i need a tow/family vehicle. id be pulling my mustang to various races around the county. im confused as to if i need a f-250
or will a f-150 ext. or expedition work?

the truck/suv will be a 5.4 auto towing package.

right now my price range is 10-13k$ i figure i can afford a 97-98
what should i get, that wont ruin the vehicle and safe for the family?

thanks

 

The 97 Expy 5.4 w/ towing package and 3.73 gears has an 8000 lb tow rating w/ a weight distributing hitch. (The package included the 3.73s.)

For the F150 you will need to make sure which axle ratios you have. If you are going to be towing near the limits of the F150 for long periods you may not want to go that route.

Good luck.

 

The biggest issue in towing with an Expy is the short wheelbase. I have a 27' TT that I tow with my Expy. The truck pulls great (see my mod list) but swayed all over the place until I got a Hensley Arrow hitch. Now, its smooth sailing.

If you are towing your car on an open trailer, there would be a lot less wind resistance than my TT, so sway would be less. If you are pulling a closed trailer, you will need a good hitch or something with a longer wheelbase (like a SCrew or a SD).

Ian

 

I just bought a 2000 5.4L, 32v Navi---and it has a towing capacity of 8900lbs!!! We needed something as well to tow my hubby's mustang to races as well! We will be using a regular car trailer (open).

 

My towing is an exception as it's a boat on a dual axle trailer. You can't get a better load that that. The biat will wieght between 7000# and 7500# depending on gear, fuel and water. It does great. I really can't tell much difference when it's loaded heavy or light.

I think the mod's that I've done help a lot though. I would agree that with most any other trailer that you're likely to get a much more difficult load (more tongue weight, wind resistance etc.) you need to use something like what Ian talks about. Without it I'm not sure I'd tow anything other than a boat more than about 5000# with mine, although my boat is the only thing I've ever towed, so I'm not sure I'm qualified to rate anything else.

 

thanks for the replies, sounds like the expo can handle towing a car/trailer open without any prob

 

I don't know if you got my mail fordstime, but I have an Ex for sale that has the hot setup for towing, real air level susp, factory tow, 5.4, factory trans cooler, tow package and 3.73 gears. This is as good as you can get from the factory. its still under warranty too!

 

I've got a '97 Expedition, 5.4L, 3.73 rear, tow package, and tow a 1963 19' travel trailer (maybe 3k lbs?). I had no problems, temperature keeps great even in 100 deg heat. But its' pretty gutless. On hills it'd stay in 1st gear for what seemed an eternity, buzzing along @ 4000 rpms, and like 30 mph. Plus I average 8-9 mpg while towing. My next truck I'm looking for a diesel!

 

30 mph? 1st gear? Man... I've never heard of a 5.4 Expy doing that poorly. Is this true? I thought the 4.6 Expys were rated to pull somewhere around 6700# and the 5.4s at 8000#..

 

I have never heard of a 5.4 being that gutless either. I have had my '99 5.4L, 3.73 LS Expy pull up to 11% grades with a 5500# trailer and never dipped below 50 mph unless poor planing got me stuck in the slow lane behind a 18 wheeler as a string of fast movers went by

 

Well, maybe somethin's wrong with it! But on steep inclines, Mt. passes, etc., it'll be hard pressed to do more than 40mph! Flat interstate it'll do 70 without too much problem.

 

I was looking at a 4.6 Expy only because it was 4WD and pretty cheap ($6k). I just want it to pull my open car trailer (16' full diamond plate bed) and my race car (3300#). With 4.10 gears, will this be too much of a deal? It's a '97 w/o the PI heads. If it sucks.. I think I'm going to do a Navi swap.

-Nate

 

I don't think I'd buy it to use as a tow vehicle. I'd be looking @ getting a diesel of some sort. Just my 2 cents. It should do o.k., though.

 

It's for towing occasionally, not really a tow vehicle. 90% of the time will be regular day to day driving, 10% towing. I guess I just really wanna know if I am going to be wheezing uphill. Also, diesel is the most expensive fuel in my area. Thanks!

-Nate

 

You should be fine! The only complaint with mine is it seems a little gutless. Just make sure you get trailer brakes! Make sure you keep the OD off!-learned the hard way... And you might want a weight equalizing hitch. Mine squats pretty good in the rear when I hook up.
Don't expect more than 9mpg!
Good luck!