doko
binghamton
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Joined: 05/03/2005
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looking for a pup and not sure if windstar has tow pkg.
there is no tow hitch on the back, does this mean it can only tow 2500. Is there another way to tell, and can it be retrofitted??
thx
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longtrailer48
Kent, WA
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Joined: 10/12/2007
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#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 in the owners manual.
2000 F350 4X4 7.3PSD CC SB SRW Superglide 18K 4" Flowmaster K&N Garrett Turbo Pwr Chp 8-21 MPG
2008 WW FTL4005+5 5th Wheel Toyhauler 48'x102"x13'-6" 3 slides
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doko
binghamton
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Joined: 05/03/2005
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thx for the reply, does this mean by just having ford put a tow hitch on it instantly jumps at least 1000lb in tow capacity??
What can be towed with the 2000lb without a tow hitch???
I'm assuming that to tow anything one would have to have the tow pkg installed??
If so, any idea how much that would cost
thx again
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longtrailer48
Kent, WA
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Tranny cooler, bigger radiator, bigger tires, sway bars, heavier rear springs, larger battery, trailer wiring, and of course...the hitch. These are all things that are typically included in a towing package. You really don't want to be towing with that, do you? It's front wheel drive and the drive train just isn't really built for it. Here's a thread from some years ago that will give you some more info. Hope it helps.
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fordsooperdootydieselsmoker
OrangeCountyCalifornia
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Joined: 08/13/2004
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We towed a popup Coleman with a Dodge Caravan with the tow package, it puked up transmission fluid and died an agonizing death! Later we towed a smallwer rtentr trailer with a Windstar and needless to say it was not a pleasant experience either. Then we bought a series of real tow vehicles, Expeditions and Full sized pick-ups. Just sharing some hard learned and expensive lessons with ya!
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PavementPilot
Vernon, BC
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Joined: 08/21/2007
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Take a look at my signature. It says it all. With a mod to the hitch I will be able to tow class III. In the future we are looking to an SUT pop up. Tongue weight will be up to 500 lbs.
If you would like some real info on towing with a Ford minivan, then get ahold of Caddywhompus.
DW, 2 girls, and me
07 Freestar
76 Parklane Tent Trailer
08 Minn Kota 30 lb Troller
56 Featherlite 10' Cartopper
Nights camped in 2007: 14
Nights camped in 2008: 3 so far
17 years Professional Driving accident free all over North America
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camsa5
Canada
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Joined: 01/20/2007
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Windstars make really good tow vehicles for PUP's and when equipped right even some travel trailers. Maybe Caddywhompus will chime in soon. He has alot of Windstar towing experience. Also check out this wed site. www.canamrv.ca
- 2004 Chevy Astro
- 2007 1272ST Coachmen Clipper
- Equal-i-zer 600
- Me, Wife & 5 kids
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longtrailer48
Kent, WA
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PavementPilot on 05/17/08 03:13pm wrote:Take a look at my signature. It says it all. With a mod to the hitch I will be able to tow class III. In the future we are looking to an SUT pop up. Tongue weight will be up to 500 lbs.
Uhmmm....first of all you don't have a Windsar, your trailer looks to be about a 1000 lbs (with 10" wheels?) and the two girls and your wife probably don't add much weight. I would guess that you really are towing just fine with your set up, and it looks good BTW. However, what you are planning to do doesn't have merit until you try it and prove it. I gotta believe if I stood two husky football players at 250 lbs each on your rear bumper, things might look a little different? No offence, really, but the OP was asking about towing with a Windstar that doesn't have a towing package. There is no extra cooling, no beefed transmission (cooled), no heavier springs, no trailering anti-sway bar. Let's not give false hope...for we are to blame when it fails them.
-Jeff
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Caddywhompus
Southeast WI
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Joined: 06/27/2001
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Wow,
A lot of mis-informed and bad advice on this thread so far.
First of all, I need to know what year Windstar we are talking about. The early vans were based on Taurus parts are not very reliable with or without a trailer. The later vans are much better.
Second, Windstars and Freestars are not the same either. Windstars got progressively better each year until their end, but the Freestar has a shopping list of improvement that REALLY put them a cut above.
Third, I've never bought a vehicle with a factory tow package yet. They are over-priced and typically include a bunch of add-ons that are just plain not required for towing. I've always retrofitted my vehicles myself and typically this allows me to control the quality of the equipment a lot better anyway. For example, skipping the tow package on my Freestar allowed me to install my own class III hitch, rather than the class II that Ford would have installed.
And last, minivan towing is a very subjective topic. I myself love towing with my minivans and even though I've had several higher-rated tow vehicles I've never had better. Some people remember the early minivans and their history of poor reliability and somehow believe that still holds true today. Other people believe all minivans are somehow the same, and if they had a bad experience towing with a Dodge Caravan they believe that somehow relates to towing with a Windstar.
So post back exactly which Windstar you have and I can offer some more relevant advice.
-Jimmy
P.S. Be sure to read the links in my sig for all the information you need.
Ford Minivan towing
'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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Caddywhompus
Southeast WI
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Joined: 06/27/2001
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Oh and one last thing,
Every time I hitch up my Bethany I'm pulling at least 3500 pounds. Tongue weight runs 400-450 pounds. Without the WD hitch I get about 1-1/2" of rear sag, with the WD hitch the entire combo is dead level.
The mods I added to do this? Class III hitch, trailer wiring kit from Ford for basic lighting, trailer brake controller and wiring for 7-pin RV connnector. I did buy a transmission cooler, but never installed it because transmission temps never rise out of range. That is it.
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