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This guy is clever I’d also choose the TrailHawk instead of a Wrangler since I’m not focused on extreme off-roading, this is way more comfortable for doing off-road and highway cruising. 👍🏽
@@carrollshelby8690 Congratulations! The kid with superhero name knows more about his vehicle than some ass in the comment section. From Jeep's Trailhawk site... Quadra Drive® II 4x4 System with Rear Electronic Limited-Slip Differential This system provides outstanding control in severe driving conditions. When used in conjunction with the Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System, 100% of the available torque can be sent to one wheel-so even if only one wheel has traction, Grand Cherokee Trailhawk® can keep moving.
@@carrollshelby8690 you need to go off roading in Jeeps more, you clearly have no clue how their systems work and how good they hard. It's okay we all make mistakes 😊
He doesn't have 11.9 inches of clearance. He only gains 1/2 inch from his tires. Yes the tires are an inch taller but you only gain 1/2 of that in actual lift height.
I think the trailhawk series make the most sense for almost anyone who can't afford/fit multiple cars for themselves (space, cost etc). There is virtually nothing you will encounter while camping or recreationally driving that a trailhawk can't handle, and it's a MUCH more reasonable daily commuter and long trip vehicle. Most people get Wranglers on emotion though, and I get that, but these newer trailhawks seem very much more practical while still meeting all your off-road needs right out of the box.
Just do your research I guess, I had a 2018 compass Trailhawk that needed new front struts after 45,000. And all I really did was tak it on backcountry forest roads. Other than that it was an ok vehicle. For the amount of money this guy spent on this GC he could have had a TRD 4runner which is arguable as good on road but way more capable offroad.
Great Jeep. I'll let my coworkers know how much you enjoy it. Because we enjoyed making it for you. Shout out to the hard working men and women at JNAP!
Ricardo roams bro i have hemi too.do you know did chrysler fix camshaft and lifters problem (misfires on different cylinders) by changing oil pump to a stronger one?thank you
I love my WK2 Grand Cherokee, it's not the Trailhawk, but it's the Overland Summit, top of the line for comfort and still keeps the offroad prowess. Air suspension gives me a smooth ride on the roads, or what's left of them in my state, but can raise up to about 12 inches of clearance for offroad. Can go almost anywhere a Wrangler can.
Like that y'all went on a trail while discussing the vehicle. The owner was very knowledgeable and was comfortable on camera. Very professional presenter like.
As the owner of a loaded 2017 GC Trailhawk Hemi, and a 2005 Wrangler Rubicon with 2.5" TeraFlex lift, I can say that the Trailhawk will do 90% of what the Rubicon will do off-road, but in absolute comfort. Don't get me wrong, I love my Rubicon, but the Trailhawk is the vehicle we use for nearly everything. Road trips, off-roading, pulling our 21ft camp trailer, occasionally pulling car trailers, it's just our go-to vehicle. It is also surprisingly fun to drive in Sport mode (which lowers/firms up the suspension, changes steering feel, and changes shifting either with or without use of the paddle shifters). For reference, we have the Rubicon, a Ram Rebel, Lexus LS, BMW Z3, as well as a few others, and the Trailhawk absolutely sees the most use, and it has been exceptionally reliable so far. All of that being said, when I went to Moab in June, I took the Rubicon, because there is just nothing quite like exploring in a Wrangler.
Loren Dechaine I drove a lifted WK for 11 years, it was a great all-round vehicle, good for trails and highway. One big, frustrating problem I had was the IFS bushings don’t last after heavy articulation. Over 85k miles, I had to replace all front bushings 3 or 4 times, which got real expensive. I presume the IRS of the WK2 will be the same, so now it will be doubly expensive over the long term. I replaced the WK with a JLUR and while I’ll probably have to replace the front bushings every 40k miles or so, it’s a much easier / cheaper job.
I'm looking at a used (rental use) 2019 JGC trailhawk. 12k or 13k miles. Red, V8. 12K miles put on it in 16 weeks. Say about 700 a week. Should that concern me? What if it was rode hard and pushed too hard during the breaking in period? Will I be screwed down the road? If I buy it (carmax) I'll definitely have my mechanic inspect it
Very hardy SUV and reliable !! I have a request if you are in contact with representatives of a Jeep, then tell them for Russia they made the most reliable jeep! There is one Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2013 with a 3.6 engine, it has a mileage of almost 800,000 thousand kilometers or 497,096,954 thousand miles !! Not a problem except a broken gearbox !!
Nice Trailhawk! Definitely like the WK2's (and Grands in general) a lot more than the Wranglers; Wranglers are cool, but the Grands are so much more liveable on a day to day basis, especially when you're not trying to tackle the Rubicon.
Noting negative to say here. Great ride, smart young man who does his research modded his ride smartly all the while watching his pocket book and being able to enjoy life without going broke. I think he love his ride. Good job again Nathan, thumbs up bro.
Good purchase Storm! I owned the '94 GC with the 4.0 straight 6 and put over 200k on that Jeep👍 I had the select trac 4 Wheel drive system and really enjoyed it.
Great video! Just got a trailhawk myself (no hemi though) and absolutely love it. I agree that there reallt aren’t any negatives with it. It can go MOST places a wrangler can, but way more comfortable, and much smaller and manageable than the Rebel!
I bought a 2018 5.7 TrailHawk in December of 2018 brand new. The experience buying it was super simple. Honestly the fastest I’ve ever been in and out of the dealership. I bought the TrailHawk as a daily driver/light off-road vehicle. I own a ‘12 Rubi for my wheeling fun lol. Pretty much all I’ve ever owned has been Jeeps. Had and Audi TT, and a Chevy Colorado when it first came out with the 5 cylinder. But from owning all Wranglers I couldn’t see DD a Wrangler and leaving it stock that’s why I went with the TrailHawk. The 5.7 I went with due to have owned the 3.6 and 3.8 six cylinder engines and had bad luck with both. Diesels I know nothing about them. I’ve had it for 11 months put 25k on it already. Multiple road trips 10hrs straight was the longest but most are around 8hr trips. Comfortable! Not tired after driving, I wanna get back in and keep driving after trips lol. Nothing I can really say about wheeling it as I’ve had it on sand and unmaintained roads. Still have an itch too take her out to a park and have some fun. Mod wise for it I’ve done 1.25” wheel spacers, leveling links. Now the downsides. Coming from driving Wranglers for the last 13 yrs to this is a big difference. Whipping it around not as easy, blind spots from the A pillars are a mofo, auto dimming rear/side mirrors are not good, I also wish the TrailHawk had the option of coils or air ride suspension, the air ride is nice but the for coming issues I’ve read with air suspension and the lack of being able to change it out is kinda a bummer. Otherwise I’ve been loving this Jeep. Keep up the great videos as well dudes!
I bought a brand new 2018 5.7 Trailhawk in December 2017. Have 20k on it. Only issue has been the air suspension which required a new compressor a year ago. That would have been an $1,800 repair. I purchased an extended warranty so it will be covered for another 4 years.
You made a Great Choice, the Grand Cherokee is a much better vehicles all around. It is Luxurious, has a stylish exterior and interior, very comfortable, has lots of technology, and very good off road. The Wrangler only has one of those things and that is good at off roading.
Agreed. I originally wanted a Wrangler, but due to price and some experience riding and driving in them, decided on the smaller Cherokee Trailhawk. It's comfortable over a long road trip and as a daily driver. Handles every off-road situation I've come across (living on a mountain miles from the nearest paved road). Only change I'd make is upgrading to the Grand Cherokee if I started a family, just for the little bit extra room and more tech/luxury options. All-in-all, better choice than a Wrangler if you're looking for something that doubles as your daily vehicle
I have a 2015 GC Overland Diesel w/ Off-road II package and air suspension, with now about 48k. I love it. Have added extensive off-road bash plates (Australian "Chief Products") and large Mopar rock rails. Zero problems, except for rear brakes at 25K, and FCA "dieselgate" (got a check for $3,075 for that), which has caused my mpgs to drop by about 4 both on city and hwy (but still averaging about 22 combined). Put a set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratacs on it at 25k and those have been fabulous (ran 2 sets of those on my previous offroader, 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71, on which I broke axeks off road but still ran it to 189k when I sold it last summer). I frequently off-road my GC in Northern Michigan, in some pretty gnarly stuff, to get back to where I hunt and fish. The thing's a damn mountain goat, and is also a great ride on the highway, too. Have been all over Michigan's Upper Peninsula with it, taking the wife rock hunting every summer (while I try to fish). Yes, I would buy another, but (especially given today's gasoline prices) I would probably get the 5.7 Hemi V8. My 84-year old stepdad in northern Michigan has had 3 Ram 3/4 ton pickups with that engine and they all ran/run excellent -- still has the 1998 (plow truck) and the 2007 which still looks brand new (and frequently goes off road). Thanks for sharing your vehicle with us, Storm!
