We own a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis (VIN# 2MEFM75V27X641091) with the 4.6 liter V8 engine and a 4 speed transmission, I'm a electrician/mechanic by trade so I installed a aux. transmission cooler that is rated for 5,000#, a Tekonsha Prodigy Brake controller, a Valley receiver hitch (model# 82610) rated for 4,000# trailer weight/ 400# tongue weight (weight carrying) and 6,000# trailer weight/ 600# tongue weight (weight distributing), I also did all of the wiring on the car for the trailer lights with electrical brakes and I installed a module light kit that uses battery power to operate the trailer lights. We tow a 2008 Fleetwood Niagra folding camper (I haven't weighed the camper yet but it has a 3,970# GVWR) with the car without any problems (we utilize a friction sway control) but we are considering upgrading to a Forest River Flagstaff Micro Lite 21 FBRS travel trailer or a Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S travel trailer with a base/dry weight of 3665# and a hitch weight of 336# and a cargo capacity of 1,033# we would utilize a weight distributing hitch system like a Reese Strait line trunnion bar with built in sway control setup. In your professional opinion, would the new travel trailer be too much weight for the Mercury and/or would I need to do more improvements on the car?

Full sized cars used to be the only vehicle for towing years ago. Today there are so many far more capable platforms on the market it surprises me someone is still using/asking the question. Yea, You can probably tow a small TT OK.

Especially with a lower-profile sedan like yours there's a considerable difference between towing a popup and a stand-up trailer, the most important of which is the huge increase in wind resistance you'll encounter with such a change. That aside:None of the "upgrades" you describe will increase mfr's limits for the car. One can probably install a 4,000 lb receiver on a Minicooper, but the weakest link will still govern the real world limits.Towing limit for your car is expressed at this link as 1500 pounds, and even that's assuming upgrades to engine/drive train. But since you're already exceeding that by over a hundred percent, I say "what the heck"? Keep pilin' it on until the car quits!

You know...hard to advise. I believe when Ford was competing against the Chevy RWD Caprice and Buick RWD Roadmaster...both using the small block Chevy V8 (LT-1)...260 hp/330 lbs ft. of torque....5000 lbs tow rating. Then....I'm pretty sure, Ford rated the CV and it's ID twin the Grand Marquis 4.6 V8...at around 5000 lbs towing.When GM dropped the RWD V8 car line...Ford then dropped the 5000 lb towing limit as they had no large sedan RWD V8 competition.Those with better memories can confirm I'm right or wrong on this.Memory tells me the Ford/Merc towing for the full size RWD, sedan 4.6 V8 was the 3.23 final drive ratio....don't know if you have this ?

campingguy62 wrote:We own a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis (VIN# 2MEFM75V27X641091) with the 4.6 liter V8 engine and a 4 speed transmission, I'm a electrician/mechanic by trade so I installed a aux. transmission cooler that is rated for 5,000#, a Tekonsha Prodigy Brake controller, a Valley receiver hitch (model# 82610) rated for 4,000# trailer weight/ 400# tongue weight (weight carrying) and 6,000# trailer weight/ 600# tongue weight (weight distributing), I also did all of the wiring on the car for the trailer lights with electrical brakes and I installed a module light kit that uses battery power to operate the trailer lights. We tow a 2008 Fleetwood Niagra folding camper (I haven't weighed the camper yet but it has a 3,970# GVWR) with the car without any problems (we utilize a friction sway control) but we are considering upgrading to a Forest River Flagstaff Micro Lite 21 FBRS travel trailer or a Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S travel trailer with a base/dry weight of 3665# and a hitch weight of 336# and a cargo capacity of 1,033# we would utilize a weight distributing hitch system like a Reese Strait line trunnion bar with built in sway control setup. In your professional opinion, would the new travel trailer be too much weight for the Mercury and/or would I need to do more improvements on the car?I seldom wander into these threads but if you look back at the history of this vehicle, you will see that it was rated at 5,000 pounds in the '90s. It had a 4.6L engine and I believe the 4 speed transmission (may have been a 3 speed). It is one of the few vehicles with a full frame. I owned two of them during this era. I can't vouch for what has changed since then except increased hp/torque and all around better safety features. It also had 4 wh disc brakes even back then. I did not have a tranny cooler in it.I routinely towed a 4,000 lb inboard ski boat and 3,500 lb popup without the least bit of trouble. Both were without brakes and the Grand Marquis had no issue stopping them even in an interstate panic stop. The only issue I can think of would be the frontal area which would be no different that what our parents faced for years towing with cars with less hp.YMMV

