Towing with a foxbody? + Ranger diet

[rockin86ranger]

looking at getting a 1992? mustang convertible with a 2.3l auto. I plan on doing either a 5.0l or 2.3t upgrade to it after awhile. My question is how much can i tow with it i know its not a truck but its gonna be my dd for now. I have found a hitch that is rated for towing 2000lbs. how will the mustang handle this.

I plan on pulling a 1991 ranger 2.3l with it. that i am goin to strip down to as light as possible for a mega budget drag truck. The strip im going to allows you to race almost anything(no safety inspections), so i am going to pull the bed off it and shorten the frame as much as possible and chop off the back part of the frame, remove the hood fenders and all glass but the windshield (maybe plexiglass it) Strip the interior and put in a bucket seat. remove all the dash that isnt needed and completely strip the doors. Anything that isnt needed is going to be removed. Is all this weight reduction enough to to make it light enough to tow behind the mustang, and what kinda of times do you think it will run in the 1/8 mile. it will be about 30miles one way every sunday, the speed limit is 55 and i will porbably be using a towbar

I dont want any just buy a truck answers or crap like that i am just curious if it can be done.

 

[Mac]

All I could find right quick was for the '05' and newer. They are all listed at 1000 lbs max, regardless of trans or gear ratio. Even the later Ranger with a 2.3L and auto is only rated to pull 1025 lbs. I guess you could pull the stripped down truck but would think you'd be way above what might be the legal limit.
Dave

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

No.

You won't have either the power or the brakes. If the towee is heavier than the tower, it is best to have brakes... which you can't do with a towbar. A trailer would put it way over the top.

I know you said you don't want to hear it, but either get a truck or keep the Ranger street legal.

 

[Mac]

Well like I said, the'05' Mustang GT w/4 wheel disc brakes is only rated to tow 1000 lbs. Must have enough power to go and whoo so I would bet it's all due to the uni-body frame, just not enough beef to pull. The weight on the later ones run approx 3500 lbs.
Dave

 

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

i will guarantee that you can do it, i bet as long as there are no hills or curves you could even tow at a good 60mph or more
but you will be on nerves end the entire way trying to keep up with traffic and approaching stops very slowly so you dont jackknife it.

if this was a move that needed to be done one time or like once a year, than id say go for it. theres no sense in spending alot of money for a vehicle to tow with every once in a blue moon.
but to make it your regular tow vehicle is completely impractical and not very safe, mostly due to the reliability with your brakes and tranny. you can always get better aftermarket brakes, but it wont take long before your tranny begins to slip.