ClarkFamily
Sacramento
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Joined: 09/07/2005
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I am considering buying a 21 foot travel trailer with a gross weight of 3500lbs. I know I am pushing it, but I only plan on towing a few times per year. The van is in excellent shape with tow package. It seems very strong and I have towed smaller trailers 2000 lbs or so and didn't even know they were back there, really.
i need input quick /
thanks
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kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
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Joined: 05/27/2005
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Without knowing the tow rating and GCVWR of your Windstar, my first inclination is to say that might be too much trailer. I believe Windstars are front-wheel drive? FWD vehicles are not the best towers, from what I have read, and from our experience (we used to tow a popup with a Dodge Grand Caravan years ago - it had a tow package but really bogged down in hills). Check what your vehicle's capabilities are before taking the plunge - and don't take the dealer's word for it!
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BobJoh
Whitestown, IN 46075
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Joined: 05/23/2004
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Always lockout overdrive and make sure you have a extra multiplate trans oil cooler. I have 3.8 '95 Windstar with 140K miles now and had often towed 16ft Airstream and in move from SoCal to Indianapolis towed 1600 lb cargo trailer. Had headgasket problem in late '95 at about 25K miles and fixed by Ford no charge.. Trans. wouldn't shift into low when hot so rebuilt at 75K at/with NO help from Ford. Have pulled OK up DonnerPass and to Redding and up to 8500ft above BigBear all with no problems. Did not have any sway problems with my shorter trailers and had no antisway or weight distrbtn on 1 1/4" tow bar/2" ball. Your bigger frontal area and drag at freeway speeds will be your main limitation. No OD and 62 mph and less drag of Airstream worked fine for me... but MPG droped from 18/19 to 10/11 mpg while towing. Now here in MidWest with non Cal. fuel get 20/21 mpg at 73mph with AC on. Tow out of OD and keep the speed down. The new 201hp 4.2 ltr Freestar lists towing Cap.. at 2000lbs I was over that at times in Airstream with camping gear and food etc. Could maintain about 50 mph towing over Grapevine If i didn't get slowed and then had to drop to second gear.
BobJoh
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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Joined: 11/17/2000
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A 21', 3500# trailer...no way. You will toast the tranny in the Windstar in short order, plus it is just not enough tow vehicle.
Ken
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Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
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Cybergrunt
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
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Joined: 09/05/2003
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As a former '98 Windstar owner, I would agree you will definitely be pushing it - into the nearest service center. Pardon the sarcastic opinion, but I earned the right to have that opinion. We never towed a single mile with our Whinestar and still had major transmission issues (twice), blown head gasket, rear brake failure, and something akin to complete suspension rebuilds (front and rear). None of our issues arose from normal, around-town driving - they all took place on long trips between the midwest and the east coast with 2 kids, 2 dogs, and luggage. Inspired zero confidence - couldn't handle a normal family load, much less a towed load. Again, my opinion is horribly jaded and our experiences obviously are just our own. You are doing the right thing by being skeptical and asking questions.
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Fast Mopar
Houston, TX
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Joined: 05/03/2005
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Many significant improvements were made to the Windstar for the 99 model year, including transmission improvements. If you keep it out of overdrive and be light on loading the van and the trailer, you should not have a problem. A transmission cooler should also be installed. I towed with a 96 Windstar 3.8 for a few years. I had transmission issues before I even bought my trailer, but I had a cooler installed during the rebuild, bought my trailer, towed for several years changing the fluid annually, and had no problems. My 2004 4.2 liter Freestar van is clearly better, but a 99 Windstar should do fine with what you are asking about if you follow these suggestions.
2004 Ford Freestar 4.2 liter
2003 Jayco Qwest 12A
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Caddywhompus
Southeast WI
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BobJoh wrote:The new 201hp 4.2 ltr Freestar lists towing Cap.. at 2000lbs
Just want to correct the above statement. #2000 is the base towing capacity, without any towing package. With the towing pacakge the 3.9 liter van gets #3500 rating, and the 4.2 gets #3800. This is right out of my owner's manual.
-Jimmy
'04 Ford Freestar (Primary tow vehicle)
'05 Subaru Forester (Backup tow vehicle)
'65 Bethany popup (best popups ever made!)
Looking for a tow vehicle
Minivan towing
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Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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Joined: 05/14/2004
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As a former Windstar owner, I would strongly advise you against towing such a heavy trailer. Go on flatratetech.com and ask about the strength of the Windstars transmission(any year) and I think the techs will agree with me. Not only is this transmission not built for towing, I believe it is very marginal for towing the heavy Windstar itself. Expensive transmission to replace. I had a cooler installed, changed out the fluid(Mercon V I believe), filter on a routine maitenance schedule and the damn transmission still died an early death. This failure while never having towed anything
* This post was
edited 09/08/05 08:07am by Capt Skup *
Capt Skup
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Fast Mopar
Houston, TX
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Joined: 05/03/2005
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I can certainly understand and appreciate that different people have different experiences with similar vehicles. This forum is a good place to share those experiences, both good and bad.
My experiences with my 96 were good after adding the trans cooler, and that is why I bought the 04 Freestar, and I would certainly do it all over again.
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Road Ruler
Canada
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Joined: 09/11/2003
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ClarkFamily..
I know of much positive info with regards to the towing prowess of Windstars in general. Send me a PM if you are interested in the various links.
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