REALLY? A Grand Cherokee?!!!

I know, I know, it's not the overlanding rig you expect to see traversing mountain passes and desert trails. Those locales are typically the stomping grounds of the Jeep Wrangler, and Gladiator, or Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, and Land Cruiser. The Grand Cherokee is expensive, difficult to modify, and is not well supported by the U.S. aftermarket. However, its off-road prowess is well-known in Australia and there are a few Aussie manufacturers that support the GC and export to North America. Additionally, none of those guys mentioned above come close to the 360 horsepower/390 lbf⋅ft of torque mark with a 7200 lb. towing capacity. When I tallied up the final results, the Grand Cherokee was the only rig left standing.

Of course, we had very specific needs. Our vehicle had to be comfortable on the road, able to accommodate four adults with plenty of leg room, have space for our small black lab, Piper, and be able to pull a 5000 lb. offroad trailer. Oh, and the fact that it would be the successor to fifteen years of exploring in a solid-axle, purpose built, off-road WARRIOR named the "Green Monster", meant it had to have exceptional trail capabilities. Let me tell you, we have NOT been disappointed.

After searching for months, for a 2019+ Grand Cherokee Trailhawk with the 5.7 ltr. Hemi, technology package, and luxury group (sun-roof was a must), we found our 2020 Grand Cherokee in Brownwood, Texas. It arrived on Christmas morning, 2021, with a big red bow and a promising future. This was a "purpose" bought vehicle with the goal of a one-year overlanding expedition in mind.

Our first foray exploring the trail-worthiness of the "GC" put a grin on all of our faces. We traveled to the 2022 Overland Expo in Flagstaff, Arizona, spent our days fondling the merchandise and our afternoons exploring the backroads of Sedona. (We had hoped to find new ground north of Flagstaff, but forest fires kept us away.) We started with a trip across the Outlaw trail with the end goal of exploring ancient cliff dwellings. Next, we traversed Schnebley Hill Trail which we had done years before in the Wrangler. This was the first real test of the Cherokee's off-road manners and we were not disappointed. With the Quadralift suspension set in "Off-Road 2", we had plenty of clearance, albeit a fairly stiff ride. Let's be honest, 32 inch tires on 18 inch rims don't air down the same way 35's on 15 inch rims do. Next came Diamond Back Gulch where we earned the incredulous looks of many a passerbyer as we climbed verticle shelfs, steep drops, and boulders with the potential for cracking low-hanging pumpkins. We trimmed the electronics to 4-low, rock-mode and crawled to our heart's delight. This girl could WHEEL!

Now make no mistake, we were careful and slow. At the time, we did not have a winch and the only armor underneath was that provided by Mopar, which left the radiator, transfer case, and unibody rocker panels, VERY exposed. The ride was, shall we say, taut, a tradeoff for the smooth and quiet on-road performance, but there was no mistaking the Jeep DNA coursing through the GCs chassis. Our confidence in our steel steed grew and we knew we had a winner.

As it stands today, there is still work to be done. We have added the transfer case skid, a bash plate to protect the radiator, a pre-runner style steel front bumper, hidden winch mount and 12K winch, and rock rails. The final under-body accoutrement will be the rear bumper skid. I'm a firm believer that there is no such thing as too many lights, a rack would help with storage, and I also subscribe to the notion that a snorkel is cheap insurance. Each step we take gets us a little closer to being prepared for any eventuality and if overlanders believe in anything, it is being not just self-supportive, but also to be able to help out others in need of assistance. Our beloved "GC" is unique, capable, and if you are looking at options for your off-road chariot, DEFINITELY worth a look.

Until next time, don't stop living, loving, and learning in YOUR Dash!