Hauling a classic car

[Zeisan]

Depending on how things go between my fiance and her dad I may be needing to haul her 1965 mustang from wyoming to tennessee. I've got a 2003 Ranger with 2.3l, 5spd sitting on 235/75R15s. What I'm wondering is the best way to do it? I know a trailer would be too heavy for my unmodified truck. I was thinking a tow bar would be best, but would I be able to stop well. The better thing would be a bigger truck and a trailer, but I don't have one. What do you guys think?

Thanks for your opinions.

 

[racsan]

is it drivable? id think id drive it before dragging it that kind of distance with a ranger, its going to be hard on the truck and if you have to panic stop, your in trouble. if you had access to another truck, like a 3/4 ton, id say trailer it. not a big fan of 2 wheel dollys for long distance, there great for short distance or behind a rv. whats your differential gearing in the ranger? a 4cyl 2wd at best came with 3.73's, 235's are a pretty sizeable tire for a 2.3 to deal with, the mustang weighs what, about 3,000-4,000 pounds? with the decreased gas milage you'll be getting & the potential for danger, id take both the ranger & mustang, 2 drivers, extra tools and just drive both. unless you could borrow a bigger truck with a trailer.

 

[88_Eddie]

screw moving it, i'd move myself from TN to WY and just live there

 

[shane96ranger]

Please don't hail it, that will dent it. I'd hate to see a 65 get messed up.

 

[armadillon]

I passed over this thread three times because I didn't feel like praising a vehicle along with the other cult members.

Agree with what was said above, I towed a trailer with 3 motorcycles with my S-15 Jimmy with a 4.3 and braking was a PAIN. Had a few too many scary situations and I was only going 400miles. That's the equiv of a towing a mustang I'd say, maybe even less. I know it's not the same vehicle, but tow with bigger if you can.

 

[Zeisan]

The mustang is drivable, but because of a sticky shifter, exhaust leak and gearing long drives aren't very economical. Curb weight is 2500-2800 depending on equipment, so about 3000lbs.

We moved to TN from WY for her kids, left the car with her dad back there and now he's been harping on her to let him sell it. He's got plenty of other cars he could still, but he's a bit of a hoarder and doesn't wanna sell his stuff. I also wanna get to finish the restoration on it.

I just noticed my spelling error, auto type sucks sometimes. Its a sweet machine, PO put a 302 with an edelbrock intake and carb in it, has an awesome exhaust note to it, and a hood scoop which looks pretty good minus the brushed on paint job.

The problem with getting another truck is money, can't afford to rent and my family lives in WY.

So far its just a thought, if it actually happens I'm sure my family will help me out.

 

[racsan]

getting stopped will be your first biuggest worry, your second will be climbing any hills with a 2.3 & a extra 3,000 pounds. my old '88 with a 2.3 had to be downshifted to 3rd to maintain 50 mph on some long upgrades in ohio before, and it was just the empty truck.

 

[Ozwynn]

dude, you will need to rent a truck, or barrow a truck. Your 2.3 Ranger is not up to it.

 

[Zeisan]

I kinda figured that BDAB, I'd love to beef up my ranger to be able to but I don't have the money for that.

 

[Ozwynn]

to be honest with ya ...... a trip that long flat towing a car ....... a Ranger just isn't up to it. A Ranger does not have the weight...... it would even be sketchy with an F-150, I would be nervousness flat towing a 65 Mustang with my dually, but with an F-150 you can haul it on a trailer.

Rent a Uhaul and pull the mustang up inside it, that would be the cheapest way for YOU to do it.

I bet you could get it shipped for just a little more that what you would spend on fuel to drive there, buy a tow bar, and tow it back.

try Uship.... that would be the cheapest/best way for you to do it.

a few years ago, I was quoted $1300 to ship a 6100 pound Expedition from Bozeman MT to Berrien Springs MI ..... thats 1300 miles at twice the weight.

 

[Zeisan]

An F150 or similar truck would do it just fine with a trailer. I had a 98 F150 that I hauled my brothers 84 camaro about 500 mi with and I barely noticed it was back there. I'll figure something out if and when it comes.

 

[AllanD]

With a 4.0 Ranger supercab I'd do that tow without a second thought... With a dolly.

I prefer a dolly, because it means I don't need to drag an extra 1500-1800lbs of trailer up and down hills.

then again my Dolly has electric brakes

Depending WHERE in Wyoming you are starting out...

West of the continental divide? you need a bigger truck.
Cheyenne? going south on I-25 or east on I-80 isn't too bad.

Starting out of Casper? I'd head out US26 through Torrington, WY and Scottsbluff, NE to
avoid the big hills north of Cheyenne and (eventually) pick up I-80 in Oglalla, NE

Then I-80 east to I-29 down to I-70 then further east across MO.

Basically avoiding any hills you can...

Depending on your start point and your end point it might be an easy tow.
as cruising at highway speed isn't particularly demanding on powertrain.

Particularly on an eastbound tow across that routing, where you could practically
make the run by installing a mast on your tow vehicle and hoisting a spinnaker
(or Genoa)

I-80 eastbound across Nebraska is both downhill and downwind.

 

[Ozwynn]

An F150 or similar truck would do it just fine with a trailer. I had a 98 F150 that I hauled my brothers 84 camaro about 500 mi with and I barely noticed it was back there. I'll figure something out if and when it comes.

I know an F-150 with a trailer would do it no problem .... he is talking about flat towing 3000 pounds of car with no trailer breaks and no tongue weight. atleast a dolly would have tongue weight.......

 

[Zeisan]

It would be starting out of Cheyenne. I'm gonna search and see what it would cost to get my suspension and brakes up to the job and maybe think about a turbo or something. You sure know a fair bit about WY and NE Allan.

Also I don't wanna hear about an engine swap unless you've got an engine to donate. I've got a v6, but its a carbed buick.

 

[Jraymer360]

It would be starting out of Cheyenne. I'm gonna search and see what it would cost to get my suspension and brakes up to the job and maybe think about a turbo or something. You sure know a fair bit about WY and NE Allan.

Also I don't wanna hear about an engine swap unless you've got an engine to donate. I've got a v6, but its a carbed buick.

a 4.0 swap is cheaper than turbo'in your 2.3...most likely.