In looking for a vehicle to do everything (LOL), I've considered the Crown Vic/Mercury Marquis with a utility trailer. Those things are a dime a dozen around here (all the retirees drive 'em). Example: There's a '95 in my neighborhood w/ 35K miles, always garaged. The old guy wants $4000 for it. It's virtually new. It seems like they should be able to tow a decent trailer with a little suspension beefing. I'd like to be able to go to say, Ohio, pick up a 3000 lb. antique tractor on a 1000 lb. trailer, and tow it home. Just once, not all the time. Can they handle 4000 lbs. on a long haul? And I think it would be better on gas than an F150, esp. on the highway. What do you think?

 

not by a looooooooong shot the newest vic can only tow 1,500 lbs which is still not a smart or a safe idea.

 

The weird part with these cars is that they WERE rated to tow 5000 lbs at one time, with the trailer-tow or ride-and-handling package. Then, around 1998 or so, they suddenly dropped down to a max of 2000 lbs, and I have no idea why. But I think you're right: full frame, rear-wheel-drive, V8. All the necessary ingredients for the ideal tow vehicle.

 

Jeff hit the magic option- the Performance Ride and Handling package, which included, among other things, a larger torque convertor, Rear level Ride, upgraded springs/shocks/stabilizer bars, 3.27 axle ratio, and larger tires. They were easy to spot- they had the "cross-lace" spoke BBS wheels on them if they had this package.

We just took one in, and it's got a EZ-lift hitch on it, so I'm assuming they towed with it.

 

I know its not a crown vic, but we'd tow our 18' bowrider with our 1987 olds wagon all the time.

 

I've got a little input on this:

I had a '96 t-bird 4.6L that I put a 3.73 rear gear in - and with the 26" diameter tires, that gearing puts it up around a 4.40 rear compared to a Superduty's tires.

I was towing a jetski trailer with my '89 Honda NX650 enduro (bike) on it (maybe 900lbs) - with a fully loaded trunk (about 300 lbs), and wife+kids.

Went Upstate (NY), did OK, but noticed it wouldn't pull hills well. Handled great - I had air-bags in the rear suspension.

On the way home, I hit a bit of a hill, nothing big. That darn car did NOT want to climb that hilll - it was maybe a 5-10% grade.

I don't know why, but that thing refused to climb that hill without doing 45MPH and screaming in 2nd gear... Once I was up the hill, it was fine again.

I can only imagine what a heavier car with the same (and, for '95, weaker) motor than my t-bird.

After that experience, I went looking at Superduty's... My '01 V10 did the same trip and got 16MPG on the way with the trailer/bike and 500lbs of stuff in the bed, and tackled the same hill like it wasn't even there. Dislocated my shoulder being launched over the handlebars, and drove REAL nice on the way home - haven't had that bike on the trailer since, and that was 3 years ago ...

art k.

 

krewat- I can tell you what the problem was with the T-Bird. Non-stock gearing/tires throws the OBDII for a loop, and creates some interesting situations like the one you described.

 

Get somethin with leaf springs in the back and you'll be set.

 

...
Marketing...

As for towing with a Crown Vic, it would be fine. Most people here tow with Cars as opposed to SUVs and Trucks (Most of our vehicles are rated to 5000lbs)
In many ways they tow better than a truck.

 

you will be a prime target for state troopers. they see that they will want to weigh it. they find out you are above the gcwr and you are screwed.

 

I don't know about over "there" - but here there is no GCWR on cars.
A towing limit and GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) is all that it should have. The GCWR is usually just those 2 added together.

 

we have GVWR and GCWR.

 

'Course, if I get a pre-'98, which I probably would, it should still have the higher rating, right? I guess I'll look up the specs.

 

Wasn't dual exhaust also part of that package????

 

That is very unusual.
In every other country I am aware of manufactureres never publish GCWR figures for cars.

On edit: I checked all of the "big 3"'s websites, as well as Honda and Toyota, none show a GCWR. Could it be published elsewhere?