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Topic: Towing (Read 759 times) previous topic - next topic

Towing

Anybody ever tow a jeep liberty? Like it? No? Lookin at an 05 as a tow behind.
Goldhoundin

Re: Towing

Reply #2 –
Our previous towed was a 2012 Jeep Liberty. Towed just fine, but otherwise not a great car for us. Our current 2015 Lincoln MKT is much more comfortable and gets better gas mileage. The Jeep was a 4wd model, but wasn't any better than the Lincoln, which is front wheel drive.

Re: Towing

Reply #3 –
I have 96 U320 40 ft.

I tow a 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited which is in the same GVWR range as a 05 Liberty.

I think the Liberty will tow well.

Tim
Tim Dianics
Pam Sapienza
Vader PupZilla Labrador Canine Beast (AKA Pup)
Columbia, MO
1996 U320 4000
2021 Jeep Gladiator, Diesel

Re: Towing

Reply #4 –
I tow a 2007 Liberty.  No problems. 

jk
Jack and Cathy
1992 U280 Unihome 36' Build #4034
Cummins 8.3 /  Allison MT647/ PacBrake
Apopka, FL / Barre Center, NY

Re: Towing

Reply #5 –
Back in 2014 I purchased my low milage Jeep Liberty from the original  owner with tow brackets already installed. They had recently sold their rv as they felt they were too old to continuing to rv.  I drove the vehicle around town and took it for a short drive on the freeway.  It was immaculate and well cared for.  My goal was to get a lighter vehicle than the Toyotas I had always purchased for a toad.  I should have driven it longer on the freeway, as it did not have the comfort or handling I expected, posibly due to the shorter wheelbase.  I even purchased new Michelin tires, and had the suspension checked, including a four wheel alignment. For me, the vehicle had too much oversteer.  I know this was my experience, my individual expectations, and may not be yours.  I am just making this observation so that you are not disappointed.

The other shortcoming I experienced was the power window regulators breaking, causing the window to fall down into the door while driving on the freeway.  This also was a common known  failure.. This happened twice in the short seven months I owned the vehicle. 

Also there was a lot of information at that time regarding air bag failures in Libertys.  While looking for some replacement interior trim I also came across three totaled out Jeep Liberty vehicles in a pick a part yard that exhibited the same air bag short coming I had read about.  Some air bag control computers in some Jeep Liberty SUVs were failing, preventing the air bag system from operating properly in a crash.  That was enough for me to quickly accept an offer to buy my Liberty from someone that saw it parked, and asked me if I would sell it, and for how much.  They ended up keeping it less than a year since his wife refused to drive the vehicle on the freeway, as she also felt the handing did not feel secure to her.

I replaced the Liberty with a much newer and more expensive Chevrolet Traverse.  It performed flawlessly.  I replaced the Traverse with my current Lexus GX470 in 2017, as the Traverse was depreciating faster than I thought acceptable, and it did not have the quality of previous Toyota vehicles I had owned and used as a toad.  My GX470 is now worth more than I paid for it in 2017, and it has been wonderful to own.

From a previous post of mine:  "We love our full time AWD 2004 Lexus GX 470, dependability, safety, and comfort.  Previous tow vehicles a LS 470, several Toyota Land Cruisers.  The GX 470 is essentially a overhead twin cam V8 Toyota Four Runner with a 4" raised roof, interior and exterior upgrades.  Both were built in the same factory in Japan, with manual transfer case from 1998-2008, same years for LS470 and Land Cruiser."

My Liberty
Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos

My Traverse
Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos

My GX470
Shared album - John Lewis - Google Photos
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Towing

Reply #6 –
Thanks guys
Goldhoundin

Re: Towing

Reply #7 –
I've towed 2 different Liberty's.  It is small and easy to tow.  But the first time we left the coach and drove home about a 1000 miles I sold it and bought a truck.  Very busy drive on the interstate, uncomfortable seats.  It was 4x4 but not very capable and upgradeable offroad.  If all you want is something to cruise some back roads and light trails, go to the grocery, etc. it's ok.  But there are much better choices out there.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Towing

Reply #8 –
We went from a 98 Jeep Wrangler which was fun off road and in the sand dunes but terrible for a 4 hour ride for a Jeep Cherokee which gets us as far off road as we now want to go and everywhere else in comfort and safety and a daily driver too. We are adding a pickup truck to our stable of towables as well.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Towing

