Poll: Make of your tow vehicle

[daveandpamz]

I haven't heard of anyone else doing this, but we tow our '77 31' Sovereign with an '05 Jeep Liberty CDI turbo. Small silver Jeep, big silver toaster.

The CDI uses the Mercedes E-Class diesel engine that they've been using in Europe for years. (For 2007, Jeep is putting the newer E-Class diesel into the Cherokee. Apparently, Daimler-Chrysler execs thought people would buy the Liberty diesel for fuel mileage, but everyone bought them to tow with....)

I average 27+mpg when towing and I have all the torque I need, plus it has a lot of ooomph. And with the short wheel base, I can jackknife (ooops!) and not hurt the camper.

The only time the tail has wagged the dog is when I got stuck in some nasty crosswinds -- normally, it's quite stable. When I'm not towing, I have a solid daily driver that's not a honkin', gas-guzzling beast. (no offense to anyone who drives one of those....)

Pam

[AgZep]

Originally Posted by daveandpamz

we tow our '77 31' Sovereign with an '05 Jeep Liberty CDI turbo

Pam,

Wow. We used to have a Liberty, before the diesel came along though. I'd have thought a 31' would overwhelm one, but I guess not.

What kind of hitch are you using? Have you ever weighed the trailer when loaded? If so, how close are you to the tow limit on the Jeep?

[66Overlander]

Out of curiosity I checked the Jeep web site. The gas Liberty with tow package is rated to tow 5000 lbs. and that's with driver only in the tow vehicle, no passengers and no cargo. A '77 31 Airstream weights over 5000 lbs. dry before options, fluids, and cargo according to the Airstrem web site. If the Liberty were a gas model, they'd for sure be over the manufacturers recommended towing limits. The Jeep site did not have anything about the Liberty diesel, but I can't think that the engine was the limiting factor, because brakes, transmission, frame, cooling system, and a whole lot of other things that probably didn't change with the diesel engine figure into the manufacturer's tow ratings. And then theres the issue of tow vehicle wheelbase . . . the Liberty 104.2" wheelbase is well below the "guideline" wheelbase for a 31' trailer.

Tow each their own, but I certainly wouldn't do it.

[henw]

Towing capacity is only 1/2 of the equation. It's how much other stuff you can comfortably carry with that completes the package. Generators, water, grills, furniture, fuel etc.

[robandzoe]

We use our 65 Jeep Wagoneer and we will be using our 1959 Buick Electra on a 1975 Chevy Suburban frame soon. So, I'll pick others!

[DFord79]

The Jeeps and Tourage's etc are great automobiles with some LIGHT tow ratings. Apparently some of you get along with towing and feel comfy doing it because you have lots of power. I really question the REAL towing capabilities of these vehicles. They were not designed to tow. Anyone towing at the max is stretching the safety burier I would think. To tow you don't need just HP and Torgue you need some long wheel base and stronge frames and TIRES WITH LOAD RATINGS. Its not for me....but then I don't like living on the edge. Not a criticism as much as exsperience trucking and towing for 35 years with most every configuration on earth.

[robandzoe]

The 65 Jeep Wagoneer w/ 327 V8 is only used to tow the 65 Caravel 17' - and I never go over 55 mph. The Electurban as I call it, will out tow anything with the 454 under the hood. We typically use our 2003 3/4 ton Chevy Crew Cab 8.1L/Allison combo - but that's overkill for the Vintage stuff.

Keep it safe!

[crispyboy]

My main tow vehicle will probably be a 1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer since it rides so much better than my pickup. I have rebuilt the vehicle from top to bottom. About all I have left to do is have the paint touched up. I love all of the chrome. I bought it with the intention of towing a vintage trailer. The motor was built with a little better cam and I went with a throttle body system for the old AMC 360 engine.

[jdalrymple]

Originally Posted by crispyboy

My main tow vehicle will probably be a 1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer

Too Cool. I have an '89. What FI did you use?

[Wayne&Sam]

Mine's a Mercedes ML500 (built in Alabama for the buy American crowd).
Pulls my 20' Safari SE just fine, thank you.

[crispyboy]

jdalrymple,
I have a Howell throttle body system in my Grand Wagoneer and a Customefis throttle body system in my J20. Maybe someday I'll have the bling for the Edelbrock tuned port system.

[wkerfoot]

Since I use either my 1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 360CI 2V, or my 1977 Lincoln Continental, 460 4V, I selected other.

Bill

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

Since I use either my 1973 Dodge W200 PowerWagon, 360CI 2V, or my 1977 Lincoln Continental, 460 4V, I selected other.

Bill

Bill, would that be a "Fordge"?

[wkerfoot]

Originally Posted by overlander63

Bill, would that be a "Fordge"?

Terry,

Or a Dodgerd, but neither were a choice.

Bill