I just need some info from somebody that has any experience in car towing. I'm going to tow a car (66 Chevy Nova) from Tucson to Salt Lake City using a car carrier (no idea on what kind.. yet) and towing it with my 2004 Ford explorer XLS 4x4, that has a class 2 towing package. My question is will I be able to accomplish this safely and are there any problems that I might encounter??

 

If you have the Class II hitch (1-1/4" receiver) your tow rating is around 3500# (3.55 rear gears and no engine oil cooler for the V6); the trailer and Nova will be WAY over that. CAN it be done........sure. SHOULD you do it.........that's up to you but IMHO you need a more-suitable tow vehicle. Also, if you're thinking of renting a car carrier from U-Haul, they won't do it.

Welcome to FTE!

Steve

 

Upgrade your reciever, put an oil cooler and a tranny cooler on it and git'r'done.

It will not be a fun drive since thats a lot of weight for an explorer to tow, but with the right equipment it can be done.

 

Thanks for the info...

 

Thanks for the info...

so if I uprgrade the hitch to a class 3 and get an oil cooler it might work?? I just want to get this done without having to rent a U-Haul truck. Also will the suspension be OK or should I uprgrade the shocks, springs, etc., the truck has about 28K miles on it.

 

Get the new hitch, an oil cooler and a tranny cooler and have at it. Make sure you do a tuneup before you leave.

 

By the time you get a Class III hitch (your tongue weight will probably be between 500-750#), engine oil cooler, bigger tranny fluid cooler and upgraded shocks/springs you might be better off $$$-wise to rent a U-Haul truck and car carrier. Safer also.

Steve

 

The oil cooler and tranny cooler are good for the truck even without towing. I wouldn't bother with upgrading shocks/springs for just this trip. A new hitch is only $150 is so.

 

I have a 92 430K and 97 320k both tow a 16' flatdeck with no trouble.

Make sure you do not tow in O/D.
Class 3 and cooler (Biggest one you can fit) are a must.
Check your engine cooling system well before towing.

 

Another possibility or at least something to think about is a tow dolly. It would be less overall weight to pull and less width too. But either way the class 3 hitch is a must along with the trans cooler. And it's true, U-haul won't rent a car trailer or tow dolly for towing with an Explorer. You could buy a good used tow dolly for less than Uhaul wants for a one way rental of their smallest truck and car trailer combination. Check out the Uhaul web site. Penske rentals won't rent a car trailer unless you rent their truck too. More things to think about.

 

thanks for all of your help... I still have some time before I tow it. I think I'll go ahead and upgrade the hitch and get a engine/tranny cooler. I'm planning on keeping this truck for a while, plus all these upgrades will come in handy later on. Thanks again,