Reply #9 –
Hey Jack...
I thought you COULDN'T tow a Toyota or a Lexus ??!!!???
Everything I read says NO. Any particular years/models/transmissions?
WE would LOVE to upgrade to a Lexus. Had a sedan. Great vehicle.
So....what's the scoop? Can we buy a used one and toad it? Do they make tow bars, etc to fit?
Need to know, so I can start looking around.....
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Towing

Reply #10 –
Quote from: GleamB –
Hey Jack...
I thought you COULDN'T tow a Toyota or a Lexus ??!!!???
Everything I read says NO. Any particular years/models/transmissions?
WE would LOVE to upgrade to a Lexus. Had a sedan. Great vehicle.
So....what's the scoop? Can we buy a used one and toad it? Do they make tow bars, etc to fit?
Need to know, so I can start looking around.....
2007 and earlier gx460 and lx470s can be flat towed. Possibly 2008 460 too but I can't remember. Prices have gone crazy on them lately though
1987 Grand Villa ORED
2001 U320 4010

Not all that wander are lost... but I often am.

Re: Towing

Reply #11 –
Mercedes ML models can be modified so the transfer case lever can be locked between hi and low positions. Other brands use the ML Mercedes transmissions/transfer cases (Jeep/others). It's easy to get to the motor.

Mercedes ML/GL can be purchased dirt cheap but have a few small issues that DIYers can easily fix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wNKQpwcif0

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Towing

Reply #12 –
How do you modify it to stay between hi and low?
Are they any good?
Costly to repair?
Glenn and Amy Beinfest
2001 36' U320
#5812
2014 Honda CRV

No Whining on the YACHT

Re: Towing

Reply #13 –
Quote from: GleamB –
How do you modify it to stay between hi and low?
Are they any good?
Costly to repair?
I saw one that just had a locking lever under the car. It's really easy to get to but you do have to crawl under the car.

A ML320/350 weights in at 5K lbs. They are built like tanks but have easily fixed mostly small issues that several web sites address. Read: Mercedes-Benz ML 320 Common Problems 1998-2005 W163 – MB Medic  The running gear is fore/aft so pretty easy to work on. The transmission is known as possibly the best automatic ever made. But, it has no dip stick and if the level gets low, it goes into limp mode until filled again. They are almost impossible to get stuck in snow or mud, etc.

Parts at Pick-n-Pull are super cheap so things like bumpers, etc are almost give away prices. Naturally, you never take it to a MBZ dealership.

A couple of months ago, I bought a nice ML350 (202K miles) silver/black for $800.

Have said all this, I like towing the RAV4 the best as it's manual, 2000 lbs lighter and is a Toyota.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Towing

Reply #14 –
Quote from: GleamB –
Hey Jack...
I thought you COULDN'T tow a Toyota or a Lexus ??!!!???
Everything I read says NO. Any particular years/models/transmissions?
So....what's the scoop? Can we buy a used one and toad it? Do they make tow bars, etc to fit?
Need to know, so I can start looking around.....

Yes, many are towable.  I've had several Land Cruises to tow in addition to the Lexus GX470.  I loved all the Toyo L C to tow, I bought the GX470 as it is basically a Four Runner with a raised roof, and upgraded interior and soundproofing.  The ones that tow are the 1998 to 2008 as they had a mechanical transfer case.  After that they went to an electric transfer case and not towable four down.  What I like the best is the full time four wheel drive with a great V8.  Roadmaster makes brackets for these.  They will not tell you they are towable, however, they sell the brackets and they are.  I've been towing one for over 15 years after seeing them behind Prevost conversations made in our area in Oregon at Country Coach and Marithon.  Send me a PM with your phone and we can talk.
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Towing

Reply #15 –
We have had 2 Libertys. Both easy. I swap my Tow Mate light bar between them. I don't do wiring on tow vehicles

Re: Towing

Reply #16 –
Jack,

They are probably the same transfer case so a good chance you could swap the electric actuator for the earlier mechanical type.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Towing

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Goldhound –
Anybody ever tow a jeep liberty? Like it? No? Lookin at an 05 as a tow behind.
We towed a 2005 Liberty for 7 years, probably 40,000 miles and as my at home vehicle for another 40.
installed M&G brakes/Blue Ox.
Did fine for me

Isn't luxury but wasn't looking for either
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Towing

Reply #18 –
First towed was a Liberty. Towed well and had no problems.

Mark
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Mark and Tanya
Milton , Florida
US Navy Veteran (DV)
1999 U270 Special 40' CAI , 2015 Jeep Wrangler Sahara