how much can you tow w/o a trans cooler?

smigelskijk · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:32 pm

how much would be safe to tow w/o a trans cooler?

DirtyKK · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:58 pm

if i remember correctly it is 3500lbs without tow package....

try checking your owners manual though.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:11 am

I thought all KKs come with a trans cooler built in to the ac condenser.
I also thought as long as you install a class III hitch you can tow 5000 lbs./500 tongue weight.
Not sure what the limit is where you need trailer brakes.

cybertron · **Joined:** Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:32 pm **Posts:** 72

Atthehelm wrote:

I thought all KKs come with a trans cooler built in to the ac condenser.

That's my understanding as well.

Quote:

I also thought as long as you install a class III hitch you can tow 5000 lbs./500 tongue weight.

Only with the tow package. According to the manual, the base Liberty is only rated to tow 2000 lbs. It's 3500 with a weight carrying hitch and the tow package, and 5000 with a weight distributing hitch and the tow package. At least if I'm reading it correctly (not 100% sure what w/Cooler means, but I take it as the upgraded tow package cooling).

Quote:

Not sure what the limit is where you need trailer brakes.

It varies by state. A rule of thumb I've heard is anything 3000 lbs or heavier should have brakes, but I know there are places where they're legally required at 2000 or even 1000 lbs.

smigelskijk · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:14 pm

O thought the trans cooler came with tow package

cybertron · **Joined:** Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:32 pm **Posts:** 72

smigelskijk wrote:

O thought the trans cooler came with tow package

On the KJ's it did. On KK's it's standard. For reference, here's what the Jeep site says the tow package includes:

Quote:

7-Pin Wiring Harness
7-to-4-Pin Wiring Adaptor
Class III Receiver Hitch
Class III receiver hitch has a 2-inch opening and can handle loads of up to 5,000 pounds of gross trailer weight, if a trailer is equipped with a load-equalizing hitch. Check Owner's Manual for hitch types, load capacity and heavy-duty equipment required. Do not exceed rated tow capacity of vehicle as equipped. Towing may require some items not supplied by Mopar®.
Full-Size Spare Tire

Black Steel Spare Wheel

Heavy Duty Engine Cooling
Power Steering Cooler
Trailer Sway Control

RENE · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:13 pm

Always wondered why the power steering cooler for the tow package, rad and trans I understand but steering ?? :?:

David · **Joined:** Fri Apr 16, 2010 10:12 pm **Posts:** 37

RENE wrote:

Always wondered why the power steering cooler for the tow package, rad and trans I understand but steering ?? :?:

I thought about the same thing, why a power steering cooler. Could it be becuse of the steering working harder if there is possible sway from the trailer.

cybertron · **Joined:** Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:32 pm **Posts:** 72

David wrote:

RENE wrote:

Always wondered why the power steering cooler for the tow package, rad and trans I understand but steering ?? :?:

I thought about the same thing, why a power steering cooler. Could it be becuse of the steering working harder if there is possible sway from the trailer.

Could be. My guess would be that it relates to weight distributing hitches that will put more of the trailer's tongue weight on the front of the Jeep, making it harder to turn the wheels. Still seems like a stretch to me, but then I'm not an engineer.

smigelskijk · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:42 pm

So being I don't have the tow package then I should stay 2000 or under. Right?

cybertron · **Joined:** Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:32 pm **Posts:** 72

smigelskijk wrote:

So being I don't have the tow package then I should stay 2000 or under. Right?

That's what I would do.

smigelskijk · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 4:45 pm

Ok thanks

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:14 pm

cybertron wrote:

Atthehelm wrote:

I thought all KKs come with a trans cooler built in to the ac condenser.

That's my understanding as well.

Quote:

I also thought as long as you install a class III hitch you can tow 5000 lbs./500 tongue weight.

Only with the tow package. According to the manual, the base Liberty is only rated to tow 2000 lbs. It's 3500 with a weight carrying hitch and the tow package, and 5000 with a weight distributing hitch and the tow package. At least if I'm reading it correctly (not 100% sure what w/Cooler means, but I take it as the upgraded tow package cooling).

Quote:

Not sure what the limit is where you need trailer brakes.

It varies by state. A rule of thumb I've heard is anything 3000 lbs or heavier should have brakes, but I know there are places where they're legally required at 2000 or even 1000 lbs.

There is only one type of hitch available for the kk, they are all just like the factory one. What's the difference between weight carrying and weight distributing?

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:18 pm

RENE wrote:

Always wondered why the power steering cooler for the tow package, rad and trans I understand but steering ?? :?:

Mine didn't come with the tow package and does have a ps cooler. Pretty sure the tow package is just a Class III hitch and a 7 pin rv plug and nothin else...

cybertron · **Joined:** Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:32 pm **Posts:** 72

Atthehelm wrote:

cybertron wrote:

Atthehelm wrote:

I thought all KKs come with a trans cooler built in to the ac condenser.

That's my understanding as well.

Quote:

I also thought as long as you install a class III hitch you can tow 5000 lbs./500 tongue weight.

Only with the tow package. According to the manual, the base Liberty is only rated to tow 2000 lbs. It's 3500 with a weight carrying hitch and the tow package, and 5000 with a weight distributing hitch and the tow package. At least if I'm reading it correctly (not 100% sure what w/Cooler means, but I take it as the upgraded tow package cooling).

Quote:

Not sure what the limit is where you need trailer brakes.

It varies by state. A rule of thumb I've heard is anything 3000 lbs or heavier should have brakes, but I know there are places where they're legally required at 2000 or even 1000 lbs.

There is only one type of hitch available for the kk, they are all just like the factory one. What's the difference between weight carrying and weight distributing?

The receivers are all the same, but the actual hitch you put in it has arms that attach to the trailer for leverage and redistribute the weight more evenly. It's kind of hard to explain, so I'll just link to a site with pictures

: http://www.etrailer.com/faq-weightdistribution.aspx

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:25 pm

The link explains it all. Thanks for the info. :JEEPIN:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:10 pm

cybertron wrote:

On the KJ's it did. On KK's it's standard. ]

Every auto trans Liberty,be it a KJ or KK,came with a trans cooler.A trans cooler(in some form) is a must for any auto trans regardles of vehicle it's in.

The PS cooler is for slow speed turning,with a load on the rear makes the PS pump work harder.

cybertron · **Joined:** Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:32 pm **Posts:** 72

tjkj2002 wrote:

cybertron wrote:

On the KJ's it did. On KK's it's standard. ]

Every auto trans Liberty,be it a KJ or KK,came with a trans cooler.A trans cooler(in some form) is a must for any auto trans regardles of vehicle it's in.

I suppose that only makes sense. I could swear there was something to do with it on the KJ tow package though - my brother had some sort of transmission cooler (upgraded?) installed before he was going to be doing a lot of towing because that was part of the tow package for his KJ.

musclezmarinara · **Posted:** Wed Feb 29, 2012 11:30 pm

I installed the OEM Trailer harness and 5K Trailer hitch

2012 KK so I should be able to tow the 5k

norcalarctic · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:33 am

musclezmarinara wrote:

I installed the OEM Trailer harness and 5K Trailer hitch

2012 KK so I should be able to tow the 5k

X2...$311 from dealer with new KK purchase discount, I've just been to lazy to wire mine in still :5SHOTS:

how much can you tow w/o a trans cooler?

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