Firs time towing a car dolley + FWD car ... need some advice!

[fastcougar]

I have recently purchased a new home that is being built ... 65 miles from my current home. Sitting the driveway of my current house is my project car that is immobile (fried starter and show clutch slave cylinder). I should close on the new house in early July, so I have been a little proactive and already purchased the hitch (Hidden Hitch Class III Round Tube Trailer Hitch Receiver) & ballmount. Never having towed a vehicle before, I didn't know if I would have to raise or lower the ballmount, so I bought an adjustable setup. All this in preperation for purchasing a MasterTow Model 80T with the optional winch so I can get the car on it.

I have a 1997 5L AWD Ex and will be towing a 1999 Mercury Cougar (roughly 3,000lbs). Once the Cougar is done, it will pretty much be a track only car and I plan on towing it to and from the local road course ... a 2 mile 10 turn road course about 15 miles from the new house

Any advice on how to setup the trailer would be greatly appreciated! I have the hitch installed and wired ready to go. I just was wondering how do I determine the ballmount height?

Also, any other advice on towing with a dolly? Should I opt for the electric brakes? I don't want to spend too much on this setup, but I want to be as safe as possible ... if I keep a safe distance from the traffic in front of me, are the brakes absolutely needed?

 

[jimbo74]

try to level the frotn of the trailer with the rear of your truck, as flat as possible, otehr than that, it soundsl ike you have it figured out... it sounds like you will be towing a lot, so might wnat to invest in an aux tranny filter/ aux cooler....

 

[jimbo74]

like this if it makes any sense....

 

[fastcougar]

try to level the frotn of the trailer with the rear of your truck, as flat as possible, otehr than that, it soundsl ike you have it figured out... it sounds like you will be towing a lot, so might wnat to invest in an aux tranny filter/ aux cooler....

Thanks for the advice!

My Ex had the towing package factory installed. The transmission never ran hotter than 160 degrees during testing. Tested it with an AutoTap while doing full throttle runs heading up double digit degree inclines on I70 near Cumberland Maryland. She never got over 164 degrees

My main concern is opting for the brakes ... it adds about $250 to the cost of the trailer, but I think it might be money well spent considering the stock brakes on my Ex are not that great.

 

[jimbo74]

ah, i would get the trailer brakes..... you must see how it mounts though, you might need an extra brake brain for it... some of them dont jsut plug right up tot the trailer with no problems... if you are going t otow it a lot and it sounds liek you are, i would get the brakes

 

[fastcougar]

ah, i would get the trailer brakes..... you must see how it mounts though, you might need an extra brake brain for it... some of them dont jsut plug right up tot the trailer with no problems... if you are going t otow it a lot and it sounds liek you are, i would get the brakes

Yes, I will be towing the car about once or twice a month in spring/summer/fall. Also, this model has electronic brakes ... the harness connector is "7 prong round" ... whatever that means???