I gave a 2015 wk2 overland with Quadralift and QD2. It's a good vehicle, but to really make it offroad capable it needs more armor stock. My first trip I broke the ACC radar mount. So bought an ARB steel bumper to protect it in the future. Rear bumper armor is also important. I have a cracked rear bumper from the trails.
@@ryanmartinage Yup. 05-10, the original WK platform. Hence the specific mention of the 11-present WK2 platform 😉 Front and rear electronic limited slips and a locking center when you drop to 4low.
Gave my daughter a 2006 Trailhawk Hemi last year. Car had over 250,000 miles on it and has run with no problems since then. Making it's second trip to Burning Man towing a trailer this year!!
@@thawk1435 Really? Why? Bought the car in Florida, it was very well maintained. Drove it to Oakland stopping at 15 Car Museums on the way, 4500 miles. Best road car I have ever driven. Wish I hadn't promised it to her. Probably will buy another for myself when I find the right one.
@@thawk1435 Don't know what to tell you. It had all of the markings and one hell of a skid plate under it. I have never been a big Jeep guy (although my wife and I did own an earlier Grand Cherokee for a while), and don't keep up with what is offered from year to year. I just bought it because it was in incredible shape for it's mileage, and ran like a scalded cat. And like I said, I am now in love and am looking for a similar vehicle for myself.
I think the main reason for that is the GC's tow rating. The hemi's power and torque are a good option if you expect to tow 5k or more. The Wrangler isn't rated for that so Jeep doesn't feel the need to offer it. Just my two cents.
Needed a mid sized SUV with power to pull my Basecamp X trailer. Got a 2019 Grand Cherokee Summit with a hemi and Skid Plates for Minor Off-Roading. I'm very Happy
I have the 2022 Jeep Cherokee trail hawk I ❤️💕it Fabulous for Northern Canadian winters where there’s lots of snow and the roads are pretty pit holed and gravel etc It is just excellent to drive
Almost chose the Trailhawk, but chose the two door Wrangler Willy's edition for a few reasons: Its my second vehicle, so I don't need a highway cruiser. the soft top and removable doors are awesome and the short wheelbase is way better for trails, and WAY more after market upgrades are available for the Wrangler.
Selling the 2017 Trailhawk. At the time l got it the JK Wrangler was still using the same 2005 era key, radio, buttons and displays as my 2006 Ram had. The GC was just such a leap into the future. Not to mention the $8,000 off when the dealers were not discounting the JK Wrangler at all. When you go into Sport driving mode it hunkers down lower and firms the steering. On mountain roads the handling feels just very similar to my 2015 Charger R/T Road and Track l traded in on the Trailhawk. The steering and road manners make up for any loss of off road capability IMO. The new JL Wrangler is awesome but everytime l see one it is driven by a college girl or her Mom. The JL weld/frame issues and steering problems would steer me to the Gladiator since it has a different frame. The Grand Cherokee TH is for the true enthusiast IMO. If you want one with the Hemi get it now. I have read they are already limiting availability of the 3.6 V6 in Wranglers to push the Turbo 4 onto buyers. This may be the last chance to get a GC V8. Explorer and Blazer etc. are all V6 now. They may take the V8 away then youll have to spend 70-100k for a V8 in a Grand Wagoneer in a couple of years.
Yes that’s why I just bought one I live in Northern Canada 🇨🇦 I love this thing it goes like smoke and is extremely reliable on our northern roads and highways Love skiing ❤ and camping So does my trailhawk
Not sure what his gripes are but the biggest one in my book is that the seat is absolutely terrible. I’m 6 foot one so not huge but I cannot get comfortable in that seat. My knee hits the shifter with the seat all the way back I don’t find the position very comfortable and they just don’t have a premium feel for a $60,000 vehicle.
RedWings-44 Hate was maybe a strong word, more disappointed. I started with the hard top and as a two door, taking the freedom panels out made highway driving a nightmare. So much buffeting and wind noise. My ears legitimately ached. Soft too fixed that but created another. One the 2 door, there is nowhere to put the soft too windows cause they don’t roll. Likely not an issue on the 4 door. Mine didnt have the LED lights, instead had halogens. You can’t buy a Kia with halogen lights anymore. At night it was terrible! Biggest issue was the driving experience. As a daily driver and long road tripper the seat was pretty tough to get dialed in and it wore me out. It required a ton of input driving on the interstate. Put on 35’s and a 2.5 inch lift and it only got worse. Ended up having to remove the lift. And my favorite gripe...the radiator fan. Sitting in traffic downtown in the summer people asked if my car was ok. So loud and always on!/ I needed a car that was a swiss army knife. Really good at a lot of things. Wrangler Rubicon 2 Door is like a machete. Its great at getting through the tough stuff, but good luck buttering toast. Haha. The WK2 has great manors on road, has yet to let me down off road (I did put bigger KO2s on) and is one of my most comfortable overall drives ever.
@@curtwow I can definitely understand the seat issue. Although that "premium feel" for the price is put more toward practicality off-road, including the ability to hose down the entire interior in some cases.
Congratulations to Nathaniel of Texas on his new 2020 truck! He writes: "Just wanted to send over a note to say thank you for everything you all do! I just bought a new 2020 #Ford #F-150 XL STX 2WD. I’m very excited about it and love it so far. Multiple of your videos were a huge part of my buying decision so I wanted to say thank you!"
There is always one thing that annoys me when any people test the Trailhawk, it's bumpy ride and poor wheel articulation when it's jacked right up. Of course it's going to bumpy if you have it right up to it's limit, but most of that track you tested it on you didn't need to jacked up to it's limit and the next one. reduce the bloody tire pressures. It's a win win, better traction and a better ride and with the Jeeps 4WD system, so what if it lifts a wheel, all the power is going to the wheel with traction anyway.
I have a 2016 GC limited 4x4 hemi and love it. Ome lift all the way around and 275s. Tows like a beast. I'm currently on vacation towing my 21' travel trailer at 6500 lbs loaded. Pulls through the Texas hill country with no issues.
The GC is a great vehicle and very capable offroad. It is smooth and quiet on the road and has a lot of room inside. For most people they work very well offroad and they have better towing capacity. I've been on trails in both types of vehicle. By contract the Wrangler doesn't ride as well, is much noisier inside. The GC is harder to lift and has limitations on maximum tire size. It also doesn't articulate as well which would show up on trails rated difficult. A person has to decide if they want to prioritize daily driving or prioritize trail performance then choose accordingly.
I had Falken Wildpeaks on my Trailhawk I think they were great and for the buck better then the other brands. But when you go to the stealership seems the people working there don’t know much about tires and kept saying that these tires are not made for this Jeep. So I asked them if they had a clue what they were talking about cause they were saying that the only tires that should be on there are the ones you see on most of the base model Jeeps. I had the Falkens and Cooper Discoverer AT3 got more compliments with the falkens.
I Have a 2002 grand cherokee Laredo with the 4.7 v8 ! It’s a very reliable engine if well maintained ! Maybe the previews owner of your GC didn’t do maintenance on it!
WJs are great. Especially if you had a v8 Laredo with the rare NP242HD transfercase. Straightpip the exhaust and they sound GLORIOUS. And they were quick. I had a 2000 with the regular 4.7. My next one will be an H.O.
Just bought one, picking it up next week. BTW, the stock roof rails limit crossbars plus rack or box plus contents to 150 pounds. There are a lot of off-road or overlander looking racks out there that you’d have to very skimpily utilize or risk breaking your roof. New guy, Offroad Animal, says he has engineered a replacement rail/roof rack that ties into stronger roof supports and can hold 250 lbs. While we’re on the subject of capacity, the 5.7L Hemi Trailhawk is kind of a rolling contradiction. Weighing over 5,000 pounds, it’s trailer towing capacity is cited as 7,200 pounds. However, because of the weight added by the heavier engine, the 4WD, the air suspension system and the underbody cladding components, its maximum payload is only 1,130. That number consists of your passenger, any added gear (such as winch, rock rails, additional underbody cladding, etc.) roof carrier and contents, cargo carried inside the vehicle, and the tongue weight of your trailer (generally 10 to 15% of the trailers gross weight). Suppose you have a passenger at 150 lb, roof carrier with contents at 150 lb, and 300 lbs of interior cargo, That leaves only 530 for the trailer tongue weight, so you’re really limited to a 5,000 lb trailer in this scenario. Much less if you’ve added the winch and other cool stuff. I’m moving up to the Trailhawk from a 1999 Volvo V70 XC wagon. Even though the Trailhawk is 1,250 lb heavier, 11” taller, 7.2” wider, and about 4” longer, with a wheelbase that is 10.5” longer, it has 2 cu ft less interior cargo area with the second row of seats folded down. The TH’s cargo volume is listed as 38 cu ft behind all seats and 68 with rear seats down. Nowhere is the actual floor area or cargo space height listed, so I went to the dealer and measured. The rear space is 41” wide and 38” long - as someone posted elsewhere that’s not wide enough to fit a bag of golf clubs (I’ve never golfed so that doesn’t matter to me but I’ve had a lot more width in almost every car I’ve ever had and I would have preferred something over 48”). The additional floor space provided by the folded seats IS wider (shoulder room in the back seat is listed as 58”) and 28” long. Depending on how far up or back the front seats are positioned, you may have a 5” or so gap between the cargo floor and the front seats. Height is 31” throughout, except at the very rear where the roofline slopes so you lose a 15 x 15” triangle 41” wide.
