More towing questions

[fritz_monroe]

Hello folks, new to the board and need to ask a couple towing questions. I did a couple searches of previous articles and didn't find what I needed.

I've got a 2005 Liberty Sport, 3.7, auto, 4x4. I don't have the tow package, but will be getting that installed before towing. I found the various propaganda in the owner's manual, you know the stuff about towing a 5000# trailer, up to 25' length. Now I know this is not real world towing, so I'm trying to get a handle on what I can actually tow with this.

We are buying a pop up camper. The ones I'm looking at have a GVWR of 3500# or less. They are also between 17' and 19' in length. Seeing as the Jeep is a rather short wheelbase, I wanted to see what you folks thought about the maximum trailer I should be looking at. I'm in Maryland, but we have some mountains out west I'd be going over sometimes. They aren't Rocky Mountain sized but enough to put up a fight. I will have a WDH and sway bars on it also.

So, can anyone offer any advice on what I should be looking at? I'm less concerned about weight than I am about the length of the trailers.

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[BluPhant]

For maximum recommendation, I can't really give you any recommendations. I would imagine that you'd be fine.

I have a U-Haul hitch, which is a class III hitch. The biggest thing i've towed with it is a 6x12' u haul trailer. It was something other than fun to tow (largely because I think it was built around WWII) but the Liberty worked nicely. The only consideration I can think of offhand is the turning radius on the liberty. Because it's so tight, you really have to bear in mind that you're towing, and not cut too hard. I suppose thats common to most vehicles, but the turning radius on the Libby amplifies this a bit.

I would guess that you'd prolly be ok with the trailer you're talking about, but I'm going to defer to more knowledgable members of the forum for the final word.

-Blu

 

[csvencer]

I recently picked up a 19' Sea Pro which weighs in (trailer, gas, motor, etc) at right around 3000-3300 lbs. I trailered it around all weekend without any problems. Honestly I forgot about it after a while, the only thing you have to worry about is the turning radius, as said before. It really can sneek up on you because the damn Liberty turns on a dime.

-Svence

 

[cowcatcher]

Perhaps others can add here but the factory tow package is more than just a hitch, it includes extra fans, coolers and more. If you dig deep Jeep says the tow capacity drops to 2,500 pounds with just and after market hitch. That being said, others here say they have not experienced trouble pulling more than 2,500 with after market hitches.

 

[csvencer]

Perhaps others can add here but the factory tow package is more than just a hitch, it includes extra fans, coolers and more. If you dig deep Jeep says the tow capacity drops to 2,500 pounds with just and after market hitch. That being said, others here say they have not experienced trouble pulling more than 2,500 with after market hitches.

This is where it gets hairy. I was under the same impression but it really depends on the year of your Liberty. I believe 05-06's have the transmission cooler built in, whether or not you have the tow package. I didn't get the tow package but do have an extra radiator that flows to the transmission (some still debate that it may be a power steering cooler). I added the hitch myself and haven't had any issues towing the 3300 lbs. I think before 05 you are correct, you don't get that cooler unless you get the package.

-Svence

Please correct me if I am wrong...

 

[fritz_monroe]

We are having the tow package installed by the Jeep dealer. After talking to them, it includes the trans cooler, class 3 hitch and 7 pin harness. There were other items, but that's the main items.

F_M

 

[JeepJeepster]

Perhaps others can add here but the factory tow package is more than just a hitch, it includes extra fans, coolers and more. If you dig deep Jeep says the tow capacity drops to 2,500 pounds with just and after market hitch. That being said, others here say they have not experienced trouble pulling more than 2,500 with after market hitches.

This is where it gets hairy. I was under the same impression but it really depends on the year of your Liberty. I believe 05-06's have the transmission cooler built in, whether or not you have the tow package. I didn't get the tow package but do have an extra radiator that flows to the transmission (some still debate that it may be a power steering cooler). I added the hitch myself and haven't had any issues towing the 3300 lbs. I think before 05 you are correct, you don't get that cooler unless you get the package.

-Svence

Please correct me if I am wrong...

My 04 has the ****** cooler and i didnt get the tow pack. All i need is the mech fan, hitch and wiring.

 

[Amarony]

There is a very common belief that all KJ's come with the ****** cooler and pretty much all the parts to the towing package except:

-2nd mech fan
-tow hitch
-electrical harness

I'd take a close look for some of the items they say you need installed....

 

[fritz_monroe]

There is a very common belief that all KJ's come with the ****** cooler and pretty much all the parts to the towing package except:

-2nd mech fan
-tow hitch
-electrical harness

I'd take a close look for some of the items they say you need installed....

Interesting. What can I look for to determine if I have a transmission cooler already? That's the one thing that I'm intimidated about doing. I can install the hitch. I could figure out the wiring. Is the 2nd mech fan just an auxilary electric fan?

Thanks again
F_M

 

[Amarony]

The transmission cooler looks like a mini-radiator positioned at the bottom of the regular radiator. Mine is dark colored (black). I don't have a pic that I can post at the moment but was pretty easy to spot on mine. It's not vary tall in height but fairly wide in dimensions.

