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New User
Posts: 2
Location: Somewhere, CT | Looking to buy my first trailer, found an 88 Kingston two horse (no dressing room), bumper pull, and was wondering if anyone could possibly guess the weight for it? I would only be towing one horse in it and my Jeep is rated to tow 5000, horse is only 900. Also, when going to get a towing hitch put on my car, are they all the same? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
 
Location: high desert, CA. | First off,Katfish,What kind of jeep is it? You will need at least a class III hitch,2 5/16 ball, a trailer brake controller, and possibly an equalizer hitch bar setup. A Wrangler, or a small SUV is too light in my opinion to be towing live cargo. The trailer probably weighs about 2800-3300 lbs, so add the horse, the tack, water, and "stuff", you will be surprised at how much it will be. When you go look at hitches, try to find one that is welded to the frame. |
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New User
Posts: 2
Location: Somewhere, CT | I have a 2008 Jeep liberty sport with a "tow/haul" button? which I'm not sure matters but since it can supposedly tow 5000 I thought with one light horse it should be okay short distances. Thanks for the info on the hitches! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Zionsville, Indiana | Hitches are no longer welded to the vehicle, as that voids any warranty that the vehicle may have. Bolted on hitches are quite safe. In the 45 years we have been in this business, the only hitches that we have experienced detaching from the vehicle still were bolted to the chunks of frame that broke off the vehicle. Most class III hitches for a Liberty are rated at 5000#, increasing to 7500# with a weight distributing set up (which I heartily recommend). |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 368
Location: Georgia | Please be sure to verify the hitch size on the trailer. An 88 trailer will most likely require a 2 inch ball rather than a 2 5/16. I have a 96 bumper pull and it takes a 2 inch ball.
Edited by lesliemal 2013-01-25 9:47 AM
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Expert
Posts: 3853
 
Location: Vermont | Originally written by katfish on 2013-01-24 8:54 PM
Looking to buy my first trailer, found an 88 Kingston two horse (no dressing room), bumper pull, and was wondering if anyone could possibly guess the weight for it? I would only be towing one horse in it and my Jeep is rated to tow 5000, horse is only 900. Also, when going to get a towing hitch put on my car, are they all the same?
Call Kingston 1-800-504-3088 for the weight...and those were 2 inch ball trailers back in the day |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385
Location: high desert, CA. | Personally.....I would feel that a Liberty with it's light weight, is not a very good option to tow live cargo. And folks are probably correct, the ball size is probably 2" not 2 5/16".In any event, an equalizer bar setup, and brake controller are a must for stability, and to be able to stop. ( Still think the "Tail will wag the dog") |
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Member
Posts: 15
Location: Missouri | Is that a steel trailer? If it's steel and enclosed (not a stock type trailer) then I think it would weigh more than 3000 lbs. I wouldn't honestly tow with a Jeep Liberty. IF you do definitely use a sway bar. I think the height on that type of SUV combined with the weight of the trailer is going to cause some control issues, especially above 45 mph. You will have to get the brake controller. The Jeep won't be able to stop that much weight safely by itself even at moderate speeds and especially not on hills. Personally I think towing what may be a steel trailer with one horse in it would be only adequate with a Jeep Cherokee. If you're going to be into horses for any length of time go trade in that Liberty for a 1/2 ton truck with tow package. Once you start driving around with your prize cargo in that trailer you're going to realize how nerve racking it is worrying if your Liberty can handle it. You also may end up tearing up your transmission or something else over an extended period. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 218
Location: Ohio | I agree with everyone that you are under gunned with that vehicle to pull a horse trailer. 5k hauling ability with that car is more for light utility trailers or a small boat vs a horse trailer. Keep in mind that horses are not strapped down, can and will move around. Pushing your vehicle to the limit will put an extreem strain on transmission, cooling system, breaks and the engine in general. You would be much better off getting a half ton pick up with a towing package. It would be MUCH safer. |
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Trailer Weight?
