Opinions on the Jeep Gande Cherokee Overland

[NAGG]

Hey Nagg...Chris are u out there..?

This isn't meant to be a thread hi-jack. I just thought I may as well fnd out a few bits & bobs here instead of starting a new thread with a similar topic.

Next question is "have you found anything out yet about how to have a bull bar or nudge bar fitted, given the absence of the tow hook points?"

my car wont take a bull bar because of the adaptive cruise control = There are bars available for models not fitted with the adaptive cruise control.

i'm sure my car has tow hook points

Chris

[NAGG]

Hey Chris,

So, what's the consensus of the Jeep GCs performance on the Sydney trip?

Was the fuel economy & performance etc as you'd expected?

My Laredo diesel is s'posed to be arriving in May. I was talking with the dealer yesterday & mentioned getting a car topper.

He reckons that Jeep don't recommend carrying anything much on the roof. He says that a 68kg load limit would pull it up and something like a car topper boat isn't a good idea.

Have you heard anything about safety warnings and/or limitations of carrying stuff the the roof of the GCs?

I was thinking of getting a 3.7m Ezy-topper that weight in at 50kg.
The dealer mentioned 'unofficially' that that might be ok as the weight is not excessive but the Jeep guidelines say (and he read them out) that items such as car toppers are not recommended.

I wonder if it's just a Health & Safety thingy - just to cover them. Hopefully it not 'cos of a flimsy roof... and maybe air dynamics enters into it somewhere too.

The 68kgs is correct ...... I noticed the sticker the other day

Chris

[PNG1M]

Hey Chris,

Thanks for that information and the video link.

The one I'm ordering is a 2011 model but the dealer said it has not actually been manufactured yet & he has to order it (hence the May estimated delivery).

He reckons it won't have the front tow point hooks as he says that vehicles made in 2012 (even the 2011 models) aren't allowed to have them.

Anyway, I'll be in Brissy next week so I'll try to pop into the dealership and ask a few more q's

png

[timeout]

I'm looking at buying a low K 120,000Ks 5.7v8 2006 G C limited ( it fits my budget )it appears to be in immaculate condition has books showing all services have been done by a Jeep dealership.
Is there anything I should I look for in particular ?
Do they have any weaknesses ?
If so could someone please let me know?
I will be towing a 3000kg caravan.
Thanks

[ozscott]

Can you put rated recover points on the front of these, or do they already have (highly unlikely) rated points?

Cheers

[NAGG]

Hey all

i've just completed a 3850 km tow (5.0M Sea jay Barra Masta & a hell of a lot of camping gear)
Overall I was pretty pleased with the GC as a tow vehicle ...... There was plenty of power to overtake & the ability to climb hills with relative ease (incl the run up the range to Eungella)
Fuel economy for the trip averaged 14.3lt / 100km ....... a bit higher than I would have expected but considering the weight & not driving like miss daisy .... OK.
comfort was superb and appreciated with a couple of 13 hour runs during the trip
It certainly did the trip well

Chris

[PNG1M]

Apparently mine has just hit Australian shores. The dealer is sorting out the customs clearances and bits & bobs and the onroad stuff plus installing the DVD etc.

Touchwood I should have it inside 2 weeks from now..!

Then I'll need to sort out the bull bar and some decent roof racks.

[WalFish]

Well, when you get her you won't be disappointed. I have just come back from a trip from Canberra to Nelson's bay just north of Newcastle and towed the Formosa Tomahawk 580 each way. The Limited CRD made it a very comfortable trip on the freeway, with cruise control set to about 106 km/hr my average fuel was 14.4 litres per 100km for the round trip. She only shifted back to 3rd gear three times on the big hills near the Hawkesbury region, and held 4th gear as a minimum for all the other hills. I found myself charging past a lot of semi-trailers on the uphill runs as the diesel had torque to burn. I was pretty impressed all round given that the boat had a heap - and I mean a HEAP - of camping gear in her for the family for a week and the boot of the car was also full to the brim.

I guess its a Jeep thing.... :-)

[PNG1M]

Yep, I'm looking forward to it. I think it will be around 18th/19th May when I get it.

The dealer reckons that there is still not an aftermarket bull bar for the 2011 GC. He said that about a few weeks back they lent a Jeep GC to a bull bar manufacturing mob who are designing one. They say that a newly designed bull bar will be in production in about a months time.

Is that correct? Or are there already some aftermarket bullbars available?

Roof racks suitable for chucking a tinny on:

Dealer says that the genuine Jeep roof racks are ugly (in his opinion) and a bit exccy at about $600 installed. He says I'm better off going for Thule roof racks.

Any suggestions out there for a good quality roof rack that'd look the part on a new GC and can carry a tinnie?

[bustastu]

Thanks for the info guys, we have just traded our 07 Prado in for a JGC Overland CRD due in late July. The info from the dealer was that the bull bar problem was fixed and that by the time it arrived we could order one.

[PNG1M]

Some good posts in this thread. Interesting reading...

I am going to the dealership on Friday to collect the vehicle.