I was thinking of buying the GC Trailhawk after the holidays but if they are coming out with an upgraded generation in the fall of 2020, I think I should wait.
@@RicardoRoams @Desert Rat 100% wait man. This platform is almost 10 years old now. It's super solid but very dated. Of course as with any first generation remodel there will be some bugs and stuff to deal with that first year.
I bought my bride a Diesel Summit, which has all the Trailhawks off road equipment, except the tires and wheels, plus an awesome interior. On the road we’ve gotten 34 mpg (I wasn’t driving). Tons of torque.
I have the same Jeep and while i love it, it has been a nightmare for reliability. We have had a rattle in the chassis since new. Next week, FCA is purchasing it back and I am sad because it was insanely capable, comfortable and got great gas mileage.
Very hardy SUV and reliable !! I have a request if you are in contact with representatives of a Jeep, then tell them for Russia they made the most reliable jeep! There is one Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2013 with a 3.6 engine, it has a mileage of almost 800,000 thousand kilometers or 497,096,954 thousand miles !! Not a problem except a broken gearbox !!
This is exactly what I’m worried about before investing in Jeep. I need something capable that will NEVER let me down stranded somewhere. Getting stuck in death valley is a problem.
Awesome video, coincidence you uploaded this vehicle as I've been scouring RUclips for more 5.7 Grand Cherokee vids.. want to get into either a Trailhawk or Limited X with a Hemi
Limited X don’t have tow package. Hemi without towing capacity. Get the Trailhawk with Lux group. The most comfortable suv out there. Great for off road too.
I have this exact jeep, color, and all. I agree about the seats. I'm on my second wk2. The trailhawk gets the same seats as the SRT with extra bolstering. I prefer them to the seats in the other trims.
I absolutely love my 2011 grand Cherokee limited 5.7 hemi, it doesn't have the best ground clearance, but that's fixing to change with a RC lift kit, but it has all the power of any muscle car and more off road ability than any vehicle on the road today!
Getting a '05 GC w/Hemi with 180km on it for $1000 CAD (about $750 USD) Never been used offroad, was my Grandpa's. I am thinking about getting a 4 inch Superlift and some 33 inch tires on it... can't wait to join the Jeep club!
Lyndon Kassebaum so then you can vouch for this kid being completely full of shit when he said he was getting 24mpg’s on trips to wherever the hell he said he was going.
Yeah, seems high mpg for V8. However, the air suspension is key. For highway you lower it for better aerodynamics. You aren’t riding with it it lifted on hw.
I currently own a Forester. It has been rock reliable and has a little towing capability. Its also great in snow. But for camping it sucks. I learned at the 2022 chicago auto show that subaru has a blanket no-tow policy. you have to trailer it. considering their nature and outdoors mentality, this is NUTZ. so I passed by the jeep guys and after talking to them I fully believe that jeep is blowing it with their ads. you can both tow and be towed with this thing, with the right trans option. it can get better mpg than the forester. it holds more cargo. we all saw this one rise up off for off road. so that counts for a snow bank. Subaru lost a customer, and jeep just got one.
After years with JKs and JKUs and not fitting in the new JLU, considered the Trailhawk before getting a Nissan Armada which fits this ole man and still goes pretty much where I want comfortably. Enjoyed the interview, like the tire choice, that's a good looking rig.
For anyone that wants a light bar you can throw on some generic grip mounts on the tow hooks, drill into the fins of a curved light bar by 2 fins and mount it as needed. Makes for a nice add on for desert runs.
He knows what he bought and searched before buying. That's how it's supposed to work. Most people don't do that anymore. Most people just walk in and want all the bells and whistles without knowing what engine or how the bells and whistles work. I like what he said about the snorkel. He's right and I say it all the time, its not just a snorkel. You have to also make sure water doesnt get into the electrical system either. You even see a fuse box get full of water? Not fun. Think about the exhaust system as well. More to it then just a snorkel.
The 5.7 is the last of the V8s in the class and flies mostly under the radar. The all around refinement and improvement in driving experience over the 3.6 can't be overstated. I would bet that those who say the 6 is just fine have never driven the 8. Also every inch of tire diameter change gives you a half inch of ride height change.
There are aftermarket winch mounting brackets for the Grand Cherokee. I have a winch on my GC Trailhawk. But I having taken it off road a lot have never needed it. But in 2020 I did the White Rim Road in Canyonlands in my Gladiator. It’s normally not a super hard trial. I’ve done it a couple times in Grand Cherokeses. There was a sand pit this time that required lockers to get through. I later ran into a guy in a Grand Cherokee, no winch, going the other way. He had been stopped by the sand pit and to get to his camp sites he had to detour probably at least 75 miles. If he had a winch he would not have had to detour.
I had a 2017 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and made it a year before ditching it. The interior luxury was nice, the 4wd system was great when it worked, but the airbag suspension system would overheat and /or leak (check jeep/dodge forums its a common issue), and the 4wd system would error and the Jeep would shut down while crawling in 4lo and I would have to wait for everything to cool down before starting again. Didn't want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere, and Jeep "never found anything wrong with it" when I brought it in. Would not recommend for real offroading.
@@buttonman1831 So is GM and FORD. Pick your poison and remember for every 1 guy that moans here on RUclips there are at least 20 others that haven't ever experienced said problem. People that complain(and rightfully so, considering we give a significant amount of our hard earned money to these big corporations) are always going to be the most vocal.
@@paulj9821 I agree, I don't buy one of those unless I only plan on keeping them for a few years. I want quality, that's why I generally stick to Toyotas or Hondas.
@@buttonman1831 To each his own. We all have different prerequisites. When I was financially struggling, I drove a 1999, Manual transmission Acura sedan that was bullet proof. Then again the 90's was the best era of Japanese cars. Now that I have money and bare in mind I am a petrohead, I will buy myself an Alfa Stelvio Quadrifoglio. $80,000 mid size high performance SUV with a Ferrari derived engine and drive train. Ferrari top engineers designed the car.
He made a good point. When the WK went to IFS and then full independent with the WK2 the grand Cherokee lost a lot capability. They made up for it with smart traction control but going back to the solid axle ZJ and WJ you see how much more capable they were.
Any synthetic oil engine will have issues if you don’t drive the vehicle long enough to let the oil get up to operating temperature. That’s around 10 minutes driving.
So I own a 2017 Trailhawk and I can echo much of what he said because its a great vic. I went with the GOBI low profile roof rack and it's awesome. I really like the ruggedness and the luxurious comfort in the cab. Though not many, there are just a few negatives. If you are single with a dog or married with one kid and a dog...this vehicle is great. Once your family gets bigger than that, space becomes an issue. We have two kids and about to get a second large breed pup and I'm already looking for something with 3 rows of seating. Just something to think about. Another negative is the fact that there are no A/C vents in the cargo area. We live down south and when I have my lab in the back, it takes her a while to cool off. The Durango and Explorer both have cargo vents, but for some reason Jeep decided not to do that in the Cherokee. Hope this helps you if you are considering one of this awesome SUVs.
I have a 2012 WK2 Grand Cherokee Overland V8 and love it. It's great off road and comfortable and useable on road. It also has great styling that has held up over the years.
In theory the Trailhawk is perfect but I was surprised how stiff the air suspension is, when I test drove one. Is the Limited with no air suspension more comfortable off road?
@Ben Bla Viscous fan failures, transmission failures, alternator failures, air suspension failures, over heating in the Pentastar, are all common problems where I'm from.
I’m a Toyota guy, just came from jeeps to my first 18 Tacoma or. So I hear you on your 4Runner. But this Jeep does have the qd2 system which is a full-time 4wd with electronic limited slips both front and rear. I’ve had a 2007 Wk and loved it and after numerous and I mean numerous trails it never failed or got me into anything I didn’t get stuck in due to ground clearance. Luckily the Wk still had a live rear axle, and good support from the aftermarket world so mods was simple and easy. This platform does lack a lot and I mean a lot from the aftermarket community, the 4Runner you can mod anything and everything, with this you are very limited. Jeep really messed up as far as trails go on this with the full independent suspension.
