[LuvMyCommander]

Ok this is something that has been bugging me and I need to put my mind at ease- is it ok to do a little off-roading with a 3.7L V6 XK?

I know that it's common sense not to do any steep up-hill climbing but would our 3.7L XK engines and trannies be decent for off-roading once in a long while? Can I do short steep climbs? This is my first Jeep so I'm still not fully aware of what it's capable; I'm starting to regret not having gone with at least a 4.7L V8. My main reason with having purchased the V6 was because this is also my daily commuter and I commute about 90 miles a day so I wanted to save a little on gas.

I would like to hear what other V6 owners have been capable of doing with their rigs and just thoughts in general about them.

Thanks!

 

[fieldtip]

I hope so, because I'm climbing mine (stock due to insufficient funds). I bought a 4x4 to be used as a 4x4 as well as daily driving. But if it's a bad idea i would also like to know so I can trade it in. But no problems thus far (besides being alittle lower on ground clearance and some worn out tires that came with it).:banana_hitit:

 

[07JeepXK]

Here is my friends newly lifted 05 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has the 3.7 Liter V6 with QT I (drivetrain identical to yours) and it did extremely well on its first off road trip. Granted it has a 4 inch lift and 33 inch mud tires but for not having 4 low I was quite impressed. Get a spacer lift and some 265/70's and you will see how capable your commander is. Throw an ARB locker in the rear and it will be even more capable.

 

[LuvMyCommander]

That Cherokee looks pretty mean! I have taken my XK for some light off-roading but I was concerned that I might cause mechanical damage since it might be a little under powered; it certainly didn't feel under powered though. I do plan on lifting it and adding slightly bigger tires but in a way I was also wondering if it is worth it on a V6.

 

[07JeepXK]

If all you plan on doing is light off roading then you will be fine. Your jeep is very capable even though it doesnt have 4 low. If you think its under powered you could always swap out your 3.07 gears for some 3.73's add a cold air intake, exhaust....etc... the list goes on and on.

 

[Smitty1970]

I have the V6. I added a 2" Rough Country lift and Goodyear Duratracs in 245/75R17. I still have the stock shocks and struts. I attended East Coast Camp Commander at Flagpole Knob in Va. I didnt have any problems and I still had stock tires at the time. I went everywhere that everyone else went and I didnt seem to hold anyone up. The key is to take it easy and be smart and you wont tear anything up. This goes with any vehicle. I do wish it had 4-Lo and I do want to add skid plates. I am happy with it and believe you will be also. Here are some pics and videos. I was filming the videos so Im not actually in them. The point is I went through the same trails.
http://s624.photobucket.com/albums/tt329/ANeilSmith/East%20Coast%20Camp%20Commander%2009/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrmoBPYqFYE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcHSfcvIZ4M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_-DEKIOiCU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5MViJePo9c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRw6hF3oYV8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I3Z05W0CrA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra3LD4pbdr4

 

[dhh3]

No 3.7 for me!

For what its worth, my previous ride was an 06 Liberty Renegade, with the 3.7 V6. According to the specs that I have, a 4WD Liberty with the 3.7 weighs 3,857 pounds and the 4WD Commander with the 4.7 comes in at 5,091pounds. I do not know the difference in the weight of the engines, but this indicates that the Liberty was at least 1,000 lighter. The Liberty had the Off Road Group with the Trac-Loc rear differential (I don't remember the ratio) and the Trailer Tow Group. It was rated to tow 5,000 pounds. My aluminum bass boat and engine, loaded with gear, is not quite 2000 pounds. Level ground, the Liberty did OK, but any hills, it struggled, even using Tow/Haul. When I shopped for my Commander, salesman at one dealership insisted on selling me a V6 Commander ("that was all I needed"), because that is all that he had at the time. So I went across town to the other Jeep Dealer and bought one with a V8. The Commander never knows when the boat is in tow. I know there are a lot of members here who swear by the 3.7, but for me, it was never a consideration. More fuel for the fire! :SM127: rangehat:

 

[Jeepmansho]

well I can tell you I have no complaints with mine , when I was home in December on RnR I was driving through 2 and 3 feet of snow so that impressed the hell out of me

 

[Smitty1970]

For what its worth, my previous ride was an 06 Liberty Renegade, with the 3.7 V6. According to the specs that I have, a 4WD Liberty with the 3.7 weighs 3,857 pounds and the 4WD Commander with the 4.7 comes in at 5,091pounds. I do not know the difference in the weight of the engines, but this indicates that the Liberty was at least 1,000 lighter. The Liberty had the Off Road Group with the Trac-Loc rear differential (I don't remember the ratio) and the Trailer Tow Group. It was rated to tow 5,000 pounds. My aluminum bass boat and engine, loaded with gear, is not quite 2000 pounds. Level ground, the Liberty did OK, but any hills, it struggled, even using Tow/Haul. When I shopped for my Commander, salesman at one dealership insisted on selling me a V6 Commander ("that was all I needed"), because that is all that he had at the time. So I went across town to the other Jeep Dealer and bought one with a V8. The Commander never knows when the boat is in tow. I know there are a lot of members here who swear by the 3.7, but for me, it was never a consideration. More fuel for the fire! :SM127: rangehat:

Is the op asking about trailer towing or off-roading ?

