setting up for towing

[thurobred1320]

hey everyone..new guy here just double checking on some stuff..i read a bunch of posts off here already and this is what ive gathered..just looking for some info that i still havent read yet and some opinions.

ive got a 1998 xlt and will be towing 16-18 foot open trailer with a 1990 mustang on it..mustang is less then 3000lbs fully loaded. not to sure how heavy the trailer will be though.

so far this is what ive gathered that ill need to set up electric brakes/lights

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/7414FX.html connected to factory plug under the bumper

http://www.etrailer.com/p-39523.html (good enough???)

http://www.etrailer.com/p-30717.html

ive wired my entire mustang so i dont think it will be to hard to wire up the controller. if i remember correctly its the green wire coming out off the brake that is used as the trigger wire (ill double check with a multimeter). but other then that it seems like just grounds and 12volts.

from what ive read overdrive should always be off while towing and since the weight will be over 3500lbs i should look into a weight distribution hitch correct?

i will most likely be upgrading the leaf springs at some point and will be installing a trans temp gauge and hooking up the factory trans cooler, should i get a fan for the factory cooler also? what temp should the trans be at and what is the max it should be?

i dont see myself towing farther then a 2 hour trip because all the drag strips are 2 hours from my house but id still like to be safe. any info would be greatly appriciated thank you

 

[thurobred1320]

dont like new guys huh? lol

 

[gijoecam]

There just aren't a lot of towing gurus on here, that's all. Don't take it personally...


Skip that controller and get the Tekonshe Prodigy (I think now called the P2?). It's night-and-day better than the one you linked to. Yeah, it's $40 more, but worth every penny. I've towed with time-based and inertial controllers, and the inertial ones are FAR superior.

Wiring should be easy, given your experience. Remember to fuse it from the battery.

Not sure which engine or drivetrain you have, but your Ex could be either very capable of towing that trailer, or highly under-capacity for it. Without knowing the actual ratings for the truck as well as the weights of the trailer (tongue and axle weight) it's a guessing game at best. In the best of scenarios, you'll be right at the limits of the tow vehicle, and that doesn't make a very pleasant towing experience.

 

[thurobred1320]

im not taking it personally i was just kidding around..and thanks for the heads up about the controller...saving 40 bucks is not worth wrecking my truck and my race car. my explorer is the 5.0 but i havent checked the axel ratio ill get on that this week and see whats up...as far as the external trans cooler are they usually not hooked up or is my ex just a hack job?

 

[rileyrs]

good call on the gauge. you dont need to add a cooler until you have determined if you need it based on temps.... 170-180 is a good place to be.
i have a factory cooler, and occasionally i see it climb up to 195 or so while towing the boat, but only up a big hill so im not too worried.
but mostly just keep a sharp eye on the temps until you get a good feel for its averages, and highs.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I would add a large cooler. You will heat the trans up towing a Mustang on a trailer, and the cooler your trans the better. Are you a 5.0? If not, I'd get the biggest cooler you can fit.

 

[manaen]

If your going to be towing a car you may be at about the max of your tow rating (or even over it depending on your truck)

First thing you need to do is check you GCWR and GTWR (on door sticker) and then figure out if you can handle this much weight.


As far as mods x2 on the tekonsha controller I have used many type and the tekonsha in my mind has the best feel/adjustment.

With that much weight you are going to be cooking your transmission on any type of hill. We need to know what you have before we can recommend things (ie: engine, trans, gear ratio, GCWR and GTWR for starters)

 

[OgreOwner]

You should also consider an Equailizer hitch with that much weight. They cost a pretty penny, but will greatly improve the ride and safety.

 

[thebrakeman]

X3 on the Tekonsha Prodigy (or a Tekonsha P3). There are lesser, time-delay controllers by Tekonsha, so don't just go by the brand. You want a "Prodigy", "P2", or "P3" each made by Tekonsha.

You must get the weight of the trailer. Some car-haulers are heavier than the car. You also need to know what your tow rating is. V8 with the 3.55 gear is only good for 3500 lbs, which you will far exceed. If you have the towing gear (3.73 back then?), you probably have 6000+ (check your owners manual). Anything you put in the truck subtracts from that. So if you bring a lot of gear, passengers, etc, and the trailer is too heavy, you may still be overweight.

Keep gathering data. You're on the right track.