: $101,460
Engine: Supercharged 6.2L Hemi V-8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Horsepower: 707 @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 645 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Towing potential: 7,200 pounds
EPA gas overall economy score: 11 town, 17 hwy, 13 comb
Precise calculated financial state: 418.6-mile excursion, 13.22 mpg (unloaded) / 221.7-mile vacation, 9.95 mpg (towing)