Curb weight and flat towing with motor home?

[Okeechobee Jim]

Hello All,
Thinking of trading in our 2012 Liberty that we flat tow for an Overland but have a tow weight limit of 5000 lbs.
Also must be able to tow all 4 wheels down. Would like to hear from anyone flat towing and the procedure to disconnect for flat towing.
Thanks in advance for any comments, Jim

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[stang37]

Hello All,
Thinking of trading in our 2012 Liberty that we flat tow for an Overland but have a tow weight limit of 5000 lbs.
Also must be able to tow all 4 wheels down. Would like to hear from anyone flat towing and the procedure to disconnect for flat towing.
Thanks in advance for any comments, Jim

I flat tow my Overland and just follow the owners manual. It not a big or hard process to follow. I installed an after market bumper (LoD) for towing and use the Blue Ox tow bars. Tows great.

 

[Koja]

Hello All,
Thinking of trading in our 2012 Liberty that we flat tow for an Overland but have a tow weight limit of 5000 lbs.
Also must be able to tow all 4 wheels down. Would like to hear from anyone flat towing and the procedure to disconnect for flat towing.
Thanks in advance for any comments, Jim

I have used my new JT (Rubicon) to flat tow my 04 TJ(Rubicon) lacks power to pull the hills but I know is only a V6 and not my Duramax so its expected.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have used my new JT (Rubicon) to flat tow my 04 TJ(Rubicon) lacks power to pull the hills but I know is only a V6 and not my Duramax so its expected.

I was curious at first because the TJ should be even close to the "tow rating" of the JT and yet you said "lacked power to pull the hills......." then I noted you have a Duramax as well - I would "guess" that the JT does ok in reality, just not Duramax type ok.

Anyway, curb weight of Overland with automatic is still under 4800 pounds. With a stick I believe it's about 4720 or similar? So automatic would be about 50 pounds more for roughly 4770 pounds curb weight.

You will be under the 5,000 limit unless you load it up with stuff.

(we enjoyed the little Liberty we had - fun little SUV, very capable, could park it anywhere it was so short)

 

[Okeechobee Jim]

I have used my new JT (Rubicon) to flat tow my 04 TJ(Rubicon) lacks power to pull the hills but I know is only a V6 and not my Duramax so its expected.

Thanks for the feedback, can you explain the pross to disconnect the tranny?

 

[Okeechobee Jim]

I was curious at first because the TJ should be even close to the "tow rating" of the JT and yet you said "lacked power to pull the hills......." then I noted you have a Duramax as well - I would "guess" that the JT does ok in reality, just not Duramax type ok.

Anyway, curb weight of Overland with automatic is still under 4800 pounds. With a stick I believe it's about 4720 or similar? So automatic would be about 50 pounds more for roughly 4770 pounds curb weight.

You will be under the 5,000 limit unless you load it up with stuff.

(we enjoyed the little Liberty we had - fun little SUV, very capable, could park it anywhere it was so short)

We Love our Liberty but it's 8 years old with 115,000 miles and starting to cost in repairs! Plus the wife Loves the JT!

 

[JimThe4th]

Thanks for the feedback, can you explain the pross to disconnect the tranny?

I flat tow my Sport Max Tow behind my motorhome. I use the Maximus3 tow loops https://maximus-3.com/jl-bumper-accessories-/jl-tow-loops#/ and hook that up to a harbor freight draw bar with i think these adapters https://www.quadratec.com/products/...yVTzOTnF9eopALnG6Weqil6vkndLtqz0aAikvEALw_wcB.

The disconnect is simple. Put the transfer case in neutral. Neither the Glady nor JL have a steering wheel lock. It is easiest to put the T-Case in neutral when the tranny is in neutral. Make sure you have the engine off when you shift the tranny back to park after moving the T-case to neutral.

 

[Okeechobee Jim]

I flat tow my Sport Max Tow behind my motorhome. I use the Maximus3 tow loops https://maximus-3.com/jl-bumper-accessories-/jl-tow-loops#/ and hook that up to a harbor freight draw bar with i think these adapters https://www.quadratec.com/products/...yVTzOTnF9eopALnG6Weqil6vkndLtqz0aAikvEALw_wcB.

The disconnect is simple. Put the transfer case in neutral. Neither the Glady nor JL have a steering wheel lock. It is easiest to put the T-Case in neutral when the tranny is in neutral. Make sure you have the engine off when you shift the tranny back to park after moving the T-case to neutral.

Is your sport Max an auto tranny?

 

[PyrPatriot]

I have used my new JT (Rubicon) to flat tow my 04 TJ(Rubicon) lacks power to pull the hills but I know is only a V6 and not my Duramax so its expected.

