The Jeep Liberty was introduced into Jeep’s lineup as a mid-size crossover SUV in 2002 and remains available through today. The Liberty is known for its unique styling and for having the features consumers expect from SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a Jeep Liberty?
The Jeep Liberty has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds depending on the engine type, transmission type, if it has a transmission cooler, and what kind of trailer hitch is being used.
There’s a bit more to know about Jeep Liberty towing capabilities which we’ll cover in today’s guide.
2012 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2012 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 lbs depending on what type of trailer hitch is used.
A 2012 Jeep Liberty using a standard receiver hitch can tow 2,000 pounds.
A 2012 Jeep Liberty using a weight distributing hitch can tow 5,000 pounds.
Refer to the chart below to find how much your 2012 Jeep Liberty can tow.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Tow Hitch Type |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | Receiver Hitch |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | Weight Distributing Hitch |
You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.
Here’s a video showing the Jeep Liberty being put to a real-world towing test:
Jeep Liberty Braked Vs. Unbraked Towing Capacity
All vehicles have different towing capacities based on whether or not you’re towing a trailer that has trailer brakes installed.
Trailer brakes allow the trailer to stop faster than if only the vehicle is using its brakes, allowing the vehicle to tow more weight, so braked towing capacity will always be higher than unbraked towing capacity.
Jeep Liberty Braked Tow Capacity: up to 5,000 lbs.
Jeep Liberty Unbraked Tow Capacity: 1,500 lbs.
Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity Factors
There are a few factors that affect the Jeep Liberty tow capacity.
Engine Type
While this only applies to a few model years, the engine’s fuel type can impact how much weight the Liberty can handle for towing.
Typically, diesel models can pull more than gas.
Transmission Type & Transmission Cooler
There are only a few model years where Jeep offered a manual transmission, and those typically topped out at 3,500 pounds of towing capability.
Most other years offered an optional transmission cooler for the automatic transmission which was needed to get the max 5,000 pound towing from your Jeep Liberty.
Hitch Type
For the later Jeep Liberty model years, you were limited to just 2,000 pounds with a standard receiver hitch, while using a weight distribution hitch would bump the Liberty’s towing power up to 5,000 pounds.
Number of Passengers
A big factor in calculating your vehicle’s towing capacity is how many passengers you’re carrying, which directly calculates into the vehicle’s GCWR.
This is true of all vehicles, not just the Jeep Liberty, so always take into consideration the total load of your passengers and gear in addition to what you’re towing.
Jeep Liberty Tow Package Info
Does The Jeep Liberty Have A Tow Package?
Jeep offers a Liberty towing package which includes the following:
- Class III Hitch Receiver
- 4-Pin Wiring Harness
Can You Install A Trailer Hitch On a Jeep Liberty?
If you plan on towing anything with your Jeep Liberty, you’ll need a tow hitch and wiring harness.
Depending on what you’re towing, you’re going to need a ball mount (aka a trailer ball hitch) so you can attach items for towing.
Make sure to get the right trailer ball size that matches your hitch and trailer.
Jeep Liberty Tow Hitch
Trailer hitches come in different hitch classes, which are rated for different vehicle sizes and weight limits.
The Jeep Liberty uses a Class 2 or Class 3 hitch.
