Travel Trailers

dauntless · **Joined:** Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:04 am **Posts:** 17

I would like to hear what travel trailers people are towing behind their Libertys and how they pull. Information like model, length, weight, and tow setup (weight distribution, brake controller, etc) would be great.

adamkrz · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2007 2:49 pm

I tow a 2100 lb pop up camper w/no electric brakes,I also have a 5 speed manual transmission,It pulls no problem - I just take it easy and give myself some room to stop.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:45 pm

I started towing a KJ behind my 38' motorhome (diesel) in 2002. Between that 02 KJ and the currant 05 KJ I have towed all over the USA. All but 4 states. Get brakes on anything you tow! I don't know how many times I heard "Well I can pull that thing with no problem" Stopping, going down a hill, emergency type of stopping is something you don't want to do. Picture the momentum of a 2000lbs+ trailer pushing you with no resistance of it's own. Do yourself and other drivers a favior....spend the $$$ and get the brakes.

Terry

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2007 4:56 pm

I tow a Trailmanor 3023 (23ft long closed) Use a Prodigy brake controller and a WDH with 750lb spring bars. According to the website, a similar newer trailmanor 3023 is 2915lbs empty. I have not weighed mine, but I estimate that with all of the wheeling gear and my stuff in it, mine weighed about 3500lbs or more.

Towing is easy except for the steep climb of I 70. On the way to Moab, we dropped down to 45 mph just before the Eisenhower tunnel (pretty steep high altitude climb), on the way back east on 70 up to the tunnel it is even steeper, and it was all I could do to get 25mph.

Over the summer, went to Yellowstone via I 80 and with the family and all the stuff, and water tanks full, etc, she did fine and probably weighed at least 4200 lbs. Managed 55-85 the whole way.

I have a lot of heavy armor on the jeep, no gear upgrade yet (3.73), tow package, and the 45rfe tranny.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2007 5:10 pm

USAFCOP: "If you can read this you don't need glasses, go Wheel your Jeep!"

I like it!

Terry

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2007 5:18 pm

I was wondering when someone would notice that

moose · **Posted:** Sat Sep 01, 2007 7:08 pm

I towed colman popup @ 2000# dry (at least 2500+ with the goodies & gear) with both the KJ and LJ. The KJ towed the thing fine, even though it didn't have breaks. Same for the LJ. I would HIGHLY recomend both electric breaks, the prodigy break controller, and the "equal-i-zer" hitch (combo weight distributing & anti-sway, and only $399 from RV warehouse, and I can lend anyone the big socket necessary if they pay shipping). Just make sure you get a reciever that can handle a weight distributing hitch...

I now tow a 19' Jayco Feather Lite with the Unlimited. It's 3475# dry and 400# on the tounge. The WDH is a must, and makes this beast tow better than the popup w/o the WDH. (I just had to get a custom receiver made to take the WDH :twisted:

). I would not tow something that big in windy conditions though, even in a KJ.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:43 am

I bought my Libby (gas engine) with the intention of pulling my 22 ft Terry Resort trailer. I was assured by the salesman that the Libby could pull it (always trust the salesman, right?).

Once I got the Libby home and the trailer hooked up to it I realized two things.
1. The trailer weight is at the limit of the Libby (just less than 5000 lbs).
2. I really don't need such a big trailer anymore, my family has grown up and will be moving out (if I'm lucky).

Oh yes, my Libby came with a Mopar trailer package but no trailer brakes or a sway bar hitch. If I intend to begin towing my trailer about I'm definitely going to need them.

I do occasionally tow about U-Haul vehicle trailer when my other Jeep breaks down. The Libby pulls it as well as could be expected for a 3.7 L gas engine and does stop but not on a dime. The U-Haul has hydraulic trailer brakes.

Basically I'd have to say that a Libby would easily pull a tent trailer but a larger travel trailer will take additional care & attention. Don't expect to travel at 65 MPH.

Oh yes, invest in some trailer mirrors. I can't tell you how many times I come up behind a travel or tent trailer on the highway only to realize that the tow vehicle couldn't see me.

q50055 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 03, 2007 11:20 am

Tow a 17 ft 2800-3000 lbs travel trailer with 2002 liberty lifted and with a powertrax locker in rear. Miles towed 20,000+. Good brakes on the trailer and a properly adjusted controller very import for when (not if) you have to make that panic stop (Chicago traffic/drivers). The powertrax sucks on step grades (10%+) - lock/unlock and repeat. Feels like the rear axle will rip out. Next time I will gladly pay for a selectable locker. I do use a sway control not so much for sway (never been a problem), but because it seems to soften the tar strip jolts. Oh, I also found the electric fan to be completely un-reliable - no issues after adding manual fan. Happy trailering. :lol:

rkeegstra · **Posted:** Mon Sep 03, 2007 12:42 pm

We tow a little pop-up tent camper (1300 pounds dry, maybe 1800 loaded normally), with just a regular hitch and a Prodigy brake controller. We have never had any problems, it has gone up and down 550 in Colorado, up to Big Bear in California, in the six months we've owned it we have put 10,000 miles on it. Depending on wind and slope we get from 14 to 17 miles per gallon towing on the highway. The Liberty is now (as of this weekend!) lifted with Moabs and 245/75 16 MT/Rs, and on the way back from Big Bear we had the absolute worst combination of factors - towing, five wheels and tires in the back of the Jeep, running 75mph on the MT/Rs, into a substantial wind. We only got about 13.5 miles per gallon.

Russ
2006 Limited, Frankenlift, Moabs, 245/75 MT/Rs, Mopar skids, AllJ rails, hitch, Prodigy controller

KeswickDave · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:25 am

This is my 2007 Sun Valley Roadrunner 180 - 19.5', 2700+ lbs dry, I estimate about 3500 loaded. Electric brakes are a must, I have a dealer-installed Powerstop+ brake controller.

I have the Reese weight distribution with Dual-Cam anti-sway and it pulls like a dream, just amazing the difference it makes in stability.

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:45 am

USAFCOP wrote:

I was wondering when someone would notice that

I noticed it weeks ago. I just went and wheeled my Jeep, as instructed. :twisted:

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