Dreamsbride
Kelowna
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Joined: 05/08/2012
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Hi.
My husband and I just purchased a used 2006 Jeep Liberty 3.7 4x4
We did this to replace our 2005 Dodge Caravan as a tow vehicle for our 2010 Jayco 1007 series pop up with following specs
Length (ft/ft) 20
Length (ft/in) 10
Height (closed) (in/closed) (ft/closed) (mm/closed) (m) 58 / 4.8 / 1473.2 / 1.5
Dry Weight (lbs/kg) 1710 / 775.7
Payload Capacity (lbs/kgs) 840 / 381
GVWR (lbs/kgs) 2550 / 1156.7
Hitch Weight (lbs/kgs) 190 / 86.2
Of course the dealer assured us that the van would pull this trailer no problems so we purchased the trailer. THEN we started talking to others and doing more in- depth research and discovered that the van transmission is not strong enough if we wanted to pull through the Okanagan Valley etc.
The Jeep shows a tow rate of 5000lbs and from what we have been told by talking to people that this would make a good tow vehicle for our trailer, so we purchased on this past weekend.
Now I am getting nervous because I have been reading forums etc about towing etc..and am getting mixed messages as people say they would not tow anything with the Liberty because of the small wheel base..I do most of the towing and most times I do it alone with just my daughter and the dog when hubby can't join us. Am I safe here ?
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VintageRacer
Dundas, Ontario
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Joined: 04/02/2005
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I think you'll be very happy. That is quite a small trailer, which should suit the jeep very well.
Brian
2005 F250 Supercab, Powerstroke, 5 speed automatic, 3.73 gears.
20 ft race car hauler, Lola T440 Formula Ford, NTM MK4 Sports Racer
1980 MCI MC-5C highway coach conversion
2004 Travelhawk 8' Truck Camper
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naturist
Lynchburg, VA
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Joined: 04/24/2008
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You will have no problems. I have a Liberty diesel, and tow a 21 foot, 5,000 lbs gross weight, full height TT without issue. Your trailer is much lighter and has less wind resistance, so those nay-sayers who are telling you the Libby can't do the job can be dismissed as know-nothings.
Your gasser weighs over 4,000 lbs. and while it doesn't have the wheelbase length of a long bed pickup, it is plenty long enough for that trailer. Jeep says 5,000 lbs gross weight and 24 feet max length. You are well under the limits on both.
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sgip2000
Oregon
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Joined: 05/01/2012
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The biggest difference you'll see is the Jeep is RWD and the van is FWD. RWD is better for towing. That is why the Jeep has a higher tow rating.
I tow with an older Jeep Cherokee that has a similar weight and wheel base as the liberty and it does fine with a similar weight.
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bgum
South Louisiana
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Joined: 02/22/2006
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Just use sway control keep it at or under 60MPH and you should be fine.
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rfryer
Phoenix
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Joined: 04/19/2005
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I would try towing it carefully to see how it handles. I'd especially be alert for any indications of sway. I towed a Coleman PU with my 1973 Bronco, a short wb vehicle, and it was excellent. But my PU was smaller and lighter than yours and my Bronco has the 302 engine.
On the other hand, a friend pulled a small TT, maybe roughly 12', with a Toyota Land Cruiser, very similar to the jeep, and it jackknifed on him and scared the devil out of him. And I picked up a guy on I-17 with a 16' TT just like mine that jackknifed his, pulling with a Bronco II.
So I don't want to imply it's dangerous, I'm just a little wary of pulling much weight with small, short wb vehicles until I've assured myself they handle it OK.
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Gman22
Burlington, Ontario
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Joined: 07/03/2008
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I think you'll be fine with a PUP. If you start looking at full height hard-sides, you'll not be happy with the little Liberty for long.
2000 Coleman Bayside
2006 Ford Expedition Ltd. 5.4 L/3.73
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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The minivan should have been plenty enough (with a good transmission cooler) for nearly any popup. The Liberty will be fine too.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2012 VW Passat TDI
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dodge guy
Bartlett IL
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Joined: 03/23/2004
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The problem is you are listening to other people instead of going by what the vehicle is capable of! either vehicle will tow a PuP just fine. you can add a friction sway control to the PuP and Liberty and it will tow stable provided yoiu have the proper tongue weight.
Wife Kim 
Son Brandon 11yrs
Daughter Marissa 10yrs
Dog Shadow 
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear 5Star tuner Y-pipe mod Hellwig sway bar
Reese HP dualcam Prodigy brake controller
A bad day of camping is
better than a good day at work!
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Manufacturers usually know pretty well what their vehicles are capable of. Stay under the tow ratings and MOST importantly, stay below the safety ratings (GVWR and GAWR) and you should be fine.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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