Tow/hitch/Liberty question

I recently installed the Air Lift RideControls on the back of my 96 Cherokee because it's getting tired, I sometimes load it up with stuff like roofing shingles, and because I tow a boat. If I was putting 320 lbs or so back there, I'd install them (available for leafs/coils) ... link fyi

. Dunno what the max =tongue weight is for your Sport, it's 750 lbs for my old beater. "johnny" wrote in message =news:K2iXd.25704$ snipped-for-privacy@twister.nyc.rr.com... I'd like to buy a platform that hooks up to the dealer- installed =class 5 tow hitch on my '05 Liberty Sport. The platform will carry a 320lb Vepsa Scooter. Dealer says its fine. Any other thoughts?

Point of correction: You have no more than a class III hitch on a Liberty. Most of the class III hitches are only rated to 500 pounds tongue weight.

The platforms work ok with a 2" reciever hitch but a couple comments: The load tends to be way back, it will definately sink the rear down and may lighten the front steering up.

You also need to watch the fitup > I'd like to buy a platform that hooks up to the dealer- installed class

I seriously doubt that you have a Class V hitch on a Liberty. Class 5 is a greater capacity than the Libby weighs. I suggest that you have a Class II or perhaps Class III. the Vespa should be OK on the Class II, but it will be near the limit of its tongue weight capacity. I believe Class II is a 350 lb limit.

In any case, the tow hitch should clearly tell you what the limits of the device are, and then you have to look at your Owner's Manual to be sure the load you want to put on it do not exceed the vehicle capacity.

My daughter has a Toyota Tacoma with a factory mounted tow hitch that bolts to the frame and can carry a max of 500 pounds of tongue weight. The weight you are putting on is the equivelent of tongue weight.

Please stop posting in HTML, or Rich Text. We can't stand HTML.

Thanks

I'd like to buy a platform that hooks up to the dealer- installed class

5 tow hitch on my '05 Liberty Sport. The platform will carry a 320lb Vepsa Scooter. Dealer says its fine. Any other thoughts?

The dealer wrote Class 5 on the order when I bought the car. I guess it is a class 3. I should also add that the platform will be extended to clear the spare tire. What are my concerns here? Damage to the vehicle? the hitch? compromised control of the vehicle? Thank you all for your help.

You are hanging alot of weight off the back, and the power of Leverage might result is some significant handling issues.

Before you do anything else, you should look at the hitch itself and see what kinds of Tongue Weights it can withstand. This information should be clearly stamped on the hitch. The Owner's Manual is a valuable source of information as well, assuming the hitch is a factory option and not something that the dealer had installed for you at the local RV store or equivelent.

The next thing you need to do is look in the Owner's Manual to see what kinds of weight limits the vehcile can carry. If the tongue weight is less than the capacity of the hitch, AND the load is less than the limits of the vehicle, then the short answer is that you should be fine. The long answer is that the leverage of the weight being hung so far from the rear axle can result in a weight transfer off of the front axle that might be problematic.