Here’s a great option for a Class III Jeep Liberty trailer hitch:
- DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. This trailer hitch is rated for 4,000 lbs. gross trailer weight and 400 lbs. tongue weight (limited to lowest-rated towing component)
- VERSATILE DESIGN. This class 3 hitch equips your vehicle with a standard 2-inch x 2-inch hitch receiver, allowing for a wide variety of towing options. It can accept a ball mount, cargo carrier, bike rack, tow hook and much more
- FULLY TESTED. Every CURT class 3 trailer hitch design is tested in real-world, on-vehicle conditions at our Detroit engineering facility. Aftermarket hitches are tested according to SAE J684 standards for the utmost safety while hauling
- RUST, CHIP, UV-RESISTANT. This tow hitch is protected with a unique dual-coat finish of rust-resistant liquid A-coat and highly durable black powder coat. The two finishes are co-cured together for exceptional resistance to rust, chipping and UV rays
- EASY TO INSTALL. This hitch offers a custom, factory fit on select model years of the Jeep Liberty
Here’s a great ball mount option so you can hook up different types of trailers for towing with your Liberty:
- DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. Rated to tow 3,500 pounds gross trailer weight and 350 pounds tongue weight, this ball hitch offers dependability for your towing setup (weight capacity may change if trailer ball is removed)
- VERSATILE USE. This trailer hitch ball mount comes with a 1-1/4-inch shank to fit virtually any industry-standard 1-1/4-inch receiver. The ball mount has a 3-1/4-inch drop, 2-inch diameter ball, 1/2-inch hitch pin hole and 7-1/4-inch overall length
- READY TO TOW. Hitching up your trailer is easy with this ready-to-use trailer hitch ball mount. It comes with a pre-attached tow ball for ready coupling and a trailer hitch pin to securely mount onto your hitch receiver
- CORROSION-RESISTANT. For long-lasting use, this ball hitch is protected with a durable black powder coat finish, and the trailer ball has a polished chrome plating. These finishes resist damage from rain, dirt, road salt and other corrosive threats
- EASY TO INSTALL. To install the trailer hitch ball mount on your vehicle, simply insert the shank into your vehicle's 1-1/4-inch hitch receiver. The rounded shank makes installation easy
Jeep Liberty Trailer Hitch Installation
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and use proper safety precautions.
Here’s a great video walkthrough on a Jeep Liberty trailer hitch installation:
Jeep Liberty Trailer Hitch Installation Cost
If you’re considering having a tow hitch added to your Liberty, expect to pay between $100 and $200 to have a tow package professionally installed (excluding the cost of the tow hitch and wiring harness).
If you’re handy and looking to save money, you can install the trailer hitch and wiring harness yourself.
Hitch Receiver Vs Rear Step Bumper Towing
Some vehicles allow for bumper towing, which means you can mount a tow hitch ball directly on the bumper instead of installing a tow hitch to the vehicle’s frame.
Can I Bumper Tow With a Jeep Liberty?
The Jeep Liberty stock bumper is not rated for bumper towing, so you’ll need to install a frame-mounted hitch like the one we listed earlier in this guide or an aftermarket bumper with a hitch ball on it.
Does My Jeep Liberty Have A Tow Package?
You can start by looking under the rear bumper of your Liberty to see if you notice a trailer hitch or trailer ball.
That will give you a good indication of if you have a tow hitch already installed on your Liberty.
Another way to research this is by checking the paperwork that came with your vehicle or taking it to a local dealer to see what’s installed.
Make sure to have your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy if you call the dealer so they can look up the exact specs and whether or not your vehicle has any towing packages or features installed on it.
2011 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2011 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 lbs depending on what type of trailer hitch is used.
A 2011 Jeep Liberty using a standard receiver hitch can tow 2,000 pounds.
A 2011 Jeep Liberty using a weight distributing hitch can tow 5,000 pounds.
Refer to the chart below to find how much your 2011 Jeep Liberty can tow.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Tow Hitch Type |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | Receiver Hitch |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | Weight Distributing Hitch |
2010 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2010 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 lbs depending on what type of trailer hitch is used.
A 2010 Jeep Liberty using a standard receiver hitch can tow 2,000 pounds.
A 2010 Jeep Liberty using a weight distributing hitch can tow 5,000 pounds.
Refer to the chart below to find how much your 2010 Jeep Liberty can tow.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Tow Hitch Type |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | Receiver Hitch |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | Weight Distributing Hitch |
2009 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2009 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 lbs depending on if it has a transmission cooler and what type of trailer hitch is used.
A 2009 Jeep Liberty without a transmission cooler using a standard receiver hitch can tow 2,000 pounds.
A 2009 Jeep Liberty with a transmission cooler using a standard receiver hitch can tow 3,500 pounds.
A 2009 Jeep Liberty with a transmission cooler using a weight distributing hitch can tow 5,000 pounds.
Refer to the chart below to find how much your 2009 Jeep Liberty can tow.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Tow Hitch Type | Transmission Cooler Installed |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | Receiver Hitch | No |
| All | 3,500 lbs / 1,588 kg | Receiver Hitch | Yes |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | Weight Distributing Hitch | Yes |
2008 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2009 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 lbs depending on the transmission type, if it has a transmission cooler, and what type of trailer hitch is used.
