Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

[Josher]

Hi, I'm in the market for a new vehicle. My boat is a 1600 Sylvan Expedition SC with a 75hp merc 2 stroke...

Can anyone provide input on towing with a Liberty 3.7l or Escape v6 3l? Are they sufficient or should I stay away.. hearing a lot of mixed opinions!

Thanks

 

[reload]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

I guess I might try it with the Liberty but no way with the Ford.

 

[JB]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

Don't accept guesses. Find out what the rig weighs and what the particular model is rated to tow. Unless you are a trained professional driver I suggest that you not tow over 70% of the rated tow capacity of whatever vehicle you get

The Liberty is notoriously unreliable. The Escape is better, but not in the same class as Honda and Toyota.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

Unless you are a trained professional driver I suggest that you not tow over 70% of the rated tow capacity of whatever vehicle you get

Maybe the best advice EVER concerning towing. :applause:

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

Liberty has low range which will help on ramps

 

[johnson89]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

I PULL A 16FT BASS BOAT with90hp with a libery,,,no issues at the ramp,does not even spin a tire and some of the ramps I use are a little steep.I don't even know the boat is back there going down the road...my liberty is 4x4 but never use it at the ramp....I bought it used a year ago and no problems...........

 

[NYBo]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

The Escape has a maximum towing capacity of 3500 and the Liberty, 5000. These numbers are based on how they are equipped, of course. Your rig is probably within these limits, but you would likely need trailer brakes if it's over 2000. The manufacturers may even specify a lower weight as needing brakes. Both of these vehicles have short wheelbases, which makes them less than ideal as tow vehicles.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

You should be ok with either, your rig is under 2000#, but you might want to throw a set of electric brakes on the trailer for about $400

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

I tow a 17' aluminum boat with a 90hp main and 8hp kicker with an Escape, while I don't love the Escape, it does fine towing this load. The tranny is geared low in the first few gears and is actually pretty quick, plus with AWD pulling out at a launch is not an issue, mostly dirt and gravel launches on rivers. At highway speeds its fine and there are no scary oddities in the handling. At 93,000 it’s still doing OK.

This is a company vehicle and others I work with have had the Jeep Liberty’s, they tend to like the Escape better, but for the type of work we do neither one is very good, at least from the drivers view point.

 

[Josher]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

Thank guys. The Liberty I'm looking at is rated to tow 5000lbs. My rig doesn't crack the 2000lb mark. I was just concerned when people told me about the small wheelbase and that it wasn't ideal for towing. Same thing with the escape.

I'm looking to buy used and both these cars fit nicely in my budget. I have 9k to spend on a used vehicle... escapes and liberty's seem to be the least expensive options in terms of low km's and later year used vehicles available. Other options I'm looking into include the Pilot, Pathfinder, Highlander, Xtrail, etc... however within my budget I'm looking at high km's for these models.

Any other suggestions on decent/reliable used SUV's that are adequate for towing and sell for relatively inexpensive used?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

At least from my personal experience, avoid jeep liberties at all costs! (and not just my opinion, jdpowers, edmunds, consumer reports, etc...) They rank near the bottom in reliability, and are the #1 vehicle for depreciation. There is a reason for that... They are pegged as one of the 10 worst vehicles on the road.

Jeep Liberty/Jeep Liberty Sport | Forbes: The Worst Cars On The Road | Comcast.net

Have you thought about a kia sorrento? The v6 model is 3500 pounds, and outside of the US, people are towing more than that with it. ( rated 4500# for a 100% identical gas version outside of the US, 5500# for the diesel)

 

[emilsr]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

Have you thought about a kia sorrento? The v6 model is 3500 pounds, and outside of the US, people are towing more than that with it. ( rated 4500# for a 100% identical gas version outside of the US, 5500# for the diesel)

Nothing against Kia (or any other manufacturer) but in many countries outside the US there's a 50mph speed limit when towing. That's why you sometimes see a higher tow rating in other countries for what essentially is the same vehicle. What's fine at 50 may not be such a good idea at 65 (or more).

 

[Mason78]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

The Liberty is notoriously unreliable. The Escape is better, but not in the same class as Honda and Toyota.

What information led you to this conclusion? Is it opinion?

 

[bigdee]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

Nothing against Kia (or any other manufacturer) but in many countries outside the US there's a 50mph speed limit when towing. That's why you sometimes see a higher tow rating in other countries for what essentially is the same vehicle. What's fine at 50 may not be such a good idea at 65 (or more).

What is wrong with driving 50 as long as you stay in the right lane? I seldom tow over 50 to 55 because it feels safer.

 

[kjsAZ]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

I tow an ~3000lbs rig with a Chevy Equinox (rated 3500lbs) and zero problems not even at 65mph. However, I have surge disc brakes on the trailer.
This Sunday at the ramp it was interesting to watch 150 size trucks spin their wheels with similar size boats in tow and my admiral pulled her out without a squeak. Same for the Hyundai crossover next to us, no excitement, just up the ramp.

 

[JB]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

What information led you to this conclusion? Is it opinion?

Consumer Reports.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

I tow an ~3000lbs rig with a Chevy Equinox (rated 3500lbs) and zero problems not even at 65mph. However, I have surge disc brakes on the trailer.
This Sunday at the ramp it was interesting to watch 150 size trucks spin their wheels with similar size boats in tow and my admiral pulled her out without a squeak. Same for the Hyundai crossover next to us, no excitement, just up the ramp.

You are on the borderline with your trans. With 3000lbs in tow and adding the weight of all the passengers and stuff in your car you may even be over.
I towed an Equinox that was hitched to tent trailer through a muddy road to the campground last year. That guy swore he was buying a half ton as soon as he got back.
Your experience may vary........

 

[not enuf toys]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

the liberty has a solid rear axle and is built better for towing. the down side is the short wheel base (especially when backing up). I would avoid the escape for your towing situation

 

[slag]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

You are on the borderline with your trans. With 3000lbs in tow and adding the weight of all the passengers and stuff in your car you may even be over.
I towed an Equinox that was hitched to tent trailer through a muddy road to the campground last year. That guy swore he was buying a half ton as soon as he got back.
Your experience may vary........

Tow rating is just that.. The amount of everything you have attached to your bumper or tow hitch. It doesn't (or shouldn't) take into account what is in the car/truck/whatever, as that is not being towed. If he had 3k attached to his hitch, he should be fine. Otherwise, the nomenclature needs to be adjusted.

 

[emilsr]

Re: Towing with a Jeep liberty or Ford Escape?

What is wrong with driving 50 as long as you stay in the right lane? I seldom tow over 50 to 55 because it feels safer.

Never said there was anything wrong with it. That's what they do in other countries; makes perfect sense when you think about it.

When we lived in KY I preferred not to drive I-75 in the summer due to the Ohio Navy pulling their boats down to Lake Cumberland at 75-80 mph (or more). Those speeds just aren't safe when towing, I don't care how much truck you have. I generally set my cruise on 65, but there's nothing at all wrong with 50 or 55 as it's safer.