 

[Fohn_Jargo]

I have the same rig so here is what I think. Trails and hills okay. Rock climbing and stump crawling, not so much.

The point is, have fun doing what you feel comfortable with. You certainly don't want to break your daily driver anyway even if you did have all the bells and whistles.

That's my opinion anyway.

John

 

[dhh3]

Is the op asking about trailer towing or off-roading ?

I was using the towing as an example. In my opinion, the V6 is underpowered, and the difference in the gas milage is too slight for consideration. If this engine struggles uphill in a vehicle with 1/5 less weight, towing well within its limits, how can it be expected to handle anything but moderate offroading in the Commander? Just my 2 cents.

 

[indymtb]

I just sold a V6 GC laredo. I went to Colorado and we used it to go places our minivan wouldn't. It was awesome off road with the V6 and I can't think of a time where I needed low. If I chose not to go someplace it was because of damage fear, not power. These are great vehicles and the only time I got a little frustrated with the V6 was when I was going up I70 at 65mph and the engine was struggling a bit. The off-road stuff was never a problem although I didn't try to find out just how rough I could go.

 

[volcomedout27]

I just checked the listing! It has the silver next the the shifter!!! Saaaweeeet! thanks! So this means it is a Quadra track II right??

 

[jeep5253]

I just checked the listing! It has the silver next the the shifter!!! Saaaweeeet! thanks! So this means it is a Quadra track II right??

If it has the the chrome lever on the console next to the shifter then it is either QTII or QDII.

 

[dhh3]

I just sold a V6 GC laredo. I went to Colorado and we used it to go places our minivan wouldn't. It was awesome off road with the V6 and I can't think of a time where I needed low. If I chose not to go someplace it was because of damage fear, not power. These are great vehicles and the only time I got a little frustrated with the V6 was when I was going up I70 at 65mph and the engine was struggling a bit. The off-road stuff was never a problem although I didn't try to find out just how rough I could go.

What is the weight of the GC compared to the Commander? I think Chrysler screwed up by even offering the V6 in the Commander. If the Commander was supposed to be a premium vehicle, a choice above the GC, why even offer the V6? IMHO, offering the V6 in the Commander just diminishes its capacity. Is a V6 offered in the Navigator? I think not. The 6 in an X5 is turbocharged. If the Pentastar (Phoenix) V6 was available, then maybe, yes, offer it as an option. Or the diesel V6 from the XH. But not the humble 3.7 from the Liberty, Hell, the Wrangler doesn't offer the 3.7! What does that tell you?:icon_confused:

 

[indymtb]

I think the GW for the 4wd laredo was 4000. I am guessing the hemi adds some weight so there was probably about a 600-700 lbs difference minimum. I don't know why Jeep thought they could make the car heavier, taller, longer, less aerodynamic and not feel that they needed a bigger engine for it. The engineers must of jumped ship to GM so they could give the H3 an undersized engine as well!

 

[dhh3]

I think the GW for the 4wd laredo was 4000. I am guessing the hemi adds some weight so there was probably about a 600-700 lbs difference minimum. I don't know why Jeep thought they could make the car heavier, taller, longer, less aerodynamic and not feel that they needed a bigger engine for it. The engineers must of jumped ship to GM so they could give the H3 an undersized engine as well!

If you are saying that the GC weighs in at around 4K, this just proves my point. The Liberty weighs in at 3,800. A Commander with the 3.7 is grossly underpowered. I think marketing had something to do with this. Do not get me wrong: I love my Commander; in fact, I love all Commanders. I just feel that Chrysler did their customers a disservice by even offering the 3.7 in the Commander. This is a premium vehicle - a V8 should have been the only option.rangehat:

 

[Smitty1970]

I agree , the Commander is underpowered with the V6. If I had to do it over, I would get the 4.7. The fuel mileage with the v6 is not much better anyway. Now as far as off roading goes, I think the V6 would surprise you guys that haven't been in or been around to see one.

 

[07JeepXK]

What is the weight of the GC compared to the Commander? I think Chrysler screwed up by even offering the V6 in the Commander. If the Commander was supposed to be a premium vehicle, a choice above the GC, why even offer the V6? IMHO, offering the V6 in the Commander just diminishes its capacity. Is a V6 offered in the Navigator? I think not. The 6 in an X5 is turbocharged. If the Pentastar (Phoenix) V6 was available, then maybe, yes, offer it as an option. Or the diesel V6 from the XH. But not the humble 3.7 from the Liberty, Hell, the Wrangler doesn't offer the 3.7! What does that tell you?:icon_confused:

Yeah, and the wranglers only come in a 3.8 liter. No difference in my eyes.

 

[Kansas1230]

I think it's just a matter of good, better, and best. Fortunately, having the smallest engine doesn't mean that you're driving an incapable vehicle. Having power to all four wheels (vs 2wd) plus decent ground clearance will allow even the smallest member of the family to handle off-pavement driving better than many vehicles. Of course a larger engine, low-range transfer case, and limited slip differentials will only improve this capability, but I still think the 3.7 QT1 combo is adequate for most situations.


Having said that, I still wish I had a 4.7 QDII.