I totally agree! Other than adding electric brakes later, none i have looked at have them.

My Friend pulls tractors all over the place and uses only electric on both of his trucks.

Thanks for the reply!

_________________
05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

years ago I converted my #3500 boat trailer from surge to electric.

There was a company that sold specific salt water rated electrics, they work great.

One thing to keep in mind with electrics is test them often. I've had 2 brake controllers fail on me lifetime.

hook up your rig, roll out of your driveway, reach down and manually apply the electrics: If you don't feel a good strong pull, then don't go out on the open road until you figured out your problem.

And don't ever cheap out on electric brake controllers. For some reason, it's legal to sell "time delay" versions.

When your brake lights go on, regardless of how much stopping you're doing, your electric brakes slowly ramp up.

1/2 second: 25% breaking power
1 second 50% breaking power
2 seconds 75% breaking power

These break controllers are a huge pain and in my opinion not to mention unsafe....

if half of your rig's weight is in your trailer (in some cases, more than half) those 2 seconds of not having full breaking power could be the difference between hitting someone, and stopping in time.

And to echo what's been said. you do actually need to jack your trailer up and check the linings and adjustment from time to time.

"Classic" electric drum brakes do not make up for worn linings like standard hydrollic car brakes... they need manual adjustments at regular intervals....

you can usually tell once you get to know your rig...... roll at like 15 MPH, then apply full power to the trailer brakes. If they don't drag you back like "they used to" than it's definitely time to take those drums off, inspect and adjust.

One thing I will add:

Towing heavy loads is a lot like driving in the snow.

Things like snow tires, and all wheel drive help, but the most important thing is between your ears.

Someone who's careful can drive a RWD mustang with decent all seasons in the snow and get by just fine.

And someone who's reckless could easily crash an AWD SUV with snowtires all around.....

Now all things being equal, you'd be better off in the AWD SUV....


Same thing applies to towing.....

One *COULD* tow 6000 lbs with no brakes in a liberty and probably get by, if they were super safe about it, and didn't go over certain speeds. And at the same time, one could easily crash while towing 3500 lbs with the best brakes money could buy......

Long story short, some setups are safer than others, but the most important thing is how you drive.....

I live in Western PA, and regularly tow my 3500-4000lb boat, its a 21' Mastercraft ski boat with a single axle trailer and no brakes. I was worried about stability and braking with the winding hilly country roads I have to take to get to the river but was pleasantly surprised. With any trailer you have to slow down a bit and brake a little sooner. Make sure you select a drop hitch that will keep your load level.

This is a grey area... While technically illegal, pretty much everybody has done it. (I have a #3500 landscape trailer with no brakes that I've dragged around @ close to 4K gross)

my experience is this:

4000 lbs with no brakes gives you a "false sense of security"

Behind the wheel with regular driving, a rig like that feels quite safe, The brakes in the liberty are strong enough to stop in regular situations.

Having said that, if you try to make an abrupt stop at speed, the liberty will simply skid forward. Plain physics.

Anyone driving with that kind of setup need to drive SUPER conservatively....

Nice to know the CRD can pull the Mastercraft boat. I'm looking for a Mastercraft or SKI Natuque. They come with surge brakes. But im finding out that most do not work or they are removed.

Thanks for the info. If you want to sell your boat let me know? I don't think i need to tell you PA state law requires all trailers over 3000lb to have working brakes but nice to know the CRD can handle it.

FYI....I have no intrest in operating without brakes. I want to take it several hours away at times.

_________________
05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

Also... I've got a 21' centurion (2002)... likely very similar to your mastercraft.

Mine's easily 5000 with a full tank of gas. and well over 7000 with the fat sacs full. (you never plan tow with your fat sacs full, but sometimes your ballest pump breaks down, and you can't pump all the water out)

I'd throw your master-craft boat + trailer on a scale to be sure....

I'm looking to buy a 23' centurion, but I know its basically too much for my liberty to tow..... (6500)

I have always towed with surge brakes, all over the world, all kinds of conditions, never any issues. Even when using U haul trailers for 2300 mile tows.

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

Nice to know the CRD can pull the Mastercraft boat. I'm looking for a Mastercraft or SKI Natuque. They come with surge brakes. But im finding out that most do not work or they are removed.

Thanks for the info. If you want to sell your boat let me know? I don't think i need to tell you PA state law requires all trailers over 3000lb to have working brakes but nice to know the CRD can handle it.

FYI....I have no intrest in operating without brakes. I want to take it several hours away at times.[/quote]

My boat is a 1991 with original trailer that did not come with brakes from the factory, I think brakes were an option back then, although I'm not sure how this affects the legality issue. The owners manual states the boats weight is 3300 lbs and i would guess with trailer I'm closer to 4500 or more for the whole rig. Like I said it pulls really well, never had an issue braking, I've tested with some quick stops with no traffic around for reassurance but always very conservative while pulling. My brother has a Cummins that we use for long trips and we use the libby when we stay close to home. Not sure if I'm ready to part with the boat yet, but would always entertain an offer if your interested PM me for pics or details or advice picking one out. There are usually a lot of similar Matercrafts and Nautiques around for sale, check out ski-it-again.com

According to your numbers say trailer wieghs 1200 lbs. Sounds kinda heavy to me. 3500# boat trailers single axle average wieght around 650- 800# tandems around 900-1000.

