Parades--yeah, I know
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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Parades--yeah, I know
Ok, so with the 4th coming up, I got tagged to help with a local small town parade. I've been asked to pull a medium trailer (call it 4k) for about 2.5 miles in 90+ degree weather. My truck is an 03 5.4 expedition with the heavy duty tow package (7pin, tranny cooler, class IV reciever). I know the trailer is well within the limits of the truck and I have pulled many a trailer in my life. Here's my question. Should I be concerned that I will be at or near idle for 1-2 hours with the trailer? A buddy of mine pulled the same trailer last year with his Suburban and began to overheat 2/3 of the way through (yeah I know it's a chevy, etc). I would be curious for any thoughts on this. The truck has 33k on it and has been very well maintained.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: IL
I did the exact same thing with my '99 Explorer a year ago. 4th of July parade, 5k worth of trailer and people, 95 out and no wind. I ran it in 2nd the whole time (2 1/2hrs), popped the hood and put streamers around the hood to hide the gap and turned the defroster on hot and low fan speed. It never heated up above normal. There were also times that I had to sit in place for 5 min or so and I would turn the defroster up on high to get rid of some of the heat. With all the windows open and the rear glass open it hever got too hot in the Explorer.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,519
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From: W. Central FL.
If you see the temperature going up place the tranny into neutral and kick the engine speed to a fast idle. This is a practice I've followed for years when in stopped traffic. (at least you don't have to worry about vapor lock) Make sure your clutch fan is working right and does not kick out when you kick the speed up to fast idle. Have fun
ray
ray
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Guys, thanks for the response. I know the "heater" trick for the engine. The scary part is that I won't be the one driving the truck! It's gonna be a *cringe* HS girl who's never pulled a trailer. I don't know how I got roped into this one. Do you really think I could explain the fast idle proceedure? I was kind of hoping to hear that the truck should be fine.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,519
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From: W. Central FL.
Inexperienced HS girl pulling a parade trailer with my truck! Don't think it would happen! That opens up a whole new bucket of worms. Check with your insurance co and cover all your bases.
ray
ray
Originally Posted by tkd
Guys, thanks for the response. I know the "heater" trick for the engine. The scary part is that I won't be the one driving the truck! It's gonna be a *cringe* HS girl who's never pulled a trailer. I don't know how I got roped into this one. Do you really think I could explain the fast idle proceedure? I was kind of hoping to hear that the truck should be fine.
