Who's towing what???

pg2676 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 11:18 pm

I'm trying to decide between a 19' Travel Trailer or a 22' Tent Trailer, both with quad decks, both the same price.

The Travel Trailer is a Travelaire Aerolite 195 that comes with a toybox standard mounted to the back. We are looking at a 400cc or better quad, so minimum 600lbs. I figure by the time this trailer is loaded up, it will tip in at about 4700lbs.

The Tent Trailer is a Fleetwood Scorpion S2, also with a built in toy deck. The beds and tent open sideways, rather than lenthwise, to save space and weight. Loaded up, my guess is that this one would scale in the 3900lb range.

Both have their advantages, but I'm wondering what everone else out their has been towing, and what kind of experience you've had. I'm running an '03 KJ 3.7L w/42RLE and built in tranny cooler. I plan on keeping it for a couple more years, and I want to avoid going to a larger vehicle with a small V8, such as a Grand Cherokee or 1/2 ton pick up. How does the CRD perform compared to the 3.7L??

Any feedback is appreciated.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:47 am

Thats right on the limit for the libby. If you live in mountains, then I wouldnt try to do it with the libby, only a crd libby could do that. If its flat then it would be ok, be sure to get trailer brakes.

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:25 pm

My CRD with a 2500 lb boat easily pulls away from a Ford F -150 with the 4.6 L V-8 with a 2600 lb boat and gets about 65% better fuel mileage doing it, even over mountain passes. Have pulled a loaded 2 horse trailer in the snow that easily was in the range of your lighter rig and may have been as heavy as the other.
With trailer brakes it pulled and stopped just fine when I got out of the snow, there were some downhill squirrelies in the snow a few times, nothing life threatening though.

sstenner · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 1:36 am

We pull a 17' coleman pop-up and the only time we had any trouble was when DH loaded the front storage compartment with firewood. We've looked at the scorpion and decided it might be a little much for the KJ... it has a gross weight of 5400 pounds.

Don't forget to add in the weight of yourself and passengers, gear, cooler, and anything else stored in the camper compartments... Either way, get trailer brakes and you'll probably want wider mirrors.

pg2676 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 2:36 am

What's your Coleman weigh in at? I figure by the time the Scorpion is loaded with gear and possibly a 700lb quad, we'll be in @ about 4100lbs. The good part is if you can save filling up the water tank until you get close to your destination, you will save about 200lbs. The quad deck is toward the rear, so this will also save on tongue weight as well.

Albert · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:22 am

I've pulled a small boat with no problem. It's about 2500lbs dry wt. Then add 25 gal of gas, 2 anchors and chain and gear etc, plus the trailer weighs about 800lbs, plus whatever is in the KJ and I'm at about 4000 lbs max. The trailer has brakes. The KJ pulls it fine both on the highway and mountains. It stops good with the trailer brakes. I lock out o/d and use full-time when towing.

I think a boat tows easier than a camper though as there's less wind drag.

sstenner · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 8:52 am

I think ours is somewhere around 3900, 3910 if you add the blender and rum :lol:

Like I said, the only trouble we had was when we put too much weight in the storage box, probably threw off the tongue weight somewhat. That trip was in the western PA mountains, and the ride back was fine.

I still like the Scorpion and I'll keep thinking about it. We don't have any toys to haul, but I'm thinking that deck makes for a nice dry front porch and the height gives a better view of the ocean.

pg2676 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 14, 2006 10:09 pm

Albert wrote:

I've pulled a small boat with no problem. It's about 2500lbs dry wt. Then add 25 gal of gas, 2 anchors and chain and gear etc, plus the trailer weighs about 800lbs, plus whatever is in the KJ and I'm at about 4000 lbs max. The trailer has brakes. The KJ pulls it fine both on the highway and mountains. It stops good with the trailer brakes. I lock out o/d and use full-time when towing.

I think a boat tows easier than a camper though as there's less wind drag.

I forget, but why the Full-Time setting while towing? Less stress on one axle by distributing the torque?

Albert · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:01 am

pg2676...........yea - that's what I was thinking. full time = less strain on one axle and better traction. Don't know if it's true but I've done it both ways. seems better in full time.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 6:31 pm

Albert wrote:

pg2676...........yea - that's what I was thinking. full time = less strain on one axle and better traction. Don't know if it's true but I've done it both ways. seems better in full time.

The rear axle is plenty strong enough to tow, its not a bad idea though.

pg2676 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 19, 2006 8:51 pm

It's official. Buying a tent trailer on the long weekend. Jayco Baja 10Y. Weighs in at 2200lbs dry.

What are you guys running for gear oil in your rear diffs for towing? Should I switch to the 75W140 recommended in the manual?

Albert · **Posted:** Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:21 am

pg2676..............2200lbs should be an easy tow. Even when you add in the stuff you put in the camper and in the KJ.

I have towed only occasionally as the boat is at the marina and I havn't had a chance to tow the camper this year so I don't tow enough to worry about it. But when I get around to changing it I'll go with the heavier 75/140.

Have fun with your new camper.

longarm · **Posted:** Tue Jun 20, 2006 12:49 am

Theres a guy in here somewhere who was towing his lifted TJ on a tandem axle trailer with his CRD. THATS an accomplishment in itself. :lol:

pg2676 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:10 am

Got the Reese Hitch on last night. Now I have to wire it. Never done this before. Is their an existing plug-in inder the Jeep to hook up to, or do I have to wire this in from scratch along with the brake controller?

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:12 pm

pg2676 wrote:

Should I switch to the 75W140 recommended in the manual?

You should, but I would talk to JJ and get some better Amsoil for those diffs. (well and tranny, T/C and engine too :wink:

)

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:41 pm

pg2676 wrote:

Got the Reese Hitch on last night. Now I have to wire it. Never done this before. Is their an existing plug-in inder the Jeep to hook up to, or do I have to wire this in from scratch along with the brake controller?

If you were not factory equipped I believe you need to run a brake wire from your brake controller but check the wire bundle behind the left side kick panel, it is under a white shroud. I tbelieve it is red with a white tag that says "Trailer Brake". You should also get the OEM wiring from a dealer. It is $$$ but there is a resistor or something in it to deal with the difference in lights between the Liberty and most trailers.

Check here for good directions: http://www.jeepkj.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1691

pg2676 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:26 pm

I am running all the Mopar Syns currently, but will most likely upgrade to Amsoil Syns very soon. Running Mobil1 5W30 in the engine too. Don't forget to run Supreme fuel when towing!
Do I have to buy the Mopar 7pin harness from the dealer, or is their a aftermarket unit available? Already have the brake controller.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:55 pm

pg2676 wrote:

Do I have to buy the Mopar 7pin harness from the dealer, or is their a aftermarket unit available? Already have the brake controller.

You don't need to but there is a regulator or something in the MOPAR that accounts for the difference between separate tail/brake/turn lamps on the Liberty versus single bulb with multiple filiments on the trailer. By the time you add up all the third party stuff the price get close to the same, or so I am told!

pg2676 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:03 am

Anybody have a "how to" or copy of instructions for wiring in the harness to the Jeep?

pg2676 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:07 pm

Ordered the Mopar harness and adapter for non-overhead console units today. Has anyone ever used a wireless brake controller? Apparently it just plugs into the diagnostic plug and your off?

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