@@hgtydjdjdgh67889 The problem is you don't understand. He is correct the 4runner is a very outdated vehicle. Does that mean it's still not desired by Toyota fanatics, no. So what is your issue with his factual statement?
might be better off wheeling with the air suspension lower than the max and getting a tad of droop. smoother to drop just a tire into a hole than to be maxed and lean the whole car over into it. super stiff max lifted suspensions can ride like having no suspension at all.
Nice, practical, and good looking ride. After watching the video, I'd probably ditch the air ride and go with an actual lift. It seemed very stiff off road. Thanks for the video.
You get a lot more articulation ( and softness) if you leave the suspension in OffRoad#1 until you REALLY need OffRoad#2. A lot of people raise it all the way up upon the first scrape of the skidplates and then leave it up, but you loose soo much plushness and articulation, A LITTLE SCRAPING IS OK.
@@carrollshelby8690 On most trails you only need max height maybe 10% of the time, so why not ride in comfort the remaining 90%. Every Off Road Vehicle scrapes at some point, if you are armored it is a non issue. OR1 is just under 10" of ground clearance which more than most SUVs and trucks. The amount of articulation difference between OR1 & OR2 is almost double.
@@carrollshelby8690 Not pissed, just offering an alternative to leaving it up in OR2 100% of the time. Dirt, Sand & mud are a forgiving surfaces to make contact with, rocks are not, All terrain modes except ROCK, uses less than OR2 and I would agree 90% of the time. "Call me after you've snapped an axle". you are more likely to damage a CV in OR#2.
@@carrollshelby8690 The difference in ride height between OR1 & OR2 is 1.2 inches, but it feels like 6 inches of additional suspension travel when in OR1, and wheel articulation goes up a lot, which is safer and more productive to forward travel. After 6 hours of wheeling I am less beat up and exhausted, which leads to better decision making. When the vehicle teeters on 2 or 3 wheels it can come crashing down when the weight shifts no matter how gentle you are, OR1 can reduce the teetering.
Love grand cherokee especially in winter time. Too bad they don't use full time 4x4 like Quadratck 2 that I had in 2007 model. That thing was best fulltime 4x4. Going down the unplowed interstate 70 mph in 4 inch deep snow without even a slightest issue. Not the smartest thing definitely and never recommend it but that is how secure that quadratrack2 was.
that is because i believe it is a Euro Encap law put in place 2015, they tried in Canada to make it law for all new cars to have front and rear facing cameras and lost the battle in court the car companies won, they did make it law for all new cars to have a back up camera
@@99unclebob Definitely not EU law. ENCAP is anyhow only the testing, and not anything related to the laws. It is not common at all to have forward cameras. Even rear cameras not not required here. You can get a new car with out a single camera or parking sensor or active safety system. Only ESC is mandated.
@@pablomax3045 I'm for no options in cars let the driver maintain the ability to stay alert and not distracted I'm pretty much old school this way and have had a good driving history based on depending on myself I drive a car with only one computer in it an old Volvo simple and reliable by no changes are on my Horizon
If you're looking at a roof rack check our Chief Products. They're out of Australia and make a bunch of stuff for the WK2's. Their roof rack is coming out soon and looks great. That's the one I'm looking at getting.
I prefer my older Grand simply because it more truck like and less soft. And it has solid axles and 4Lo. I don't like the softness of these new SUVs. This one seems more gutsy than most, but I would want something more robust if it was going to spend more time off road. I can't deny how nice this WK2 seems especially with the Hemi. If I could have a Hemi (or just any better V8) in my older Grand I'd be thrilled.
(www.carvertical.com/landing/v3?a=TFL&b=2c9b600c ) TFL viewers! Before you buy your next ride, get a 20% discount on a CarVertical vehicle report by clicking on the link. The detailed vehicle history will list any theft, accident, insurance claim, and maintenance issue with the car or truck you want to purchase. Peace of mind never cost so little.
Why does the carvertical report show the Touareg as a manual transmission? Isn’t yours an automatic?
Lets be real Fiat cherokee
Ani Destiny what one did you like better?
The Fast Lane Car
No self-respecting man uses the word 'drama' when talking about cars and trucks, Nathan. Smh...
@@firesupport162
Let's be real. No one cares what you think.
This guy is clever I’d also choose the TrailHawk instead of a Wrangler since I’m not focused on extreme off-roading, this is way more comfortable for doing off-road and highway cruising. 👍🏽
Moises Sequera that’s a great way to look at it, I’m thinking about changing from a wrangler for the reason
Carroll Shelby yeah Mr Shelby that’s so.
Moises Sequera I would get both. Best of both works
@Dilan Judge but I guarantee your a mall crawler type anyway that doesn't offroad so it doesn't matter what you think
Same here
Love to see someone that really knows their vehicle. 👍🏻
Fully agree man!
@@carrollshelby8690 Congratulations! The kid with superhero name knows more about his vehicle than some ass in the comment section.
From Jeep's Trailhawk site...
Quadra Drive® II 4x4 System with Rear Electronic Limited-Slip Differential
This system provides outstanding control in severe driving conditions. When used in conjunction with the Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System, 100% of the available torque can be sent to one wheel-so even if only one wheel has traction, Grand Cherokee Trailhawk® can keep moving.
@@carrollshelby8690 you need to do some more research before commenting 🤫
@@carrollshelby8690 you need to go off roading in Jeeps more, you clearly have no clue how their systems work and how good they hard. It's okay we all make mistakes 😊
He doesn't have 11.9 inches of clearance. He only gains 1/2 inch from his tires. Yes the tires are an inch taller but you only gain 1/2 of that in actual lift height.
I think the trailhawk series make the most sense for almost anyone who can't afford/fit multiple cars for themselves (space, cost etc). There is virtually nothing you will encounter while camping or recreationally driving that a trailhawk can't handle, and it's a MUCH more reasonable daily commuter and long trip vehicle. Most people get Wranglers on emotion though, and I get that, but these newer trailhawks seem very much more practical while still meeting all your off-road needs right out of the box.
Just do your research I guess, I had a 2018 compass Trailhawk that needed new front struts after 45,000. And all I really did was tak it on backcountry forest roads. Other than that it was an ok vehicle. For the amount of money this guy spent on this GC he could have had a TRD 4runner which is arguable as good on road but way more capable offroad.
@@Ryan-1337 a compass isn't a GC. And what would you advise for somebody living in Europe where the 4runner isn't available?
TRD isn't nearly as comfortable as a GC.
@@sebiues_1614 You have the Cherokee Trailhawk as Fiat ensures that most of the North American vehicles reach the European market.
Congratulations to the young owner of that Trailhawk. When I was his age I was driving an ancient rusty Corolla, and happy I could afford even that!
Great Jeep. I'll let my coworkers know how much you enjoy it. Because we enjoyed making it for you. Shout out to the hard working men and women at JNAP!
Glad to hear that! I ordered my 2020 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk yesterday. (with the Hemi)
George I've been looking at them too. Kudos to your team.
Ricardo roams oh me too 2 days ago:)
Ricardo roams bro i have hemi too.do you know did chrysler fix camshaft and lifters problem (misfires on different cylinders) by changing oil pump to a stronger one?thank you
Detroit "The Motor City"!
I love my WK2 Grand Cherokee, it's not the Trailhawk, but it's the Overland Summit, top of the line for comfort and still keeps the offroad prowess. Air suspension gives me a smooth ride on the roads, or what's left of them in my state, but can raise up to about 12 inches of clearance for offroad. Can go almost anywhere a Wrangler can.
Finally, they actually mention a negative to air suspension.
Thomas Rock Exactly, not what I would want.
@Thomas Rock
Yup. Bought mine brand new in 2015. Air pump needed replacing at 45000km and 81000km. Thankfully warranty covered those hiccups
Like that y'all went on a trail while discussing the vehicle. The owner was very knowledgeable and was comfortable on camera. Very professional presenter like.
As the owner of a loaded 2017 GC Trailhawk Hemi, and a 2005 Wrangler Rubicon with 2.5" TeraFlex lift, I can say that the Trailhawk will do 90% of what the Rubicon will do off-road, but in absolute comfort. Don't get me wrong, I love my Rubicon, but the Trailhawk is the vehicle we use for nearly everything. Road trips, off-roading, pulling our 21ft camp trailer, occasionally pulling car trailers, it's just our go-to vehicle. It is also surprisingly fun to drive in Sport mode (which lowers/firms up the suspension, changes steering feel, and changes shifting either with or without use of the paddle shifters). For reference, we have the Rubicon, a Ram Rebel, Lexus LS, BMW Z3, as well as a few others, and the Trailhawk absolutely sees the most use, and it has been exceptionally reliable so far. All of that being said, when I went to Moab in June, I took the Rubicon, because there is just nothing quite like exploring in a Wrangler.
