LSTORM, glad to hear about your experiences with the bags. I'd like to lower the rear of the '00 a little bit and was wondering if some helper bags were available to keep the towing capacity.

We towed a Mustang on a car hauler to the World Ford Challenge (about 1500 miles round trip). We dropped the trailer in St Louis and Trace raced the Mustang and I raced the Lightning. I made about 10 passes in the Lightning (13.68@99.5 completely stock). We hooked the trailer back up and towed the car home just fine. Got 12 MPG towing between 70 and 75 mph for the most part.

I think the L's brakes are AWESOME for towing. The power is also a big plus for hauling the trailer up to speed on the interstate. I had the tongue weight a little light on the trip home, so we did have a little bit of hunting from the trailer, but overall everything did great.


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Later!
Jeff S.
President, National Lightning Owners Club - http://nloc.org
SVT Lightning #74 in '95 - 11.92@115.2 on radials, driven daily
SVT Lightning #?? in '00 - 13.68@99.5 STOCK (except for the Jack In The Box antenna ball power option)
jeff_s@nloc.org or fmosracing@aol.com

 

The Gen 2 L tows great, IMHO. I have a 3250lb Mustang that I have towed 3 times now with this truck using a very nice Trackmaster 16' trailer with a toolbox up front on the tongue. Plus, had 200lbs of "stuff" in the bed of the truck. I'd say the gross towing weight was easily over 5000lbs.

One thing I'd recommend (I don't have airbags on mine, but I don't tow often, either) is a load-leveling/equalizing hitch. Oh man does this make a huge difference. The truck doesn't sag at all, and towing at 70-75 you almost forget its all back there.

Like Jeff, I too averaged ~11+mpg towing on the highway. It's sad that without a 5000+ "package" behind me I only get 13-14mpg.

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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--597rwhp/590rwtq
96 Cobra (12.63 @ 114.5)--390rwhp/441rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.3)--362rwhp/444rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://members.aol.com/Wa2fst/index.html

 

I just went and picked up my boat from winter storage and the L2 actually tows better than my 94 L1 did! The boat Trailer package weighs in a about 4900 pounds with gear & gas and the only problem I did see was the short wheelbase causing an oscillation, but it had TONS more torque than the 94 and actually towed smoother.

Time will tell what the mileage will be...



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eric@sapp.com
2000 Silver Lightning
94 Black (Gone but not Forgotten)