Towing with a 97 sport manual...not your run of the mill...

Stolle · 01-21-2009, 01:34 AM

ok i have a 3.27 rear axle on a 97 OHV 5spd...

ive got a 01 focus i road race and autox....alot....

now my question..if i get a car trailer tandem axle...

what kinda gearing should i need? 4.56's?

car is 2800lbs...plus w/e the trailer ends up being...no idea really depends on the trailer...plus gear..not much...jacks and few tools...

i ask this because this is not something i could find that people were asking...

not that it matters...but im sure ill have to take my 35's off to even have a chance at towing...even with 4.56's...lol

**MountaineerGreen** · 01-21-2009, 06:14 AM

The 5 speed wasn't really built with HD towing in mind- with 4.56's, and decent sized tires maybe, but that car and trailer are really outside of what I'd recommend to avoid transmission and clutch trouble. Others have towed more with a 5 speed, maybe they will chime in.....

blue_goose · 02-11-2009, 12:35 AM

You would need to change the gearing for sure. I used to have a 91 w/ a 5 spd and didn't tow often, but when i did it seemed to do ok. If someone more knowledgeable than me chimes in on the proper gearing then once you have that I think you should be ok if you are nice to it when starting. After all, if these suv's cant tow 3000-4000 then that kinda defeats the purpose of having one IMO. I just wouldn't expect your clutch to last forever either or for you to set any speed records. Although i didnt tow much i did beat the crap out of my 5 speed and it did fine, nice tranny i think. So my uneducated guess would say it should be ok based off expirience with something with a older and weaker tranny (or so Ive heard). good luck!

sdaviddr · 02-22-2009, 12:05 PM

My 97 sport 4.0 ohv 4x4 came with 3:73's.I tow a 2300 lbs popup with a manual trans.Knock on wood! but it has been 5yrs towing with the same clutch.Have to agree with others about towing car and trailer.How about a car dolly?You'll might want to change rear tires on the car when towing

*gijoecam* · 02-25-2009, 12:01 PM

With that gearing and that transmission, you're seriously under-rigged. The trans is the weak point, not just the clutch. It's not going to be long for this world if you start hauling a car around. You're talking at least 4000 lbs (probaly closer to 4500k) by the time you add up the car, trailer, tools, tires, parts, fuel, etc. On a tow rig that's rated for 2000lbs (2wd) or 1800 lbs (4x4), you're going to be seriously over-weight. Even with 3.73s as available from the factory, the tow rating only jumps to 3100/2900.

For what you're going to spend on upgrades to get that thing tow-worthy, and add that to the approximate cost of a trans rebuild, and you can get yourself a beater 1/2 ton pickup that'll drag that thing around all day long with power (and money) to spare. Just aim for a small V8 and an automatic transmission and it'll be fine.

But IMHO, your Ex is going to be seriously out-matched for towing duty.

Stolle · 02-25-2009, 03:00 PM

yeah. i did alot of research a while ago

01-21-2009, 06:14 AM	#2
MountaineerGreen Towing Moderator North East Arkansas 2012 F150 4x4 Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 7,589 Vehicle Specs	The 5 speed wasn't really built with HD towing in mind- with 4.56's, and decent sized tires maybe, but that car and trailer are really outside of what I'd recommend to avoid transmission and clutch trouble. Others have towed more with a 5 speed, maybe they will chime in..... __________________ -Evan Febuary 09 Feature Truck - Elite Registry - Photo Gallery - Feedback - Go Elite! - My Write Ups - EF Vendors

02-25-2009, 12:01 PM	#5
gijoecam Village Idiot Trenton, MI 98 ExSport, '00 F-150 Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 8,348 Vehicle Specs	With that gearing and that transmission, you're seriously under-rigged. The trans is the weak point, not just the clutch. It's not going to be long for this world if you start hauling a car around. You're talking at least 4000 lbs (probaly closer to 4500k) by the time you add up the car, trailer, tools, tires, parts, fuel, etc. On a tow rig that's rated for 2000lbs (2wd) or 1800 lbs (4x4), you're going to be seriously over-weight. Even with 3.73s as available from the factory, the tow rating only jumps to 3100/2900. For what you're going to spend on upgrades to get that thing tow-worthy, and add that to the approximate cost of a trans rebuild, and you can get yourself a beater 1/2 ton pickup that'll drag that thing around all day long with power (and money) to spare. Just aim for a small V8 and an automatic transmission and it'll be fine. But IMHO, your Ex is going to be seriously out-matched for towing duty. __________________ -98 Explorer Sport, 4.0 SOHC, K&N drop-in, LEMON in progress! -'00 F-150, mucho mods *"We need to allow Darwinism take it's course and let the idiots weed themselves out of existance."* ~ Rick Horwitz We must believe in free will — we have no choice. ~ Isaac Bashevis Singer I'm not smart, just a resourceful idiot. ~ Me

02-11-2009, 12:35 AM	#3
blue_goose Wannabe Elite Explorer International Falls, MN/St. Mary, MT '02 4x4 4.0 180K Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 148 Vehicle Specs	You would need to change the gearing for sure. I used to have a 91 w/ a 5 spd and didn't tow often, but when i did it seemed to do ok. If someone more knowledgeable than me chimes in on the proper gearing then once you have that I think you should be ok if you are nice to it when starting. After all, if these suv's cant tow 3000-4000 then that kinda defeats the purpose of having one IMO. I just wouldn't expect your clutch to last forever either or for you to set any speed records. Although i didnt tow much i did beat the crap out of my 5 speed and it did fine, nice tranny i think. So my uneducated guess would say it should be ok based off expirience with something with a older and weaker tranny (or so Ive heard). good luck!

02-22-2009, 12:05 PM	#4
sdaviddr Wannabe Elite Explorer Dearborn Heights, Michigan 97 sport Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 52 Vehicle Specs	My 97 sport 4.0 ohv 4x4 came with 3:73's.I tow a 2300 lbs popup with a manual trans.Knock on wood! but it has been 5yrs towing with the same clutch.Have to agree with others about towing car and trailer.How about a car dolly?You'll might want to change rear tires on the car when towing