I am debating what kind of car trailer to buy. Open vs enclosed. I'm towing my 3600# Mustang Cobra long distances. (VA to NV). I would greatly prefer to use an enclosed trailer, but I'm afraid its just too much weight. I know other guys who have done this on more modest trips, but 2000+ miles. Ugg.

The Exp is a y2k with 5.4L and 3.55s

Opinions appriciated.


-Mark


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Mark Clancy
96 Cobra
00 Expedition EB

 

Bitten

Well first I hope you have the trailer package in your X. 2nd is it an EB with the 17” wheels “The larger dia tires reduce your towing by 500 lbs” Before my gear change I did not do well towing my 6100 lb dry trailer. Figure another 1000 for family food clothing etc so I was towing 7100 still under fords 7400 rating. I also have 2 util trailers. So this is what I see.

650 lbs. trailer 750-lbs. quad no problem at all.
950 lbs. trailer 2700 lbs. of concrete. It did ok very well.
6100 lbs. trailer empty the X is working but doing ok
6100 lbs. Trailer heavy load say another 1500 the X did **** poor.

Don’t get me wrong, engine temp does not budge from midway no trans slipping but it seem to be working too hard. You also have to keep your speed down.
You got a 3600 lb dry car. So you have to add gas weight and all goodies you bolted on the cobra, and all the things you load in the trailer plus passengers plus the weight of the trailer. I think you will be pushing 6k but could hit 7k “figuring 2 to 3k for the trailer”. You have the same problem as I do. If you pack lean you will be ok. If you load up the X will feel like a dog. Ether cases you my want to change your gears. You should try to get a light trailer like feather lite.

don



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1999 EB X 5.9 4.1 gears, Borla catback, Vortech supercharger,superchip

 

I tow my car trailer regularly. I have an enclosed trailer that weights somtin' like 2500lbs and my car weights 3300lbs. So I'm towin' somthin like 6,000lbs. Plus about 600-700lbs of gear in the expo, with gas and 2 people it comes out to about 900lbs. So my whole rig (including expo)I figure weights about 12,500lbs (7,000lbs not including expo). Any way..My truck is a totaly stock 5.4 EB w/ 17's and it tows all this stuff pretty much fine - a little slugish on the hills - have to floor it on the big ones -and averages about 9mpg. The farthest I've towed in one shot is 1,100mi (round trip). But I have over 5,000mi towing total. So with a few mods the truck can definatly tow 7,000lbs possibly 8. If you can afford it and the expy can tow it - definatly go with the enclosed - SO MUCH NICER!!

Anyway - hope I helped some what.....

[This message has been edited by White Expo (edited 06-15-2000).]

 

I have a open car trailer for my Mustang. The trailer is 1450lbs - plus the car 3280 (bone dry - 87LX50 Convertible). It's not bad at all to haul around. I towed my brother in laws Viper (3400 lbs) about 2 months ago from here in Springfield, OH to Richmond, VA and the mountains were a little taxing - but we were able to keep up to the speed limit with no problems. I have the 99 Expy EB,5.4, 3.73's, LLS and 4x4

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1999 Expedition EB, 4x4, 5.4, LLS, K&N with airbox mod, Lund Interceptor Bug Guard, Hooker 3" Chrome tip

 

I have a 98 Expy 4X4 XLT with 17" and a new 5.4 @ 50K... I tow a 5300 lb boat and trailer. I woul recommend the following if you want to keep you X:

1. Perma cool combo trans and engine oil cooler WITH a fan!!!

2. ALL SYNTHETICS, everywhere you can put it! INCLUDING the REAR DIFFERENTIALS! They come with synthetics in the rear, but if you have over 25K and do a lot of towing, you want to change it once a year!

3. Your gearing will hurt you!


I average 9 MPG as well...

Keep in mind that if you have to FLOOR IT you have to much weight and are doing a lot of damage to your truck!

I know a guy who had to floor it a lot as well... He's on his 3rd engine!