^what he said. Same chassis but more power and stronger transmission, but Ford drops the tow rating from 5k to 1500 coincidentally at the same time they went from a full spare to a donut. The only other change was to a Watt's link rear end upgrade from the previous track-bar setup. This only makes handling better.

Towing Grand Marquis | Good Sam Community

rjstractor
Nomad
Jan 12, 2014
TECMike wrote:
In the trucking industry, I suspect there are cases of trucks and trailers being overloaded and exceeding their design capacity.

As a result, trucks often must go through federal DOT weigh stations on interstates to have their weights checked.

Too, if troopers stop a truck and suspect overloading, the trooper often weighs the truck using portable scales.

There are those who believe these procedures will eventually apply and filter down to the RV industry.

To add on to what was just said, large trucks are typically licensed for less than what their factory GVWRs are, to make them legal by axle load laws. For example, I sometimes drive a box truck with a factory GVWR of 52000, but it's only licensed for 46000 because that's the maximum legal weight for that particular truck configuration.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jan 12, 2014
TECMike wrote:
In the trucking industry, I suspect there are cases of trucks and trailers being overloaded and exceeding their design capacity.

As a result, trucks often must go through federal DOT weigh stations on interstates to have their weights checked.

Too, if troopers stop a truck and suspect overloading, the trooper often weighs the truck using portable scales.

There are those who believe these procedures will eventually apply and filter down to the RV industry.

Nothing whatever to do with "liability" or safety concerns. That's all about wear-and-tear on roads, and payment of taxes/fees due.

No way on Earth it'll ever filter down to recreational trailer toters since they'd have to slap the requirement on every other private driver in the country, too.
TECMike
Explorer
Jan 12, 2014
In the trucking industry, I suspect there are cases of trucks and trailers being overloaded and exceeding their design capacity.

As a result, trucks often must go through federal DOT weigh stations on interstates to have their weights checked.

Too, if troopers stop a truck and suspect overloading, the trooper often weighs the truck using portable scales.

There are those who believe these procedures will eventually apply and filter down to the RV industry.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jan 11, 2014
Airstream67 wrote:
The Crown Vic should be a great tow car. The biggest problem is the manufacturer's specifications. If you are ever in an accident that is later contested, you can expect anything you did beyond what the manufacturer specified to be a problem to your case.

I`ve heard this so much it is laughable. I don`t believe one person has ever shown proof of this happening! I`ve seen insurance cover people that got into an accident while speeding, essentially the same argument, but time and again the insurance pays!
Wes_Tausend
Explorer
Jan 11, 2014
Airstreamer67 wrote:
The Crown Vic should be a great tow car. The biggest problem is the manufacturer's specifications. If you are ever in an accident that is later contested, you can expect anything you did beyond what the manufacturer specified to be a problem to your case.

Although widely believed, this appears to not be true. Another thread revealed that no such known documented case exists thus far. But if someone can document such a case, it could be truely useful on this forum. :h

Wes
...
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
jerem0621 wrote:

I have often wondered what protection I would have in an accident (my fault) if I was under the ratings. Does the % under the tow rating that I am towing reduce my liability by a proportional amount? What if I am not towing anything and I get in an accident? Is there 2000 lbs less liability?

Thanks!

