tow vehicle question |
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Retroactive
Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Bolton, MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
Topic: tow vehicle question Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 1:03pm |
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Does your Turbo have a boost gauge? If it does keep a close eye on it, so you know how often and long it kicks in. If you don't have a boost gauge, most 4-Cyl engines kick in after 2k rpm. If you are spending more time in boost mode than not, and I assume like most Turbos requires premium octane gas, you probably are actually burning more dollar for dollar than a low octane V-6. Either way, change your oil religiously every 3k and use synthetic; I went with the factory 7k and stock oil, but the thing blew out at 13k miles. While I drove very "sporty", I never towed or loaded the thing in any way. It was under warranty, and the dealer sheepishly admitted it was one of the few engines that should call out 3k in the manual because the engine runs too hot. It was the only turbo I ever owned, and for a dozen reasons never will again. Why am I saying all this? My CX-7 was simply a 2.3L sport tuned Japanese built version of the Escape, they shared many common parts, because Mazda was in partnership with Ford up until the market crash.
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 12:42pm | |
I think the reason you won't find Challenger SRT's pulling campers is more due to the frame not being able to take the stress.
I believe I said above that both are important. Horsepower without adequate torque means no towing as one would not be able to get started. Torque without horsepower means one would go at a snail's pace, but be able to haul a lot. Having both means being able to start and also able to get to and maintain highway speeds. It does not take 700 hp or 1,850 lb/ft torque to tow an R-Pod at 60 mpg. As long as one has adequate amounts of both, one can tow an R-Pod quite nicely. My Escape can do that. I would not go with anything less though. The turbocharged 2L engine is adequate. I have not tested it on really hard climbs though. This summer should prove more a challenge as we will be going through some of the more mountainous sections of the northeast. The northwest will have to wait a bit. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Mountainrev
Senior Member Joined: 22 Jul 2014 Location: Eagle, Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 193 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 11:44am | |
To bolster your argument about the importance of torque over and against horsepower in towing, consider that a modern Detroit Diesel engine used in a semi tractor is capable of towing up to 80,000 lbs., yet puts out only 560 horsepower (for comparison, a Dodge Challenger with the Hellcat engine puts out over 700 horsepower). But it achieves an astonishing 1,850 lb/ft torque. That's why you won't find too many Challenger SRT's pulling campers. |
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2014 177
2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Turbodiesel "I lift my eyes to the hills." |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 9:18am | |
See the chart on page 18 of Ford's towing guide for the 2006 model year:
http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/2006RVguideApr08.pdf If I am reading it correctly, your Ranger has a towing limit of 5580 lbs or 5300 lbs with FX4 Level II. It SHOULD be adequate. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Retroactive
Senior Member Joined: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Bolton, MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 270 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 9:11am | |
While we are on the subject: any recommendations on a self powered trailer dolly, to get the pod towed for about 25 feet into a flat paved driveway?
There is a slim chance we won't be able to use the pod the way we hoped at the cottage. By backing the pod in with the truck, I am afraid there will not be enough room to easily walk between the cottage and the pod. The other side of the driveway has a nice large grassy area, which is 100% more preferable for the exit side of the pod. My FiL will have no problem letting me store the dolly at the cottage, so portability is not an issue. The 171 is ~3,200 fully loaded, and the driveway is flat, so I think I can get away with whatever the cheapest model dolly is that can pull that weight. EDIT: I found the Trailer Valet 5X, which is rated to 5,000Lbs, and has some hand crank mechanism that allows to to propel it slowly. Has anyone used something like this product? https://www.trailervalet.com/shop/trailer-valet-trailer-dolly/
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Patriot Dave
Senior Member Joined: 06 Feb 2016 Location: LaSalle, Mi. 48 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 9:07am | |
Thanks for the reply. Well at least i know what to expect. I will be looking at possible replacements and choose something by the end of summer. The Ranger has 145,000 on it so It will be time anyway. |
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Dave & Joyce
Never Forget, In God We Trust; This Our National Motto. Member; Patriot Guard Riders, Michigan Chapter Retired; So Every Day is Saturday.... Except Sunday |
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Patriot Dave
Senior Member Joined: 06 Feb 2016 Location: LaSalle, Mi. 48 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 9:04am | |
Thanks for the reply. The Ranger has 145,000 miles on it and is in great shape (I take good care of my vehicles) however with that said, I will start thinking and looking at possible replacement vehicles. Hope to get through this summer with the current setup. By the end of summer I should have a good idea as to what I will need. Have a Great Day. |
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Dave & Joyce
Never Forget, In God We Trust; This Our National Motto. Member; Patriot Guard Riders, Michigan Chapter Retired; So Every Day is Saturday.... Except Sunday |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 7:36am | |
I would say just adequate on relatively flat low altitude terrain. Don't tow in the highest or overdrive gear. Mountains will be a challenge, but you will just have to be content with slow ascents. As Dave said, it can be done, but you'll want something better when the budget allows. |
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 7:18am | |
When it comes to tow vehicles: There is what is possible and There is what I would recommend The two are very different animals. It is possible to tow a Pod with a lawn tractor. When I bought my Pod, my TV was a 185hp GMC Canyon. I towed my Pod from central Indiana to the Rocky Mountains and back with it. It is possible to tow with a vehicle like that. However, would I recommend it? HELL NO! I got something more powerful as soon as I possibly could. I'm guessing what you have can be made to work. I'll go out on a limb and speculate that you will want something with a little more "umph". |
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Patriot Dave
Senior Member Joined: 06 Feb 2016 Location: LaSalle, Mi. 48 Online Status: Offline Posts: 206 |
Posted: 23 Mar 2016 at 5:34am | |
We will be picking up our new Rpod soon and for a Tow Vehicle, I currently own a 2006 Ford Ranger 4.0 V6, 4x4 Super Cab with a factory tow package.
Trying to locate the specs on Google it looks like my truck is at 207hp @ 5250rpm's, and torque is 238 @ 3000rpm. After reading all of the many posts here it seems I am going to be just adequate? Any and all comments are welcome. Thanks |
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Dave & Joyce
Never Forget, In God We Trust; This Our National Motto. Member; Patriot Guard Riders, Michigan Chapter Retired; So Every Day is Saturday.... Except Sunday |
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