Towing a DSM

blageo23 · 01-05-2006

What kind of Truck would be ok to trailer a DSM(95 TSI AWD)? about 350 miles. My dad has a 04 F150. Would that have the power to haul it? the trailer is about 2000LBS and the cars curb wieght is about 3200.

AJ · 01-05-2006

What is the engie in the Ford? I've used my old 98 Dodge Dakota with a 5.2L v8 to tow several times and I'd tow the same with my Jeep which is the same motor. A tranny cooler would be a good thing, as well as good brakes.

Black97civic · 01-05-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSMStyle

What is the engie in the Ford? I've used my old 98 Dodge Dakota with a 5.2L v8 to tow several times and I'd tow the same with my Jeep which is the same motor. A tranny cooler would be a good thing, as well as good brakes.

Also, does the trailer have brakes?? That is also a very important factor.

blageo23 · 01-05-2006

The trailer I was gonna rent from Uhaul(http://www.uhaul.com/guide/?equipment=autotransport).It says it has hydrolic surge brakes. Its got a 5.4 V8. This is the specs on edmunds I found.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2004/for...199/specs.html

carltalon · 01-05-2006

That truck should handle it. Its kinda a heavy load for a 1/2 ton. It'll probly be squatting pretty good. The 5.4 has plenty of power. Surge breaks are kinda gay but they get the job done

TheBlizzard · 01-05-2006

Don't the newer fords come with airbags?

EclipseGST · 01-05-2006

Shit... If my 91 4cyl S-10 can pull a 95 AWD talon on a u-haul trailer 250 miles, that F150 should have no problem!!!

Its kinda a blurry and dark pic but you get the point.

**Kracka** · 01-05-2006

Is this Chris Loiselle's car?

CarPsyco84 · 01-05-2006

my buddy pulled my dsm and a 91 VW corrado VR-6 on a trailer... rolling weight around 6500-7000lbs, he had 35" tires on his 00' silverado 1500 with the 5.3L... course the rear end started clunking halfway home.... but it made it.... tore the 10 bolt rear a new asshole... other than that it was fine... so on a ford... you should be okay, not such a shitty rear end...

tim · 01-06-2006

It will have plenty of power but the suspension/brakes might lack. I towed my Laser home on a trailer that weighed about 2300lbs with a 3/4 ton Chevy 350. It had plenty of power but the suspension/brakes is what made it truley capable for the job. With the 1 ton front and rear brakes I didnt even use trailer brakes, I could hardly tell the trailer was there.

Just make sure you have the car centered properly and the tires properly inflated. The stock p-metric tires on a half ton will be damn near maxed with the tongue weight of the loaded trailer.

Kevin90GSX · 01-06-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by blageo23

The trailer I was gonna rent from Uhaul(http://www.uhaul.com/guide/?equipment=autotransport).It says it has hydrolic surge brakes. Its got a 5.4 V8. This is the specs on edmunds I found.
http://www.edmunds.com/used/2004/for...199/specs.html

Well obviously from my sig you can see I use a 97 Chevy Tahoe 1500. I haven trailored a few cars and even took it to the shootout in OH which is quite a ride from CT.

As for the brakes just remember that the Ford you would be using needs to have a brake controller in it. Also needs to have the round plug. Basically make sure that tha harness on the truck is ready to go with a controller otherwise it does not matter what kind of brakes the trailer has you will not be able to use them.

**JET** · 01-06-2006

If the trailer has surge brakes there is no controller needed. You are thinking electric brakes. That truck will haul that no sweat. I have pulled a DSM on a trailer with a 97 Explorer with a 5.0 in it. It pulled pretty good, but I wish the sidewalls on the tires weren't so tall. It caused some swaying. Just make sure you get enough tongue weight on the trailer. The truck should be squatting some.

EclipseGST · 01-06-2006

HAHA... That made me think of a moron that came to menards back a couple years. Driving a early 90's 1500 Chevy truck. Picked up 2 pallets of shingles. We loaded them on his trailer with our forklifts and he tolds us to put them all the way to the front cause he needed to get some block. So we load them up as directed figuring he was going to even out the weight with the block he had to get. He goes to drive over to the block in the lumber yard and hits the gas, the front end of his truck lifts right off the ground and he goes nowhere. Trailer bottoms the rear end out on his truck and we almost died laughing!!! He spent 1/2hr reloading the shingles over the axles on the trailer.

Just a reminder, dont put too much weight on the tongue! Some people just dont get it!

**Goat Blower** · 01-06-2006

That truck will do it no sweat. I had an '03 Expedition with the 5.4 and it had no problem whatsoever. I've never yet used the trailer brakes with any tow rig and have never had a problem. Just remember that it takes twice as far to stop as normal. I also turn off the overdrive around town, but turn it back on once I'm just cruising on the freeway if the tow rig isn't a total piece of shit.

blageo23 · 01-06-2006

Thanks for the info guys. I went to the uhaul site and they said I would have to go there and get the truck inspected to see if it would work.