Towing

[427435]

There was quite a long thread on putting a trailer hitch on a Maruader last week. I know the hitch from a Grand Marquis will fit. I'm torn between buying a MM or an Explorer. Whatever I buy has to tow a 3200 lb. boat and trailer. My old '93 Grand Marquis has done that wonderfully but it now has 180,000 miles on it.

Has anyone actually towed much with a Marauder or a late model Grand Marquis. I understand all about cooling the tranny and other things---I can deal with that. My real concern is that there is something about the newer suspensions that could make them worse for towing than the suspensions on the 1996 and earlier cars.

Anyone with actual experience??

Thanks,
Mn Mark/427435

[Mikeenh]

427/435,
I've put about a thousand miles on my MM with a 1,700 pound open car carrier & a Jeep Wrangler on it. Tows like a champ. I have thousands of miles on my last car, a 98 GM with even heavier loads. The load leveling suspension is GREAT.

[03 Merc]

427/435,

I towed a travel trailer with my 97 GM, with the 41G Handling package (air suspension, 3.27 rear, 210 HP), with no problems.. My trailer is at http://www.trail-lite.com/bantamfloorfr.asp I never had any problems even driving in the Smokies during the summer... I will be doing it again this spring with the MM, which is a much better setup than my 97 was...

[427435]

Mikeenh, your towed load must be over 4000 lbs----is that right?

03 Merc, which of the trailers of the linked page do you tow?

Have either of you added any extra cooling?

Thanks for your replies---I'm feeling better about buying a Marauder and using it for towing. Now if they would just make a few colors available besides black.

[03 Merc]

I towed the B-17 with my GM. The actual weight is about 2530lbs when loaded if I remember correctly. The tongue weight is around 240 lbs...

I did not do any mods at all to my GM except add the electric brake controller.. I do intend to mod the MM however.. I am going to go with 4.10's and a flip chip. One profile for towing, one for going:D... It's terrible but I'll have to do these mods to pull the trailer!!:) That and synthetics in the rear and transmission..

BTW towing a Travel Trailer is worse than a boat and some other loads due to the large frontal area creating more drag...

[Mikeenh]

427435,
I'm pulling 5,000 plus when I'm towing my DeSoto Airflow. I towed all day at 70-75 this summer with my MM in 100 plus heat and everything stayed normal. I never did any mod's for cooling.
Here's a link to the trailer I use
http://www.kwikload.com/welcome.htm

[427435]

Thanks again guys.

[russ in VA]

Do you tow in overdrive?

[03 Merc]

Russ,

Depends...the answer depends on the amount of "hunting" the transmission is doing between 3rd and OD. If I keep shifiting back and forth I turn the OD off... If the tow vehicle is happy in OD leave it alone... I have been told this is the way to decide by multiple service managers and transmission techs I have asked...

It also depends on the terrain. If I am in nice flat Florida or South Georgia I use OD..in the Smokies I do not...I want some engine braking if needed...