Topic: Towing

[DocNasty]

Anyone have much experience with towing significant weight with the X?

I gotta take a trip to PA and I am looking at picking up a 16-20 foot enclosed trailer, however I am worried about the strain on my X. Any advice welcome ;]

[DocNasty]

Now that I think about it, most likely 14-16 footer to play it safe. 20 seems insane

[ultrapc40]

What is the trailer rating? Does it have an axle brake, if so do you have a brake controller?
As long as you are with in the tow rating of the x you should be fine. Just remember to take it slow, watch your brakes and down hill speed.  It will be a slow trip, if you are taking the 80 just stay behind the rigs to draft.

Oh watch out for Ohio speed traps

[BrO-J]

The X is short so the trailer should be as well, look into an ultra light and keep it at 55

[RBduffer]

I have no personal experience, but I talked to guy who was towing a 30' boat at 5000# with trailer, and he said it was no problem.  If you don't have the tow package (with 7 pin electric connedtor) you will need to do some wiring for the electric brakes.  If your auto tranny has some miles on it, I would put new fluids in, and don't be afraid to downshift manually.  These rigs rev a lot better than they bogg.  Forget about gas milage and have fun

[ultrapc40]

Oh one more thing make sure the trailer is not tail heavy, it will tow like crap.

[BikersCage]

Thats a long haul, your X can do it, but you will get terrible gas milage.  If its a trailer make sure that the weight is above the axle.  You dont want to put to much weight on the tongue if you can and go slow with it, but like everyone said the further forward the weight the better the handling.  If you do not have air helper bags expect your leafs to take a full beating and after a full trip across country depending on how old they are they might be flat.  To alleviate some of that try and take it off the hitch at night when you are not using it to directly tow.

I towed my 23' jetboat for about a year and a half in Miami, and towed across country my wifes car once and a 12' uhaul another time.  My leafs were flat after the first time across country.  I  have yet to tow again with the new suspension, that was all stock.

[RBduffer]

Oh yeah, I have the Firestone Air Lift bags and they are a huge help, easy to install and not too pricey

[DocNasty]

Yeah I am mostly concerned with the engine portion of this trip, considering all the extra body weight with the armor, and 285s. I am expecting gas milage in the range of 6/7/8/9. I am also looking at a weight distributing hitch.

For those of you who have towed, what did you do with overdrive?

Thanks for all the input!

[ultrapc40]

Overdrive off for sure. You can get away with it if you are at cruising speed on flat ground.  I would keep it out of OD, the benefit is when you let go of the gas you get a little engine brake.

I wouldn't worry about the engine, I would worry about trans temp if you are towing big grades or stop and go traffic.

I did some look up, the X is rated to tow 5000 pound, max tongue weight of 500 pounds.  Do you know how heavy the enclosed trailer is?

[BikersCage]

I am manual so i dont know about the OD.  As for the trailer weight, i think a 15 with single axle is around 800lbs itself, but that could b edifferent depending on what type of trailer you are pulling.

If your suspension is fairly new in the back i would look at helper bags.  They are only like 300 i believe.  Especially for the long haul you are about to make, unless you are wanting an excuse for new suspension.