Good car to tow with

[rockin86ranger]

I am looking at getting a new vehicle since i would like to have something reliable to replace my 234,xxxmile taurus that has trans problems, and don't want to drive the Ranger all the time since it is a project and my crew cab uses about 2 quarts of oil every 60miles (damn chevys lol).

I dont mind using the other trucks for towing locally since i can always pull the home if I am in the area so i dont worry about them breaking down. The issue is the ranger is going to be 10hours away and i need to tow it back. So I am looking for cars with with a good tow rating, something that can handle towing a regular cab short bed 4cyl 2wd all manual truck (probably the lightest ranger they made) I will be most likely using a tow bar, maybe a tow dolly (not sure what the bar I have is rated for not sure if it will work). The trip would be mostly interstate with a couple of decent hills (but not worried about them) in the beggining, I would also have about 500lbs of extra stuff to bring back and 1 passenger maybe 2. The reason I want a car is so I can have something that get better than 10mpg for a daily driver.

My first though was a Crown Vic but they dropped the towing capacity to almost nothing in 95? the earlier ones are rated at 5000lbs i believe. I wouldn't mind a 92 (like the 1 year only front end, miss my old one) but would rather have the 98+ crown vic or town car but they aren't rated to handle that kind of weight and i dont want to risk a legality issue with being over rated towing capacity. I also heard that some grand marquis' are rated higher than crown vics of the same year (doesnt make any sense to me). The car I really want I can't find any of, I want the rare half year only 1992 Ford Crown Victoria Touring Sedan (used car place near me had one that i would have bought but it was sold before it hit there lot)

I was suprised to find out the Saab 9-5 has a tow capicity of 3500lbs but would be expensive to maintain so i was looking for suggestions on other cars that can handle the job safely and legally. I did consider a bronco II (just because i really miss my old one) but not sure about that short wheel base at interstate speeds. I did consider a fullsize truck but would like to get something that gets better mileage (i really like 87-91 suburbans with fuel injection, and the dealer near me has a 95 Z71 diesel. about the only chevys i reall like).

So what car would you suggest to tow my ranger 10hours home but still be a reliable and decent daily driver. Also what liabilities would I run into if I it with say a newer Mercury Maruader, I am not worried about handling it (drove plenty of farm trucks way over their rating) but if some idiot pulls out in front of me and i hit him or a cop gets a hankering to be a prick, just what kind of trouble would i be looking at.

 

[wildbill23c]

You'll probably find that the crown vic will be your best bet, you will need a full size car to do the job properly. As for your reasoning with the Grand Marquee having higher towing capacity that's true because the Mercury vehicles have generally always had heavier built frames than the Fords did so the towing capability will be higher with a mercury. Don't try towing with the newer cars though I don't think they have anything to attach a hitch to that would really handle any weight other than a bicycle carrier LOL.

 

[adsm08]

I saw a Corvette and a Mustang towing furniture and a Jetta towing 4-wheelers recently.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I am not worried about handling it (drove plenty of farm trucks way over their rating) but if some idiot pulls out in front of me and i hit him or a cop gets a hankering to be a prick, just what kind of trouble would i be looking at.

Same as anything else, they will find something wrong and sue you for everything you have and will have for some time to come.

It doesn't matter if you go buy a new one ton and trailer, they can and will find something to hang you on it.

For 10hrs I would beg, borrow or rent a truck, at least you may not catch as much flack as you drive that far. Make sure it is registered and rated to do it.

 

[rockin86ranger]

You'll probably find that the crown vic will be your best bet, you will need a full size car to do the job properly. As for your reasoning with the Grand Marquee having higher towing capacity that's true because the Mercury vehicles have generally always had heavier built frames than the Fords did so the towing capability will be higher with a mercury. Don't try towing with the newer cars though I don't think they have anything to attach a hitch to that would really handle any weight other than a bicycle carrier LOL.

Well the Grand Marquis and Crown Vic have identical frames and running gear, as well as most body parts and interior parts. And all crown vics are full frame cars so there is no worry about mounting anything to them.

Same as anything else, they will find something wrong and sue you for everything you have and will have for some time to come.

It doesn't matter if you go buy a new one ton and trailer, they can and will find something to hang you on it.

For 10hrs I would beg, borrow or rent a truck, at least you may not catch as much flack as you drive that far. Make sure it is registered and rated to do it.

I could borrow a truck but most people would want to do the towing and i dont trust anyone else to tow my stuff, or trust my life to someone elses towing. The one truck i could borrow to drive has bad bushings in the steering collumn and sucks to drive more than 40miles. Also renting a truck is out of the question since I am 20 and most places won't do it and those that will want way to much. The crown vic should be plenty safe to tow with, it is rated at 5000lbs and I should only need about 3500max, the crown vic also weighs about the same as a reg cab F150 of the same year and has decent brakes.

 

[wildbill23c]

Well the Grand Marquis and Crown Vic have identical frames and running gear, as well as most body parts and interior parts. And all crown vics are full frame cars so there is no worry about mounting anything to them.



I could borrow a truck but most people would want to do the towing and i dont trust anyone else to tow my stuff, or trust my life to someone elses towing. The one truck i could borrow to drive has bad bushings in the steering collumn and sucks to drive more than 40miles. Also renting a truck is out of the question since I am 20 and most places won't do it and those that will want way to much. The crown vic should be plenty safe to tow with, it is rated at 5000lbs and I should only need about 3500max, the crown vic also weighs about the same as a reg cab F150 of the same year and has decent brakes.

I knew they had full frames, but heard a few years ago that the mercury vehicles had heavier frames, maybe that was many years ago they did, but I'd look for a full size car. I know quite a few people that own Crown Vic's and they love them and they get pretty descent fuel economy on the highway even having a V8 in them.