Jeep Grand Cherokee?

[patsgmc]

Gents... Couple quick questions....
Has anyone ever used, or heard of anyone using a jeep to plow with? I've seen the Wranglers, with short blades, but I'm interested in a plow for my Grand.
I'm a home-owner with a 200' drive, for this I have a 79 k20 with an old Fisher "cable belt" (IF it ever goes, I'll by one of them lectric ones:)
At any rate, a friend of mine wants me to take up his plowing slack, 4 apartment complex's. Real tight quarters, tons of back-blading etc. The ole k20 is ok, but the Grand cherokee with the shorter wheelbase, and tighter castor, will turn circles around my Chevy.
I've seen the small poly blades.... but will the front end of a Jeep hold up to the rigors of plowing?
Anyone?
Thanks,
Pat

[festerw]

I don't believe any of the major manufacturers make a plow for GC. You would be able to find a snobear or snowsport to fit, but they probably are not what you want.

[Pelican]

Anyone remember cappaj1? LOL!!!

Pat, there was a lengthy discussion on this at another board, a stubborn Grand Cherokee owner was bound and determined to mount a plow to his vehicle despite recomendations from the membership against it. It became quite comical!!

The Grand Cherokee is built using unibody construction, in other words, the sheet metal forms the structure like most passenger cars made. There is no steel underbody frame like on the other vehicles mentioned for a plow frame to mount to, this is why no manufacturer builds one.

The only thing I've seen that you could get away with is a plastic V plow that doesn't actually mount to the vehicle. It has a pocket you drive into, then the plow pushes against the bumper as you drive. At the end of the pass, you get out, pull the plow around manuall to face the other direction, manuever your vehicle back into the pocket, then make your second pass. I'd never attempt this, but just wanted to let you know it's out there.

[AL Inc]

I would look for a Wrangler or something similar and stay away from the GC. Even the 84' Bronco I have was pretty good in tight driveways, you may want to look into one of those. The welding shop where I park actually put a 7'6" Western on a GC for a customer and I laughed when I saw it. I thought the back wheels were going to come off the ground. I would NOT recommend that!

[mikegamb]

Originally posted by festerw
I don't believe any of the major manufacturers make a plow for GC. You would be able to find a snobear or snowsport to fit, but they probably are not what you want.

Thats wrong meyers and western make them. My father has a western on his GC 6.6 blade if your wondering about the new styles I really don't know.my fathers is a full frame jeep

[Wizard]

I just used Western's online plow selection system, they do not make a plow to fit a grand cherokee. They do make plows to fit a wrangler, the old boxy cherokee, and some of the new liberty's, but not for the Grand. Not sure about meyers. The grand cherokees are built really soft, they're meant to ride nice, not to do heavy work such as plowing. I cannot see a Grand Cherokee making a very good plow vehicle, they're just not built for it. I guess I'd be looking for an old K10 Blazer or a Bronco in your situation. I wouldn't want to destroy a nice Grand Cherokee by pushing snow with it.

[cja1987]

Originally posted by mikegamb
Thats wrong meyers and western make them. My father has a western on his GC 6.6 blade if your wondering about the new styles I really don't know.my fathers is a full frame jeep

Are you sure its a *Grand* Cherokee and not just a "Cherokee"?. Meyer and Western never made mounts for the Grand Cherokee. Western made mounts for the 80 something to 96 Cherokees and meyer made mounts for the Cherokees until 2001 when the Cherokees were discontinued and replaced by the Libertys. IF your father has Western on his GC it must be a custom made mount?. Also if your fathers Jeep is "full frame", its not any kind of Cherokee (grand or regular), all cherokees and Grand Cherokees are Unibody. There is some difference between the Grand Cherokees and the Cherokees, I think it may be crumple zones in the unibody that make the Grand Cherokee "not capeable" of plowing. I have a 7' Curtis on my *Cherokee* not Grand Cherokee and it handles it great. It is Unibody, but the plow mount is bolted to the subframe which takes most of the abuse. I believe the areas where a plow mount would bolt to are completely different between the Cherokees and Grand Cherokees.