Jeremiah

:B

Perfect counter to the oft-repeated "liability if overtowing" thing...
jerem0621
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2014
Airstreamer67 wrote:
The Crown Vic should be a great tow car. The biggest problem is the manufacturer's specifications. If you are ever in an accident that is later contested, you can expect anything you did beyond what the manufacturer specified to be a problem to your case.

I have often wondered what protection I would have in an accident (my fault) if I was under the ratings. Does the % under the tow rating that I am towing reduce my liability by a proportional amount? What if I am not towing anything and I get in an accident? Is there 2000 lbs less liability?

Thanks!

Jeremiah
Airstreamer67
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
The Crown Vic should be a great tow car. The biggest problem is the manufacturer's specifications. If you are ever in an accident that is later contested, you can expect anything you did beyond what the manufacturer specified to be a problem to your case.
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jan 10, 2014
Fordlover wrote:
campingguy62 wrote:
We own a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis (VIN# 2MEFM75V27X641091) with the 4.6 liter V8 engine and a 4 speed transmission, I'm a electrician/mechanic by trade so I installed a aux. transmission cooler that is rated for 5,000#, a Tekonsha Prodigy Brake controller, a Valley receiver hitch (model# 82610) rated for 4,000# trailer weight/ 400# tongue weight (weight carrying) and 6,000# trailer weight/ 600# tongue weight (weight distributing), I also did all of the wiring on the car for the trailer lights with electrical brakes and I installed a module light kit that uses battery power to operate the trailer lights. We tow a 2008 Fleetwood Niagra folding camper (I haven't weighed the camper yet but it has a 3,970# GVWR) with the car without any problems (we utilize a friction sway control) but we are considering upgrading to a Forest River Flagstaff Micro Lite 21 FBRS travel trailer or a Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S travel trailer with a base/dry weight of 3665# and a hitch weight of 336# and a cargo capacity of 1,033# we would utilize a weight distributing hitch system like a Reese Strait line trunnion bar with built in sway control setup. In your professional opinion, would the new travel trailer be too much weight for the Mercury and/or would I need to do more improvements on the car?

My 2002 Explorer with the same 2 valve V8 paired to a 5 speed automatic and 3.73 gears is rated for 7,000 lbs. Curb weight of the Marquis is probably pretty close to my explorer. Can't imagine that more ground clearance or 4wd would make the explorer a better tow vehicle... Best of luck with your decision.

I was thinking the same thing! I had a 95 EXPLORER V-6 with a 5k lb tow rating. It did pretty good with a 5k lb TT. But given a choice the Crown Vic/Marquis/Town Car triplets would be my choice!
Fordlover
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
campingguy62 wrote:
We own a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis (VIN# 2MEFM75V27X641091) with the 4.6 liter V8 engine and a 4 speed transmission, I'm a electrician/mechanic by trade so I installed a aux. transmission cooler that is rated for 5,000#, a Tekonsha Prodigy Brake controller, a Valley receiver hitch (model# 82610) rated for 4,000# trailer weight/ 400# tongue weight (weight carrying) and 6,000# trailer weight/ 600# tongue weight (weight distributing), I also did all of the wiring on the car for the trailer lights with electrical brakes and I installed a module light kit that uses battery power to operate the trailer lights. We tow a 2008 Fleetwood Niagra folding camper (I haven't weighed the camper yet but it has a 3,970# GVWR) with the car without any problems (we utilize a friction sway control) but we are considering upgrading to a Forest River Flagstaff Micro Lite 21 FBRS travel trailer or a Forest River Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S travel trailer with a base/dry weight of 3665# and a hitch weight of 336# and a cargo capacity of 1,033# we would utilize a weight distributing hitch system like a Reese Strait line trunnion bar with built in sway control setup. In your professional opinion, would the new travel trailer be too much weight for the Mercury and/or would I need to do more improvements on the car?

My 2002 Explorer with the same 2 valve V8 paired to a 5 speed automatic and 3.73 gears is rated for 7,000 lbs. Curb weight of the Marquis is probably pretty close to my explorer. Can't imagine that more ground clearance or 4wd would make the explorer a better tow vehicle... Best of luck with your decision.