weight dist hitch

[BRIAN95]

i have a 2001 mountaineer with v8 AWD and would like to know if i would be able to pull a open trailer with car, total weight around 5100 and without weight dist hitch with out having the front end looking for the sky. will have brakes on both axles on trailer so stoping wont be an issue.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

I'd say you'd be OK, but the key is getting the car in the right spot on the trailer. Enough tongue weight without too much is key. Pull the car on the trailer, have someone watch the Mounty and tell you when it starts to squat. Enough weight on the tongue is key for proper trailer control.

Check your brake controller and hitch bolts before you begin for safety!

 

[gijoecam]

The '01 Mounty with the 5.0L and all wheel drive was rated to tow a maximum of 4535 lbs with the 3.55 gears (GCWR of 10,000 lbs) and 4990 with the 3.73 gears (GCWR of 11,000 lbs).

Running a lightly-loaded vehicle with a half tank of gas and nothing inside but a skinny driver, it *might* barely make it at 5100 lbs... but just barely. At that point, it'll be right near, if not over the GCWR and the max trailer weight. Axle weight without a weight distributing hitch will likely be WELL over their maximum. On my Sport, with a much shorter rear overhang than your Mounty, a mere 300 lbs of tongue weight put me within 50 lbs of the rear GAWR.

IMHO, it's too much for the truck. It will not be a pleasant towing experience. If you're going around the block with it, I might say give it a try. If you're going cross-country or through the hills? no way!

-Joe

 

[BRIAN95]

rv guide

in the rv guide the 01 with 3.73 4 door and v8 awd it says 6620 max cap. if it helps i will buy the weight dist hitch for safety with sway control only going about 1 hour drive to race track then back home when done. my manaul says 5000. was looking at alum trailer weighting 1300 pounds empty might be better than the 1800 steel. does this sound about right.

 

[gijoecam]

in the rv guide the 01 with 3.73 4 door and v8 awd it says 6620 max cap. if it helps i will buy the weight dist hitch for safety with sway control only going about 1 hour drive to race track then back home when done. was looking at alum trailer weighting 1300 pounds empty might be bette than the 1800 steel.
does this sound about right.

Crap-oley, I did it twice yesterday... Looked at the wrong column... Yes, 6620 is the maximum gross trailer weight the vehicle can tow. However, it will require a weight distributing hitch, as it's recommended that you get 10-15% tongue weight on the back of the tow vehicle for stable handling. That means roughly around 500-600 lbs of tongue weight, and that will surely put you over the gross axle weight rating on the rear axle. It's the reason they require a weight distributing hitch on trailers over 3500 lbs.

However....

Having actually towed a boat that weight 4650 lbs on a regular basis, I wouldn't say it's going to be enjoyable. It's going to push you around something fierce. Electric brakes are a must to work with the WDH. Every pound you can take out of the trailer will only help matters.

Can it do it? yes. Is it the best tool for the job? not by a long shot!

 

[BRIAN95]

towing

was looking at trailer weighting 1300 and car weighting 3200 or so with brakes on both axels and wdh I figure it would put me at 5000 with barly any gas for race track sake. trying to make it work for alittle while trying to talk wife into a F-250 butt not working right now.