Trailer length question

[fritz_monroe]

I guess I should have looked into this earlier, but never really thought about it.  I came across a page that talks about how a shorter wheel based vehicle should not tow a long trailer because of the possibility of fish tailing and losing control.  We have a 2005 Jeep Liberty that we were going to use as a TV.  The wheelbase of this vehicle is 104.3"  The towing capacity is rated at 5000 lbs, and we've been looking at trailers in the 3000# range.  Some of these trailers are 19' long, but most have been in the 16' to 18' range.

So, what's the longest trailer I should be looking at for this vehicle?  We don't have any plans on replacing this vehicle, but if we find that we can't get what we like with this, we may just upgrade.

Thanks.

P.S. I've been told by some friends that tow trailers regularly that they would probably not go over 19'.  But these people are not experts in the field.

[garym053]

Fritz,
Doesn't your owners manual state the maximum length and frontal area (Sq Ft) of the towed trailer? My Jeep Cherokee did (25' long, can't remember frontal area), but I never looked in the manual of my Grand Cherokee. My wife owns a Liberty, I'll look at hers when I get home.

[fritz_monroe]

Garym,  You are right, it's in the manual.  I've got a table that says up to 64 sq. ft. frontal area, 5000#, 25 foot maximum trailer length.  This is equipped with a class III, and towing package.    It also says a tongue weight of 750#.

I've got to say that I'm amazed.  I wouldn't think of towing something that long.

[garym053]

Yeah, I was surprised when I read that for the Cherokee. I've been looking at a lot of different campers for our NEXT purchase, which I keep putting off because we can't really decide on one. I won't consider anything over 23 feet, 25 just seems too big. Although by the time we do make up our mind, I'll probably have a new tow vehicle, by Grand Cherokee has 115,000 miles on her!
Good luck in your search!

[wynot]

Even if I had an owner's manual which said a Liberty could tow 5,000 lbs, I think I would find someone else towing with one first and see what they think.
 
That Liberty is a very short, very narrow vehicle, with many of the same quirks as the CJ/Wrangler.  (So I understand from working in an RV dealership).
 
You could probably tow a 3,500 lb popup, but I suspect that you will be looking for a TV that would give you more confidence quickly.  There's such a big difference between pulling power (drivetrain) and handling.  But I don't own a Liberty and I am speculating.

[fritz_monroe]

After driving the Jeep for a almost a year, I'm not worried about the weight of the trailers we are looking at.  If we tow a while and find it's not as comfortable as we'd like, we will look into another tow vehicle.

[AustinBoston]

Garym,  You are right, it's in the manual.  I've got a table that says up to 64 sq. ft. frontal area, 5000#, 25 foot maximum trailer length.  This is equipped with a class III, and towing package.    It also says a tongue weight of 750#.

I've got to say that I'm amazed.  I wouldn't think of towing something that long.

Sometimes the specs require a bit of thought.  I wouldn't tow a 25' TT with my Astro, but I probably would tow a 25' boat trailer.  Same with frontal area; I wouldn't tow a hybrid or TT with max frontal area, but a boat is far more streamlined and probably would not present the same challenges.

Austin

[wynot]

After driving the Jeep for a almost a year, I'm not worried about the weight of the trailers we are looking at. If we tow a while and find it's not as comfortable as we'd like, we will look into another tow vehicle.

Fritz, Once again, weight is a minor issue in towing.  Pretty much anything will PULL anything (within reason).  Stopping it, and controlling it are far different issues.  And that is where I suspect the Liberty may have some challenges.
 
In general, for tow vehicles - Wider is better, longer is better - neither of which the Liberty is.  That's all I am saying.  A lot of us towed with FWD minivans, too.  Yeah, it can pull a 3,500 lb camper, but sometimes you feel a bit like the camper is controlling you.  Both of our Windstars pulled very well, but when in WV, PA, and MD mountains, sometimes, that camper could have felt much more controlled.  Put the Tahoe in front of it, and there is no camper back there, except when I look in the mirrors.

[fritz_monroe]

I don't mean to be argumentative, but no matter how often I get told that the Liberty is narrow and short, it doesn't change the fact that this is our tow vehicle.  I understand this isn't the best tow vehicle, but it's what I have.  The other vehicle we have is a PT Cruiser convertible, and towing with that is not an option.

So my question still stands, what's the longest  pop up that I should look at to tow with this Jeep Liberty.

Thanks again.

[abbear]

Fritz - I have a Saturn Vue that has a 3500# tow rating.  I never brought it up on this forum really because there are too many "experts".  They go to Trailer life and  come back and tell me that my tow rating is 2500# which is just wrong according to my owners manual.  They would pick my car apart because it is not as big as theirs.  Yet none of them have experience with my car.

But more importantly my vehicle is similar in build to yours.  I have spent a lot of time on the Saturn forums and figure I have more miles towing a big popup behind a vue than most folks (10,000 miles).  I towed my Westlake (12 ft box - 2700#) all over the western US and Canada.  Over the Rockies, Sierras, and Cascades many times.  I use a wdh and a sway bar.  There were four passengers in the vue.  I never had any problem with handling that trailer - not from wind, road, or grade.  Braking was never an issue.  With the Colonial (10ft box - 1800#) I can't tell the trailer is behind me.

If it was me (and I have found myself in your situation) this is what I would do.  First find a jeep liberty forum on the net.  Don't ask here - they can only speak in generalities.  Talk to other owners on a liberty forum and see what they have done.  Second, whatever you do be sure you comply with the owners manual (which it appears you have done).  Finally, don't guesstimate - go get the rig weighed so you really know what you have.

That said - just because someone gives you advice doesn't mean you have to take it.  Good luck to you.

[fritz_monroe]

abbear,
  Nice to hear from another small SUV owner towing.  I'll try to track down a Liberty forum and see what the concensus is over there.  I don't even have the pup yet, this is all research that I'm doing to make sure that I only look at the trailers that I can tow.  The length question had never come up prior to this posting.

[wavemaker]

Fritz,
i had a jeep Grand cherokee, i pulled a 12ft coleman, the only problems that i had is the sway.. i was able to fix it though with a reese weight distrobution hitch  
http://www.reese-hitches.com/weightdist_lite.htm  it made the trailer and jeep even when you put on the sway bars, and that was a big thing ya need to keep the trailer and jeep even...  with that being done you should not have a problem, now ill say my jeep was in my parking place
and a drunk came down the street, went through my neighbors yard
threw a brick wall into my grand cherokee, that jeep went into, a jeep cherokee, yeah both jeeps got demolished... so i had to find a new car/truck... i got to thinking about the jeep just feeling squishey when towing the trailer, so i got a Ford F-150, and to tell you the truth
the ford, you could hook up the trailer without any sway attachments.
you will honestly forget the trailer is even back there...
now i tow a 5700lbs 5th wheel 23ft long, this one you can feel, althoughi can pull 7000lbs, i do not feel it would be safe...
So its up to you, but the honest truth about pulling the 7000lbs with a ford-150, i would not do it...
http://members.cox.net/wavemaker4/crash.htm hehe check out the jeeps


Dean

abbear,
  Nice to hear from another small SUV owner towing.  I'll try to track down a Liberty forum and see what the concensus is over there.  I don't even have the pup yet, this is all research that I'm doing to make sure that I only look at the trailers that I can tow.  The length question had never come up prior to this posting.

[fritz_monroe]

Wavemaker, thanks for the first hand towing information.  I definately don't want to get something that is too much trailer.  I'll be towing with this Jeep for a while, but if it turns out to be not as comfortable as I like, upgrading is not out of the question.  However, I can't do that right away.  I'm planning on using a WDH and sway bar, so I know that some additional hardware could be required.  Of course I'll use a brake controller as well.

Thanks to all for the input.

[wavemaker]

hey,
what kind of popup you getting??
because i have the weight distrubition hitch id give it to ya for 130.00
plus shipping, it weighs 35lbs so im not sure how much it will cost..
ill go check it out tomarrow to see how much they want...

Dean

Wavemaker, thanks for the first hand towing information.  I definately don't want to get something that is too much trailer.  I'll be towing with this Jeep for a while, but if it turns out to be not as comfortable as I like, upgrading is not out of the question.  However, I can't do that right away.  I'm planning on using a WDH and sway bar, so I know that some additional hardware could be required.  Of course I'll use a brake controller as well.

Thanks to all for the input.

[fritz_monroe]

I'm not set on any particular model yet.  I'm in the research mode now.  Although this weekend there's a big RV show in town.  In past shows, I've seen people get the WDH thrown in on the deal.  I'll keep you in  mind, though.  Have any specifics on it?