Your thoughts please - towing situation

[Btuvi]

I have a Mercury Grand Marquis with a trailer hitch rated for 5000lb.

I expect to find myself having to tow either a 19' Sea Pro with 150 engine on a single axel trailer or a 20' Hydrasport with 225 engine on a tandem trailer.

Yes, I know. I should tow either of them with something more suited. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of choice.

The Sea Pro on single axel including engine and trailer weight are probably close to 3500 lbs The Hydrasport on tandem probably almost 1000 lbs more.

Which would be the better tow?

Is there a relatively inexpensive way I could improve towability? Towability?Is that a word?

Any thoughts, suggestions, advice welcomed. Thanks

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Your thoughts please - towing situation

Should handle either one, if the 5,000 lb. towing capacity is correct. Towing is often not the problem, stopping is the problem when you exceed your vehicles towing capacity. Does the tandem axle trailer/rig have trailer brakes? Whichever one you tow, might be a good idea to have the tranny fluid flushed/refilled beforehand. If you plan to tow with the Merc regularly, you might consider an aftermarket tranny cooler. Heat and fluid breakdown is what kills trannies, towing or not. Follow Mercury's towing recommendations/guide and you should be okay...as long as the boat is not loaded to the gills with other stuff.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Your thoughts please - towing situation

Lets get something clear here.
Is the trailer hitch rated for 5,000lb or is the car rated for 5,000lb
My guess is the trailer hitch.
If so then what is the car rated for ???? lets go from there.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Your thoughts please - towing situation

Hard to find exact data but it looks like the tow capacity is coming up at 1500 lbs based upon some websites that came up with a google search. I'd call mercury and find out for sure.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Your thoughts please - towing situation

I have a 2003 Grand Marquis and the rating is 1500 lbs. as is.
The weak link would be the transmission and lack of towing options as well as the lack of a good low gear ratio.
It may make a big difference what year car we're talking about here. I had a 1989 with factory tow package which included a 3.55:1 rear ratio, trans cooler, factory hitch, and light wiring. I used to tow pretty regular with that car, I had as much as 7500 lbs behind it several times with no problems. It towed better than my F150 did.

My 2003 has a factory hitch but I don't see where the tow rating is increased by the presents of the tow package. It does have an external trans cooler, what looks to be a larger radiator. The cooling fan also looks different.

The older models had a rating of 3500 lbs, not much has changed over the years, the trans has gotten better, the rear stayed the same, the frame is stronger after 2003, and the engines now make more power. The only reason I see why they may have lowered the tow rating is that they no longer offer the option to add a towing package either for mileage ratings or lack of interest. They may well have just felt it better to push the SUVs as tow vehicles rather than the cars.

There's no good reason why you can't make one tow at least 3500 lbs with the right equipment. I'd say up to 1,500 lbs, you will only need a hitch and light wiring and I'd recommend a trans cooler. The same for 3500lbs but I wouldn't consider it a good tow vehicle for that amount of weight without lowering the rear axle ratio to at least 3.55:1 or lower. With the gear change, proper hitch, and trans cooler, then I'd say 5,000 would be doable along with some sort of trailer brakes and sensible driving habits while towing.

I have not yet towed with my 2003, but I'm sure the occasion will arise sooner or later where I am out and about and see something that I need to tow home and it will get it's chance but for now I stick to my trucks when it comes to towing.
I wouldn't want to change the gear ratio on mine, it gets over 25 mpg on average and has gotten over 27 mpg on long runs.

 

[Btuvi]

Re: Your thoughts please - towing situation

Thanks so much for opinions and information. I'll let folks know how it works out.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Your thoughts please - towing situation

Thanks so much for opinions and information. I'll let folks know how it works out.

Good Luck.