Loren Dechaine I drove a lifted WK for 11 years, it was a great all-round vehicle, good for trails and highway. One big, frustrating problem I had was the IFS bushings don’t last after heavy articulation. Over 85k miles, I had to replace all front bushings 3 or 4 times, which got real expensive. I presume the IRS of the WK2 will be the same, so now it will be doubly expensive over the long term. I replaced the WK with a JLUR and while I’ll probably have to replace the front bushings every 40k miles or so, it’s a much easier / cheaper job.
I'm looking at a used (rental use) 2019 JGC trailhawk. 12k or 13k miles. Red, V8. 12K miles put on it in 16 weeks. Say about 700 a week. Should that concern me? What if it was rode hard and pushed too hard during the breaking in period? Will I be screwed down the road? If I buy it (carmax) I'll definitely have my mechanic inspect it
Very hardy SUV and reliable !!
I have a request if you are in contact with representatives of a Jeep, then tell them for Russia they made the most reliable jeep!
There is one Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2013 with a 3.6 engine, it has a mileage of almost 800,000 thousand kilometers or 497,096,954 thousand miles !! Not a problem except a broken gearbox !!
Nice Trailhawk! Definitely like the WK2's (and Grands in general) a lot more than the Wranglers; Wranglers are cool, but the Grands are so much more liveable on a day to day basis, especially when you're not trying to tackle the Rubicon.
Doesn’t a 1 inch bigger tire = 1/2 inch lift ?
You are 100% correct. That type of understanding is what separates the men from the boys
i only remember when he say with extra inch, he didn't clarify if around or diameter
@@tallll70 can't remember the size they said he went to specifically, but I don't think it was enough to give 2 inch increase.
TheMoschetta you just made me blush, brother
Yes but you have to remember that the bigger tire doesn't increase clearance between the tire and fender like a suspension or body lift will.
Noting negative to say here. Great ride, smart young man who does his research modded his ride smartly all the while watching his pocket book and being able to enjoy life without going broke. I think he love his ride. Good job again Nathan, thumbs up bro.
Good ep..its always awesome to see passionate folks showcasing their rigs and know what their talking about
Good purchase Storm! I owned the '94 GC with the 4.0 straight 6 and put over 200k on that Jeep👍 I had the select trac 4 Wheel drive system and really enjoyed it.
Great to see someone who did reaserch and knows what he wants.
And can tell about it.
@@carrollshelby8690 You sound like a hater.
Love the Trailhawk! Congratulations on your purchase, Storm!
this guy, really knows what he wants in the first place, great job TFL and Mr. Storm
Great video! Just got a trailhawk myself (no hemi though) and absolutely love it. I agree that there reallt aren’t any negatives with it. It can go MOST places a wrangler can, but way more comfortable, and much smaller and manageable than the Rebel!
"It doesn't have rock rails..."
"It does actually."
"Oh, IT DOES..."
*CUT*
_Lmao_
Nice vehicle. I think I’ve found my new car. Its very classy and the HMI tops it off.
I bought a 2018 5.7 TrailHawk in December of 2018 brand new. The experience buying it was super simple. Honestly the fastest I’ve ever been in and out of the dealership. I bought the TrailHawk as a daily driver/light off-road vehicle. I own a ‘12 Rubi for my wheeling fun lol. Pretty much all I’ve ever owned has been Jeeps. Had and Audi TT, and a Chevy Colorado when it first came out with the 5 cylinder. But from owning all Wranglers I couldn’t see DD a Wrangler and leaving it stock that’s why I went with the TrailHawk. The 5.7 I went with due to have owned the 3.6 and 3.8 six cylinder engines and had bad luck with both. Diesels I know nothing about them. I’ve had it for 11 months put 25k on it already. Multiple road trips 10hrs straight was the longest but most are around 8hr trips. Comfortable! Not tired after driving, I wanna get back in and keep driving after trips lol. Nothing I can really say about wheeling it as I’ve had it on sand and unmaintained roads. Still have an itch too take her out to a park and have some fun. Mod wise for it I’ve done 1.25” wheel spacers, leveling links. Now the downsides. Coming from driving Wranglers for the last 13 yrs to this is a big difference. Whipping it around not as easy, blind spots from the A pillars are a mofo, auto dimming rear/side mirrors are not good, I also wish the TrailHawk had the option of coils or air ride suspension, the air ride is nice but the for coming issues I’ve read with air suspension and the lack of being able to change it out is kinda a bummer. Otherwise I’ve been loving this Jeep.
Keep up the great videos as well dudes!
I bought a brand new 2018 5.7 Trailhawk in December 2017. Have 20k on it. Only issue has been the air suspension which required a new compressor a year ago. That would have been an $1,800 repair. I purchased an extended warranty so it will be covered for another 4 years.
You made a Great Choice, the Grand Cherokee is a much better vehicles all around. It is Luxurious, has a stylish exterior and interior, very comfortable, has lots of technology, and very good off road. The Wrangler only has one of those things and that is good at off roading.
And what does "off-reading" mean ??🤔🤔
@@maitreytelang2312 I fixed it
@@Alex.AL_26 👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌
Agreed. I originally wanted a Wrangler, but due to price and some experience riding and driving in them, decided on the smaller Cherokee Trailhawk. It's comfortable over a long road trip and as a daily driver. Handles every off-road situation I've come across (living on a mountain miles from the nearest paved road). Only change I'd make is upgrading to the Grand Cherokee if I started a family, just for the little bit extra room and more tech/luxury options. All-in-all, better choice than a Wrangler if you're looking for something that doubles as your daily vehicle
Put this man on the channel! So much knowledge and very passionate!!!
I have the Overland. I'd like to see the Trailhawk vs a non trail rated Overland comparison.
I have a 2015 GC Overland Diesel w/ Off-road II package and air suspension, with now about 48k. I love it. Have added extensive off-road bash plates (Australian "Chief Products") and large Mopar rock rails. Zero problems, except for rear brakes at 25K, and FCA "dieselgate" (got a check for $3,075 for that), which has caused my mpgs to drop by about 4 both on city and hwy (but still averaging about 22 combined). Put a set of Goodyear Wrangler Duratacs on it at 25k and those have been fabulous (ran 2 sets of those on my previous offroader, 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71, on which I broke axeks off road but still ran it to 189k when I sold it last summer). I frequently off-road my GC in Northern Michigan, in some pretty gnarly stuff, to get back to where I hunt and fish. The thing's a damn mountain goat, and is also a great ride on the highway, too. Have been all over Michigan's Upper Peninsula with it, taking the wife rock hunting every summer (while I try to fish). Yes, I would buy another, but (especially given today's gasoline prices) I would probably get the 5.7 Hemi V8. My 84-year old stepdad in northern Michigan has had 3 Ram 3/4 ton pickups with that engine and they all ran/run excellent -- still has the 1998 (plow truck) and the 2007 which still looks brand new (and frequently goes off road). Thanks for sharing your vehicle with us, Storm!
We love ours. 18 with the hemi. Step up the tire size. Added catch can, intake and exhaust and it’s amazing. Such a nice vehicle.
I gave a 2015 wk2 overland with Quadralift and QD2. It's a good vehicle, but to really make it offroad capable it needs more armor stock.
My first trip I broke the ACC radar mount. So bought an ARB steel bumper to protect it in the future. Rear bumper armor is also important. I have a cracked rear bumper from the trails.
Just took delivery of mine,hemi,love it,after 6 Wranglers which I liked but this is everything I wanted and needed.
Quadra drive II is an amazing system. I love them.
Just a shame the WK2 doesn't have the front locker too
Cole Hintermeister it used to have a front lsd like the rear. I believe it was mid to later 2000s. Check the wiki page on the Jeep 4x4 systems.
@@ryanmartinage Yup. 05-10, the original WK platform. Hence the specific mention of the 11-present WK2 platform 😉 Front and rear electronic limited slips and a locking center when you drop to 4low.
@@carrollshelby8690 yet somehow he was able to take it out to do some trails and not get stuck! Witchcraft!
@@carrollshelby8690 exactly, the point is irrelevant, just like the quadracrap you're spewing in all these comments.
Gave my daughter a 2006 Trailhawk Hemi last year. Car had over 250,000 miles on it and has run with no problems since then. Making it's second trip to Burning Man towing a trailer this year!!