The power steering cooler is also mounted on the front. It is a smaller silver colored finned cooling exchanged block similiar to a small radiator. I believe it's on the bottom right as you look at the engine.

There are pics of both of these in the service manual but i'm not smart enough to post a pic at the moment. Both of these were on my 05 Renny without the tow package. I researched this all a lot last summer when doing my hitch install, and from what i found (which was consistent with my Renny disclaimer) all i really needed was the hitch and the wiring. There has been debate about this regularly and model years may differ, but the consensus seems to be that both coolers come stock on the KJ because the cost of adding it later would be excessive compared to making it stock. Hope this helps, your mileage may vary.

 

[fritz_monroe]

Cool, I'll take a look tomorrow morning. If I have any problem identifying it, I'll try to grab some pics to post.

F_M

 

[BluPhant]

Here's a quick synopsis of my install of the hitch. It's pretty straightforward. You should have no probs identifying the ****** cooler. It's right there

-Blu

 

[fritz_monroe]

Well, I looked this morning. I have another radiator that runs the whole way across the radiator but is only about 6 inches tall. I followed the lines back and they seem to be going to the transmission. Sure looks like a transmission cooler to me. \/

I have to convince my wife to let me install the hitch. I mentioned it last night and she said she doesn't want me to install it, but to take it to a hitch place. After looking at the wiring harnesses and where the wires run, I'm probably not doing the wiring. The biggest reason is some home done wiring looks really bad.

Now this 2nd mech fan. Where does this attach, on front of the radiator? Does it just plug into the existing wiring?

F_M

 

[Wink]

Fritz,

By all means go with Hidden Hitch. Not only is it barely visible, but they're not kidding when they say 10 minute installation. I also used the Hidden Hitch T-Connector wiring kit. Very easy to install. The toughest part was removing the tailights. Remove the two screws and then pull the light straight back. The wiring is completely hidden after installation except for the pigtail connector that I stuff up over the hitch when not in use. This installation is so easy it's almost silly! Save you money for other fun stuff!

Wink

 

[LibertyCRD]

Well, I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet or not, but you WILL want to wire up a trailer brake controller inside your Jeep and wire that into your 6 or 7-pin harness that goes below the rear bumper. The bad news is...if your Jeep did not come with the factory towing package, it may not have been "pre-wired" for a trailer brake controller.

Many states require brakes on trailers over 1,000 lbs. Even if it's not required...trust me you will want brakes on a trailer that weighs 3,500 lbs. I've been towing trailers all my life and I've wrecked with one too. Been there and done that. And I'm telling you right now, having to do an emergency stop with 3,500 lbs. of extra force working against your Jeep ain't going to be fun.

So while you are at it...wire up a trailer brake controller. Class 3 hitch, ****** fluid cooler, 6 or 7-pin harness, and trailer brake controller and you will be good to go. You'll then be able to tow that trailer with ease and safety. And it won't hurt your Jeep a bit.

 

[tgh117]

wiring up the brake control box right away will only benefit if the trailer you are going to tow has brakes. Most of the pop up campers on the market do not currently come with brakes on them already. You will have to buy as an option, or even have the dealer install them. I haven't had any problems towing wiht mine, about 3200 lbs with 3 fourwheelers and a 6x12 trailer on the back, and also pulled my dads 18' pop up to. Good luck with getting your hitch.

 

[LibertyCRD]

You mean they actually sell 3,500 lb. campers that don't have trailer brakes as standard equipment? :-s Wow. That's unbelieveable. Yeah you can tow it without brakes, but 1.) it WILL wear out your brake pads in a hurry. so you'll have to check those often. and 2.) IF you have a deer run in front of you, a pedestrian, a car pulls out in front of you, light turns red suddenly, etc. it's game over. I wouldn't want to take that chance. Well, actually I have too many times before and I ended up paying for it dearly one day when a lady pulled in front of me and I couldn't get truck + trailer stopped in time.

 

[tgh117]

I think the trailer has to be rated for 3000 lbs plus GVWR for brakes to be required by the manuf. Quite a few pop up trailers are rated at 2200-2800 lbs, which would make brakes only an option. I agree with you though, if your towing more then 3000 lbs regularly, its good to have brakes, they make noticable differences on our car trailer, but I was only stating if he was buying a pop up that was under this magic 3,000 lb weight, and he has no intentions of towing other heavier things that will someday require a brake controller, then why bother. Was just my opinion, no need to get nasty about it. At least brakes were only options when I was looking to buy one last year. Maybe that has changed by now?

 

[LibertyCRD]

I'm not getting nasty about it. I just saw that he mentioned a 3,500 lb. weight and no one had said anything to him about trailer brakes which would obviously be important. Not "optional" in that case. Wasn't trying to flame anyone. Wiring up the brake controller is a mess...a good days work if you don't have existing wiring in your Jeep to tap into.

 

[tgh117]

Yea I agree with that, wiring will take some time, especially to make it look nice, tidy up underneath, and to get everything in all the right places. All the connection points should be fairly straight forward, just have to get the wires routed so they last for the long run. Have to wait and see what pop up he comes up with I guess.