[mikegamb]

Originally posted by cja1987
Are you sure its a *Grand* Cherokee and not just a "Cherokee"?. Meyer and Western never made mounts for the Grand Cherokee. Western made mounts for the 80 something to 96 Cherokees and meyer made mounts for the Cherokees until 2001 when the Cherokees were discontinued and replaced by the Libertys. IF your father has Western on his GC it must be a custom made mount?. Also if your fathers Jeep is "full frame", its not any kind of Cherokee (grand or regular), all cherokees and Grand Cherokees are Unibody. There is some difference between the Grand Cherokees and the Cherokees, I think it may be crumple zones in the unibody that make the Grand Cherokee "not capeable" of plowing. I have a 7' Curtis on my *Cherokee* not Grand Cherokee and it handles it great. It is Unibody, but the plow mount is bolted to the subframe which takes most of the abuse. I believe the areas where a plow mount would bolt to are completely different between the Cherokees and Grand Cherokees.

My fathers is the old style box type. i think its a 95 model. he has 3 cherokees 95 02 & 04 grand models..I must be mixing one up with the other sorry. But the old clunker he has does have a western on it so it must be a regular not a grand

[cja1987]

Originally posted by mikegamb
My fathers is the old style box type. i think its a 95 model. he has 3 cherokees 95 02 & 04 grand models..I must be mixing one up with the other sorry. But the old clunker he has does have a western on it so it must be a regular not a grand

Yup. Its the '95, see lots of them with little westerns:cash

[tvpierce]

On a side note...

The belt-driven Fisher hydraulic system is the most reliable/durable system you'll find anywhere. If you offered me an even swap for a brand new Fisher (or any other manufacturer's) electric unit in exchange for my Fisher belt-driven unit, I'd turn you down.

Jeff Pierce

[chipsearthworks]

Originally posted by tvpierce
On a side note...

The belt-driven Fisher hydraulic system is the most reliable/durable system you'll find anywhere. If you offered me an even swap for a brand new Fisher (or any other manufacturer's) electric unit in exchange for my Fisher belt-driven unit, I'd turn you down.

Jeff Pierce

any way to make them move faster ?

[cja1987]

Originally posted by tvpierce
On a side note...

The belt-driven Fisher hydraulic system is the most reliable/durable system you'll find anywhere. If you offered me an even swap for a brand new Fisher (or any other manufacturer's) electric unit in exchange for my Fisher belt-driven unit, I'd turn you down.

Jeff Pierce

They have their advandages, It was best in the early 90's when Fisher was offering the Minuite Mount plows with belt driven hydraulics.

[Joey D]

I honestly think it's lack of buyers as the reason no one makes a plow mount for it. They were more of a luzury suv compared to the Cherokee. They are constructed in the same manor as the Cherokee and if one would work for plowing so would the other. They run the same axle and are both uniboby.

[Rainer]

To the best of my knowledge the Grand Cherokee and the Cherokee do not share the same axles. The Grand uses a much weaker model. Someone correct me if I'm wrong here!The Cherokee makes a very nice plow vehicle for smaller lots and driveways. I would highly recommend them to anyone that wants to do a little plowing to make some extra money. They are inexpensive and plentiful. Best of all they are very easy to service and maintain. Although this is only my second season plowing, I found the Cherokee to perform very well. As for the Grand Cherokee I don't think I would be attempting to put a commercial quality plow on one.
Just my thoughts.

[Joey D]

They use the dana 30 front axle. I am betting that it's more of a not enough interest as to why no plow. Look under your Cherokee and tell me what makes it stronger than the Grand.

[Jerre Heyer]

On a far side note..........

Have been making Grand Cherokee mounts for several years and they are all still plowing. Put 2 meter meyers on them and several blizzard 6.8 plows. These are used by homeowners and contractors in the short Erie, PA winters pushing 80-150" of snow.

Grand has quite a good construction in the unibody frame and hangs and handles well with a plow.

Sorry Pelican...........


Jerre

[mikegamb]

Originally posted by Jerre Heyer
On a far side note..........

Have been making Grand Cherokee mounts for several years and they are all still plowing. Put 2 meter meyers on them and several blizzard 6.8 plows. These are used by homeowners and contractors in the short Erie, PA winters pushing 80-150" of snow.

Grand has quite a good construction in the unibody frame and hangs and handles well with a plow.

Sorry Pelican...........


Jerre

Thanks for the info. i was hoping you would jump in with any input you had

[patsgmc]

Ok,
Thank you for the replies...
That, like it always does, brings up another question...
Quoting here:

On a far side note..........

Have been making Grand Cherokee mounts for several years and they are all still plowing. Put 2 meter meyers on them and several blizzard 6.8 plows.

Who has been making the mounts, you personally?

I know that it certainly wouldn't be a common idea, a $40,000 station wagon with a plow, but for a few of us, it would be handy.