Something seems fishy here... 🙃 🙃 🙃
@@thawk1435 Really? Why? Bought the car in Florida, it was very well maintained. Drove it to Oakland stopping at 15 Car Museums on the way, 4500 miles. Best road car I have ever driven. Wish I hadn't promised it to her. Probably will buy another for myself when I find the right one.
@@j1748g I didn't know there was a trailhawk model in 2006.🤔
@@thawk1435 Don't know what to tell you. It had all of the markings and one hell of a skid plate under it. I have never been a big Jeep guy (although my wife and I did own an earlier Grand Cherokee for a while), and don't keep up with what is offered from year to year. I just bought it because it was in incredible shape for it's mileage, and ran like a scalded cat. And like I said, I am now in love and am looking for a similar vehicle for myself.
Love that you guys covered a WK2 Trailhawk again. Love my 17 Hemi Trailhawk!
Wrangler guys sitting here making fun of storm while actually being jealous we can’t get a hemi...
Well you can get a hemi in a Wrangler it just costs a lot more. 🙃
I think the main reason for that is the GC's tow rating. The hemi's power and torque are a good option if you expect to tow 5k or more. The Wrangler isn't rated for that so Jeep doesn't feel the need to offer it. Just my two cents.
This guy goes off road more than 98% of Wrangler owners
Slingsomelead I will never be jealous of a soccer mom “ SUV “ and I definitely do not want a Hemi
Mr S you’re such a 👶
Needed a mid sized SUV with power to pull my Basecamp X trailer. Got a 2019 Grand Cherokee Summit with a hemi and Skid Plates for Minor Off-Roading. I'm very Happy
I have the same trailer. what kind of hwy mpg do you get towing at 70?
I have the 2022 Jeep Cherokee trail hawk I ❤️💕it Fabulous for Northern Canadian winters where there’s lots of snow and the roads are pretty pit holed and gravel etc It is just excellent to drive
Almost chose the Trailhawk, but chose the two door Wrangler Willy's edition for a few reasons: Its my second vehicle, so I don't need a highway cruiser. the soft top and removable doors are awesome and the short wheelbase is way better for trails, and WAY more after market upgrades are available for the Wrangler.
Selling the 2017 Trailhawk. At the time l got it the JK Wrangler was still using the same 2005 era key, radio, buttons and displays as my 2006 Ram had. The GC was just such a leap into the future. Not to mention the $8,000 off when the dealers were not discounting the JK Wrangler at all.
When you go into Sport driving mode it hunkers down lower and firms the steering. On mountain roads the handling feels just very similar to my 2015 Charger R/T Road and Track l traded in on the Trailhawk.
The steering and road manners make up for any loss of off road capability IMO.
The new JL Wrangler is awesome but everytime l see one it is driven by a college girl or her Mom. The JL weld/frame issues and steering problems would steer me to the Gladiator since it has a different frame. The Grand Cherokee TH is for the true enthusiast IMO. If you want one with the Hemi get it now. I have read they are already limiting availability of the 3.6 V6 in Wranglers to push the Turbo 4 onto buyers. This may be the last chance to get a GC V8. Explorer and Blazer etc. are all V6 now. They may take the V8 away then youll have to spend 70-100k for a V8 in a Grand Wagoneer in a couple of years.
Looks like that day is coming upon us quickly 😔
I have a 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. I love it. 106,000 miles and counting. I have the 3.2 V6. 26 mph on the road. I have lockers. They work great.
This would be a perfect skiing and mountain car, that still runs good on the highway down in the valley
Yes that’s why I just bought one I live in Northern Canada 🇨🇦 I love this thing it goes like smoke and is extremely reliable on our northern roads and highways Love skiing ❤ and camping So does my trailhawk
I actually bought a JL Rubicon and after 6 months I hated it and traded it for a GC Trailhawk. Love the Trailhawk!!
All depends on what you use it for. What did you hate about the JL in particular?
Not sure what his gripes are but the biggest one in my book is that the seat is absolutely terrible. I’m 6 foot one so not huge but I cannot get comfortable in that seat. My knee hits the shifter with the seat all the way back I don’t find the position very comfortable and they just don’t have a premium feel for a $60,000 vehicle.
RedWings-44 Hate was maybe a strong word, more disappointed. I started with the hard top and as a two door, taking the freedom panels out made highway driving a nightmare. So much buffeting and wind noise. My ears legitimately ached. Soft too fixed that but created another. One the 2 door, there is nowhere to put the soft too windows cause they don’t roll. Likely not an issue on the 4 door. Mine didnt have the LED lights, instead had halogens. You can’t buy a Kia with halogen lights anymore. At night it was terrible!
Biggest issue was the driving experience. As a daily driver and long road tripper the seat was pretty tough to get dialed in and it wore me out. It required a ton of input driving on the interstate. Put on 35’s and a 2.5 inch lift and it only got worse. Ended up having to remove the lift.
And my favorite gripe...the radiator fan. Sitting in traffic downtown in the summer people asked if my car was ok. So loud and always on!/
I needed a car that was a swiss army knife. Really good at a lot of things. Wrangler Rubicon 2 Door is like a machete. Its great at getting through the tough stuff, but good luck buttering toast. Haha. The WK2 has great manors on road, has yet to let me down off road (I did put bigger KO2s on) and is one of my most comfortable overall drives ever.
@@curtwow I can definitely understand the seat issue. Although that "premium feel" for the price is put more toward practicality off-road, including the ability to hose down the entire interior in some cases.
JL was the issue. Get a jk
Remember that time you brought on a Jeep Salesman to tell us how much he loves his rig.
Congratulations to Nathaniel of Texas on his new 2020 truck! He writes: "Just wanted to send over a note to say thank you for everything you all do! I just bought a new 2020 #Ford #F-150 XL STX 2WD. I’m very excited about it and love it so far. Multiple of your videos were a huge part of my buying decision so I wanted to say thank you!"
There is always one thing that annoys me when any people test the Trailhawk, it's bumpy ride and poor wheel articulation when it's jacked right up. Of course it's going to bumpy if you have it right up to it's limit, but most of that track you tested it on you didn't need to jacked up to it's limit and the next one. reduce the bloody tire pressures. It's a win win, better traction and a better ride and with the Jeeps 4WD system, so what if it lifts a wheel, all the power is going to the wheel with traction anyway.
VW Touareg vs Jeep Grand Cherokee Trail Hawk please.....
Rich Farfugnuven yes please
I have a 2016 GC limited 4x4 hemi and love it. Ome lift all the way around and 275s. Tows like a beast. I'm currently on vacation towing my 21' travel trailer at 6500 lbs loaded. Pulls through the Texas hill country with no issues.
The GC is a great vehicle and very capable offroad. It is smooth and quiet on the road and has a lot of room inside. For most people they work very well offroad and they have better towing capacity. I've been on trails in both types of vehicle. By contract the Wrangler doesn't ride as well, is much noisier inside. The GC is harder to lift and has limitations on maximum tire size. It also doesn't articulate as well which would show up on trails rated difficult. A person has to decide if they want to prioritize daily driving or prioritize trail performance then choose accordingly.
I had Falken Wildpeaks on my Trailhawk I think they were great and for the buck better then the other brands. But when you go to the stealership seems the people working there don’t know much about tires and kept saying that these tires are not made for this Jeep. So I asked them if they had a clue what they were talking about cause they were saying that the only tires that should be on there are the ones you see on most of the base model Jeeps. I had the Falkens and Cooper Discoverer AT3 got more compliments with the falkens.
I owned a 2003 Cherokee Overland for a while.... pretty much had to remortgage my house to pay for all the repairs.
Yeah the 4.7L sucks. Should've had one with the 4.0L
I Have a 2002 grand cherokee Laredo with the 4.7 v8 ! It’s a very reliable engine if well maintained ! Maybe the previews owner of your GC didn’t do maintenance on it!
@@willem0698 - Did I say it had engine problems?
WJs are great. Especially if you had a v8 Laredo with the rare NP242HD transfercase. Straightpip the exhaust and they sound GLORIOUS. And they were quick. I had a 2000 with the regular 4.7. My next one will be an H.O.
Cars And Zebras why are you being a dick?
Great vehicle. Great owner. The Wrangler is more capable off road but the GC Trailhawk can do a lot.
Just bought one, picking it up next week. BTW, the stock roof rails limit crossbars plus rack or box plus contents to 150 pounds. There are a lot of off-road or overlander looking racks out there that you’d have to very skimpily utilize or risk breaking your roof. New guy, Offroad Animal, says he has engineered a replacement rail/roof rack that ties into stronger roof supports and can hold 250 lbs.