My

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2005 Red KJ CRD, TOTALED 12-21-11

2005 Blue KJ Sport CRD, GDE, Magnaflow muffler, Destination AT, Amsoil filters, Fumoto, Timing belt and waterpump @ 99,600, 11 blade nylon fan, 2905 hayden fan clutch, EURO TC




Arguing about whether the glass is half full or half empty misses the point: the bartender cheated you.
Unknown

If you add fuel, skiis, tubs, equipment, beer and more beer it starts to add up.

_________________
05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

If your taken a couple hundred pounds of beer, I'd like to join you!

_________________
2005 Red KJ CRD, TOTALED 12-21-11

2005 Blue KJ Sport CRD, GDE, Magnaflow muffler, Destination AT, Amsoil filters, Fumoto, Timing belt and waterpump @ 99,600, 11 blade nylon fan, 2905 hayden fan clutch, EURO TC




Arguing about whether the glass is half full or half empty misses the point: the bartender cheated you.
Unknown

um..I know my tandom boat trailer is closer to 1200 empty..
but than again..the boat is 5k alone..the trailer can handle 7k total..


oh I didn't mention the trailer is for a 26-28ft power boat.. I tow a 25 sailboat on it..
sure it looks strange going down the road.. the boat is several feet behind the truck..6-8ft or so..
but I need 4.5 of water before the boat floats..so the extra length helps..

I like to use libby to move the boat at home..the short wheel base and turning radius are great..compared to my 2500 long bed pickup..not sure i'd use it for towing my boat on the road..maybe in a pinch..for me the concern would be the boat/trailer weight vs the libby's weight..sorry i've had too many problems with brakes...both surge and electric..something about 6500lbs pushing 3000lbs..not good..

-dkenny

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84 BB school bus, DD8.2L turbo ->the transmission died..too expensive to fix..it'll be heading to the scrap yard..4/11)..Bus gone to Scarp 8/23/11
06 Liberty CRD
'99 dodge ram 2500 quad cab, 4x4, 24v
all Biodiesel powered when its warm enough

I misunderstood. Thought you were talking about a 19 to 21 foot boat. The size boat your referring to now, that trailer weight makes sense. Actually, for that size it sounds light is it aluminum?

As far as the weight of the CRD isn't that like 4000 lbs +?

_________________
2005 Red KJ CRD, TOTALED 12-21-11

2005 Blue KJ Sport CRD, GDE, Magnaflow muffler, Destination AT, Amsoil filters, Fumoto, Timing belt and waterpump @ 99,600, 11 blade nylon fan, 2905 hayden fan clutch, EURO TC




Arguing about whether the glass is half full or half empty misses the point: the bartender cheated you.
Unknown

Wow towing over 3000 lbs without brakes you guys must have nerves of steel over there. In the UK the max towing weight without brakes is 750 Kg ( approx 1680 lb).
I tow my fishing boat (fully braked) of about 2 tons rigged with no problems at all just wish occasionally I could borrow some power from the boat on them big hills cos the boats got a lot more horses than the KJ.

I'd like to speak to the TCM Tune or version. I have had and towed with the following (only a little more than 2500lbs) Pre-F37, the F37 and GDE non-towing TCM.

I was the happiest with the pre-F37 TCM for towing my boat, when towing more than that I would use third gear (the tow button).

Currently I am using the GDE tune, which I like for day to day driving, but if I towed more than 2500lbs more often I would go with the GDE towing tune.

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05 CRD Sport, GDE eco tune/GDE TCM/fumoto/Trac Loc/Sony Deck/Polk DB6501 DB651
06 Jetta TDI, DSG

I have a custom GDE tow tune. I haven't towed yet with it (Friday could be the day), but my issue is that my speedo is off. I think for it to be better, the speedo has to be closer.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

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2006 Sport, GDE FT Eco Tune, Custom Trans Tune
2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn EcoDiesel, GDE Hot Tune

I have been towing a 5000lb boat with a tandem trailer for the last 6 years (21' four winns). The trailer has disk surge brakes. I am always very careful and drive slow. I have had no problems towing at all although the CRD is bit gutless on steep grades. I usually only tow an hour or two from my house. Since I went to the GDE ecotune towing is actually worse as it holds gears longer and the motor at low rpm and a heavy tow will induce torque converter shudder if your not careful. I will need a new torque converter soon.

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2006 CRD, SEGR, EHM, added EVIC and Katzkin leather seats, GDE Ecotune, H&R lift springs, Bilstien Shocks, 245/70R16 Michelin LTX (210,000km)

Towing heavy loads in lock-up below 1800 rpm of so will lead to lugging, especially if you are in the hills. Our towing tune does a much better job of this as you are in 4th gear LU between speeds of 46 to 68mph roughly. When not towing and desiring 5th gear one can speed up to 70mph to get the shift to 5th and then it will hold 5th down to about 50mph. A little cumbersome, but the Jeep TCM software is not very flexible.

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Providers of wholly developed aftermarket solutions for the KJ CRD.
(248) 977 - 9531

Keith I was wondering if you can hold 4th to like 75 and shift to 5th. Then shift back into 4th at 65 before the rpm's get to low. I now that is not to flexible. THanks