Towing Capacity.

"TurboSloth" (TheTurboSloth)
04/13/2015 at 16:51 • Filed to: None

My sister drives a 2009 Jeep Liberty and my dad was thinking about putting a tow hitch on the back to tow stuff around. Instead of having to rent both a trailer and a truck from U-Haul, we would just need to rent a trailer.

According to the internet and the owner's manual, the car has a max towing capacity of 5000 lbs. If I wanted to tow a car and a trailer (a trailer (2210lbs) with a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer (3461lbs)), which combined weight 5670lbs, how bad would this be?

This would be the first and only time I tow a car, and I'm probably going to drive really really really slow.

DISCUSSION (14)

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > TurboSloth
04/13/2015 at 16:55

You also have to take into account everything inside the vehicles as well so you're likely gonna be over 6000 lbs. I wouldn't recommend it but once shouldn't hurt it too bad.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TurboSloth
04/13/2015 at 16:57

If it was a once a year event I think you'd be alright. Do you live in the mountains? Lots of ups and downs? Flat would be better and take it easy, don't go flooring it everywhere.

HammerheadFistpunch > TurboSloth
04/13/2015 at 16:57

This might help

How far are you going? how often would you do this? does the trailer have electric brakes or surge?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > TurboSloth
04/13/2015 at 16:58

I see that's the upper end curb weight. The weight-as-loaded might actually be under that, but if it's top of the line, with fuel in it and so forth it could be a tad over. It wouldn't be bad... but here's where the trick comes in: U-Haul's system requires listing the tow vehicle and the towed vehicle. If the system says no, you're in a spot of trouble. If the system says "OK!" then you can rent.

TurboSloth > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/13/2015 at 17:04

It's NJ. Pretty flat.

Sethersm > TurboSloth
04/13/2015 at 17:04

If elementary school taught me anything, 670 lbs of bad.

Personally, I'd shy away from it. Perhaps on a tow dolly instead?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > TurboSloth
04/13/2015 at 17:22

It'd be fine, we tow over capacity all the time. As long as you don't push it too far it's usually okay.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TurboSloth
04/14/2015 at 09:41

clearly you live in south Jersey.

I grew up in North NJ and it's the absolute opposite of flat. I live in Michigan now - THIS IS FLAT.

TurboSloth > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/15/2015 at 17:29

Central NJ.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TurboSloth
04/16/2015 at 09:52

If you're from NJ you know there's not such thing.

There's North and South. Then there's the people who are close to the border of those territories that don't want to admit their from south jersey lol

TurboSloth > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/19/2015 at 11:43

Central Jersey is the land where we eat pork roll and root for NY sports teams.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TurboSloth
04/20/2015 at 12:08

I will never recognize Central as a region in Jersey.

North and South.

TurboSloth > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
04/22/2015 at 07:51

no one ever does :(

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TurboSloth
04/23/2015 at 09:20

You’re just going to have to accept that you need to pick a side in this war. I would recommend the North, they tend to win Civil Wars.