Help with towing weight Please

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:01 pm

I have a 2007 jeep liberty with the towing package. I have a car trailer that weighs 2000lbs and will be towing a car that weighs 2600lbs.

There will be two occupants and a few days supplies worth of cargo. The trailer does have electronic brakes of its own.

There are a few sections of the trip that go uphill for 2-3 miles at a time. Will I be okay towing with this setup?

hiram · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2009 3:31 pm

Thats a tough call. I tow an 18 ft center console to the Keys with my wife, 2 kids, and luggage for a week. The trailer and boat weigh about 3k lbs. I have to drive in tow mode all the way or the jeep just does not perform well. The fuel consumption is crazy too. I have an 08 liberty 4x4 though not sure if your set up is much different though. sounds like you are going to have a tough ride. my opinion.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jul 19, 2009 9:12 pm

Danoid has posted pix of his trailer several times - and although he now uses a diesel - he had towed it with a v6
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=349045#349045

Note - he has a weight distributing hitch - (Arrow?) and air bags in the rear springs and he got ~ 9mpg with the v6

so it can be done - but be careful

cj7jeepguy · **Joined:** Tue May 06, 2008 7:32 pm **Posts:** 27

I have been towing about 3500lbs (popup camper with brakes) and have no problems. It will downshift and crank some rpms on hills. I lock out overdrive although on a straight of way ,flat, it will pull ok in overdrive. I just choose not to. Gas mileage on interstate is 14 to 16 mpg. Now when I pull my 16 foot fish- ski boat (guessing 2500 lbs it could be more) My gas mileage drops to 12 -13 mpg. And it seems to strain more to pull it. Why I do not know. Maybe the boat weight is more than I think. The boat by itself is 1200 lbs. Add trailer and 115 johnson and 12 gallans gas 3 big batteries, tackle, ect who knows. Stopping is fine with no trailer brakes. I would not want to tow over 4000 lbs myself. I do have the tow package with the extra fan and coolers, and 4x4 auto.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:15 pm

A couple of times a year I tow a 16' floater trailer with a YJ on top with my 04 Libby. The trailer weighs in at 1500 lbs and the YJ weighs in at 3500 lbs so I'm towing at the maximum limit of the Libby. Yes the fuel mileage goes out the window and steep hills are a killer :roll:

My Libby has a Mopar trailer towing package c/w tranny cooler and the trailer has electric brakes on a single axle. I had to add the electric brake controller, it's not part of the towing package. I choose to buy a Class 3 load leveling hitch to insure stable handling. I believe the owner's manual recommends burning 89 octane fuel (medium grade) and turning off the automatic transmission's overdrive.

If you're only towing this vehicle trailer the one time then I doubt you'll have a great problem, just don't expect to drive as fast as you do without a trailer behind you.

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:10 pm

Just remember guys, just because you can tow something doesn't mean you should.

Terry

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:33 pm

Fulltimer wrote:

Just remember guys, just because you can tow something doesn't mean you should.

Terry

Very true, which is why I posted for input

RedJeepCRD · **Posted:** Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:32 am

I have towed right at 5000 lbs without an issue. MAKE SURE you have trailer brakes and they are working!! You also need to adjust your tongue weight to make sure you don't have too much weight on the hitch. Should be easy to adjust if you can move the car back and forth some on the trailer. I suggest a sway control at least if you don't have a weight distribution hitch. Sway controls can be purchased at most Tractor Supplies or even some Wal-Mart for under $100.

You want the whole rig to be level fully loaded. If it's sagging in the rear it will be hard to control and sway all over, and if you’re to light on the tongue it will bounce and sway all over.

TEST the rig several days before you leave. Take it out and make sure it stops well, adjust the brakes and drive it down a highway. Running 55 to 60 will save gas and keep you at safe speed. The biggest mistake people make if speeding with a heavy load!!! You increase your stopping distance two fold with a heavy load.

I know it sound like a lot of trouble but you will be much happier if you take your time setting it up right before you hit the road.

AND don’t forget to check the lights!

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:37 pm

I don't know exactly how much my trailer weighs, but I know its pretty heavy. I guesstimate that I pull approximately 4500lbs regularly with my CRD and get ~19-20mpg depending and that's driving @ 70mph. I don't think I'd do the same towing in a gasser mainly because of the piss poor mileage.

Old pictures, but you get it

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Mon Jul 27, 2009 1:43 pm

Fulltimer wrote:

Just remember guys, just because you can tow something doesn't mean you should.

Terry

That's so true. I'm actually shopping for a more capable tow truck with a V8.
Maybe I could simply put a V8 in the Libby :roll:

?

Help with towing weight Please

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