Towing question -- should I?
I put a hitch on my 94 3L Aerostar to pull my 16 foot boat (which does not weight much) and I blew out the front transmission seal. The van has 130,000 miles on it. 
Towing question -- should I?
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Towing question -- should I?
Question from a forum first-timer:
I've got a 93 Aerostar with the 4.0L V6, mileage nearing 179,000. This van does not have a hitch, and therefore has never towed before.
The short version:
If this was your van, would you install a hitch and attempt to tow a small (1900-pound) car 800 miles?
The background:
Awhile back I moved from North Carolina to Michigan (only unemployment and and well-paying job offer would make me do that!) but had to leave my MGB behind in storage at the time. Now that it's summer again I'm missing it.
The MG does not start right now, and I have no idea why. (In order to drive it back, and unknown amount of time would be needed to fix it.) So it looks like towing is the most expedient option.
The only towing option aside from using my own van is to rent a truck and tow dolly, but I'm miffed that the rental companies force you to get a 15-foot truck to tow. None of them (that I've found) allow towing with their smaller trucks, and none of them rent pickups for one-way towing.
With that many miles on the van, I'm a little fearful that I'd be flirting with breakdown disaster should I attempt to tow with it now. Especially since part of the trip would entail driving through the mountains of West Virginia.
Any advice appreciated!
I've got a 93 Aerostar with the 4.0L V6, mileage nearing 179,000. This van does not have a hitch, and therefore has never towed before.
The short version:
If this was your van, would you install a hitch and attempt to tow a small (1900-pound) car 800 miles?
The background:
Awhile back I moved from North Carolina to Michigan (only unemployment and and well-paying job offer would make me do that!) but had to leave my MGB behind in storage at the time. Now that it's summer again I'm missing it.
The MG does not start right now, and I have no idea why. (In order to drive it back, and unknown amount of time would be needed to fix it.) So it looks like towing is the most expedient option.
The only towing option aside from using my own van is to rent a truck and tow dolly, but I'm miffed that the rental companies force you to get a 15-foot truck to tow. None of them (that I've found) allow towing with their smaller trucks, and none of them rent pickups for one-way towing.
With that many miles on the van, I'm a little fearful that I'd be flirting with breakdown disaster should I attempt to tow with it now. Especially since part of the trip would entail driving through the mountains of West Virginia.
Any advice appreciated!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
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Towing question -- should I?
There are lots of companies that ship cars, why don't you contact one of them. Be sure and tell them the car won't start so they can wench it on the very back of the truck. Save your vacation time!
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Towing question -- should I?
That car is well within the capacity of your van according to my owners manual. The thing I would be asking myself is what condition are the engine and transmission in. If you feel that they are still strong, you need to make sure that you have a tranny cooler installed. Do not drive the van in overdrive when you are towing, and a good idea would be to have synthetic oil in the crankcase to help prevent oil breakdown while towing.
The funny thing about this thread is that I am in the same position, I moved to Michigan from North Carolina and I have to tow my S-10 back up here with my Aerostar. Very weird indeed.
The funny thing about this thread is that I am in the same position, I moved to Michigan from North Carolina and I have to tow my S-10 back up here with my Aerostar. Very weird indeed.
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From: New Brunswick
Towing question -- should I?
Hey, Timothyap5vm here.
I have a 92 Aerostar wagon with the 3.0 liter engine that hauled a Chevrolet Citation this last spring. The citation was at least 2000 pounds..
You should have no problem hauling that car dude..
Timothyap5vm
I have a 92 Aerostar wagon with the 3.0 liter engine that hauled a Chevrolet Citation this last spring. The citation was at least 2000 pounds..
You should have no problem hauling that car dude..
Timothyap5vm
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Fleet Mechanic
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Towing question -- should I?
To "kger", try this site. They will E-mail you a quote www.automobiletransport.com
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Towing question -- should I?
I just bought my 92 Aero, extended 4L with 170K. It used to tow a light Tent Trailer for the first owner, but the 2nd owner (from 96 onwards) never did use it for that.
