Jeep Liberty Strong Enough?

[TahoeBlue]

Well i have a 2003 Jeep Liberty 4x4 with the 3.7L v6. It currently tows my 17 foot aluminum with a 50 horse off the back pretty good but i am thinking of getting a bigger boat. I am looking for something in the 17 to 18 foot range like a Sea Ray 175 or maybe even a Bayliner Capri (maybe). My liberty is rated to tow 5,000lb (yea right) and most of my trips will be within the 20 mile radius from my house but i live in the sierras so its ALL going to be up and down mountains. I am pretty confident of the brakes since it'll be mostly below 45mph but i don't know if the jeep could pull a 3,000lb boat (not counting all the junk we bring with) up the hills. With just my aluminum it hunts for gears like crazy. It'll bog down to like 1,800rpm, double shift to 5,000, stay there for half a second, then touch 3,000 and finally back to 1,800. It will pull pretty good if i drop it in second (it actually stays in one gear) so I try to whenever I can. I was reading some other posts on here about the Honda ridgeline and how bad the MPG was towing and i am worried if i pull anything more my libby might do the same thing or just cook the drive train. So do you guys think it?ll be a wise choice to upgrade to the fiberglass boat or not. I am kinda stuck with the liberty as of right now because I just had to drop a $3,000 new tranny in it because somehow the planetary gear gave out in my last one (but its under 3 year warranty now). So let me know what you think.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Jeep Liberty Strong Enough?

If the vehicle you have now is hunting for gears with the existing load, it will be even worse with a bigger load. I have personal experience with a Ridgeline and can attest to the hunting tranny in that vehicle as well. When it comes to towing there simply is no substitute for cubic inches. 3.7 liters is not a large displacement motor (225 cubic inches). Small displacement motors need very deep axle gearing to provide acceptable towing, especially in the mountains or hilly country. If you are stuck with the Liberty, you are stuck with the performance regardless what you tow. Your other option would be to buy an older full size pickup. With gas prices the way they are they are sitting on virtually every street corner and farm yard. Use the truck strictly for towing.

 

[TahoeBlue]

Re: Jeep Liberty Strong Enough?

ok great thanks. yea the hunting tranny really sucks. hahah i actually have an older pickup as a matter of fact F250 with a 460 big block and it tows our 22 foot boat awesome but the gas is pretty rough especially now at $3.50 gallon. The 3.7L seems to have enough power to tow its just with one tranny blown already and now the transfer case is making noises too.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Jeep Liberty Strong Enough?

ok great thanks. yea the hunting tranny really sucks. hahah i actually have an older pickup as a matter of fact F250 with a 460 big block and it tows our 22 foot boat awesome but the gas is pretty rough especially now at $3.50 gallon. The 3.7L seems to have enough power to tow its just with one tranny blown already and now the transfer case is making noises too.

you are answering your own question. I had a Ford Explorer 4.0 4wd put over 200, 000 miles in on it with no trans or transfer case issues. I wasn't towing with it all the time either and then only small trailers or boats. If you have already blown a tranny and have transfer case issues buy spares if you are going to add to the weight towing in the mountains.