MY14 Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD Laredo

DRW

Well-Known Member
May 29, 2013
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Beautiful Burrum Heads QLD
Mine sits around 80 degrees at the moment towing at between 105 - 110 KPH in 42 degree temp, it also climbs to 18-19LPH at this speed. Did around 500K today sitting on 100KPH in 38 degree temp, trainie sat around 78 degrees and fuel was down to 15LPH. Message to self SLOW the F DOWN lol, broke a spring on the van also, bugger it will have to wait till I get home only 5-600K from home now.
 
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twscoot

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Jun 9, 2013
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Brisbane
With the CRD and the 8 speed Auto it tows no problem.
I was driving along the freeway on my last trip and whilst on the phone (hands free of course) and forgot that I had the van on the back as my speed edged towards 120kph.
It has a transmission temp gauge and I noticed that it gets around 115 degrees. It seems high to me, not sure what the ideal temp is. General use temp is around 90.
It averaged 13L on the last trip when towing.
The real test will be when I drive the Alpine Way through the NSW alps next week.
My temperatures are similar to this BigSkiddy. Getting up around 115 after a very steep long climb and 2.7t on the back. (8 speed CRD MY14).
As an aside, putting some side steps on this week courtesy of eBay. Mopar lookalikes at a third of the cost and hopefully 80%+ of the quality.
 

BigSkiddy

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May 7, 2013
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Bargo NSW
I was thinking about side steps but worried about ripping them off when off roading.
I have to put the QL down to entry/exit everytime before my daughter gets out or the car. Otherwise I'm in trouble.
 

twscoot

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Jun 9, 2013
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Brisbane
To my fellow Jeep owners... Side Steps.
1.5 hours to fit. $400 delivered courtesy of eBay and I'm pretty happy.
All went smoothly and doesn't seem to limit ground clearance more than the underbody bash plates. Now I can reach the bike racks! (Still need a small step ladder for the centre one!). Just painted the bolts black to finish it off.
Cheers
Andrew

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Patto

Member
Jul 14, 2013
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18
Perth
With the CRD and the 8 speed Auto it tows no problem.
I was driving along the freeway on my last trip and whilst on the phone (hands free of course) and forgot that I had the van on the back as my speed edged towards 120kph.
It has a transmission temp gauge and I noticed that it gets around 115 degrees. It seems high to me, not sure what the ideal temp is. General use temp is around 90.
It averaged 13L on the last trip when towing.
The real test will be when I drive the Alpine Way through the NSW alps next week.

On the run down to Busselton from Perth, about 220k, fairly straight, level bit of road our temp got to about 95 degrees running at 100km/hr. Fuel economy was 14.6, with a bit of a head wind. Did the same trip a couple of months ago, but at a slower 80-85 km/hr at got fuel usage down to around 10l/100. Amasing what that extra bit of speed does to fuel usage.
 

Patto

Member
Jul 14, 2013
82
33
18
Perth
To my fellow Jeep owners... Side Steps.
1.5 hours to fit. $400 delivered courtesy of eBay and I'm pretty happy.
All went smoothly and doesn't seem to limit ground clearance more than the underbody bash plates. Now I can reach the bike racks! (Still need a small step ladder for the centre one!). Just painted the bolts black to finish it off.
Cheers
Andrew

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I got side steps and roof racks fitted for $860 from the recent 4wd show, less than half the $2k the dealer was wanting to charge for side steps alone. I also use the entry/exit setting to make it easier to get in and out, but the steps do help the kids get in and out, as well as being able to reach the roof racks.
 

twscoot

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2013
990
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Brisbane
Towed the van today in 41 degree heat.
Sat on 95-100km/h. After a long slow incline engine oil up to 115 degrees. (Our VW Golf sits around 90 all the time). Back to around 104 degrees for the remainder of the short 120km trip to Nth Coast NSW. Temp gauge on the dash didn't move though.
Transmission temp around 95 degrees.
The Redarc braking system works fine but does need adjustment (backing off) at slow speeds. I can live with it I think.
15 minutes to set up. Love the Starcraft (20.62-3). Working really well for us. And the Jeep is a great tow vehicle. The side steps were very handy getting the bike off the roof!
Cheers
Andrew.
 

twscoot

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2013
990
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Brisbane
Return gold coast trip yesterday averaged..... 7.0 litres per 100km. (Actually it was sitting on 6.9l/100km until the last hill home). That's 40.35 miles per gallon in the old speak. Amazing considering 30mpg used to be considered excellent in my 1980's Honda Civic!

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BigSkiddy

Well-Known Member
May 7, 2013
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Bargo NSW
Mines leaking oil from the timing case. :apologetic:
Booked to get fixed next week.
Ironically it had its 10k service the week prior.
 

twscoot

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2013
990
1,691
93
Brisbane
Towing trips for me have been short (<150km each time) and so I haven't paid much attention. Will give you a better answer once I return from our much longer trip over the April school holidays. On those (flat) trips it was around 15l/100km (2675kg ATM Van).
 

twscoot

Well-Known Member
Jun 9, 2013
990
1,691
93
Brisbane
I have been offered a factory GPS installed with the MY14 map upgrade from my dealer for $995, honestly are they any good or not??

I love my Garmin 3597 which sits in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. Managed to hide the cable all the way to the power socket in the cubby hole. And I can update the maps for free. And use (a very good) voice command control. And see which song is playing..... I personally wouldn't pay the money.