But, but, this guy said he went over mountains and snowy hills with 2000lbs loaded and pulling a 6800lb trailer/car with his JTR!

 

[Okeechobee Jim]

I flat tow my Overland and just follow the owners manual. It not a big or hard process to follow. I installed an after market bumper (LoD) for towing and use the Blue Ox tow bars. Tows great.

Can you explain the process of disconnecting the JT tranny and more info on the bumper you use.
Thanks Jim

 

[JimThe4th]

Is your sport Max an auto tranny?

yes it is

 

[PyrPatriot]

But, but, this guy said he went over mountains and snowy hills with 2000lbs loaded and pulling a 6800lb trailer/car with his JTR!

Crap, forgot to put the link

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/gladiator-long-distance-heavy-tow-review.25925/

 

[Jt-wrx]

I took my sport s 6 spd (hardtop, cold weather group, tow package) from dealer with full tank of gas straight to the landfill scale, 4817 lbs with my 200 lbs in it...that's 4617 lbs full of gas no people, i'll let you know what it weighs when i'm done, i've added rubber bed mat, mopar(overland) running boards which brought things up about 45 lbs, but then deleted 2 mufflers for straight pipe which dropped about 20 back off, the 2" mopar lift with 35's going on Jan 6, will re-weigh when that's done as i'm curious, going mickey thompson classic III's 17x9 on goodyear duratrac 315 70/17's. Waiting on a tonneau cover (access cover lorado) and then it's pretty minor from there, just some usual vehicle stuff, strap, hitch, tie downs, first aid etc. not adding heavy bumpers or anything like that to this one, this one will be all 'sport'.

 

[Okeechobee Jim]

I took my sport s 6 spd (hardtop, cold weather group, tow package) from dealer with full tank of gas straight to the landfill scale, 4817 lbs with my 200 lbs in it...that's 4617 lbs full of gas no people, i'll let you know what it weighs when i'm done, i've added rubber bed mat, mopar(overland) running boards which brought things up about 45 lbs, but then deleted 2 mufflers for straight pipe which dropped about 20 back off, the 2" mopar lift with 35's going on Jan 6, will re-weigh when that's done as i'm curious, going mickey thompson classic III's 17x9 on goodyear duratrac 315 70/17's. Waiting on a tonneau cover (access cover lorado) and then it's pretty minor from there, just some usual vehicle stuff, strap, hitch, tie downs, first aid etc. not adding heavy bumpers or anything like that to this one, this one will be all 'sport'.

Thanks sooo much, Happy New Year

 

[stang37]

Can you explain the process of disconnecting the JT tranny and more info on the bumper you use.
Thanks Jim

Ok, this is from manual:


Shifting Into NEUTRAL (N)


Bring the vehicle to a complete stop on level ground. 2. Press and hold the brake pedal. 3. Shift the automatic transmission into NEUTRAL or depress the clutch pedal on a manual transmission. 4. Turn the engine OFF. 5. Shift the transfer case lever into NEUTRAL (N). 6. Start the engine. 7. Shift the transmission into REVERSE. 8. Release the brake pedal (and clutch pedal on manual transmissions) for five seconds and ensure that there is no vehicle movement. 9. Repeat steps seven and eight with automatic transmission in DRIVE or manual transmission in first gear. 10. Turn the engine OFF. 11. Firmly apply the parking brake. 12. Shift the transmission into PARK or place manual transmission in gear (NOT in NEUTRAL)13. Attach the vehicle to the tow vehicle using a suitable tow bar. 14. Release the parking brake.


Shifting Out of NEUTRAL (N)


Bring the vehicle to a complete stop, leaving it connected to the tow vehicle. 2. Firmly apply the parking brake. 3. Start the engine. 4. Press and hold the brake pedal. 5. Shift the transmission into NEUTRAL. 6. Turn the engine OFF. 7. Shift the transfer case lever to the desired position. NOTE: When shifting the transfer case out of NEUTRAL (N), the engine should remain OFF to avoid gear clash. 8. Shift the automatic transmission into PARK, or place manual transmission in NEUTRAL. 9. Release the brake pedal. 10. Disconnect vehicle from the tow vehicle. 11. Start the engine. 12. Press and hold the brake pedal. 13. Release the parking brake. 14. Shift the transmission into gear, release the brake pedal (and clutch pedal on manual transmissions), and check that the vehicle operates normally.



I have a LoD signature full width bumper which is made for towing behind a motorhome. The bumper attaches to the frame just like all others. LoD provides attachments for use with a Blue Ox tow bar.

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