| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 643.1 | Mountain pass king | DECWET::HELSEL | Legitimate sporting purpose | Fri Apr 06 1990 16:52 | 6 |
| I think the grand high SEARAY:: wizard can share some stories about
towing over hill and dale with a Bronco II.
What about it California Dude?
/brett
|
| 643.2 | The info is in here...somewhere. | 18031::OKERHOLM_PAU | | Mon Apr 09 1990 07:27 | 6 |
| Chris,
There are lots of notes in here about towing. I'd suggest a little
research.
Regards,
Paul
|
| 643.3 | | BRAT::KOSKI | This NOTE's for...someone else | Mon Apr 09 1990 12:30 | 20 |
| POINTER to TRAILER keyworded notes:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PowerBoats
Created: 12-MAY-1988 10:19 643 topics Updated: 9-APR-1990 06:27
-< For Sale/Wanted ads in note #3 - Sign in note #2 >-
Topic Author Date Repl Title
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 13-MAY-1988 2 Hitches
7 ENUF::GASSMAN 16-MAY-1988 67 Trailering the boat
25 SAURUS::GROUT 2-JUN-1988 6 Bunk vs Roller Trailer
48 SCOMAN::CAPALDI 15-JUN-1988 15 Will volvo tow 3000lb+ checkmate? What will?
55 BAGELS::MONDOU 22-JUN-1988 6 Trailer Repair Info
56 PLDVAX::MBREAULT 23-JUN-1988 28 TRAILER BRAKES
164 NWACES::HEINSELMAN 26-SEP-1988 18 How do you replace bunks on a trailer boat trailer?
223 HAZEL::GARNER 19-DEC-1988 2 Jackstands For Trailer
314 ARCHER::SUTER 21-MAR-1989 23 Mass Trailer Registration
339 PACKER::GIBSON 13-APR-1989 5 Winter Boat Hauling
371 BTOVT::JPETERS 11-MAY-1989 8 Proper grease for trailer wheel bearings?
398 CGVAX2::CLARK_J 6-JUN-1989 17 bearing buddies are your friends
|
| 643.4 | I forgot to ask... | SEARAY::EAST | | Tue Apr 10 1990 15:14 | 25 |
| I used an '84 4wd Bronco II to pull a 17' Reinell tri-hull for a year. My
memory is a little foggy (after pounding 'round in a tri-hull on Lake
Washington, you're memory would be, too!), but I think the boat weighed in
at around 2K lb, and the trailer was like 600. We towed that beast over much
of Washington state (including over 3K foot mountain passes) for the year.
Sometimes we had to be satisfied with climbing in 3rd gear.
I forgot to ask Ford if it was supported, so I just did it.
It worked OK. I used the low 4wd for going up ramps and ticklish backing
situations into my driveway (had a nasty right-angle turn to make on gravel).
You'd smell a fair amount of clutch occasionally...which is why Ford says to
get an automatic transmission for towing.
I suspect, without knowing, that I didn't help the car any. But the problems
I recently had that led me to sell it had nothing to do with the transmission
or clutch (although I did have to replace the drive shaft U-joints.
Coincidence? Revenge?).
(Naturally, if you read this note, say "Ah Ha! It works!", go buy the boat,
and try it out...you'll be leaving Ford parts from here to New Hampshire and
back again! Your transmission will smoke, your clutch will burn, your tires
will pop! Or so Murphy claims...)
Jeff
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| 643.5 | Duck! It's a low blow! | CSOADM::HALL | | Wed Apr 11 1990 10:15 | 4 |
| My suggestion would be to put an engine oil cooler on and change
the oil at least every 3k miles (and filter) during your tow season.
