Last weekend, we picked up our 26' Rockwood 2605 Ultralight travel trailer from the RV dealer. This weekend, we stayed at a campground/amusement park:

Knoebel's Grove

It's an old-fashioned amusement park that uses tickets for rides, with a campground adjoining it. Since admission to the park is completely free, you are basically free to walk into the park anywhere where the campground borders the park. The food is great and the people are very friendly. We had our dogs with us and they even allow dogs in the park (on a leash).

Our Rockwood was 4799lbs delivered with options, plus 190lbs for the Hensley hitch, plus propane and battery, plus a couple hundred pounds for various gear (we kept it light). We were definitely over our 5000lb limit. I'd like to get to a scale soon to measure our trailer weight, and see where the weight distribution stands.

Our CRD has a Suncoast torque converter, which has been proven to be an excellent towing upgrade. The CRD merges into traffic from a stop impressively well with the improved torque conversion. The CRD tows great at highway speed, and on flat ground I have to be careful not to cruise at 65-70mph in 5th by accident. With the Hensley, the ride was very stable despite winds and tractor trailers. We had the CRD's tires aired up to 40psi, but you can definitely feel the Jeep squirming around due to wind and rough roads. Higher load rating tires would improve the ride.

It does slow down a bit up the steeper, longer grades. Even in 3rd, we couldn't pull some long steep grades without falling out of lockup in 3rd. We are getting an Inmotion Stage 2 calibration next, plus considering an exhaust upgrade to an Aero 2525 muffer. I was debating going a full 3" cat-back, but don't know whether any gains would make it worth the trouble and cost.

The trip was about 200 miles round-trip, and we got 14.2mpg during the trip. This was with switching between 3rd and 4th on the highway as the grades required it, plus dealing with traffic and hills for the last 20 miles to/from the park (not much time spent in lockup).

More than a few times we got, "Did you pull that trailer here with that Jeep??" from folks walking by. I always responded "Yep, it's a diesel" and they either began asking us lots of questions or just walked away scratching their heads.

- Chris

what kind of brake control did you get? Also do you have sway control of some sort on the hitch set-up? How much did the Libby sag when you set the trailer on?

Inquiring Mind......

Gary

Don't waste money on the aeroturbine. Way overpriced for having nothing inside it but a perforated pipe. Their power claims are bogus. Just get a glasspack if you want a straight-through system.

I have no problems with my Aero2525, but would get a simple glasspack if I had it to do over again.

Lewis

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Mail Rated 2005 Red CRD Sport with large rectangular hole in top right behind the EVIC and above the heated leather seats.
2004 Jetta TDI

Hi Gary,

We used a Hensley Arrow hitch. The Hensley Arrow hitch is a remarkable hitch which basically prevents trailer sway from happening in the first place. It uses a four bar linkage and does not pivot like a conventional hitch. It's pricey, but this weight/length combination would not be towable by the CRD with a conventional friction or cam-based sway control hitch. We're using 1000lb weight distribution bars with the Hensley.

We also used Hensley's TruControl inertial brake controller. Click here to see pictures and comments from the installation:

Hensley TruControl brake controller installation

Tulsa, CATCRD, thanks for your advice on the Aero turbine muffler. I got a little suspicious when the Aero website started talking about the "thermaldynamic" design of their muffler. Having taken thermodynamics in college, I can't say much of it had to do with exhaust gases recombining to reduce noise...

Here's a picture of our combination:



- Chris

Thats an impressive picture. It's nice to see an PA Crd, We are a rare bunch around here.

Anyway I took off my Stock muffler are replaced it with a straight pipe. It's not any louder as long as you route the exhaust out the back like the stock set-up. I just drove to Budd's Creek Maryland on Saterday and got 28.4 mph. That's running with a straight pipe and my Sp module set on "0". I was doing 75 - 80 mph most of the time. And I don't have my ORM installed yet.

Taking off the stock muffler does make a big difference.

Looks like you might need some airbags in the rear.

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Curtis
Lost # 3914
2006 CRD Limited
Sp Diesel Module
Samco Boost Hoses
K&N Performance Air Filter
Straight Pipe (No muffler)
SEGR
Mopar Skids
Cummins In Tank Lift Pump
245/70R 16 Wild Country AT's

I seem to have created quite a stir on the RV.net forum:

link to RV.net thread

- Chris

The Euro CRDs are rated to pull 7,500# I think...different laws/regulations I suppose. With that Hitch/Brake setup, you are probably OK...even tho you are probably at the limit Better than stock tires would be my next addition (you might have already donw that)

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Founder of L.O.S.T.
2006 CRD Sport
Mods: GDE Hot Tune w/ 364#@2000rpm/Air Box /3" Str8 Exhaust/ASFIR Alum Skids/245-75R-16 Cooper STT PRO/OME LIFT w/Clevis & 4 Spring Isos/AirTabs/Rigid 10" S2 LED/4xGuard Ctr Matrix Bumper
Drag Strip:Reac=.1078_60ft=2.224_1/8=10.39@64.8mph_1/4+16.46@80.8mph

I think you're right on the money - despite the fancy hardware, I'm pretty much at the upper limit. I'm definitely at my comfort limit. We've got a set of Firestone Destination A/Ts, although there is some sidewall squirm on grooved and bumpy roads due to the weight distribution, and I think slightly higher load range tires would remove some of that squirm.

- Chris

Nice set up Chris. I know you have the SC TC and once you're tuned are you going to have PSI/EGT gauges?

