Towing with a car?

M

MRRMX

Member

Nov 24, 1999

192

0

• Oct 14, 2001

• #1

I am looking at buying a Taurus and pulling a sled trailer with my bike on it. I read the max tow amount was 1000 pounds I will be well under that amount. I guess Im out to see what if any of you riders have pulled a light trailer with a mid size car. I have had pick ups and a full size van to do the pulling duties. What your thoughts on this?

 

K

KTMNewbie

Member

Sep 24, 2001

26

0

• Oct 14, 2001

• #2

not really a reply

I am not really replying to this message, but I would like to know if it is possible to tow a trailer with a '96 Trans Am. I bought it before I got a bike and don't want to get rid of it. I am only towing 1 bike, so weight wouldn't be a problem, but if anyone knows of a company that makes trailer hitches that would accomodate that, let me know.

 

M

MRRMX

Member

Nov 24, 1999

192

0

• Oct 14, 2001

• Thread starter
• #3

Call a trailer hitch place for the needed set up for your car, If they make them. It will be a class 2 hitch set up.

 

R

R White

Member

Sep 13, 2001

141

0

• Oct 14, 2001

• #4

towed my harley with a tarus in 89 from lodi ca to slc ut
no prob. even @ 80 :)
KTMNewbe U HAUL

 

Last edited: Oct 14, 2001

T

Treestomper

Member

Sep 16, 2001

81

0

• Oct 16, 2001

• #5

You should not have a problem with one bike if it is just a small 3 rail trailer. Is the car a v6 or four banger.

 

J

justql

Sponsoring Member<BR>Club Moderator

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Oct 23, 2000

2,873

0

• Oct 16, 2001

• #6

We drove a friend of mines daughter Taurus to a race with two bikes, gear, fuel etc on a small trailer behind. Several hour drive both ways. The car had no problems. My wife had a Taurus that we would pull two Jet Skis on a heavy trailer. Never a problem

 

S

SirReel

Member

Aug 23, 2001

130

0

• Oct 16, 2001

• #7

Draw tite

If your looking for a hitch for a car check out draw tite. I got a hitch from them for a 95 Baretta and it works great! I use a small flatbed trailer (landscape, atv, etc.) and pull a yz250 on it. I have travelled as far as 4 hours each way on numerous occasions and have had no problems whatsoever.

 

M

MRRMX

Member

Nov 24, 1999

192

0

• Oct 16, 2001

• Thread starter
• #8

Its not that I'm over worried about the weight. Its the ride height and dragging the hitch. Some of the areas I go to, Is rutted road and driveways.

 

C

CIER

Member

Sep 13, 1999

34

0

• Oct 21, 2001

• #9

I put a Reece hitch on a 88 Sable. Pulled a 4x8 trailer with a pickup toolbox mounted on the front and a KTM 300 on it. It pulled it ok. Biggest problem was I just hated that car. Tow only in drive. Do not use overdrive.

Jim

 

P

Peer Lovell

Member

Nov 25, 1999

600

0

• Nov 1, 2001

• #10

Dear MrRMX. More important than the actual weight of the trailer,in your case, would be your own weight.
I would make sure you purchase the hitch in person, so the hitch place can be sure to allow for your girth which can be attirbuted to not riding with real men.
A hitch designed for a Mack Truck would likely be best for you.

 

M

MRRMX

Member

Nov 24, 1999

192

0

• Nov 1, 2001

• Thread starter
• #11

Originally posted by Peer Lovell
Dear MrRMX. More important than the actual weight of the trailer,in your case, would be your own weight.
I would make sure you purchase the hitch in person, so the hitch place can be sure to allow for your girth which can be attirbuted to not riding with real men.A hitch designed for a Mack Truck would likely be best for you.

Click to expand...

Do I have to come up there and roost you in to shame, For saying that Mister RMX is a tellie tubby. If Tammy find out your posting naughty things she will punish you for it.....

 

MikeT

~SPONSOR~

Jan 17, 2001

4,095

11

• Nov 5, 2001

• #12

Guys, I tow a 4x8 trailer with all my gear and a YZ125 behind a 4 cyl. Honda Accord with 152,000 miles on it. The only thing I did was change the tranny fluid with synthetic Mobil1 just to be safe. Yes I can feel the weight, but currently it's the only choice I've got. It's been doing fine. If that Taurus has a 6cyl in it I'm gonna slap you! :p

 

J

Jimmy!

