Im gonna be pulling my roomate's Trans Am from Waco to Dallas tomorrw (about a 2 hour trip normally)

My questions are can i safetly pull it with my truck, as far as engine and trans go? I have the side radiator trans cooler only. I will be putting stock shackles in, and adjusting pinion angle... I also plan to stop about halfway and let the truck cool down for 30 minutes or so. I also am planning on speeds 60-65.

Also my biggest question is can i get away with only using a bumper mounted ball?

This is what Uhaul says on their website. when i fill it out as a Class II hitch 2000-3500#
They claim the trailer weighs 2000 pounds empty, plus the car should put me about 5500 pounds

2003, 4.6, 3.55 open, 43,000miles

 

You should be just fine as long as you install a Class III Hitch! I personally would never tow a car without one. Being that you have a 4.6 you will not be setting any speed records, that is for sure, just be sure to check all your fluids & you should be just fine! You should see the old wrecks that tow race cars to the local track in my area, some travel great distances with those things & they make it................

 

So, Patrick, you will be the one holding up traffic on I-35 if you go 65. Seriously, I think i would consider going up through back roads to avoid I-35. Maybe Corsicana.

 

Well actually ive pulled a car on a car dolly, where most of the weight was off the tongue of the trailer with no problems, about 40 miles, but this is a longer trip, a slightly heavier car, and a fullsize trailer.

We were trying to avoid putting a hitch on that i will only use once

And blue dont worry, i would stay in the right lane if im on 35

 

I have a 06 with the 4.6 and 3.55 gears and towed a v-6 camero from College station to Katy. Honestly it will be a total breeze. The car is so low it sits below the top of the truck so the wind really doesnt drag much at all on the car. If you are familiar with the trip to college station it has a few rolling hills, none of them were a problem even in OD doing 75. Infact while it wasnt the lightest thing I towed it was by far the easiest. The load caught hardly any of the side wind and the car balances well on a trailer. Hell I even got 15 mpg and I believe the trans kicked down to 3rd maybe 3 times the entire trip. Dont even worry about stopping to let it cool off, plenty of air will be hitting that radiator at 65 mph. Honestly the 4.6 likes to rev a bit. Leaving it in OD and doing 70-75 will not be a problem. Just gain a little speed before the hills and carry speed down one hill into the next to avoid the trans working too hard and hunting for gears

Oh yeah and do not try it with the bumper mounted ball! That will be very unsafe, a hitch can be had for $150-200 and for the peace of mind alone that is worth it. If your destination was closer I would even run it there for ya, but your a bit away from my neck of the woods

 

I am most worried about the trans. And a Class III hitch requires drillling right? Not that im worried about drilling the frame, but i dont have the tools to do it myself

 

Naa the frames are predrilled. Just dont get a "universal fit" Get one specificially designed for the model and year f-150 you have

 

ahh okay cool, thats good news, that means i dont have to pay to have someone install it...

 

Hey patrick, if you had the Edge, you could monitor the engine temp, the air temp, oil temp, and the tranny temp, all at the same time!

 

Pat, your bumper is only rated for 500/5000. Now, if it were up to me, towing would ONLY be done with a proper hitch. Spending $150 (if that) on a hitch will be much cheaper than paying for an accident or a new bumper. Bumpers can and will bend from a trailer that is too heavy. I installed the Ford class IV hitch on my F-250 in about 20 minutes by myself. Your truck will pull the load just fine, although it will be slow and you will know it is back there. Go slow, take your time, etc etc. Uhaul trailers already have surge brakes, so no need for a brake controller. And you n00b, there is a special section for questions like this...

Edge doesn't do tranny temp on the 97-03 models...

 

Yeah uhaul's website sells a Class III for 149.99 i think im gonna go hit up wally world if i cant find someone with a hitch i can borrow.
-Patrick

 

Try the dealership. You might be suprised. Or call a few junkyards.

 

I just called my buddy that has a body shop. and most of the junk yards would charge me 100 bucks round here

My other roomates seems to think that Uhaul might rent out hitches, but their website doesnt suggest that they do.

Worst comes to worst i will just ahhemm "borrow" a hitch off an f150 here at my apt complex

 

What are you doing about lights?

 

All the 150s come prewired with 4 pin wiring...