Towing w/ the F37

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 10, 2007 2:16 am

Just wanted to give you guys an FYI, tomorrow I will be towing ~600 miles each way with an empty dual axle trailer, and a loaded dual axle trailer (~4000+ lbs) with the F37....previously, I was getting around 19mpg with similiar weight cruising at about 75mph...I'll report back what I find with this flash...

Cowpie1 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 10, 2007 6:44 pm

I have been pulling same trailers as before I got the F37 done. Haven't noticed any change. Same 20-21 MPG.

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:45 am

Cowpie1 wrote:

I have been pulling same trailers as before I got the F37 done. Haven't noticed any change. Same 20-21 MPG.

That's what I found out as well.....the only difference I noticed is that it seems to like to shift into 3rd very early, where as before it seemed to wait a bit longer before shifting. Looks like the new flashes cured my gauge issue too, which I figured it would. I don't know if it was the flash or my first dose of the ULSD that made the mileage a bit better...usually towing ~4k lbs I was getting about 19mpg, this time looked to be a very high 20 .

dgeist · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:21 am

Has anyone noticed the 55 mph lurch be more pronounced while towing? Even with a unloaded utility trailer, it seems to be worse while in-tow. I've been putting off the F37 since the dealer says it'll take at least 2 days with no loaner available. Perhaps it's time to bite the bullet.

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:06 pm

dgeist wrote:

Has anyone noticed the 55 mph lurch be more pronounced while towing? Even with a unloaded utility trailer, it seems to be worse while in-tow. I've been putting off the F37 since the dealer says it'll take at least 2 days with no loaner available. Perhaps it's time to bite the bullet.

I have not, but then again, I don't get it much without towing either.

stevesmith7 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:49 pm

I know what I'm doing is barely towing but recently I've been driving up I70 from Denver with about 1000lbs in a small trailer.
I've had the F37 done

. Does anyone else notice that when going up a grade at around 55-60 at whatever gear that puts you at about 1800 rpm the transmission will downshift, resulting in 2500 rpm, and hold this for about 2 seconds and then return to the previous gear?
It's kind of annoying.

Thanks
Steve

BVCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:10 pm

stevesmith7 wrote:

I know what I'm doing is barely towing but recently I've been driving up I70 from Denver with about 1000lbs in a small trailer.
I've had the F37 done

. Does anyone else notice that when going up a grade at around 55-60 at whatever gear that puts you at about 1800 rpm the transmission will downshift, resulting in 2500 rpm, and hold this for about 2 seconds and then return to the previous gear?
It's kind of annoying.

Thanks
Steve

Mine has done that climbibg back up out of Colo Spgs. That is when I slip off the OD.

kingofl337 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:14 pm

deigst: The F37 clearly states a loaner will be provided.

dgeist · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:37 pm

kingofl337 wrote:

deigst: The F37 clearly states a loaner will be provided.

Yes, that is why I'm looking for a different dealer. They were under the impresssion that the official company instructions for the recal were negitiable, such as replacing the torque converter ("Well, we'll take a look and if it needs replacing, then we'll order it")

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 5:07 pm

kingofl337 wrote:

deigst: The F37 clearly states a loaner will be provided.

I believe the catch is it also states "if available".

BVCRD · **Posted:** Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:47 pm

RTStabler51 wrote:

kingofl337 wrote:

deigst: The F37 clearly states a loaner will be provided.

I believe the catch is it also states "if available".

I feel that just means if they want to.

Desert Dog · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:38 am

This past weekend we towed our Jayco 23B from Lamesa, Tx. to Ruidoso, NM and back. Right at 500 miles round trip. The trailer weighs about 4,000 lbs. dry. Lamesa is 3,000 feet and Ruidoso 6,000. Cruised at 65 going and coming and averaged 16.5 mpg for the entire trip. The CRD pulled up hill very smoothly and had no problems. A couple of times found myself going 70+ and had to slow down.
Next month will take it to the Jeep Safari in Moab, which is about 950 miles one way. Should be a real good test. With the F37 couldn't detect any problems.
Like everybody, we've had some problems with engine lights and so on, but since the new diesel came out, they have gone away.

drharv · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:35 pm

Tha nks for your post. I am picking up my new Trail-Cruiser 19' on monday and am looking forward to yanking it all over h*ll and gone this spring. It is about 2700# dry and I felt that the Heep would pull it just fine; your post confirms my suspicions.

I hope you can answer a couple of questions:
Do you have sway control and EQ or just EQ? How did you wire the 12v to charge your trailer battery?

Thanks,
MIke

BVCRD · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:39 pm

drharv wrote:

Tha nks for your post. I am picking up my new Trail-Cruiser 19' on monday and am looking forward to yanking it all over h*ll and gone this spring. It is about 2700# dry and I felt that the Heep would pull it just fine; your post confirms my suspicions.

I hope you can answer a couple of questions:
Do you have sway control and EQ or just EQ? How did you wire the 12v to charge your trailer battery?

Thanks,
MIke

Don't know about the Jeep settup, but on a Ford F150 with 7 pin, one of the pins charged the trailer while underway. Had to do nothing extra.

drharv · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:47 pm

Thanks I will have to get the meter out and check.

drharv · **Posted:** Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:11 pm

You are correct...the factory mounted trailer wiring (7 pin) has the power source right there. Thanks

WWV · **Joined:** Mon May 15, 2006 1:01 pm **Posts:** 121

I've posted some results of hauling a 3500lb(dry) coleman popup up and down mountains in this forum in the past. Your CRD will haul your rig no problem. Do a search and you'll find my post....too much to type here.

Must have item: trailer brakes of some type. Once you load your trailer up with gear/water/propane/battery/more food/beer/etc, it will push you around and the CRD brakes have never been noted as "beefy".

I would get a sway bar. I got up to 70 and it started pitching back and forth on me, not fun!

Have a good time..........I averaged around 19 mpg hauling around 4000lbs up down I80 from Salt Lake and then through WY to CO.

WWV

drharv · **Posted:** Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:22 am

Thanks for the info....I pulled my old rig for a test and the CRD was not fazed one bit. I have read your post and you are to blame for the new trailer.

I showed it to the better half and she immediately thought we should have a nicer trailer to go behind the Heep. We were looking at pop ups and expandables, then my darling wifey informed me thast where we camp (big time bear country) they are not allowed when there are furry friends nearby. So a hardwall it was.

I figure the new one will tip the scales at 2750#(total UVW) + 900#(beer)= 3650 wet

It is a dual axle (torque flex type not leaf springs) trailer with 4-10" trailer brakes, so I may even let it stop me! I will add a sway control to my already installed EQ hitch just to keep it straight on the road. I have been the recipient of an almost terminal "wig-wag" on a busy 2 lane highway once before and I do not relish doing that again. (Pulled it out by locking the trailer brakes manually and accelerating the tow rig....worked like a charm but still scary)

Thanks a bunch and happy camping! (Drag it north and visit us in the Rockies)

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2007 11:54 am

FWIW, I got the Prodigy brake control and absolutely love it. From the evening of research I did, it looks to be very highly recommended and one of the best on the market.

Also, if you will be towing alot, I would recommend a sway control system. If I start towing any more, I will be most likely investing in one for the safety factor.

DnA Diesel · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:22 pm

Sway control is a "should-have" for a short wheelbase vehicle like the Liberty. WWV, good point about the use of the controller to straighten things out. It sometimes is more a work of art to get the brake balance just right between tow vehicle and trailer. I always try to give a slight bias to the trailer. Nothing's worse than having your trailer go faster than you!

Duey

Towing w/ the F37

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