Member

Jan 7, 2001

136

0

• Nov 6, 2001

• #13

I used to pull a scooter transport trailer behind a '91 Mustang GT, No problems other than the ground clearance on dirt roads...

 

OnAnySunday

Big Pig

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Nov 20, 2000

997

3

lost in the deserts of NM

• Nov 8, 2001

• #14

Best tow vehicle i ever had was a car!
A 1980 Thunderbird -w- a slightly modified transplanted 5.0 H.O. V-8.
Stiffened up suspention and 15" BFG ta's.
Yea, she hauled alright......:p
Loaded -w- gas, tools, gear,and 3 bikes, she smoked any pickup on the way up the hill to the trails.
So, yea, a car can make a good hauler.
It just depends what kind of car it is! :)

 

B

Bruce

~SPONSOR~

Nov 12, 1999

148

1

• Nov 9, 2001

• #15

Been pulling a camping trailer with bike(s) in it since I was 18... how long ago was that you ask??? almost 30 years now. Have towed it successfully with Camaro, Beretta, Intrepid, Crown Victoria etc. etc. Anything will tow it really. Not inclined to take my cars too far offroad so clearance is not problem. Power to tow has never been a problem with any of these vehicles... Taurus should tow fine.

 

K

Kyron

Member

Feb 3, 2001

65

0

• Nov 11, 2001

• #16

it will tow it no problem.....

 

Last edited: Nov 11, 2001

K

ktmboy

~SPONSOR~

Apr 1, 2001

2,470

0

• Nov 11, 2001

• #17

If you're worried about rear end sag (on the car, I can't help you if it's a physical problem. :debil: ) , there's a company called EAZ-Lift that makes a load leveling hitch. It uses two torsion bars attatched between the hitch and trailer to equalize the load between all three axles. It works so well that in their old ads they used to show an Olds Toronado FWD towing a trailer with the rear wheels on the car removed!

 

C

Canadian-KDX

Member

Nov 11, 2001

19

0

• Nov 13, 2001

• #18

Your fine, it will pull that load easy you just gotta start slowing down erlier than normal

 

S

Saratoga

• Nov 13, 2001

• #19

I have made many trips towing with a 98 Taurus. The problem is the suspension is way too soft. I tried to find a way to put stiffer struts on but was told it is unavailable. One bike is ok. Two bikes with gear is ok but rides really, really low. Three bikes with three people and gear is scary. Probably dangerous too. By the way, I did fry the tranny after 60K miles probably because of towing abuse. I am now towing with a 01 Windstar. It is soooo much better than the old Mighty Taurus. I will UPS you my hitch for a good deal. Let me know if you are interested.

 

MikeT

~SPONSOR~

Jan 17, 2001

4,095

11

• Nov 14, 2001

• #20

When towing with my Honda Accord, I have changed the tranny fluid to Mobil-1 Synthetic. I feel a lot better using that. You might want to try it to save your tranny. :D

 

penguin

~SPONSOR~

N. Texas SP

Feb 19, 2000

390

0

• Nov 15, 2001

• #21

to combat the clearance problem, see if they make airshocks for the Tuarus.

 

M

MikeJ

Member

Apr 15, 2000

39

0

• Dec 7, 2001

• #22

I'm using a '98 V6 Mustang to haul my bike to riding areas, only worry about the dirt roads. I'm using a folding trailer from Harbor Freight, saves space in the garage and can carry two bikes with gear easily.

 

M

motometal

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Sep 3, 2001

2,680

3

• Dec 17, 2001

• #23

I used to tow with a Formula (basically a Trans Am), it had the tuned port 350 and stiff springs and shocks. Plenty of power and didn't sag too much. Made a great tow vehicle. Actually, this one worked well in overdrive...it had so much torque, it wouldn't downshift even on hills. Maybe this was bad for the trany, not sure.

 

K

KXKen

Member

Jan 6, 2001

534

0

• Dec 19, 2001

• #24

Originally posted by MikeT
Guys, I tow a 4x8 trailer with all my gear and a YZ125 behind a 4 cyl. Honda Accord with 152,000 miles on it. The only thing I did was change the tranny fluid with synthetic Mobil1 just to be safe. Yes I can feel the weight, but currently it's the only choice I've got. It's been doing fine. If that Taurus has a 6cyl in it I'm gonna slap you! :p

Click to expand...

Your brave

 

MikeT

~SPONSOR~

Jan 17, 2001

4,095

11

• Dec 20, 2001

• #25

Originally posted by KXKen


Your brave

Click to expand...

No, I'm desperate...........to ride!