Jeep Grand Cherokee 2012 - Is It Trail Ready?

In a blow to Australian buyers who are expecting their new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is 'Trail Ready' the boffins at Jeep have made alterations to the front assembly of the 2012 Grand Cherokee and removed the heavy duty recovery hooks that were fitted as standard to Australian 2011 models. As we reported last month this issue is now having an impact as 2012 models start to arrive in Australia.
The removal of these hooks has a much larger impact than Jeep Australia realise.
Their award winning (2011 model) Jeep is really no longer ready for serious 4WD work, unless aftermarket recovery hooks are fitted. Jeep have supplied the 2012 Grand Cherokee with a screw in hook that does not appear to be as strong or safe as the twin 2011 hooks. These type of screw in hooks have proven to be unsuitable for safe recovery of a stricken 4WD in the past. Also the changes that they have made to the front end of the Jeep have rendered the 2011 Recovery/Tow Hooks unsuitable for fitting to the revised 2012 versions that are now arriving in dealer showrooms. The 2011 hooks can not be swapped to the new model as the front end has been changed by Jeep.

The Screw In Mount For 2012 Tow Hook - Is It Safe?

We have been informed the whole front assembly has been changed and the metal rail where the 2011 hooks bolt into has been removed. The 2011 hooks require this mount to securely mount to the vehicle. It also appears that the removal of this cross rail has enabled more foam and plastic infill to be fitted (possibly to meet European requirements).
The effect of this alteration has also impacted the fitting of the Mopar Nudge Bar and the aftermarket ECB Alloy Bull Bar. ECB have discovered their Alloy front bar wont fit a 2012 also and are having to re engineer the mounts.
Dont order hooks from the US as these will only fit a 2011 model.
The hook supplied by Jeep is a screw in tie down hook - but until Jeep prove otherwise, this hook is NOT SUITABLE for any serious recovery and is a shipping tie down only. There is no way this hook should be used for anything other than a light tow. It should not be used for use in a snatch strap or winch recovery.
A lot of people who have ordered the new Jeep and have been waiting for many months for delivery, are expecting their new Jeep to be ready for bush driving, having already seen the 2011 fitted with twin heavy duty recovery hooks at the time of making their purchase decision and ordering their vehicle, they will be very dissapointed to find their new Jeep no longer has them.
Now if they get stuck in a mud hole or on a sandy beach there is no heavy duty, safe and secure recovery hook to recover the vehicle safely.
Imagine one of those screw in hooks breaking loose in a recovery and flying through the air at a great speed, it could injure or even kill a person.
The 2012 mount holes are still in the chassis rail so it is feasable that a recovery hook can be manufactured after market.
For more information check out these Jeep Forum threads.
[url]http://jeepgarage.org/showthread.php?t=32051[/url]http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/showthread.php?t=110611