While we’re on the subject of capacity, the 5.7L Hemi Trailhawk is kind of a rolling contradiction. Weighing over 5,000 pounds, it’s trailer towing capacity is cited as 7,200 pounds. However, because of the weight added by the heavier engine, the 4WD, the air suspension system and the underbody cladding components, its maximum payload is only 1,130. That number consists of your passenger, any added gear (such as winch, rock rails, additional underbody cladding, etc.) roof carrier and contents, cargo carried inside the vehicle, and the tongue weight of your trailer (generally 10 to 15% of the trailers gross weight). Suppose you have a passenger at 150 lb, roof carrier with contents at 150 lb, and 300 lbs of interior cargo, That leaves only 530 for the trailer tongue weight, so you’re really limited to a 5,000 lb trailer in this scenario. Much less if you’ve added the winch and other cool stuff.
I’m moving up to the Trailhawk from a 1999 Volvo V70 XC wagon. Even though the Trailhawk is 1,250 lb heavier, 11” taller, 7.2” wider, and about 4” longer, with a wheelbase that is 10.5” longer, it has 2 cu ft less interior cargo area with the second row of seats folded down. The TH’s cargo volume is listed as 38 cu ft behind all seats and 68 with rear seats down. Nowhere is the actual floor area or cargo space height listed, so I went to the dealer and measured. The rear space is 41” wide and 38” long - as someone posted elsewhere that’s not wide enough to fit a bag of golf clubs (I’ve never golfed so that doesn’t matter to me but I’ve had a lot more width in almost every car I’ve ever had and I would have preferred something over 48”). The additional floor space provided by the folded seats IS wider (shoulder room in the back seat is listed as 58”) and 28” long. Depending on how far up or back the front seats are positioned, you may have a 5” or so gap between the cargo floor and the front seats. Height is 31” throughout, except at the very rear where the roofline slopes so you lose a 15 x 15” triangle 41” wide.
4wd? Hemi? grand Cherokee... I’m in! Wk2 is a really nice design beautiful Jeep
What a great video! I love the JGC Trailhawk. It will be very interesting to see what they do with the next generation of it for 2021.
I was thinking of buying the GC Trailhawk after the holidays but if they are coming out with an upgraded generation in the fall of 2020, I think I should wait.
@@RicardoRoams @Desert Rat 100% wait man. This platform is almost 10 years old now. It's super solid but very dated. Of course as with any first generation remodel there will be some bugs and stuff to deal with that first year.
They won't do anything radical for 2021 since is has been a good seller and still looks modern.
I bought my bride a Diesel Summit, which has all the Trailhawks off road equipment, except the tires and wheels, plus an awesome interior. On the road we’ve gotten 34 mpg (I wasn’t driving). Tons of torque.
Nathan is the man!!! Very enjoyable video.
I have the same Jeep and while i love it, it has been a nightmare for reliability. We have had a rattle in the chassis since new. Next week, FCA is purchasing it back and I am sad because it was insanely capable, comfortable and got great gas mileage.
If you are a gambling man, you could buy another one :)
Very hardy SUV and reliable !!
I have a request if you are in contact with representatives of a Jeep, then tell them for Russia they made the most reliable jeep!
There is one Jeep Grand Cherokee in 2013 with a 3.6 engine, it has a mileage of almost 800,000 thousand kilometers or 497,096,954 thousand miles !! Not a problem except a broken gearbox !!
This is exactly what I’m worried about before investing in Jeep. I need something capable that will NEVER let me down stranded somewhere. Getting stuck in death valley is a problem.
@@undefeatedgaul3201 take care of your vehicles. All will eventually fail
Awesome video, coincidence you uploaded this vehicle as I've been scouring RUclips for more 5.7 Grand Cherokee vids.. want to get into either a Trailhawk or Limited X with a Hemi
The seats in the Trailhawk make that thing the most comfortable vehicle I have ever been in
Limited X don’t have tow package. Hemi without towing capacity. Get the Trailhawk with Lux group. The most comfortable suv out there. Great for off road too.
I have this exact jeep, color, and all. I agree about the seats. I'm on my second wk2. The trailhawk gets the same seats as the SRT with extra bolstering. I prefer them to the seats in the other trims.
@@nyxsyn Hurricane is that you?
@@youngblood23rb nah, not hurricane, whoever's that is. 🤔
Awesome video, great looking Jeep, was just thinking about getting one for a family jeep
I absolutely love my 2011 grand Cherokee limited 5.7 hemi, it doesn't have the best ground clearance, but that's fixing to change with a RC lift kit, but it has all the power of any muscle car and more off road ability than any vehicle on the road today!
Getting a '05 GC w/Hemi with 180km on it for $1000 CAD (about $750 USD)
Never been used offroad, was my Grandpa's. I am thinking about getting a 4 inch Superlift and some 33 inch tires on it... can't wait to join the Jeep club!
Bought a 2019 Overland with the 5.7 and I absolutely love it
Lyndon Kassebaum so then you can vouch for this kid being completely full of shit when he said he was getting 24mpg’s on trips to wherever the hell he said he was going.
Don Olypopper i have 2020 5.7 12 mpg in city with eco off)) i drove a hummer,so i dont care a lot about its mpg)just enjoy)
Mine averages right around 20mpg running 70-75 down the highway
Yeah, seems high mpg for V8. However, the air suspension is key. For highway you lower it for better aerodynamics. You aren’t riding with it it lifted on hw.
I currently own a Forester. It has been rock reliable and has a little towing capability. Its also great in snow. But for camping it sucks. I learned at the 2022 chicago auto show that subaru has a blanket no-tow policy. you have to trailer it. considering their nature and outdoors mentality, this is NUTZ. so I passed by the jeep guys and after talking to them I fully believe that jeep is blowing it with their ads. you can both tow and be towed with this thing, with the right trans option. it can get better mpg than the forester. it holds more cargo. we all saw this one rise up off for off road. so that counts for a snow bank. Subaru lost a customer, and jeep just got one.
TFL's intro jingle could rival the THX intro for loudest sounds in the world lol
After years with JKs and JKUs and not fitting in the new JLU, considered the Trailhawk before getting a Nissan Armada which fits this ole man and still goes pretty much where I want comfortably. Enjoyed the interview, like the tire choice, that's a good looking rig.
For anyone that wants a light bar you can throw on some generic grip mounts on the tow hooks, drill into the fins of a curved light bar by 2 fins and mount it as needed. Makes for a nice add on for desert runs.
He knows what he bought and searched before buying. That's how it's supposed to work. Most people don't do that anymore. Most people just walk in and want all the bells and whistles without knowing what engine or how the bells and whistles work. I like what he said about the snorkel. He's right and I say it all the time, its not just a snorkel. You have to also make sure water doesnt get into the electrical system either. You even see a fuse box get full of water? Not fun. Think about the exhaust system as well. More to it then just a snorkel.
It would be cool for you guys to do am"One year later" update. To see if owners still love it hate..and if they would buy or lease again!!
My favorite grand cherokee review so far. subscribed.
A 1" taller tire nets you a 1/2" lift/additional ground clearance
Next time: Storm's brother, Tornado, shows us his new (to him) Holden Hurricane!
The 5.7 is the last of the V8s in the class and flies mostly under the radar. The all around refinement and improvement in driving experience over the 3.6 can't be overstated. I would bet that those who say the 6 is just fine have never driven the 8.
Also every inch of tire diameter change gives you a half inch of ride height change.
I’ve driven both. Yes the Hemi is better than the v6 obviously, but if you aren’t towing, the v6 is plenty powerful at least in my opinion
Those tires look great - particularly since they don’t affect highway mileage.
There are aftermarket winch mounting brackets for the Grand Cherokee. I have a winch on my GC Trailhawk. But I having taken it off road a lot have never needed it. But in 2020 I did the White Rim Road in Canyonlands in my Gladiator. It’s normally not a super hard trial. I’ve done it a couple times in Grand Cherokeses. There was a sand pit this time that required lockers to get through. I later ran into a guy in a Grand Cherokee, no winch, going the other way. He had been stopped by the sand pit and to get to his camp sites he had to detour probably at least 75 miles. If he had a winch he would not have had to detour.
I had a 2017 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and made it a year before ditching it. The interior luxury was nice, the 4wd system was great when it worked, but the airbag suspension system would overheat and /or leak (check jeep/dodge forums its a common issue), and the 4wd system would error and the Jeep would shut down while crawling in 4lo and I would have to wait for everything to cool down before starting again. Didn't want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere, and Jeep "never found anything wrong with it" when I brought it in. Would not recommend for real offroading.
Chrysler is simply poor quality. A know a Chrysler mechanic, he says they are junk.
@@buttonman1831 So is GM and FORD. Pick your poison and remember for every 1 guy that moans here on RUclips there are at least 20 others that haven't ever experienced said problem. People that complain(and rightfully so, considering we give a significant amount of our hard earned money to these big corporations) are always going to be the most vocal.
