Towing with a '99 XLT 4.0 SOHC (210 H.P.)

[mdrudy01]

I have a 99 XLT and want to tow a 20 foot Caravelle open bow run about boat with trailer. I am not positive but i think the boat and trailer weigh in right at 3,000. My bumper is rated for 3500 lbs. and 350 tongu weight. Can the bumper towing method (class II i belive) handle it or do i need a Class III hitch etc?

Does anybody have experience with a similar setup or know anybody that does?

Thanks for the help.

 

[dman726749]

do yourself and your truck a favor and get a nice frame mounted class 3+ hitch

 

[spindlecone]

You have 205 H.P, not 210

 

[Mike N.]

My boat and trailer weighs in @ 3,800lbs with 350lbs tung weight.

I have a 96X 4.0 push rod V-6 wich is in great condition and I use it to tow my boat to the lake ( about 20 miles each way) five or six times a year with a 2in. ball on the bumper.

my paticular bumper ( wich is stock ) is rated for 3,500 lbs towing and 350lbs toungh weight. yours may or may not be rated the same.

The only problens I have is that I have damaged the plastic cover on the bumper by hooking and un-hooking the boat from the X.... when I tow, I only drive at 55mph with the Over drive off.

your truck will handle the boat if you drive with some common sence, My trailer has twin axels with surge brakes that are working... rember, getting the rig down the road is only half of the story, getting it stopped is another. If your trailer does not have any kind of a braking system you might want to go with a class 3 hitch just to eliminate the possability of twisting the bumber in case you have to stop suddenly. I like using the X because if the boat ramp is wet I can drop in into 4low and creep out...

these are just My experiances... I hope they will help you and I encourage you to seek the advice or others.

Mike N.

 

[Nate1]

Get a class III.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

Your truck will tow it just fine, but you would get better balance and weight distribution with a class III frame mounted hitch. Check out etrailer.com for really good deals, that's where I got mine from.

 

[fastcougar]

Your truck will tow it just fine, but you would get better balance and weight distribution with a class III frame mounted hitch. Check out etrailer.com for really good deals, that's where I got mine from.

Ditto ... just got my Hidden Hitch + harness + receiver + ball + locking pin this weekend. Took all of 20 minutes to install ... included open the box and then crushing it lay on (rained the night before)

 

[SplashMan]

You have 205 H.P, not 210

Yup, 205 HP AND 240 TQ for your year...

A class III hitch is definatly a good idea. Along with being safer, you will be able to buy a ballmount that will let you drop or lift for level towing. Sway control and wieght distributing setups are also good advise.