Mike H
|
| 643.6 | Please tow within limits, for safety's sake! | QUILL::TAYLOR | I *hate* hot pink windshield wipers | Thu Apr 12 1990 13:52 | 20 |
| Sure, you can probably get the rig into motion, but a major
consideration toward towing capacity is the ability of the brakes to
control the load safely during stopping. Overload your brakes such as a
near-panic stop situation, and you'll probably "glaze" them and they
will be rendered in-effective for life, until they are replaced,
nevermind what is going to happen to whatever you're trying to stop
before hitting! In your case, you are approaching 25% more than your
rated load. I'd feel more comfortable with staying within the
recommended range. Trailer brakes would greatly relieve your truck's
system, but a larger capacity vehicle would be the real solution. Note
that many full-sized cars have a higher rating than that 2000# rating
your truck has. A standard 240-series Volvo car has 3500# rating with a
class-III hitch! A major concern would also go towards what over-towing
will do to your transmission, in particular, the automatic variety of
transmission. Without an external cooling system for the automatic
transmission, even towing the rated maximum load can have a severely
life-shortening effect on your transmission. With a manual, you are
dealing with killing a clutch when over-towing.
Mike
|
| 643.7 | Don't shoot the Bronco Yet! | MAIL::MEYERCR | | Mon Apr 16 1990 23:09 | 16 |
| Hi,
It is ironic but I own a 1988 Bronco II with a 2.9 EFI and 5 Speed.
I have pulled an 18 ft SeaRay which comes in at 2300 lbs. with trailer
for the last 2 seasons, the vehicle has 24,000 miles on it and so far
I can say it has been very responsive in all areas of concern.
I agree you should check your oil and brake pads regularly but you may
also do yourself a service and see if your Bronco came with the special
"super engine cooling tow package" as Ford puts it. This package was
thrown in on a number of Bronco II's that year. I might also add that
they also shipped with the rear anti-lock brake system that year. I
just found my sticker the other day.
Hope it helps!
Craig
|
| 643.8 | good news! | MIZZEN::DEMERS | | Tue Apr 17 1990 12:29 | 10 |
| Craig,
Nice to hear about your good experiences. I don't have the super cooling
but I plan on doing something, just to be safe. I called the Ford dealer
and he knew nothing about it (so what's new...). I'm certain about
a transmission cooler, but not sure about an oil cooler. Does the super
cooling package do both?
Does the 2300 include the trailer weight?
/C
|
| 643.9 | <re: good news> | MAIL::MEYERCR | | Tue Apr 17 1990 14:36 | 16 |
| Chris,
The 2300lbs does include trailer weight, I have the SEARAY Seville
1800 that has the 135hp outboard made by Mercury. It breaks down to
where the boat is around 1760lb. and the trailer around 550lb.
I am inclined to say that the "super engine cooling package" is
transmission specific.
If I can ask, what boat/boats are you considering to purchase? I
work in my spare time at a marina on weekends so I have a pretty fair
idea of what vehicles and boat packages are compatible.
Good Luck!
/Craig
|
| 643.10 | Tranny is cause of low tow rating | SALEM::NORCROSS_W | | Mon Jul 09 1990 13:29 | 19 |
| Chris, I believe that you will find that the low tow rating is
due to the manual transmission. My wife has a '87 Bronco II with
the 2.9 liter and overdrive auto tranny. I believe that it is rated
for 4000 lbs. I would assume then that the only difference between
the 2000 # rating you have and her's is due to the manual versus
auto tranny as they all come thru with ABS braking systems standard
(since '86?). I have a feeling that they may be on to something
regarding that manual (5 speed?) tranny. I have the 5 speed manual
tranny in my '83 Ford Ranger (2.8 liter, 4 wheel drive). It is
also rated to tow 2000#. I tow an old wooden Century ski boat (which
I estimate weighs about 2300 pounds with trailer) with the Ranger.
I had to replace the clutch and pressure plate last fall at 58,000
miles. I really haven't towed the boat that often but when I did
it was over pretty hilly roads. I'm going to start towing it with
my wife's Bronco next year.
By the way, I run Goodyear Wrangler P235's on both the Bronco II
and Ranger. They make a huge difference in the way the vehicles
hold the road as compared to the factory installed P215's.
Wayne
|