I discovered it had a tranny cooler already. I just had it serviced, and had the front brakes and rotors replaced, and new tranny fluid and filter put in, and a couple of slightly used tires put on, and today a Class II Hidden Hitch was put on. On the 31st I'm going to be towing a light (1200lb) tent trailer over a fairly hilly, lengthy journey.
Bottom line - I wouldn't consider it if the van hadn't been well maintained by the previous owner, didn't have a tranny cooler, and I didn't have the transmission checked out beforehand by someone I trust.
Even still, I am gambling a bit because of the length of my journey (Vancouver to Salmon Arm & back for those in British Columbia) ...but I'll let you know how it turns out in another post to this thread.
John.
I discovered it had a tranny cooler already. I just had it serviced, and had the front brakes and rotors replaced, and new tranny fluid and filter put in, and a couple of slightly used tires put on, and today a Class II Hidden Hitch was put on. On the 31st I'm going to be towing a light (1200lb) tent trailer over a fairly hilly, lengthy journey.
Bottom line - I wouldn't consider it if the van hadn't been well maintained by the previous owner, didn't have a tranny cooler, and I didn't have the transmission checked out beforehand by someone I trust.
Even still, I am gambling a bit because of the length of my journey (Vancouver to Salmon Arm & back for those in British Columbia) ...but I'll let you know how it turns out in another post to this thread.
John.
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Towing question -- should I?
Originally posted by scott9050
... The thing I would be asking myself is what condition are the engine and transmission in.
... The thing I would be asking myself is what condition are the engine and transmission in.
... you need to make sure that you have a tranny cooler installed.
Do not drive the van in overdrive when you are towing, and a good idea would be to have synthetic oil in the crankcase to help prevent oil breakdown while towing.
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Towing question -- should I?
KGER - did you end up towing or shipping?
Well, I said I'd post when I'd completed my journey...I went about 560 miles round trip with my Aero over mountainous terrain. I took it easy, didn't set any land-speed records and it performed fine.
Well, I said I'd post when I'd completed my journey...I went about 560 miles round trip with my Aero over mountainous terrain. I took it easy, didn't set any land-speed records and it performed fine.
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From: New Brunswick
Towing question -- should I?
Hey, I thought I'd tell you that 1990 to 1997 Aerostars have a stock transmission cooler as standard in them. 1986 to 1989 DO NOT!! It only costs 80 dollars CDN here in New Brunswick and does a great job!!
Funny thing is, Dodge built all old caravans without them and they were prone to self destruct and when they redesigned them, they finally put one in but now there are problems with the cooler lines!!!!
I think that is right?? Correct me if I'm wrong..
Funny thing is, Dodge built all old caravans without them and they were prone to self destruct and when they redesigned them, they finally put one in but now there are problems with the cooler lines!!!!
I think that is right?? Correct me if I'm wrong..
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Towing question -- should I?
Hmm not sure ours has one in it specifically for towing. When we bought we asked about the tow package and he said no. So would that be an extra cooler needed?
We have a 1995 aerostar sport
Marie
We have a 1995 aerostar sport
Marie
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From: New Brunswick
Towing question -- should I?
MOMOFCRTS
It should be for towing. It is standard in 1990 to 1997 Aerostars. Look in the slot in the front bumper. You should see a small cooler in front of the radiator. It is about 14 feet wide.
Do you have the extended Aerostar? Just wondering..
It should be for towing. It is standard in 1990 to 1997 Aerostars. Look in the slot in the front bumper. You should see a small cooler in front of the radiator. It is about 14 feet wide.
Do you have the extended Aerostar? Just wondering..
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Towing question -- should I?
no we have an aerostar sport, not extended. I'll check in the van though, would save us some $$ hehe.
We had the hitch put in a couple of weeks ago and were waiting on the cooler until we really needed it but if we don't all the better!
We had the hitch put in a couple of weeks ago and were waiting on the cooler until we really needed it but if we don't all the better!