I recently returned from a 3400 mile journey from Toronto to Cape Cod, then to Nova Scotia, Quebec and back home.
This was our first major trip out with our new travel trailer.
I wanted to share some of my thoughts and experiences towing this trailer with my KJ.
The setup (picture below):
2005 Jeep Liberty Sport
- transmission cooler (came with)
- electric fan only (no mechanical fan)
- Mopar hitch reciever / 7 pin wiring
- Amsoil air filter
- Flowmaster 50 SUV muffler
- Reese weight distribution / Dual cam sway control hitch
- Powerstop+ brake controller
2007 Roadrunner 180 travel trailer
- 19.5'
- 2700 lbs dry weight, est. 3500 lbs loaded
- dual axle, electric brakes
During the few short trips I had taken, I found that the Liberty had little problem actually pulling this trailer, but if I encountered a cross-wind or passing trucks it could be a handful. I did have a friction sway control device installed but it seemed to have only a little improvement.
I decided to outfit the Jeep/trailer with a Reese weight distribution hitch, as well as Reese Dual-cam sway control.
This proved to be an excellent addition and well worth the expense in my opinion. Most of the time you would hardly know the trailer was there, and interstate cruising was a pleasure, even when passing or being passed by big rigs.
During times of high wind (which we encountered between Montreal and Ottawa on the way home - gusts up to 50 mph), the whole rig (Jeep and trailer) would seem to move sideways when hit by a gust, but it felt far more in control than previously, where the trailer would seem to be going one way while the Jeep went the other.
Someone recently said that while towing, "cruise control is your friend", and I couldn't agree more.
I ran with OD off, all the time. I generally kept my speed around the posted limit. When I first headed out of the Toronto area on city streets and country roads, I was not using cruise. When I encountered an incline I would give it the gas to maintain speed, invariably resulting in a downshift. This resulted in a lot of shifting and within the first 50 miles or so, the Trans Temp warning light came on. This really freaked me out since we'd hardly begun our journey.
We stopped for a bite to eat and to let it cool off, and by this time I was on the highway so we continued on our way, now using the cruise control.
What I discovered is that when encountering a hill, the cruise will accelerate in 3rd almost to the point of downshifting, but will allow the speed to drop about 5-7 mph before it actually downshifts.
Many hills of lesser incline did not induce a downshift at all, where previously I would be giving it the boots to maintain my speed and downshifting every time, sometimes multiple times as I adjusted the throttle.
This, I believe was key to minimizing the shifting of the transmission, and I never saw the Trans Temp light come on again - in spite of encountering some dandy hills along the way
The Cruise was also helpful in maintaining speed while going downhill, not building speed except on the largest of hills, and minimizing the use of brakes.
Another observation I made is that the temperature guage NEVER moved. Ever. I do not have the additional mechanically driven fan specified in the "towing group", so this was something I was watching carefully and was very happy to see this.
I did use the air conditioning occasionally, and didn't find it made a noticeable difference in power although if I was approaching a large hill I would often turn it off.
I added the Amsoil air filter and Flowmaster 50 SUV muffler shortly before this trip, hoping to maximize fuel economy and power. I do believe it feels slightly more powerful, and while I still have to crunch some numbers (and see how it compares on my daily commute), I feel I may have gained fuel economy as well, although during this trip it was all over the map.
Fuel economy really varied, depending on terrain and wind. In hilly areas and one long stretch with a straight-on headwind I was lucky to get 150 miles from a tank. At the best of times I would see about 220 miles. If I use 16 gallons as a rough estimate of a tank, I'm in the range of 9 - 14 mpg depending on conditions. I have been tracking it so will have some better numbers soon.
I carried a 5 gallon jerry can just in case, but never had to use it (came close a few times though!)
Overall, with the weight distribution and anti-sway setup installed, I am very happy with the performance of the Liberty towing this trailer - it took everything the roads could throw at it and just kept on truckin!
Dave
This was our first major trip out with our new travel trailer.
I wanted to share some of my thoughts and experiences towing this trailer with my KJ.
The setup (picture below):
2005 Jeep Liberty Sport
- transmission cooler (came with)
- electric fan only (no mechanical fan)
- Mopar hitch reciever / 7 pin wiring
- Amsoil air filter
- Flowmaster 50 SUV muffler
- Reese weight distribution / Dual cam sway control hitch
- Powerstop+ brake controller
2007 Roadrunner 180 travel trailer
- 19.5'
- 2700 lbs dry weight, est. 3500 lbs loaded
- dual axle, electric brakes
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During the few short trips I had taken, I found that the Liberty had little problem actually pulling this trailer, but if I encountered a cross-wind or passing trucks it could be a handful. I did have a friction sway control device installed but it seemed to have only a little improvement.
I decided to outfit the Jeep/trailer with a Reese weight distribution hitch, as well as Reese Dual-cam sway control.
This proved to be an excellent addition and well worth the expense in my opinion. Most of the time you would hardly know the trailer was there, and interstate cruising was a pleasure, even when passing or being passed by big rigs.
During times of high wind (which we encountered between Montreal and Ottawa on the way home - gusts up to 50 mph), the whole rig (Jeep and trailer) would seem to move sideways when hit by a gust, but it felt far more in control than previously, where the trailer would seem to be going one way while the Jeep went the other.
Someone recently said that while towing, "cruise control is your friend", and I couldn't agree more.
I ran with OD off, all the time. I generally kept my speed around the posted limit. When I first headed out of the Toronto area on city streets and country roads, I was not using cruise. When I encountered an incline I would give it the gas to maintain speed, invariably resulting in a downshift. This resulted in a lot of shifting and within the first 50 miles or so, the Trans Temp warning light came on. This really freaked me out since we'd hardly begun our journey.
We stopped for a bite to eat and to let it cool off, and by this time I was on the highway so we continued on our way, now using the cruise control.
What I discovered is that when encountering a hill, the cruise will accelerate in 3rd almost to the point of downshifting, but will allow the speed to drop about 5-7 mph before it actually downshifts.
Many hills of lesser incline did not induce a downshift at all, where previously I would be giving it the boots to maintain my speed and downshifting every time, sometimes multiple times as I adjusted the throttle.
This, I believe was key to minimizing the shifting of the transmission, and I never saw the Trans Temp light come on again - in spite of encountering some dandy hills along the way
The Cruise was also helpful in maintaining speed while going downhill, not building speed except on the largest of hills, and minimizing the use of brakes.
Another observation I made is that the temperature guage NEVER moved. Ever. I do not have the additional mechanically driven fan specified in the "towing group", so this was something I was watching carefully and was very happy to see this.
I did use the air conditioning occasionally, and didn't find it made a noticeable difference in power although if I was approaching a large hill I would often turn it off.
I added the Amsoil air filter and Flowmaster 50 SUV muffler shortly before this trip, hoping to maximize fuel economy and power. I do believe it feels slightly more powerful, and while I still have to crunch some numbers (and see how it compares on my daily commute), I feel I may have gained fuel economy as well, although during this trip it was all over the map.
Fuel economy really varied, depending on terrain and wind. In hilly areas and one long stretch with a straight-on headwind I was lucky to get 150 miles from a tank. At the best of times I would see about 220 miles. If I use 16 gallons as a rough estimate of a tank, I'm in the range of 9 - 14 mpg depending on conditions. I have been tracking it so will have some better numbers soon.
I carried a 5 gallon jerry can just in case, but never had to use it (came close a few times though!)
Overall, with the weight distribution and anti-sway setup installed, I am very happy with the performance of the Liberty towing this trailer - it took everything the roads could throw at it and just kept on truckin!
Dave
