Towing Grand Marquis

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