I have no doubts about the driveline standing up to the abuse, I have "tested" it's integrity on more than a few occasions.
I am mainly concerned with how the front end will handle an extra 500 pounds balanced 3' in front of it. (No leafs here!)
That and the ball joints, tie rods, sway bar end links, all on the thin side, compared the Ole Chevy it's parked beside.
OK, that's all for now.
Thanks again gents,
Pat

[Pickering Snow]

Pat

You would have to meet Jerre to understand him yes Jerre is fabbing the mounts for grand cher i talked to him last night while this topic was in debate in the chat room matter of fact Jerre talked to me on the phone for almost 9 parking lots i plowed lol anyway i worked for a cpd dealer and no the major plow makers never intended for a plow to be put on a zj thats why you cant find anything i often remember the old grand wag i plowed with sooooooo comfortable. But anyway back to Jerre he makes the plow frames for the grand cher and iam sure with the right amount of coin he could fig a way to hang a 810 on one thats what the far side is the guy is far right:D but one hell of a guy!!!!

[cja1987]

Originally posted by patsgmc
I am mainly concerned with how the front end will handle an extra 500 pounds balanced 3' in front of it. (No leafs here!)
That and the ball joints, tie rods, sway bar end links, all on the thin side, compared the Ole Chevy it's parked beside.
OK, that's all for now.
Thanks again gents,
Pat

Well, the blizzard 680 LT does not weigh 500 LBS, that would be too heavy. If iam not mistaking i believe it weighs in the 360 LB range?

Jerre
Question for ya: Is there really a big difference between the unibody between the Cherokees and the Grand Cherokees or is it just a common myth that the Grands are not "Plow Capeable". Its cool that you fab up mounts for people too, i hear alot of good things about you and its nice to see a plow dealer who takes care of his customers and does not have "no can do syndrome" like most dealers around here. It seems that you go the extra mile to make your customers happy!

[wyldman]

The unibodies on both vehicles are quite similar,and both will handle a small plow.

I think the problem with the Grands,is the have a crumple zone in the frame,right behind where the truck side mount would attach to the unibody.Adding the impact forces from a plow to this area is not advised,as it will crumple,and damage the truck.

[PROMOWER]

Agree 100% with above post, and plow will go on a GRAND CHEREOKEE SPORT thats the difference. Has a full frame under it. Sport is the box style body!!

[patsgmc]

Originally posted by PROMOWER
Agree 100% with above post, and plow will go on a GRAND CHEREOKEE SPORT thats the difference. Has a full frame under it. Sport is the box style body!!
Niether of the Cherokees has a frame, owned both, both Unibody.
That and I think that it's Jeep Grand Cherokee, or Jeep Cherokee.
The Sport badge just denotes that the car is stripped, options wise. Laredo is loaded, Limited is loaded with leather etc.
At any rate, thanks for the replies.
I'm not sure which direction to go in next, I guess that the old K20 will have to do for now....(though I did see a nice Wrangler Rubicon on the lot....)
Thanks again all,
Pat
P.S.
Here is a Jeep Cherokee history link...
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/generations/articles/46011/article.html

[cja1987]

Originally posted by PROMOWER
Agree 100% with above post, and plow will go on a GRAND CHEREOKEE SPORT thats the difference. Has a full frame under it. Sport is the box style body!!

The "box style body" is called just plain "Cherokee", not "Grand Cherokee Sport". Neither the Cherokee nor the Grand Cherokee have full frames, both are unibody. As Wyldman said, the difference is crumple zones in the Grand Cherokee near where a plow would mount.

[SIPLOWGUY]

I'd love to put a plow on the wife's G/C but came up empty. It's an awesome snow vehicle! I just might call Jerre!

[patsgmc]

Originally posted by SIPLOWGUY
I'd love to put a plow on the wife's G/C but came up empty. It's an awesome snow vehicle! I just might call Jerre!
I hear ya SIP...
My Grand is the best thing I've ever owned in the white stuff.
Switched tires after the first winter, Bridgestone Dueler Revo's...
Awsome. Nothing I've driven accelerates as hard, or holds as well, and the four wheel ABS just sweetens the deal.
Oh well.
Pat

[SIPLOWGUY]

Funny thing is I had Wranglers on the Jeep, Uniroyals on the Jimmy. I switched the tires because the Jeep is so much better in the snow and the Jimmy has the plow. I felt it was more appropriate for the Jimmy to have the more aggressive tire.

[CT18fireman]

Well according to Jerre, we owe cappaj1 an apology. Just goes to show you, people may have ideas differing from the norm. Some may work and some may not.

Apparently this will work.

Hey Jerre can you make a mount for a Nissan Pathfinder then?