Towing Problems without hitch??

[johnri60626]

Originally posted by james t
i hate to say it, but what went wrong was just the nature of the A4LD transmission that is behind the 91-94 V6. its not really known for longevity or handling the abuse of heavy towing. the V8 has a 4R70W which is a much stronger tranny. [/QUOTE

What's teh point of putting a towing package on a vehicle that can't tow. Sheesh! I may be better off dragging it to Nebraska behind the Bonco II, alt least I *know* that it can handle the load.

 

[johnri60626]

So, what can I do, driving-wise, to insure I don't blow a second transmission?

I *have* to go to Nebraska, and not dragging the Bronco II is not an option. I can't afford any mods or any more work because I had most of my money snatched from my bank account a week before Christmas ( Those *******s! ) and have just laid out $2400 to get the tranny done. I can't afford another failure.

I'd appreciate any suggestions, short of a hand grenade.

 

[baff2004]

20' trailer

I towed a 20 foot flat bed trailer with an old scrap metal VW beetle on it using the bumper. Prob. exceeded the 3500lbs. limit . made that beetle float by welding 6, 50 gallon drums on it. no motor though

 

[osker75]

so you you guys are saying i would be fine towing two (125) dirtbikes and two (500) fourwheelers around town to tracks ?

 

[james t]

john, put a big tranny cooler on it and use synthetic fluid. this will help alot. also, change the tranny fluid/filter every 20k miles or 1 year, whichever comes first.

 

[johnri60626]

Well, that 's *one* of the things I had planned to begin with until people started marauding my checking account. Aside from that, is there anything besides staying out of OD and keep the speed at 55 or below I can do to insure it makes it to Nebraska?

 

[Tom G]

I bent the bumper on my '94 the first time I towed my boat with it. Put on a class III receiver, and again put a class III on my '99. Never had another problem.

 

[johnri60626]

Well, I guess the question, brokken down, is simple.....
Will I be "OK" going from Maryland to Nebraska w/Bronco II in tow, using a tow bar? If I keep it in "D" the entinre distance, will it be a safe bet that the tranny will not repeat the catastophic failure I had happen only 2 weeks ago?

 

[james t]

i would think you would be fine. if you are flat towing the BII, then you would only be towing about 3500lbs.

 

[PicoG4]

I got ssome bad news for you. U haul will no longer allow trailer rentals for ford explorers. I went to rent one this weekend and the place denied me said they weren't allowed to rent trailers to be towed behind explorers no matter the hitch or anything. Every u haul place around said the same thing. There is a solution though, I took my step sisters s10 and rented the trailer and then put the trailer on the explorer in the drive way at the house

 

[johnri60626]

I own my tow bar......U-haul dosen't confront me at all.

I had purchased the tow bar from U-Haul a few years back, when I needed to have a vehicle to drive back from a location. I put the mounts on the BroncoII and towed it across country, and I have done so several times since.

It isn't a hard vehicle to tow and tracks very nicely. When I'm done towing and need to drive it, I pull the pins, fold the bar and place in the rear of the vehicle. I have considered doing the same thing to the Explorer, especially now that I have seen how badly it can leave you stranded without notice.

I guess the question is at this point, do I need to leave the Explorer in "Drive" in order to safely tow anything?

 

[99SportX]

Originally posted by Robb
I used to tow my 18' boat with the bumper ball all the time. No damage to bumper at all. Screw up the lisence plate pretty good tho.

Backed up too far?