Grand Cherokee GCM

[Wanderer]

Can anyone point me to where the Grand Cherokee 3L Diesel GCM is actually stated...If you click the linK to RVCS Approval No 48414 the only weights are GVM, Tare and Towing..Not a mention of GCM..Mostly I find that 6099kg is quoted by many but where does this figure offically come from??..The only referrence I can find is "Not on your compliance plate because it's a light vehicle and it isn't required to be listed" & "It’s unlikely you will be fined at the roadside for exceeding your GCM, but you will for being over your towing capacity or GVM. So who is responsible for this mess?"..So what happens if it isn't on you compliance plate - which it isn't on my WK2 Trailhawk in actual fact on mine not even the GVM is stated - so is ignorance an excuse??..Not normally in the eyes of the law...FCA don't appear to state it in their specs..well I can't find it.

[LeCheese]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Can anyone point me to where the Grand Cherokee 3L Diesel GCM is actually stated...If you click the linK to RVCS Approval No 48414 the only weights are GVM, Tare and Towing..Not a mention of GCM..Mostly I find that 6099kg is quoted by many but where does this figure offically come from??..The only referrence I can find is "Not on your compliance plate because it's a light vehicle and it isn't required to be listed" & "It’s unlikely you will be fined at the roadside for exceeding your GCM, but you will for being over your towing capacity or GVM. So who is responsible for this mess?"..So what happens if it isn't on you compliance plate - which it isn't on my WK2 Trailhawk in actual fact on mine not even the GVM is stated - so is ignorance an excuse??..Not normally in the eyes of the law...FCA don't appear to state it in their specs..well I can't find it.

Yeah it’s a mess - I have a feeling I have seen a spec sheet from Jeep’s website with it listed, but it took some digging. Maybe it’s in the manual too? You can always just do the maths with the other figures anyway (GVM + max towing - 350 ball weight). I believe some have had it officially confirmed in writing via an email to Jeep.

It’s definitely 6099 though - every now and then you see 6449 pop up, I think it even used be stated by Jeep themselves, but that figure is essentially counting the ball weight twice (as both trailer weight and payload).

[Wanderer]

Hmmm here is a comprehensive list of most makes and models and it would appear that if it is a Wagon then the majority have no GCM listed including the Jeep Grand Cherokee so the question is: If GCM for a vehicle is not offically list then the Police and Transport possibly don't have it, so how can you be fined for exceeding it if not stated on the compliance plate or DOT type approval (RVCS) or by the manufacturer??

http://www.beadelltours.com.au/tow.html

This site does go onto list in their towing comparison the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a GCM of 6448kg...Are they counting the TBM twice??...Obviously not an official figure I think.
Anyway who is going to tow at 3500kg..Crazy if they do so the question of GCM is purely academic...Possibly GCM is only valid if, for engineering reasons, it is less for the vehicle than the calculations suggest as with most dualcab utes. Towing heavier than the vehicle is asking for trouble regardless of marketing max towing capacity.

[LeCheese]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Hmmm here is a comprehensive list of most makes and models and it would appear that if it is a Wagon then the majority have no GCM listed including the Jeep Grand Cherokee so the question is: If GCM for a vehicle is not offically list then the Police and Transport possibly don't have it, so how can you be fined for exceeding it if not stated on the compliance plate or DOT type approval (RVCS) or by the manufacturer??

http://www.beadelltours.com.au/tow.html

Just because it isn’t easily available / listed doesn’t mean transport won’t have it in their database - I guarantee you that they will. Again, whether or not a manufacturer specifically lists it on a compliance plate or elsewhere doesn’t really matter, as the calculation can be done manually using GVM, max towing, and ball weight. You haven’t been caught over GCM recently and looking for a way out have you mate?

Originally Posted by Wanderer

This site does go onto list in their towing comparison the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a GCM of 6448kg...Are they counting the TBM twice??...Obviously not an official figure I think.

As in my previous reply, the 6449 figure is GVM + max towing, so in essence counting ball weight twice. I believe this used to be the ‘old’ way that GCM was calculated in the ADRs, but it was recently (circa 2015) updated to remove the double up, so you have to subtract the max allowed 350 ball from the equation. I’ve seen it asked om forums a handful of times about why the GC lost 350kg of GCM from 2016 onwards - the answer is always that it didn’t, just that the calculation changed.

[drover]

I have wondered about this for many years and found nothing official but have done the maths and it certainly wouldn't be over 6099, GVM + GTM or GVM +ATM minus ball weight of 350kg............ with a mythical tare of around the 2300kg you only have 680 odd kg as loading, minus any extras fitted, bars, plates, even bigger tyres take away from that figure minus the actual ball weight and add some bums on seats you are quickly at GVM or over, then we have axle load to cover as you can be okay with GVM/GCM but can blow an axle loading....... it can be a nightmare....
The only way to check is go to the scales with your JGC in its usual around town loading, bums and fuel that will give you a true base line and show how much you can really add to it all.... you will certainly be surprised at how little you have left to play with.
My book says my 2015 Laredo has a GVM of 2949kgs, nothing on the plate though...

The scalies go by whats on their scales and your vehicles GVM/GCM/ATM/GTM is their bench mark including vehicle axle loads and its all real world no hypotheticals.... they will do a ticket for any of those that are over.

Most important check that the tow bar fitted including the shank is rated for 350kg not a lower figure. chains need to be rated but shackles don't, while most are they aren't really big enough, try fitting a 3t rated shackle to tow bar.....

My Grand with just 2 bums on seats and a full tank is 2.66t so I have to keep my tow ball below 250kg to comply, the extras on mine are a alloy bull bar 35kgs, S/S bash plates 30 kg, tow bar 40kg, roof rails and awning and side steps, I think there would be many JGC that would blow the scales very easily.

All in all towing anything over 2.8t with the usual mods on the Jeep isn't really possible legally.......... the 6.5t GCM is a figure come up with by people who don't understand.... If you look at a dual cab ute, tow cap 3.5t yet it has a GVM of 3t and a GCM of 6t in the real world impossible to tow 3.5t as who goes away in an empty ute.
The only figures on a van compliance plate that should be taken notice of is GTM and ATM, Tare and ball weight is a myth and should be ignored as they don't exist... its also handy to check the vin matches as well.

[2bad4u]

The GCM (6099kg) has been printed in the JGC spec sheet for the last few years. It was certainly there when I bought mine in 2018. Jeep don’t currently have the spec sheet on their website, but look for an old copy online and it’s there.

If a GCM isn’t stated, then GVM + max towing applies. I think some Landcruiser models didn’t specify a GCM. A lot of vehicles (dual cab utes) have a GCM that is less than GVM + max towing, so their 3500kg towing capacity isn’t realistic due to the GCM.

If you exceed your GCM (stated or not) then your GVM and/or max towing has been exceeded also and you’re getting a fine.

[2bad4u]

Found a copy of the spec sheet from 2017. GCM is specified on page 13 (top right corner).

https://tools.jeep.com.au/brochures/...d-cherokee.pdf