westend wrote:
Yes, the Cherokee will be better and you'll have the added benefit of not putting on 1000 extra "virtual" miles towing with the Liberty everytime you go camping. The "virtual" miles come from the added wear and tear on the vehicle that is not designed to pull that kind of weight. Back in the day when gasoline wasn't like paying a second mortgage, vehicles were heavier and had bigger engines. Those vehicles were more suited to towing a larger weight without the stress on components or a monocoque frame.
I read constantly on this Forum about smaller vehicles "towing fine" and usually there is a minimal qualification like "I'm pulling uphill at 4000+ RPM " or "I'm going at 50 MPH". Sometimes, there is no qualifier, the owner isn't concerned about drivetrain components or doesn't care about speed, they just pull along and only remember "it's like it's not even back there" when up to speed or going downhill. Towing puts additional stress on the vehicle and that stress on a smaller vehicle may prove to be too much. After this, it's the safety aspect and I'm not going there, there is just too much minimization going on to have a fruitful discussion.
Good luck with whatever you choose and remember to baby your vehicle, no matter what size.
+1
A vehicle used for towing shows very early signs of wear and tear. Sometimes all it takes is a couple trips... I bought a used 2001 GMC Sierra with a 6.0 Litre gas engine. After just a few trips the transmission let go, after talking to the previous owner I discovered he had never towed or hauled any heavy loads. The truck had spent 10 years on the road under very light duty. I demanded the maximum the truck had to offer, and broke it very easily.
The Jeep Cherokee appears to be the better choice, but that is pretty old already, I would be afraid of rust / corrosion effects on the hitch and suspension systems, the frame, engine and tranny mounts... ect. I would reduce the max towing rating by half or more when considering a 19 year old vehicle.
