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

29 Replies

jerem0621
Explorer II
Jan 06, 2014
I am a Lincoln Town Car owner. I have had 2.

My 1994 had a factory tow rating per the manual of about 5500 lbs in WD mode.
My current 2000 model has a factory tow rating of 2000 lbs.

The rear axles are the same,
My current car has more hp and TQ.
Both are panther based platforms
Full frame
Hmmmm....something's wrong in Camelot.

Believe me, I would have zero problems pulling a TT with my current car with the appropriate tranny cooler, brake control, wiring, and hitch.

Also the above reference to the rear axle ratio is correct... However the tire diameter is much smaller than a F150 with 3.55...

The Panther is a solid towing platform that is not utilized like it could...after all, why pull with a capable car when Ford can sell you a truck for a higher profit margin.

Thanks,

Jeremiah
dodge_guy
Explorer II
Jan 06, 2014
Personally i believe you'll be good. I remember reading somewhere that one of the reasons ford lowered the tow rating was because it was dipping into the F150 sales. With a 5k lb towing capacity it could have stolen sales from the 150, can't have that! The same cars a few years back had a 5k lb towing capacity. I would by the trailer and enjoy it!
Dannyabear1
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
The older cars were a lot tougher tnan some of todays pickups
Mvander
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
When i was a kid my parents towed a 26' prowler with a 78' coupe deville. That was a normal sight back then. Today you need a big truck to pull about anything or so lots of people think. A half ton would probably be a great choice but i think your car will do it just fine as millions of people in the past have towed will big cars before trucks became popular family vehicles.
carringb
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
^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.
Land28BH
Explorer
Jan 06, 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?

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
Lessmore
Explorer II
Jan 06, 2014
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 ?
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
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!
donn0128
Explorer II
Jan 06, 2014
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.

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