Cool Towing Rig Setup

[ihatemybike]

Even though we don't really do much towing this post on the Jeep Liberty forum really makes me wish the wife's was a diesel.

[BLAZER]

Diesel or not, even though I've been pretty ballsy on some of the things I've pulled, no way would I pull a trailer like that with such a small TV, no way....that just looks scary. Love the hitch though, would have to get a part time job to afford one [-X

[T.Low]

Just looks like a simple case of the tail ready to wag the dog to me. #-o

I'm sure it has the power to pull it, but the geomety is still all wrong.

[ihatemybike]

I admit that the trailer looks huge, but the guy seems to have done his research.

Did you see the mpg he's getting while towing that thing? He's averaging 16mpg!

I want diesel engines in my Astros sooo bad right now. Looking forward to finding the as of yet unreleased 4.5L Duramax in the yards.

[T.Low]

I admit that the trailer looks huge, but the guy seems to have done his research.

Did you see the mpg he's getting while towing that thing? He's averaging 16mpg!

I want diesel engines in my Astros sooo bad right now. Looking forward to finding the as of yet unreleased 4.5L Duramax in the yards.

I was lking the deisel idea too. But with my 4:10's she got olenty 'O Git up'n Go. And all my disel bros are crying about $4.25 gallon.

My Uncle sold RV trailers. He said its not about the power; its about the tow vehicle's weight and wheels base. I tend to agree. I hope the best for this guy and the others on the free way.

[ihatemybike]

Everyone is crying about fuel cost, but an unladen Liberty CRD get roughly 26-28mpg, my wifes get about 10mpg less. I'll pay more for fuel if I can go far enough on it to make up the difference.

[mdmead]

They guy was really hammered on the RV site, but honestly, I think he is fine. He obviously did his homework and has probably the best hitch on the market. It wouldn't hurt him to upgrade his tires, but just because something looks out of proportion, doesn't mean it is inherently unsafe. (While over-the-road trucks use a better 5th wheel hitch system, their tractors are small and light compared to the loads they haul. And then out west these trucks are hauling triples!)

[ihatemybike]

Don't forget the Australian road trains, hauling quads and weighting up to 200 metric tons.

[GEJ]

They guy was really hammered on the RV site, but honestly, I think he is fine. He obviously did his homework and has probably the best hitch on the market. It wouldn't hurt him to upgrade his tires, but just because something looks out of proportion, doesn't mean it is inherently unsafe. (While over-the-road trucks use a better 5th wheel hitch system, their tractors are small and light compared to the loads they haul. And then out west these trucks are hauling triples!)

Hey Matt,
Got to remember with semi's the sliding hitches to move the wt around on the tractor's wheel base.That alone is a important factor.A air brake system too and gearing on those tractors is also a key.Can't really compare this Jeep to them at all.LiftedAWDastro tried to tow a T.T. with a Astro and moved on to a Dodge P/U for that.I agree with Blazer-I too have done some towing that was on the edge of the seat driving,but wouldn't want to make it a steady diet of it.

[mdmead]

They guy was really hammered on the RV site, but honestly, I think he is fine. He obviously did his homework and has probably the best hitch on the market. It wouldn't hurt him to upgrade his tires, but just because something looks out of proportion, doesn't mean it is inherently unsafe. (While over-the-road trucks use a better 5th wheel hitch system, their tractors are small and light compared to the loads they haul. And then out west these trucks are hauling triples!)

Hey Matt,
Got to remember with semi's the sliding hitches to move the wt around on the tractor's wheel base.That alone is a important factor.A air brake system too and gearing on those tractors is also a key.Can't really compare this Jeep to them at all.LiftedAWDastro tried to tow a T.T. with a Astro and moved on to a Dodge P/U for that.I agree with Blazer-I too have done some towing that was on the edge of the seat driving,but wouldn't want to make it a steady diet of it.

Geez Gary, this coming from the guy who just towed an Astro home with no brakes on the tow vehicle?!?!

I agree a bigger tow vehicle usually makes for a safer package, but there are a lot of variables. What is the distance from the rear axle to the ball on a Liberty vs an extended Astro/Safari? That is a key issue to towing stability. After reading up on the Hensley system, I'm much more confident in it vs a regular friction sway control, and that too is key. (My understanding is the linkage is such that the trailer can't sway the tow vehicle as it is locked, yet the vehicle can turn unhindered.)

I don't see any safety advantage of air brakes over properly set up electric trailer brakes. In both cases, the trailer's brakes are designed to stop the load. (Both systems are designed for the loads they are certified to handle.)

The bottom line is I'm not afraid to share the road with this guy as he appears level headed and did his homework. On the other hand, I've come across a lot of people with better towing combinations (on paper) that scared the hell out of me the way they drove and maintained them.

[GEJ]

Boy oh boy,you can say that again about no brakes.(or very little brakes that didn't hold).Some of what I said comes from yrs of out of town towing to drag races and swap meets.Early on some which I wouldn't even what to tell you about and lately a rig which we would take anywhere.The load bars in use for many many yrs because it works.I think you can get anything to go down the road straight for towing.The real question is how do you do so with a comfort level that makes sense.Sure I admitt doing your research about towing makes sense,but if the towing van isn't built for it(or Jeep),then all your doing is putting a band aid on a issues that where not meant to be in the first place.Now take the same towing system and put it on a truck that was built to tow and man ya got something there that wouldn't
sway during a semi truck passing,will stop with no worries and will give you a comfort trip you can get out of and not feel tired.Yeppers,no brakes make you feel like you just traveled twice the distance and got beat up real bad. I got back last Tues and just now my face is getting back from a real white pale to a normal color.