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2006 CRD Limited
V6 Air Filter Box Mod with Amsoil EaA-201 Air Filter
Mann Provent CCV Filter
Magnaflow Muffler
Mopar Skids
Mobil 1 5W40
Fumoto Oil Drain Valve
Amsoil Throughout

Those RV folks are really ripping on you Chris. You might want to point out the fact that a cab on a tractor trailer rig has a short wheelbase too and is dramatically out weighed in most cases by the load it is pulling. I am guessing that your tow rig to trailer ration is much better than many who post there.

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Dave

'06 CRD Limited, Lt. Khaki, MOPAR Slush Mats/Skids, DrawTite Front Hitch, Mag Lite, Yakima Bars, Thule Bike Rack, Fumoto, ORM, 245/70 Revo 2

Wish list: Lift, Boulder Bars, Something Bigger in the Front and Back, More Lights

Hey I hang out on RV.net sometimes for tips on my truck camper. About 1/2 of the posts are from self-appointed weight police, so don't let it get you down. Some drivers are safe at X, while some aren't even safe to tow my daughters little red wagon.

Glad to hear about your real world experiences towing with the Liberty. Our next RV will be a small travel trailer and I've been wondering how it would do.

Happy RV'ing.

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2005 Limited CRD

Hi Cowcatcher,

You raise a very good point, and a couple people actually pointed out that very fact earlier in the thread. In this post someone mentions that "Seems like some people are determining with their eyeballs that the Liberty is way to small a tow vehicle" and I think that's a big part of it. Looking at the picture, it's a small Jeep pulling a very big trailer, and it's easy to believe that the trailer is much heavier than the Jeep. Most people see a 26' travel trailer and think 7500lbs. This is true of the normal wood-framed models, but we purchased an ultralight which is basically a fiberglass shell over an aluminum skeleton. They're not as strong or sturdy as conventional trailers, but they're very light. With my wife and I and our two dogs in the Jeep, the tow vehicle is heavier than the trailer - but you'd never think it from looking at the picture!

It's not a hitch-it-and-forget-it setup, but it seems capable so far. I'll take it easy and get to know the setup, and if I feel unsafe at any point, we'll change plans.

- Chris

And that's with towing that red wagon with a 1 ton Dodge dully with a Cummins 4 door Did you notice the sig's My wife and I have a 17' Casita that comes in about 3500# and with a proper setup it handles real well

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Atlantic Blue 06 CRD Limited (his)
Joined by a 2000 XJ Classic (hers)

Just for fun over at the RV Forum...get a pic with a boat on a trailer added to the back of that train...and tell them it tows even better now that you added the boat. Also tell them that you launched the boat while you were completely hooked up...

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Founder of L.O.S.T.
2006 CRD Sport
Mods: GDE Hot Tune w/ 364#@2000rpm/Air Box /3" Str8 Exhaust/ASFIR Alum Skids/245-75R-16 Cooper STT PRO/OME LIFT w/Clevis & 4 Spring Isos/AirTabs/Rigid 10" S2 LED/4xGuard Ctr Matrix Bumper
Drag Strip:Reac=.1078_60ft=2.224_1/8=10.39@64.8mph_1/4+16.46@80.8mph

There are some good points made on the RV forum. There are also some that are not so good. I had to put my 2 cents in also! I have a 38' diesel motorhome and I have seen a lot of rigs that should not be aloud on the road. I spent 6 years going full time, 12 mo a year. I don't know if you have updated the brakes or not but I would. If will be very interesting to see how your emergency braking test turns our. TRUTH TIME: I have been thinking of getting a trailer for the KJ. Selling the motorhome.

Terry

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2011 Ford F-150 XLT 4X4

7500 give or take, the SPEED LIMIT is what alows you to tow that much, 100kph(62mph) only with brakes. I have no issues towing the race car, parts and the heavy trailer 250 miles once a month to and from the track. Up hill and down hill no issues at all.

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No longer a CRD or Jeep owner. Selling everything I have, needs to go as I need the room for a project.

Today I placed an order for five Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires, 225-75R16, load range D. They are out of stock but I should get them sometime later this month.

- Chris

Honest question, no insulting tone meant.....How much money do you think you're going to sink into this vehicle to make it capable of what you're asking it to pull? I started adding up what you've spent (over the vehicle cost) and figured about $6k or am I way off?

I thought about trying to get my Liberty set up to tow but I already have a fs chevy truck set up for towing. At current fuel costs and only figuring $3500 for hitch and brake control (assuming the Hensely 1600# set-up), it would take at least 15000 tow miles to break even. Add Inmotion, SunCoast, tires and ?? would double that mileage. I don't think I could spend that much time towing though I'd like to try

Just curious....
Gary

Hi PhoenixCRD,

I think that's a very good question. I have asked myself this very same question - how much money am I going to spend upgrading this vehicle, and how much of it is lost if we decide we need another tow vehicle?

I can answer it by saying I've spent a lot of money upgrading the CRD, but not a lot of money has been spent which would be lost if I decide not to tow with it.

I would have done most of the upgrades regardless. The Suncoast TC was done before we even thought about buying a trailer, and the Hensley is a must-have for me regardless of the tow vehicle we use now or in the future. (The Hensley attaches to the trailer, not to the tow vehicle, and it can be reinstalled on any future trailers we buy.) The Magnaflow exhaust I am ordering would have also been done whether I was towing or not, since it makes the most of the Inmotion tune. (My wife loves the Inmotion tune, by the way!) The load range D tires aren't any more expensive than regular tires, and we've got 35k miles on the current Firestone Destination A/Ts.

I am also considering upgrading the CRD's transmission cooling. This would definitely be money I wouldn't have spent otherwise.

- Chris