2015 JEEP CHEROKEE towing

WARNING!(Continued)
•Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing you should allow for addi-
tional space between your vehicle and the vehicle
in front of you. Failure to do so could result in a
collision.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs (454 kg)
loaded, it should have its own brakes and they
should be of adequate capacity. Failure to do this
could lead to accelerated brake lining wear, higher
brake pedal effort, and longer stopping distances.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights And Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer size,
stoplights and turn signals on the trailer are required for
motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and seven-
pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved trailer har-
ness and connector.
NOTE:Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicles
wiring harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the vehicle
but you must mate the harness to a trailer connector.
Refer to the following illustrations.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 603

Towing Tips
Before setting out on a trip, practice turning, stopping,
and backing the trailer in an area located away from
heavy traffic.
Automatic Transmission — If Equipped
The DRIVE range can be selected when towing. The
transmission controls include a drive strategy to avoid
frequent shifting when towing. However, if frequent
shifting does occur while in DRIVE, use the Electronic
Range Select (ERS) shift control to select a lower gear
range.
NOTE:Using a lower gear range while operating the
vehicle under heavy loading conditions will improve
performance and extend transmission life by reducing
excessive shifting and heat build up. This action will also
provide better engine braking.
Electronic Speed Control — If Equipped
•Do not use in hilly terrain or with heavy loads.
•When using the speed control, if you experience speed
drops greater than 10 mph (16 km/h), disengage until
you can get back to cruising speed.
•Use speed control in flat terrain and with light loads to
maximize fuel efficiency.
Cooling System
To reduce potential for engine and transmission over-
heating, take the following actions:
City Driving
When stopped for short periods of time, shift the trans-
mission into NEUTRAL and increase engine idle speed.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 605

Highway Driving
Reduce speed.
Air Conditioning
Turn off temporarily.
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle
Recreational Towing — Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
Models
DO NOTflat tow this vehicle. Damage to the drivetrain
will result.
Recreational towing (for front-wheel drive models) is
allowed ONLY if the front wheels areOFFthe ground.
This may be accomplished using a tow dolly or vehicle
trailer. If using a tow dolly, follow this procedure:
1. Properly secure the dolly to the tow vehicle, following
the dolly manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Drive the front wheels onto the tow dolly.
3. Apply the parking brake. Place the transmission in
PARK.
4. Properly secure the front wheels to the dolly, following
the dolly manufacturer’s instructions.
5. Release the parking brake.
CAUTION!
Towing with the front wheels on the ground will
cause severe transmission damage. Damage from
improper towing is not covered under the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
606 STARTING AND OPERATING

Recreational Towing — 4X4 Models With 1-Speed
Power Transfer Unit
Recreational towing is not allowed. These models do
not have a NEUTRAL (N) position in the power transfer
unit.
NOTE:This vehicle may be towed on a flatbed or vehicle
trailer provided all four wheels are OFF the ground.
CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle with ANY of its wheels on the
ground can cause severe transmission and/or power
transfer unit damage. Damage from improper towing
is not covered under the New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty.
Recreational Towing — 4X4 Models With 2-Speed
Power Transfer Unit
The power transfer unit must be shifted into NEUTRAL
(N) and the transmission must be in PARK for recre-
ational towing. The NEUTRAL (N) selection button is
adjacent to the power transfer unit selector switch. Shifts
into and out of NEUTRAL (N) can take place with the
selector switch in any mode position.
CAUTION!
•DO NOT dolly tow any 4x4 vehicle. Towing with
only one set of wheels on the ground (front or rear)
will cause severe transmission and/or power trans-
fer unit damage. Tow with all four wheels either
ON the ground, or OFF the ground (using a vehicle
trailer).
(Continued)
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 607

CAUTION!(Continued)
•Tow only in a forward direction. Towing this ve-
hicle backwards can cause severe damage to the
power transfer unit.
•The transmission must be in PARK for recreational
towing.
•Before recreational towing, perform the procedure
outlined under “Shifting into NEUTRAL (N)” to be
certain that the power transfer unit is fully in
NEUTRAL (N). Otherwise, internal damage will
result.
•Towing this vehicle in violation of the above re-
quirements can cause severe transmission and/or
power transfer unit damage. Damage from im-
proper towing is not covered under the New Ve-
hicle Limited Warranty.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
•Do not use a bumper-mounted clamp-on tow bar
on your vehicle. The bumper face bar will be
damaged.
Shifting Into NEUTRAL (N)
WARNING!
You or others could be injured or killed if you leave
the vehicle unattended with the power transfer unit
in the NEUTRAL (N) position without first fully
engaging the parking brake. The NEUTRAL (N)
position disengages both the front and rear drive-
shafts from the powertrain and will allow the vehicle
to roll, even if the transmission is in PARK. The
parking brake should always be applied when the
driver is not in the vehicle.
608 STARTING AND OPERATING

Use the following procedure to prepare your vehicle for
recreational towing.
CAUTION!
It is necessary to follow these steps to be certain that
the power transfer unit is fully in NEUTRAL (N)
before recreational towing to prevent damage to
internal parts.
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop and shift the
transmission to PARK.
2. Turn the engine OFF.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/RUN position, but
do not start the engine.
4. Press and hold the brake pedal.
5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL.
6. Using a ballpoint pen or similar object, press and hold
the recessed NEUTRAL (N) button (located by the
selector switch) for four seconds. The light behind the
NEUTRAL (N) symbol will blink, indicating shift in
progress. The light will stop blinking (stay on solid)
when the shift to NEUTRAL (N) is complete.
Neutral Switch
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 609

!SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE................647
!TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE...........648
▫Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) Models.........650
▫4x4 Models With 1–Speed Power Transfer Unit —
Wi t h K e y F o b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..650
▫4x4 Models With 2–Speed Power Transfer Unit —
Wi t h K e y F o b . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..651
614 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a disabled vehicle using a commercial towing service. If the
transmission and drivetrain are operable, disabled 4x4 vehicles may also be towed as described under “Recreational
Towing” in the “Starting And Operating” section.
4X4 MODELS
Towing Condition Wheels OFF
the Ground
FWD MOD-
ELS
1–SPEED
POWER TRANSFER
UNIT
2–SPEED
POWER TRANSFER
UNIT
Flat TowNONENOT AL-
LOWED
NOT ALLOWED See instructions under
“Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating”
•Transmission inPARK
•Power Transfer Unit in
NEUTRAL
•To w i nforwarddirec-
tion
648 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES