Maintenance & Restoration

Gina D. · 08-22-2006, 09:44 PM

I made my New Car decision and went a lookin. Found a nice '06 Jeep Liberty at a nice price, and the proper color (Red) so I went for it.

It has a 2k towing ability as is, 5k with cooler, but no hitch etc.. yet. I am not sure.. it's too new!

I still have the Element, can't bare to part with it. Think I will use that as the Tug and dog mobile, but what experiences has anyone had towing with a Liberty?

It's a 6 banger, 3.7l, 2wd. Automatic.. cause I am lazy in my old age.

I don't want to beat it up. This will be my "People" car, for commuting and taking passengers in without saying.. "Sorry, there are no back seats, just brush the dog hair away"

Pete Dumbleton · 08-22-2006, 10:37 PM

As long as you're buying new, get a tow package...

Gina D. · 08-22-2006, 10:48 PM

I already bought it, and it was "used" with a whole whopping 4700 miles on it. Whoopie. It smells new to me. Looks new. Has the Jeep new warranty.. it is new as far as I am concerned.

Someone else took the hit.

Manual says its a bumper pull, or capable of such

tow rating of 2k on the bumper, or without cooler, 5k with hitch and cooler.

I don't know from bumper pull to bumper cars.

If Jeep is anything like Honda, factory tow package is an expensive joke.

Benita · 08-22-2006, 11:45 PM

Sounds like if you duplicate what you did with the Element with the Jeep you will have a 5K tow rating. That would minimally be be adding a transmission cooler and installing a hitch.

Bumper pull means you screw the tow ball into your bumper; back up to your trailer; drop the trailer coupler onto the bumper ball; secure the coupler and drive off. Works for some tug/toad combinations. Doesn't for others. Since you are expert at keeping your towing load low and pulling through various conditions I think you can handle the arrangement easily. My 2200 pound 16fter was towed all over the SE on the bumper of an ancient Toyota 4Runner.

Since the resident gurus have lots of opinions about towing and such, I'll be quiet now.

Doug & Anna-Marie P · 08-22-2006, 11:46 PM

Congrats on the new vehicle.
At the Boler meet in May,(lower mainland BC) there was a lady there that towed her Trillium with a diesel Liberty and LOVED it....

Sounds like a real good tow rating...
We hope to keep our car for another 5 years, but the Liberty has crossed my mind too...

Kurt & Ann K. · 08-23-2006, 12:32 AM

Gina,
Congratulations on your new "bus".

I was thinking maybe you got an appropriate color to correspond with particular flag colors but ain't nothin' wrong with more red!

Parking space at home is getting more cozy, I imagine

Lookin' forward to seeing you soon towing with which ever!
Kurt & Ann K.

Donna D. · 08-23-2006, 05:23 AM

Since it doesn't have the towing package, you'll probably need to have it wired for the trailer

Gina...check with U-Haul to have the hitched installed.

Chris L. · 08-23-2006, 05:32 AM

Gina,
I've got an '02 Liberty, 3.7 liter that I have had since new and tow a 13' Scamp. It has the tow package(larger radiator, wiring, extra fan on radiator, larger alternator, hitch, etx.....) on it and is rated at 5,000 pounds. It is a very capable tug and is quite comfortable too. The problem with the Liberty is that the spare tire is centered on the rear and makes it a bit difficult to hook up the trailer. To tow level my hitch bar was only a couple inches below the spare tire, so to resolve that, I had added a hitch extender to ease the hookup. Also, if you travel at (or reasonably above) freeway speed the fuel economy is not that great. Towing I average about 15 mpg with the a/c on and traveling at the speed limit. Otherwise though it is a great tow vehicle and I wish you many years of happy, trouble free towing!

Christi V. · 08-23-2006, 07:50 AM

Gina.. congrats on your new vehicle! with a tow package and tranny cooler you should be just fine.. I towed my 13 with my Suzuki Grand Vitarga easily with no problems... it had a 2.4. V 6 in it...

Rachel Nguyen · 08-23-2006, 01:45 PM

A tow bumper is just that... you stick a tow ball onto the bumper itself. Hence the lower tow rating. If I were you I would definately get a real hitch installed! It is much better because you can then adjust your ball height. (Not possible with a bumper tow ball, I don't think.)

Plus, just look around and you will see a TON of mangled bumpers from people who tried to tow with them. It just isn't worth the hassle.

Have fun with the new tug!

Gina D. · 08-23-2006, 02:13 PM

The hitch I can actually do myself with the help of a burly friend. I am taking the car over to Phoenix for and inspection by my friend that is a Jeep specialist. We may do it then if he approves the car.

*not an endorsement* I got it from Carmax and they have a 5 day no questions asked return policy. I am not considering this a "keeper" until I have it inspected, tho at those low a miles, it is probably a done deal. Carfax came out OK. It was a repo or turn in from someone who couldn't make the payments.

I have to look into the wiring. I want to use my Prodigy, so I will have to get another harness for it. I can see no reason to have two controllers. I can move it from one car to another.

The tire situation is a bit sticky, yes. I noted that right away.

Benita · 08-23-2006, 02:21 PM

The odds are once you've experienced towing with a more powerful vehicle, especially one that you already own, the Element will loose some of its appeal as a TV. Maybe a super detailer can put that new shine and smell back in the Element for ya?

Gina D. · 08-23-2006, 02:24 PM

I love the Element, even if it does stink..

It actually looks and drives as nice as the day I drove it off the lot. It's a Honda. The interior shows some wear.. no big deal.

I want to preserve it. I am emotionally attached to it. I felt a pang of guilt when I had to park the Jeep next to it this morning.

I may have to drive up to Tacoma in the next couple months. I may just take the Element instead of the new one.. We'll see.

OK, I am wierd.

BobB · 08-23-2006, 04:20 PM

Weird! Take it back!

**Frederick L. Simson** · 08-23-2006, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Found a nice '06 Jeep Liberty at a nice price, and the proper color (Red) so I went for it.

I still have the Element, can't bare to part with it.

Some people will do ANYTHING to get an insurance (mulit-vehicle) discount.

Gina D. · 08-23-2006, 08:03 PM

Yeah... thats even more wierd.. and I don't even begin to understand how insurance works.

I took the full coverage off the Element, and added the Jeep, full coverage. My monthly bil went up.. 4 bucks.

Benita · 08-23-2006, 08:16 PM

Hmmm.

My daily driver is a Camry with full coverage. The tow vehicle is a rust bucket with onlly liability - $35 amonth. For this area, that's a deal.

Gina D. · 08-23-2006, 08:19 PM

well, I, er, have that little incident with the Element and a posted speed limit that was exceeded just a little to overcome.

Dan Quinn · 08-24-2006, 12:12 AM

have you noticed the fuel miliage isnt that great yet?? you will probaly get about 16mpg and 14 pulling the trailer..it has the same motor my dakota had and it was rotten on gas towing..but congrats on your new toy..

Dan