I have a 1999 ford f150, 4.2L, regular cab, auto. And I would like to know if I can tow my friends 1991 mustang that wieghs approximately 3100 pounds on a trailer that weighs 2000 pounds. Do you think if i buy a class 3 hitch that i would be able to tow his mustang?

Thanks
Ricky

 

You will be slightly over rated max but you should be okay for a one time tow for a reasonably short distance. Be careful and lock out the overdrive. What kind of brakes does the trailer have?

I think I'd rather dolly the thing instead of using a 2000# trailer.

 

Well it would be about a 100 mile trip one way. The trailer is a rental from u-haul, so im not sure if it has breaks. If I were to use a dolly would it be okay to put a mustang on the dolly, even though the mustang is rear wheel drive??
Thanks a lot,
Ricky

 

It would be possible but I would be hesitant to do it as you're engine simply isn't designed to pull that kind of weight. I wouldn't even consider it without brakes of some kind, surge brakes at a minimum, electric preferrably. A truck being able to tow something when the situation is perfect isn't the question. Can it handle it when things aren't going well is the question....

 

U-haul trailers have surge brakes so all you need is a 4 pin wiring connector. If you dolly it (which is half the rental cost and easier on your truck) you will have to pull the driveshaft unless it has a manual tranny.

Even with the trailer, you will be okay for a 100 mile tow. Don't diss the little old V6, it's got the power to pull it.

 

I believe if he has the 3.55 gears his truck is rated at 5,600 lbs. max towing. With 3.08 or 3.31 gears it would be lower.

FWIW, I towed a '67 Mustang on a 600 lb. U-Haul tow dolly for 260 miles, w/one decent grade. The 'stang and my bed were loaded with tools and spares. Driveshaft was disconnected on the '67. This was with my '99 4.2 Super Cab (weighs more than the OP's standard cab) and 3.55 gears. It towed it easily and I absolutely would not hesitate to do it again if needed. It was able to hold OD on level ground.

The only hassle was with U-haul - the dolly I reserved was nowhere to be found at the place I needed it to be, and I had to call all over before I found one, and wasted about 4 hours. Their online reservation system is a JOKE and the customer service at the U-haul places I called and visited stunk. If you reserved the trailer online, I would not trust that it will be there.

 

If I put the mustang on the dolly. Will it be bad for the mustang? Will it put miles on the mustang? Does it matter that the mustang is a rear wheel drive car? What would be the best way for me to tow this car?
Thanks a lot to all you guys for your answers, I greatly appreciate it.
Ricky

 

Ricky, is the Mustang an automatic or a stick? If it's an automatic, to dolly it, you have to pull the driveshaft. If it's a stick, I don't think you have to, but if the speedo gear is in the tailshaft it WILL put miles on it if you don't pull the driveshaft or disconnect the speedo cable. Post the axle code from your truck door sticker, please.

3.31's are good to 4800#, 3.55's are good to 5800#. Either way, you should be okay with a class 3 hitch. You would be a bit over with 3.31's and the trailer, but if you lock out OD and drive reasonably (60 mph or so) you shouldn't have a problem.

 

I towed a RWD manual trans car in neutral 800 miles on a U-haul dolly with no problems to the car. 100 miles, no problem. Automatic, pull the drifeshaft, or get the full trailer. Around me, the traielr is only $10/day more.

 

Hey guys hows it going? glc, the mustang is stick, 5.0 V8. On my door I found where it says axle and under it, it says H9. Would that be the axle code?? If not where exactly can I find it, and how many digits is it? And how do I know if my truck is 3.31's or 3.55's?
Thanks a lot,
Ricky

 

If it's a stick, dolly it and pull the speedo cable if it goes to the tailshaft - or just let it rack up the miles.

You have 3.55's.

 

Ok well thanks a lot. glc if i need to ask you a question in the future, how can I?

 

I'm not the expert here, I'm simply expressing opinions based on what I do know. I'd recommend you just keep posting in the forums to get your questions answered. There are a lot of members here who know a lot more than I do.

 

Okay, thanks to all.

 

According to the link below, H9 is a 3.55 limited slip.
http://www.fordf150.net/howto/decode.php