@@paulj9821 I agree, I don't buy one of those unless I only plan on keeping them for a few years. I want quality, that's why I generally stick to Toyotas or Hondas.
@@buttonman1831 To each his own. We all have different prerequisites. When I was financially struggling, I drove a 1999, Manual transmission Acura sedan that was bullet proof. Then again the 90's was the best era of Japanese cars.
Now that I have money and bare in mind I am a petrohead, I will buy myself an Alfa Stelvio Quadrifoglio. $80,000 mid size high performance SUV with a Ferrari derived engine and drive train. Ferrari top engineers designed the car.
@@paulj9821 Be prepared for Ferrari / Italian "reliability" XD
He made a good point. When the WK went to IFS and then full independent with the WK2 the grand Cherokee lost a lot capability. They made up for it with smart traction control but going back to the solid axle ZJ and WJ you see how much more capable they were.
You are aware the earlt Waggoneers and Grand Waggoners were independent suspension.
'Member when 'offroad worty grand cherokee' was just all grand cherokees with 4Low?
Now they're all off road worthy but you just pointed out what makes this one and others Trail Rated.
Any synthetic oil engine will have issues if you don’t drive the vehicle long enough to let the oil get up to operating temperature. That’s around 10 minutes driving.
this is such an easy answer, go everywhere a wrangler can but do it in comfort
So I own a 2017 Trailhawk and I can echo much of what he said because its a great vic. I went with the GOBI low profile roof rack and it's awesome. I really like the ruggedness and the luxurious comfort in the cab. Though not many, there are just a few negatives. If you are single with a dog or married with one kid and a dog...this vehicle is great. Once your family gets bigger than that, space becomes an issue. We have two kids and about to get a second large breed pup and I'm already looking for something with 3 rows of seating. Just something to think about. Another negative is the fact that there are no A/C vents in the cargo area. We live down south and when I have my lab in the back, it takes her a while to cool off. The Durango and Explorer both have cargo vents, but for some reason Jeep decided not to do that in the Cherokee. Hope this helps you if you are considering one of this awesome SUVs.
I have a 2012 WK2 Grand Cherokee Overland V8 and love it. It's great off road and comfortable and useable on road. It also has great styling that has held up over the years.
Richard A sounds pretty good, the v8 would be awesome
This second gen WK just keeps getting better. Even if it is a ten year old design.
I’m loving my Grand Cherokee Trail Hawk. Does everything well!
In theory the Trailhawk is perfect but I was surprised how stiff the air suspension is, when I test drove one. Is the Limited with no air suspension more comfortable off road?
Yes. I have a limited with a eibach all terrain lift kit on 33 by 17inch (Rubicon wheels) and it is so comfortable aired down.
Really lovely vehicles. I just wish Jeep would make its products more reliable. Parts prices are also a major setback
Lol buy an extended warranty
@Can’t Stop or just lease it. You avoid the planned obsolescence that way.
@Ben Bla Viscous fan failures, transmission failures, alternator failures, air suspension failures, over heating in the Pentastar, are all common problems where I'm from.
@@2Much2lose Unfortunately my Jeep was just over the limit to qualify for an extended warranty. Also, the warranty did not cover everything
@@2W3X4YZ5 bought my Jeep second hand, cash, as it was not in high demand, it was a lot cheaper than comparable Japanese off-roaders.
Just for the record, the snorkel is good for dust and heat too, not just for crossing rivers.
I cross shopped this vs 2018 4Runner TRD Off Road. Ended up with the Toyota because of price, dependability, and features
Lol the 4runner has no features compared to this. The 4runner is stuck in 2004
@@Jeepingshort rear locker, body on frame, crawl control, I could go on but you wouldn't understand
hgtydjdjdgh67889 only pavement queens think their apple car play is an important feature
I’m a Toyota guy, just came from jeeps to my first 18 Tacoma or. So I hear you on your 4Runner. But this Jeep does have the qd2 system which is a full-time 4wd with electronic limited slips both front and rear. I’ve had a 2007 Wk and loved it and after numerous and I mean numerous trails it never failed or got me into anything I didn’t get stuck in due to ground clearance. Luckily the Wk still had a live rear axle, and good support from the aftermarket world so mods was simple and easy. This platform does lack a lot and I mean a lot from the aftermarket community, the 4Runner you can mod anything and everything, with this you are very limited. Jeep really messed up as far as trails go on this with the full independent suspension.
@@hgtydjdjdgh67889 The problem is you don't understand. He is correct the 4runner is a very outdated vehicle. Does that mean it's still not desired by Toyota fanatics, no. So what is your issue with his factual statement?
The perfect Gand Cherokee! I really like the mods too.
Dude knows his stuff, which is awesome!
Great vehicle choice, not much going to stop it off road.
We chose to buy 2 Wk2s over the wranglers. One has almost 200,000 miles the other is still new. (2019)
might be better off wheeling with the air suspension lower than the max and getting a tad of droop. smoother to drop just a tire into a hole than to be maxed and lean the whole car over into it. super stiff max lifted suspensions can ride like having no suspension at all.
I would take a GC over a Wrangler any day, but I don’t go off-roading that much.
Nice, practical, and good looking ride. After watching the video, I'd probably ditch the air ride and go with an actual lift. It seemed very stiff off road. Thanks for the video.
At LOOOOOONNNNGGG last we see Nathan!
Would Storm be willing to come back to try cliffhanger 2.0 in his Trailhawk?
You get a lot more articulation ( and softness) if you leave the suspension in OffRoad#1 until you REALLY need OffRoad#2. A lot of people raise it all the way up upon the first scrape of the skidplates and then leave it up, but you loose soo much plushness and articulation, A LITTLE SCRAPING IS OK.
@@carrollshelby8690 On most trails you only need max height maybe 10% of the time, so why not ride in comfort the remaining 90%. Every Off Road Vehicle scrapes at some point, if you are armored it is a non issue. OR1 is just under 10" of ground clearance which more than most SUVs and trucks. The amount of articulation difference between OR1 & OR2 is almost double.
@@carrollshelby8690 Not pissed, just offering an alternative to leaving it up in OR2 100% of the time. Dirt, Sand & mud are a forgiving surfaces to make contact with, rocks are not, All terrain modes except ROCK, uses less than OR2 and I would agree 90% of the time.
"Call me after you've snapped an axle". you are more likely to damage a CV in OR#2.
@@carrollshelby8690 The difference in ride height between OR1 & OR2 is 1.2 inches, but it feels like 6 inches of additional suspension travel when in OR1, and wheel articulation goes up a lot, which is safer and more productive to forward travel. After 6 hours of wheeling I am less beat up and exhausted, which leads to better decision making. When the vehicle teeters on 2 or 3 wheels it can come crashing down when the weight shifts no matter how gentle you are, OR1 can reduce the teetering.
Love grand cherokee especially in winter time.
Too bad they don't use full time 4x4 like Quadratck 2 that I had in 2007 model.
That thing was best fulltime 4x4.
Going down the unplowed interstate 70 mph in 4 inch deep snow without even a slightest issue.
Not the smartest thing definitely and never recommend it but that is how secure that quadratrack2 was.
Awesome vehicle. Would take this over a Wrangler any day. Best thing about the Wrangler is the top off feature.
Strange. The European GC has had front a front camera since 2015. It is standard on the trackhawk.
that is because i believe it is a Euro Encap law put in place 2015, they tried in Canada to make it law for all new cars to have front and rear facing cameras and lost the battle in court the car companies won, they did make it law for all new cars to have a back up camera
@@99unclebob Definitely not EU law. ENCAP is anyhow only the testing, and not anything related to the laws. It is not common at all to have forward cameras. Even rear cameras not not required here. You can get a new car with out a single camera or parking sensor or active safety system. Only ESC is mandated.
@@pablomax3045 I'm for no options in cars let the driver maintain the ability to stay alert and not distracted I'm pretty much old school this way and have had a good driving history based on depending on myself I drive a car with only one computer in it an old Volvo simple and reliable by no changes are on my Horizon
If you're looking at a roof rack check our Chief Products. They're out of Australia and make a bunch of stuff for the WK2's. Their roof rack is coming out soon and looks great. That's the one I'm looking at getting.
I didn’t hear the price, it’s a nice Jeep.
I prefer my older Grand simply because it more truck like and less soft. And it has solid axles and 4Lo. I don't like the softness of these new SUVs. This one seems more gutsy than most, but I would want something more robust if it was going to spend more time off road. I can't deny how nice this WK2 seems especially with the Hemi. If I could have a Hemi (or just any better V8) in my older Grand I'd be thrilled.