I'll specifically ask him about the bull bar issue, although he said before that a design is being worked on by a manufacturer.

I also want to confirm the roof racks. At the moment I'll go for Thule unless another you-beaut proven brand jumps out at me.

Has anyone heard of those "shark fin" antenna that you can get. More streamlined & flat to the roof than standard issue & with better signal reception. I read some info about them on another forum and they seem all right. They are at: www.visualgarage.com/

My jeep summary:
2011 Grand Cherokee Laredo (manufactured 2012 - March I think)
Diesel
Colour: True Blue Pearl
Factory tint
DVD player
Tow bar
Quadra-lift


It'll be the first new car I've ever owned, so looking forward to it...

[NAGG]

Some good posts in this thread. Interesting reading...

I am going to the dealership on Friday to collect the vehicle.

I'll specifically ask him about the bull bar issue, although he said before that a design is being worked on by a manufacturer.

I also want to confirm the roof racks. At the moment I'll go for Thule unless another you-beaut proven brand jumps out at me.

Has anyone heard of those "shark fin" antenna that you can get. More streamlined & flat to the roof than standard issue & with better signal reception. I read some info about them on another forum and they seem all right. They are at: www.visualgarage.com/

My jeep summary:
2011 Grand Cherokee Laredo (manufactured 2012 - March I think)
Diesel
Colour: True Blue Pearl
Factory tint
DVD player
Tow bar
Quadra-lift


It'll be the first new car I've ever owned, so looking forward to it...

I'm sure you'll enjoy the new JGC - it's a great car & I'm certainly pleased with mine ..... ( I just got back today from another Bris / Syd / Bris trip ) - faultless / comfortable & economical @ 8.5lt / 100km.
I've now got 3 mates that have orders placed ....... the only downside is the waiting period - currently out to Oct for a diesel .

Chris

[PNG1M]

Hey Chris,

Woudn't read about it...but to cut the long story short, I just got some pics sent through from the dealer (at my wife's request) and he's ordered the WRONG COLOUR. Jeepers...!!! (pun intended). My eyes nearly popped out when I saw it...

I had originally ordered Stone White but changed it to True Blue Pearl. The dealer ended up ordering a diesel Laredo of both colours.
When they arrived a month ago he "thought" that I had ordered the true blue pearl and changed it to stone white.

I told him nicely "No, it was the other way around.."

I texted him about the pics and he phoned me back. He said sorry of course. He sold the blue one a few weeks ago and kept the stone white one to install the options etc (tow bar/DVD) for me. He thought everything was sweet so he was a bit shocked when he realised his error.

Anyway, I'm not gonna wait another 3-4 months for another one to arrive. I'll take the stone white. I just gotta figure out how to break the news to the bubble & strife. My daughter is freaking out already & insisting I get it spray painted. Can't win eh...

Oh, well...the stone white aint so bad as its what I ordered in the first place. That's the colour you've got isn't it?

Wouldn't read about it, would you..!!

Here it is here:

[NAGG]

Hey Chris,

Woudn't read about it...but to cut the long story short, I just got some pics sent through from the dealer (at my wife's request) and he's ordered the WRONG COLOUR. Jeepers...!!! (pun intended). My eyes nearly popped out when I saw it...

I had originally ordered Stone White but changed it to True Blue Pearl. The dealer ended up ordering a diesel Laredo of both colours.
When they arrived a month ago he "thought" that I had ordered the true blue pearl and changed it to stone white.

I told him nicely "No, it was the other way around.."

I texted him about the pics and he phoned me back. He said sorry of course. He sold the blue one a few weeks ago and kept the stone white one to install the options etc (tow bar/DVD) for me. He thought everything was sweet so he was a bit shocked when he realised his error.

Anyway, I'm not gonna wait another 3-4 months for another one to arrive. I'll take the stone white. I just gotta figure out how to break the news to the bubble & strife. My daughter is freaking out already & insisting I get it spray painted. Can't win eh...

Oh, well...the stone white aint so bad as its what I ordered in the first place. That's the colour you've got isn't it?

Wouldn't read about it, would you..!!

Here it is here:

Ouch! ....... I like the white & you will too when you realise that you wont have to wash it every other day

Chris

[PNG1M]

For the roof racks I bought a set of Pro-rack WhisBar HD with a 100kg rating for $225 on sale from Super Cheap auto.
Plus the installation kit (k624) was another $49.00

I'll fit them once I get the vehicle. I chose them 'cos they were the right price and the heavy duty ones looked quite good.
Given the dimensions of your average 3.7m car topper I went for the racks that could take width without dramas.

I won't be loading anything near 100kg but the next model racks down, rated at 75kg just looked a bit flimsy. So I went the more rugged option (same price).

Super cheap also have those wire luggage-basket thingies that sit on your roof racks for $118 (normally $175) so I might get one of those too.

This is at the new Super Cheap Auto that's just opened up on Roma.
Hopefully I'll be back from Brissy in time in Sat to go the grand opening with a free bbq and give-aways. Yayeee!