A 2008 Jeep Liberty with a manual transmission can pull 3,500 pounds.
A 2008 Jeep Liberty without a transmission cooler using a standard receiver hitch can tow 2,000 pounds.
A 2008 Jeep Liberty with a transmission cooler using a standard receiver hitch can tow 3,500 pounds.
A 2008 Jeep Liberty with a transmission cooler using a weight distributing hitch can tow 5,000 pounds.
Refer to the chart below to find how much your 2009 Jeep Liberty can tow.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Tow Hitch Type | Transmission Cooler Installed |
| All (manual transmission) | 3,500 lbs / 1,588 kg | Receiver Hitch | No |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | Receiver Hitch | No |
| All | 3,500 lbs / 1,588 kg | Receiver Hitch | Yes |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | Weight Distributing Hitch | Yes |
2007 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2007 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 lbs depending on the transmission type and if it has a transmission cooler installed.
A 2007 Jeep Liberty with a manual transmission can pull 3,500 pounds.
A 2007 Jeep Liberty with an automatic transmission without a transmission cooler can pull 2,000 pounds.
A 2007 Jeep Liberty with an automatic transmission with a transmission cooler can pull 5,000 pounds.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Transmission Type | Transmission Cooler Installed |
| All | 3,500 lbs / 1,587 kg | Manual | No |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | Automatic | No |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | Automatic | Yes |
2006 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2006 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 lbs depending on the transmission type and if it has a transmission cooler installed.
A 2006 Jeep Liberty with a manual transmission can pull 3,500 pounds.
A 2006 Jeep Liberty with an automatic transmission without a transmission cooler can pull 2,000 pounds.
A 2006 Jeep Liberty with an automatic transmission with a transmission cooler can pull 5,000 pounds.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Transmission Type | Transmission Cooler Installed |
| All | 3,500 lbs / 1,587 kg | Manual | No |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | Automatic | No |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | Automatic | Yes |
2005 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2005 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 pounds depending on fuel type, transmission type, and if it has a transmission cooler installed.
See the chart below for the towing capacity of your 2005 Jeep Liberty.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Engine | Transmission |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | 2.4L Gas | Manual |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | 3.7L Gas | Automatic |
| All | 3,500 lbs / 1,588 kg | 3.7L Gas | Manual (6 Speed Only) |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | 3.7L Gas | Automatic w/ Cooler |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | 2.8L Diesel | Automatic |
2004 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2004 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 pounds depending on fuel type, transmission type, and if it has a transmission cooler installed.
See the chart below for the towing capacity of your 2004 Jeep Liberty.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Engine | Transmission |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | 2.4L Gas | Manual |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | 3.7L Gas | Automatic |
| All | 3,500 lbs / 1,588 kg | 3.7L Gas | Manual (6 Speed Only) |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | 3.7L Gas | Automatic w/ Cooler |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | 2.8L Diesel | Automatic |
2003 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2003 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 pounds depending on fuel type, transmission type, and if it has a transmission cooler installed.
See the chart below for the towing capacity of your 2003 Jeep Liberty.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Engine | Transmission |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | 2.4L Gas | Manual |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | 3.7L Gas | Automatic |
| All | 3,500 lbs / 1,588 kg | 3.7L Gas | Manual (5 Speed Only) |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | 3.7L Gas | Automatic w/ Cooler |
2002 Jeep Liberty Towing Capacity
The 2002 Jeep Liberty can tow between 2,000 lbs and 5,000 pounds depending on fuel type, transmission type, and if it has a transmission cooler installed.
See the chart below for the towing capacity of your 2002 Jeep Liberty.
| Jeep Liberty Trim Level | Towing Capacity | Engine | Transmission |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | 2.4L Gas | Manual |
| All | 2,000 lbs / 907 kg | 3.7L Gas | Automatic |
| All | 3,500 lbs / 1,588 kg | 3.7L Gas | Manual (5 Speed Only) |
| All | 5,000 lbs / 2,268 kg | 3.7L Gas | Automatic w/ Cooler |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official Jeep Liberty Owner’s Manuals on Jeep’s website and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.
Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with your Jeep Liberty.
