Mark VIII towing needs?

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LeoC2

New member
Moose is going to be doing a lot of towing this summer. 5x8 trailer, probably around 1700 lbs. GW, no electric brakes.

So to any of you veteran towers out there... what do I need to do to prepare Moose for the job? Other than the obvious of checking brakes and fluids what else do you recommend I do to avoid problems? The tranny has been slipping a little 3rd to OD when hot so I'll have the transmission flushed and checked. Do I increase tire pressure and if so how much? What else?
 
driller

driller

El Presidente
Brakes and transmission are going to be your top priorities.

I would recommend upgrading the rotors and considering ceramic pads. SS brake lines would be a good consideration. R&R the brake fluid with a quality DOT4 fluid and keep it flushed with regular intervals.

A transmission cooler is a must when towing. I hate to say it, but if you're already having slipping issues, you are only accelerating the demise of the transmission by towing.

I would do a complete coolant flush and check the entire cooling system for preventative maintenance, including replacing any old original hoses.

A temperature gauge for the transmission is a necessity. Good news is there are several OBD2 monitors available which you can use to monitor important parameters when towing such as engine and transmission temperatures. Waiting for the OEM gauges to tell you anything will be too late. If you see the temperatures start to climb above normal, ease up on the throttle and/or downshift to stabilize and lower the temperatures.

Maximize your rear tire pressures but check the pressures when cold.

Watch the tongue weight of the trailer. Make sure the trailer weight is properly distributed so you have about 10%-15% of the gross trailer weight on the tongue. Make sure you stay within the weight limitations of the hitch. Improper weight distribution is dangerous. Trailer sway at highway speeds is a nightmare waiting to happen especially with single axle trailers.

Safety is paramount when towing. When starting the trip, do a pre-check of everything; tire pressures, lights, hitch connection, etc...

Make sure you have a safety pin or a lock on the hitch latch. Use safety chains and adjust them so they are not dragging but allow full pivot of the trailer.

Stop within the first hour to do a safety check. Stop every two hours for safety checks when traveling long distances.
 
L

LeoC2

New member
Thanks JP, this is good info. I've already spoken to the local tranny shop who told me I probably just need a good tranny flush and fluid replacement since it's never been done, by me anyway. Most trips will average 10-15 miles, a couple around 50 but mostly short runs.

What OBD2 monitor would you recommend? I've seen some that interface with the iPhone and I like that idea.
 
S

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
get the trans cooler and go with full synthetic high end fluid. and as JP said flush the break fluid.
 
L

LeoC2

New member
Brake and coolant fluids already dealt with. I installed a tranny cooler when I first got Moose because it came along with some spares but never hooked it up. It's on the schedule for this week when the flush is being done.
 
driller

driller

El Presidente
LeoC2 said:
Thanks JP, this is good info. I've already spoken to the local tranny shop who told me I probably just need a good tranny flush and fluid replacement since it's never been done, by me anyway. Most trips will average 10-15 miles, a couple around 50 but mostly short runs.

What OBD2 monitor would you recommend? I've seen some that interface with the iPhone and I like that idea.
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Well at least your runs will be short.

I use the Evolution CTS from Edge Products as an OBD2 monitor on the Navi', specifically because of towing. But it's probably way more than what you need. I got it for its tuning capability as well.

Mike Schultz has a nice OBD2 monitor, you'd have to search here for it. He got his to help monitor engine temps.

I once had a ScanGauge and liked it but it only lasted a couple years.

I know a couple here on the forums here have used a BlueTooth capable OBD2 monitor for a smartphone, but you would want to have a mount for the phone where it's highly visible. But it very well may be a viable option if it gave you the live parameters you need to monitor.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of monitoring the transmission temperature when towing. It will also help to monitor engine temps when towing as well. By all means get the tranny cooler hooked up and think about upgrading the brakes.
 
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Lvnmarks

Lvnmarks

quandoomniflunkusmoritati
driller said:
I know a couple here on the forums here have used a BlueTooth capable OBD2 monitor for a smartphone, but you would want to have a mount for the phone where it's highly visible. But it very well may be a viable option if it gave you the live parameters you need to monitor.
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I have this and it works well, I would like to get another deactivated smart phone and have it permanently mounted in the car to monitor the OBDII plug.
 
LSC HUNTER

LSC HUNTER

New member
How about the Ultra Gauge? I am not sure if it does trans temps but it seems it does just about everything from the last time I looked at it.

edit: just looked it up and it WILL NOT do trans temperature.
 
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L

LeoC2

New member
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steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
the trans temp should be part of the obd11 read out so any app the reads obdii should be able to read it or am i missing something?
 
L

LeoC2

New member
steve said:
the trans temp should be part of the obd11 read out so any app the reads obdii should be able to read it or am i missing something?
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You are Steve, not all apps read all the sensors as I'm finding out. The info is there but the software doesn't see it. Apparently only a couple read tranny temp.
 
S

steve

With "LOD" Since 1997
those apps suck then lol i mean once you have the interface it is just programing to read the odbii outputs
 
F

FrankAZ

New member
I have the DashCommand application with the Ford add-on (iPhone) - will give it a try at lunch to see if it works. There IS an option in the app to monitor that PID.
 
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L

LeoC2

New member
FrankAZ said:
The Dash Command on my iPhone does read / show transmission temperature.
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So after purchase you had to pay extra for the Ford module? I looked at the list and don't see anything for 1997 Ford. What did you use to make it work?
 
BadSax

BadSax

enjoys 3 martini lunches
driller said:
Safety is paramount...
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Whatever... :D :p :D :p :D


Leo, you'll love that the air bags should level the car back out once everything is hooked up :D

It's one of the things I love about rolling around with the Driller's in the Navigator when JP's towing the blue car... :D
You can watch all the other people with lesser tow vehicles riding around with the rear of their truckwhatevers kissing the ground... losers... :D
 
9

95blklsc

New member
I love the auto leveling in the mark when I'm towing, no matter what the tounge weight is it is always at the right height. I mostly tow light stuff with my old 4x8 harbor freight trailer but I've had a yard and a half in there without any issue before. I did tow 3 and a half yards of wet mulch in the lincoln last year when I borrowed a friends trailer. I would say it was somewhere from 3000-4000 lbs. The car towed it just fine with the 3.73's, but I didn't go too fast because there weren't trailer brakes. It was severely lacking in that department.
 
SCTBIRD1173

SCTBIRD1173

Mark my Bird!
I have Torque Pro and it wasn't able to do trans temp on my Mark. I've been meaning to try it on my Explorer to see if it's any different.
 
Lvnmarks

Lvnmarks

quandoomniflunkusmoritati
BadSax said:
Whatever... :D :p :D :p :D


Leo, you'll love that the air bags should level the car back out once everything is hooked up :D

It's one of the things I love about rolling around with the Driller's in the Navigator when JP's towing the blue car... :D
You can watch all the other people with lesser tow vehicles riding around with the rear of their truckwhatevers kissing the ground... losers... :D
Click to expand...

Main reason I use the town car for my towing. Although I will get a truck someday and have air installed on that.
 
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