2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Towing Capacity

If you’re searching for a versatile SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is an excellent choice. The Grand Cherokee was introduced in 1993 and remains popular today. But what is the towing capacity of a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a maximum towing capacity of 7,400 pounds.

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, trim level, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.

How Much Can The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Tow?

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a max towing capacity of 7,400 pounds.

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.

We’ll cover all these different factors and specify each of the related towing capacities in this guide.

You can always reach out to your local Jeep dealership for details to confirm how much your Grand Cherokee can tow.

You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.

2016 Grand Cherokee Towing Capacity By Trim Level

Trim Level	Engine Options	Drivetrain	Towing Capacity (lbs)
Laredo	3.6L V6	RWD or 4WD	6,200
Limited	3.6L V6, 5.7L V8, 3.0L Diesel V6	RWD or 4WD	6,200 (V6) / 7,200 (V8) / 7,400 (Diesel)
Overland	3.6L V6, 5.7L V8, 3.0L Diesel V6	RWD or 4WD	6,200 (V6) / 7,200 (V8) / 7,400 (Diesel)
Summit	3.6L V6, 5.7L V8, 3.0L Diesel V6	RWD or 4WD	6,200 (V6) / 7,200 (V8) / 7,400 (Diesel)
High Altitude	3.6L V6, 5.7L V8, 3.0L Diesel V6	RWD or 4WD	6,200 (V6) / 7,200 (V8) / 7,400 (Diesel)
SRT	6.4L HEMI V8	4WD	7,200 (V8)

There are many trim levels for the 2016 Grand Cherokee. Some engines and features are not available on certain configurations, so they can each have different max towing limits.

Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each package on the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee:

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Towing Capacity by Trim Level

• The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo max towing capacity is 6,200 pounds.
• The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 75th Anniversary max towing capacity is 7,400 pounds.
• The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland max towing capacity is 7,400 pounds.
• The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit max towing capacity is 7,400 pounds.

Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Towing Specs

There are four engine options for the 2016 Grand Cherokee:

3.6L Pentastar V6: This engine is available on all trim levels of the Grand Cherokee besides the SRT. The 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine has 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, and has a max tow capacity of 6,200 pounds.

• 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L Pentastar V6 Engine towing capacity: 6,200 pounds.

5.7L HEMI V8: This engine is optional on the Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, and Summit trim levels. The 5.7L HEMI engine produces 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds.

• 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7L HEMI engine towing capacity: 7,200 pounds.

6.4L SRT V8: This engine is only available on the 2016 Grand Cherokee SRT model. This 6.4L V8 SRT engine produces 475 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, and has a towing capacity of 7,200 lbs.

• 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 6.4L engine towing capacity: 7,200 pounds.

3.0L EcoDiesel V6 Engine: This engine is only available on the 2016 Grand Cherokee Overland and Summit trims. This 3.0L V6 EcoDiesel engine produces 240 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, and has a towing capacity of 7,400 lbs.

• 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0L EcoDiesel engine towing capacity: 7,400 pounds.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Drivetrain Towing Specs

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes standard with rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive is optional on most trims. 4WD is the only option available on some trim level and engine combinations.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee RWD Towing Capacity: 7,400 pounds

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD Towing Capacity: 6,200 pounds

Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee configuration. 

Your Jeep Grand Cherokee may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Tow Package Info

Does The Jeep Grand Cherokee Have A Tow Package?

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers the Trailer Tow Group IV for towing.

Trailer Tow Group IV Package

The Trailer Tow Group IV Package is designed to fully prepare the vehicle for towing and get the max towing capacity on the vehicle. It generally includes:

• Class IV Receiver Hitch
• 4 and 7 Pin Wiring Harness
• Rear Load-Leveling Suspension
• Heavy-Duty Engine Cooling
• Full-Size Spare Tire
• Heavy Duty Transmission Oil Cooler
• Trailer Tow Group IV is generally available on higher trims like the Overland, Summit, and SRT.

NOTE: If your 2016 Grand Cherokee does not have the heavy-duty engine cooling installed, the towing capacity is limited at 3,500 pounds for the Pentastar engine, and 5,000 pounds for the HEMI engine.

Can You Install A Trailer Hitch On a Jeep Grand Cherokee?

If you plan on towing anything with your Jeep Grand Cherokee, you’ll need a tow hitch and wiring harness.

Depending on what you’re towing, you’re going to need a ball mount (aka a trailer ball hitch) so you can attach items for towing.

Make sure to get the right trailer ball size that matches your hitch and trailer.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Tow Hitch

Trailer hitches come in different hitch classes, which are rated for different vehicle sizes and weight limits.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee can use a Class 3 or Class 4 hitch.

Here’s a great option for a Class III 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee trailer hitch:

Here’s a great ball mount option so you can hook up different types of trailers for towing with your Grand Cherokee:

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailer Hitch Installation

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and use proper safety precautions.

Here’s a great video walkthrough on a Jeep Grand Cherokee trailer hitch installation:

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailer Hitch Installation Cost

If you’re considering having a tow hitch added to your Grand Cherokee, expect to pay between $100 and $200 to have a tow package professionally installed (excluding the cost of the tow hitch and wiring harness).

If you’re handy and looking to save money, you can install the trailer hitch and wiring harness yourself.

Does My 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Have A Tow Hitch?

You can start by looking under the rear bumper of your Grand Cherokee to see if you notice a trailer hitch or trailer ball.

That will give you a good indication of if you have a tow hitch already installed on your Grand Cherokee.

Another way to research this is by checking the paperwork that came with your vehicle or taking it to a local dealer to see what’s installed.

Make sure to have your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy if you call the dealer so they can look up the exact specs and whether or not your Grand Cherokee has any towing packages or features installed on it.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Payload Capacity

The maximum payload capacity of the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee is 1,320 pounds.

Trim Level	Drivetrain	Payload Capacity (lbs)
All	2WD	1,320
All	4WD	1,050

This means that the 2016 Grand Cherokee can carry up to 1,320 pounds worth of passenger and cargo weight in the vehicle, which makes it great for road trips and hauling heavier items.

Note that the max payload capacity of your 2016 Grand Cherokee will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 2WD Payload Capacity: 1,320 pounds

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD Payload Capacity: 1,050 pounds

You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Towing Capacity Vs Competitors

The 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a maximum tow rating of 7,200 pounds, which makes it capable of medium-duty towing.

The 2016 Grand Cherokee’s tow capability is similar to its main competitors which are the 2016 Ford Maverick and the 2016 Honda Ridgeline.

Here are some similar vehicles to the 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and their towing capacities below:

2016 Ford Explorer: 5,600 pounds

2016 Toyota 4Runner: 5,000 pounds

2016 Honda Pilot: 5,000 pounds

2016 Chevy Traverse: 5,200 pounds

Data Accuracy

We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner’s Manual on Jeep’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.

Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee.