Towing an old car question.

[TigerTownRanger]

I apologize if this has been posted before, if it is I'll lurk some more.

Anyways, I have plenty experience with trucks, but not really with towing. My last car was a Honda Prelude. Loved it but a guy who had a few screws loose messed with the lug nuts intentionally causing the wheel to fly off when I was driving. Totally wrecked the frame and front suspension. So I got the Ranger! He was trying to hurt me but in the long run he did me a favor getting rid of that POS Honda for me, insurance gave me a check so the Ranger was dirt cheap to buy

Anyways, the Prelude is sitting at my house and I'm taking it to a junkyard soon. I have a trailer I can borrow that I'm going to put the Prelude on to haul it out.

I'm just wondering if my Ranger is capable of towing it, or if I'll have to enlist one of my buddies to tow it for me.

My truck is a 2000 Ranger XLT. 3.0 V6, 5-speed with an aftermarket clutch (rated for "stage 2" supposedly). Its riding on 35" TA KOs and is also re-geared to 4.88s.
The Prelude weighs 2,260 lbs and the trailer is probably around 1,500-2,000 lbs.

I'm worried that this is just a bit more than my Ranger is capable of, I've heard the 3.0 is a bit sluggish already and I fear trying to tow this load would be too much for it to handle and burn up my clutch.

What advice do you guys have about it?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Just call the bone yard they will pick it up as long as you have the title. They might even throw you a few bucks?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I kinda agree with K, as the price of scrap is down and it could be saving you time and effort to let someone else do it. However, if it was my truck, I wouldn't have a problem towing what you describe for a short distance. Just don't slip the clutch when starting, that's where the damage comes from.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Take it easy with the clutch and you should be fine.

If you could rent a dolly you would lose a lot of weight (if the car can roll and be reliably strapped down by the front wheels)

 

[TigerTownRanger]

Alright guys, I'll ask the place what they could do for towing it out. They are offering 500 for it, I don't want to let it go for much less since I need the $$ but I will look into it. The shop is a good 20 miles away, would it be safe to tow it this far?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

You should be just fine keep your foot off of the clutch. when not shifting keep your left foot on the floorboard.

 

[pjtoledo]

20 miles of what?
those 35s might be OK getting you going with 4.88 gears, but with that much weight don't plan on stopping because you won't be able to.

Perry

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

^^^ Good point. I wouldn't use a trailer without brakes on both axles. And don't use a single axle trailer. So now you have to make sure you have the wiring to support trailer brakes, which can cost. I just spent $170 upgrading the wiring on my f150 to tow trailers with brakes.

 

[don4331]

alwaysFlOoRed:

What do you have against surge brakes and/or tow dollies? I'm not against electric brakes - they are better when you are towing regularly, but:

Surge brakes don't require any upgrades to the towing vehicle, so ok for the occasional trip to lake with boat/dead vehicle to recycler...

For something a light as a Prelude, a U-Haul tow dolly (which has surge brakes) is a legitimate way for a Ranger to get rid of the dead vehicle.

p.s. Trailer brake requirements coast to coast to coast. http://www.towshop.com/trailer_supplemental_braking_laws.htm 2008 version - Manitoba, I know has implemented requirement of brakes on all trailers over 907kg (2,000lbs) gross

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have nothing against them. They aren't at the forefront of my brain because I've never used them. I've read they are a good alternative.
Edit; Great link, bookmarked, thanks.

Sent from my XT1032

 

[Kayakcrazy]

Just take your time and you should be fine. Give yourself plenty of room to stop and don't get in a hurry.

If they will come get it though I would let them