Towing a boat with the kj

XJMA · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 2:28 am

just thought i'd ask how the liberty will tow a 16' aluminum boat down the road. it's just a basic boat with 20hp outboard, approx 500 plus say 200#s of gear/junk not including the weight of trailer. i guess 1200#s would be a fair guestimate on weight? i've towed only down the road at 45 max with my XJ, a ranger, an f150 2wd and 4x4 chevy 1500 and you don't even know it's there with any of those vehicles.

i plan on pulling it on the highway for like 3.5 hours....i'll be changing the tranny fluid prior to this trip. should be fine, no? 4pin connector on the led lights, no trailer brake. i'm assuming i'll be fine. i know the wind resistance will lower gas mileage, but oh well. not worried about braking....should be light enough, right? thanx.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 8:48 am

1200 lbs will be easy
I have a 6X10 enclosed that I have pulled from Ohio to Boston and back a couple of time loaded, and also to Orlando and back.
Used to haul firewood stacked in a 5 X 8 with 3 foot sides and run down the road at 65-70
So you'll be fine

XJMA · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:29 pm

good to know, thanx!

Knightrider03m · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:16 pm

1200 pounds would feel like nothing to that Jeep.

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

my car can tow more than 1200# without issue.

the jeep wouldn't even notice.

99_XC600 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:03 pm

Won't be an issue. I tow a 8x10 open place sled trailer with 2 sleds (Aprox 1900 Pounds) and it does great.

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:58 pm

Yeah thats not a problem at all. Now 4000+ Id leave that to larger jeeps like the GC or Commander.

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

are you saying that because of weight or because of sheer physical size?

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 11:11 am

I would say anything equal to or greater in weight might prove an issue due to a short wheelbase and narrow vehicle. The KJ is a porker, but is also too small of a footprint IMHO to tow anything super large. Could I be wrong? Sure, but I wouldnt tow more then I weigh and would watch the size of whats being towed.

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

agreed as you get up over the 2 ton mark you need to be watching carefully, but I think the overall size of the item can have a much larger effect. we've seen people pull fairly heavy loads with these things (like the guy with the 7000# generator) and seen them pull fairly large things (chris' 26' camper!!!) my recomendation would be do what I did... hitch up and take it for a short test drive at low speeds to see how it handles. then work your way up in speed and braking forces to get at least an idea of what you're up against. if it feels wrong, don't do it.

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2011 2:33 pm

Yeah its not the strength of the KJ that worries me. Its the short and narrow wheelbase. My KJ is a heffer and and as strong as a tank, but a tow monster? No. Ill agree its all about what your setup is and how comfortable/experienced you are at towing. Me personally I havent towed much but I would worry about even if I have all the equipment I need that a 5000 pound load would be the tail that wagged the dog with my KJ due to its footprint. Again I could be way off.

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

oh no doubt. I was getting wagged around bit during my 300 mile round trip with a 20' car trailer and car out the back. but then I also found out there were some "issues" with the trailer so maybe that won't happen when I use it again in about a week.

SavageUrge · **Posted:** Sun Aug 07, 2011 11:12 am

Remember the number drops down to 1500lbs if you have a standard transmission. I've done some towing with mine, and you definitely know you've got something hooked to it when the clutch starts stuttering!

sota · **Joined:** Fri Aug 07, 2009 7:44 pm **Posts:** 379

guess I'm glad I got the 6spd then. I towed 5300# and had no issues. 1st gear friction zone time was barely longer than normal.
don't know where you got 1500# from... my book says 3500# should be my max.

jinstall · **Posted:** Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:39 pm

I have towed 6100# with mine but I also have a CRD and got 18mpg doing it. I run th etire pressure up to just below max and it seems to settle the sway down a bit. I have not towed yet with the lift and the 16X8 wheels either. I load my trailers correctly and do not drive more than 65mph with it.

QuestMan · **Posted:** Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:15 pm

I tow my pop-up with the Libby all the time. I've towed my father's lowe 165f/s. With the camper, I need the electric brakes and I know the sucker's behind me every minute. With the boat, I don't hardly even know it's there. When I pull it with the canvas cover on, I don't notice unless I go over 60. My mileage goes down almost exponentially (drag from the canvas). With it off, I don't know it's back there unless I look in the rearview. You'll be good to go!

XJMA · **Posted:** Tue Aug 09, 2011 12:24 pm

Pulled it no problem. I could feel that it was back there at highway speeds, but under that it wasn't even there. It didn't accelerate quite as fast as normal but I think it was mostly due to wind resistance/drag rather than the actual weight of the thing. I even had to lock up the brakes real quick doing 70-75 mph and it stayed straight!! Thanx for the help.

Oh, and I ended up getting the wiring right from NAPA, it was the exact same stuff as from etrailer.com, only it cost like 75 with tax and with a moments notice it can be at the store at 8am the following day!! It took me all of ten minutes to install (without running it down through the gromet, I'll do that later). I just hooked things up and ran the wires out the back of the hatch on the bottom...still worked for a temp thing. I had the car all packed up so I didn't want to have to unpack a bunch of stuff to run the wires to the gromet.

KJ_WHEELER_2010 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:10 pm

Before I deployed, I towed a 6x10ish trailer packed to the roof with my stuff to my moms in MO from KY. The KJ was also packed tight as hell. With the lift stock gears and 265/70R16s, it took forever to get up to speed but once there it seemed ok. I only got 14mpg that trip. Topspeed was like 80mph :juggle:

Towing a boat with the kj

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