Towing w/ Jeep Liberty

[N365PA]

Hey Ya'll,
My wife and I have a Jeep liberty (3.6L 6 cyl) with a towing capacity *cough* of 5,000lbs. (We had a Cherokee many years ago that had the same capacity...but didnt do well with anything over 3,000).

Anyone on here tow anything with a liberty? We're looking at a larger pop-up vs. "expandable" travel trailers and currently weighing the pro/cons. Growing up my parents have had 2 pop-ups, 1 23ft travel trailer, now back to a pop-up. We're just looking to get our first!

Thanks!

Clint

 

[Born 2 Fish]

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[NLPRacing]

Hey Ya'll,
My wife and I have a Jeep liberty (3.6L 6 cyl) with a towing capacity *cough* of 5,000lbs. (We had a Cherokee many years ago that had the same capacity...but didnt do well with anything over 3,000).

Anyone on here tow anything with a liberty? We're looking at a larger pop-up vs. "expandable" travel trailers and currently weighing the pro/cons. Growing up my parents have had 2 pop-ups, 1 23ft travel trailer, now back to a pop-up. We're just looking to get our first!

Thanks!

Clint

Friend of mine bought a 18' hybrid trailer that only weighed about 4000 pounds loaded and pulled it with his Liberty. It didn't do very well. The Liberty is so small that you end up with the "tail wagging the dog". He has since purchased a V10 Excursion and then later traded his trailer in on a 35' Surveyor TT with 2 slides. He really likes his current set-up.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Personally, I wouldn't tow with it, but the real question is: WWLD?

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Personally, I wouldn't tow with it, but the real question is: WWLD?

 

[I'mDownWithDisney]

Having rented a few Liberty's I would say that it would struggle pulling a greasy string out of cat's butt.

 

[2goofycampers]

Having rented a few Liberty's I would say that it would struggle pulling a greasy string out of cat's butt.

That right there is funny, i don't care who you are.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Maybe a small pop up but thats it, as has already been said, the short wheelbase doesnt make for a sturdy tow platform.

Mind you that this is free advice and worth exactly what you paid for it ....

 

[bama_ed]

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Frank you are SO bad! I know what you're doing.

For the Liberty in your owner's manual towing section there should be a weight for the combined maximum vehicle/trailer combination. As I posted in another thread (and have the figs handy) the combined weight was 8600 pounds. My vehicle has a sticker on the side of the drivers door that said the gross vehicle weight rating of the van (GVWR) is 5700 pounds (max the van can handle weight-wise alone). The difference, 2900 pounds, is the max trailer you can carry with all the stuff in it (trailers carry have an unloaded weight and gross weight). So your gross weight should not exceed 2900 which means the empty weight will be down in the 1800-2000 pound range. So run your number and you will probably be looking for a small pop-up as Scott said.

Just cuz others have done it and taken chances doesn't mean you have to. Check your numbers and select your trailer accordingly. Trust me, if you have an accident the other guy's insurance company will do this math if you haven't and if you cross the line you will end up paying.

Really it's math so simple even an Auburn fan could do it!

Bama ED

 

[retired and happy]

Bama Ed,

I was with you until that last line. That hurt.

 

[bama_ed]

Bama Ed,

I was with you until that last line. That hurt.

Ken,

Thanks for your honesty. Don't feel too bad about that. I mean no harm.

I'm sure Judy can explain it to you.

Bama Ed

 

[Born 2 Fish]

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I can't believe Larry hasn't chimed in yet. I mean, NLPRacing used the same tail wagging the dog line I used a couple years ago that set Larry off.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Our best friends have a Liberty.
2) They LOVE it for all of their driving.

3) But, they have learned that it does have limitations.
4) Towing anything larger than a small utulity trailer around town is tough.
5) Even a small utuility trailer at freeway speeds gets difficult.
6) The vehicle just does not have enough mass to control the trailer.
7) The trailer actually controls the car.
8) I think towing a popup on the highway could be a safety problem.