Towing a Vehicle Considerations

[2015owner2015]

I was wondering what the general feeling is regarding towing another car 1000+ miles using a UHaul car transport trailer and towing a car the size of a Nissan 350Z. Driving from NorCal to Tucson AZ.

The trailer weighs about 2250lbs and the 350Z weighs approximately in the low 3000lbs.

I have a 2015 XLT which I think is rated for well over this weight. But I will be traveling with 4 people plus a bit of cargo, not a ton, just some household items. (Moving my son to college).

Opinions?

 

[mr_dave]

Do you have the HD towing package? If so, it shouldn't be an issue at all assuming you're using a weight distribution hitch.

Here's the official towing guide for 2015: https://www.fleet.ford.com/content/...eet/towing-guides/Ford_Linc_15RVTTowGuide.pdf

 

[2015owner2015]

I don't know actually. I bought this in 2016 from CarMax with 22K on it. It's an unusual build for an XLT, with leather seats and a couple other extras usually for the higher trims. Fleet vehicle I believe.

It does have a tow hitch with hookups. Has a built in break controller and a trailer sensor and has a trailer section in the menus.

I have towed a ski boat to mountain lakes with no issues.

I'll have to check the sticker

 

[mr_dave]

If you have a factory round 7-pin trailer wire connector and factory brake controller you definitely have an HD towing package, which also includes a larger radiator and transmission cooler.

 

[2015owner2015]

That's interesting about the transmission cooler. Last Summer driving from Oregon back to Sacramento, climbing up to some passes really close to the border, it was 100F plus. My transmission temperature was hitting 206ish. I wasn't towing but had 4 people and carrying a lot of camping gear plus bikes. Transmission fluid had about 95K on it. Would you expect this when equiped with a trans cooler?

 

[justinp16ex]

That's interesting about the transmission cooler. Last Summer driving from Oregon back to Sacramento, climbing up to some passes really close to the border, it was 100F plus. My transmission temperature was hitting 106ish. I wasn't towing but had 4 people and carrying a lot of caping gear plus bikes. Transmission fluid had about 95K on it. Would you expect this when equiped with a trans cooler?

106ish or 206ish? 195+ is common.

 

[2015owner2015]

206, maybe a bit higher.

I did just change the trans fluids, flushed the coolant and changed the oil today.

 

[justinp16ex]

205, maybe a bit higher.

I did just change the trans fluids, flushed the coolant and changed the oil today.

Nothing to be concerned about with that temp. How did the fluid look?

 

[Yupster Dog]

using a UHaul car transport trailer

Call U-HAUL and ask about the car hauler behind the expy. I think they only allow it behind F250 or bigger.

 

[2015owner2015]

I had the dealership do it. I know, lame.

 

[2015owner2015]

As part of the registration process they ask for both the towing vehicle and the vehicle being towed. Their system approved my combination. The payload is around 5500lbs and the Expedition's towing capacity is 9100lbs, so sounds ok.

 

[2015owner2015]

I only have the standard hitch on the vehicle. Possibly the weight distribution aspect is part of the trailer?

 

[mr_dave]

The weight distribution hitch is something you can add and is what Ford means by "properly equipped" to get the 9k lbs rating. Without the weight distribution hitch it's only rated for 6k lbs. More info: https://www.etrailer.com/faq-weightdistribution.aspx

If your receiver still has the factory sticker it's listed on that. I'll attach mine.

 

[2015owner2015]

 

[2015owner2015]

I have the same. So I guess I'm good! Thanks for the info. The longer I have this truck, the more I appreciate them.

 

[Mark B]

I have used these towing vehicles behind my old 07 with tow package with no problem. I think they require a 2" ball. Uhaul has a calculator on their website for vehicle compatibility.

 

[2015owner2015]

Trip completed. No real problems with the 5500lbs tow.

One observation is on moderate grades at 65-70 MPH my transmission temperature spiked a couple times to 216F. Temperature would hover around 208 when I slowed to around 55 or so. I don't know what the grade was but this was heading east climbing up to Flagstaff, AZ on 40.

Im not sure how hot is too hot and I didn't want to push it.

This begs the questions what is the maximum advised sustained trans temperature, and also did I degrade my fresh fluid due to high temperature?

 

[mr_dave]

I recently answered the trans temp question here. https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/recommended-transmission-cooler.48468/#post-445448

Apparently these transmissions are designed to run hot.