Towing a trailer, bad idea?

I've got a 2000 Windstar, which one of the POs added a trailer hitch to. I've owned this van for around 4 years now, and have never had the need to tow a trailer... Until my older brother asked if I could. What I'd be towing: A utility trailer, which weighs around 500-700 pounds at most I think (4x8' I believe), a riding lawn mower, which I'd guess 200-300 pounds, and a small trailer for the lawnmower, which I'd guess at 50 pounds. So assuming my guesses are off on the weights of each item, I'd be looking at MAYBE 1500 pounds. My concerns: I do not have an aux cooler for the tranny. It'd be about 45 minutes 1 way, low to moderate hills (nothing mountain like, but also not the flat lands of Illinois), and would likely be the only time I tow anything (tow it there one day, back another). Do you folks think there'd be an issue with this? I know the transmission is weak to begin with. Apparently, a PO towed something without too much issue though... It's a 2" receiver on there, so I'd think it were used for something.

my guess is you will have no problems with that. from everything i have looked at the towing capacity is between 2000 and 2500 lbs. if you have the towing package on your car that number goes up to 3500 lbs. I would also check your cars service manual it should be written in there.

All the information you need is contained in the owner's manual, I suggest you to read it as it contains information about it, safety measures and other information you might find interesting...

Oscar.

It sounds like you should be fine.
Try to ballance the load so that it is SLIGHTLY forward of center in the trailer......pushing SLIGHTLY down on the trailer hitch.
You don't want it pulling UP on the trailer hitch or pushing down real HARD on the trailer hitch.
I towed more than that with my '96 and it was fine.
If you were to tow a long distance or heavier weight......or frequently, I would add a transmission fluid cooler, but for this light of weight for a short distance, no need.
That is assuming that you are not loading the van down with a bunch more stuff inside!

That is such a small amount of weight. I would guess you would be fine.

Thanks for the input guys. Wiswind, no I wouldn't be adding anything inside the van. I even have the very back seat out. Sometime this summer, I'll get some trailer wiring hooked up to my '78 F-150 (put a flatbed on it, haven't gotten around to the trailer wiring yet), so the van won't be needed very much for towing.

Brandynr -

I've done quite a bit of towing with my Windstar, and have been pleased with it as a tow vehicle.

For those looking for more Windstar towing info, see this discussion from about a year and a half ago:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=965299

Brandynr -

I've done quite a bit of towing with my Windstar, and have been pleased with it as a tow vehicle.

For those looking for more Windstar towing info, see this discussion from about a year and a half ago:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=965299



listen to phil.

i did more or less exact as he, and I have been very happy with it towing a popup.

2000 camper dry, 750-1000 people, dogs cargo and brown pops. :)

so roughtly 3k, and ive been happy with its towing.

I've got a '96 3.8 WS with a tow hitch, and it easily will pull 2k lbs. However, even if I never towed a single thing I would still have the aftermarket tranny cooler (under $50) and a DIY powersteering cooler ($12 used PS cooler from ebay- from an Acura iirc). Adding these coolers is so easy and cheap to do and you are insuring two major weak spots in the Windstar... all you need is a half hour of time and basic hand tools.

I've got a '96 3.8 WS with a tow hitch, and it easily will pull 2k lbs. However, even if I never towed a single thing I would still have the aftermarket tranny cooler (under $50) and a DIY powersteering cooler ($12 used PS cooler from ebay- from an Acura iirc). Adding these coolers is so easy and cheap to do and you are insuring two major weak spots in the Windstar... all you need is a half hour of time and basic hand tools.

I think this thing has a powersteering cooler on it, not sure if it's stock... And I've since bought an Expedition, so I use that for my heavy towing now. My finances are VERY limited ATM, so I'm not really going to buy stuff for preventive reasons right now. In the future, however, I may well do what you suggest.

You should be just fine as you are.
The only thing I will add is that the transmission fluid should be changed AT LEAST every 30K miles......for normal service.
I know that is another expense, but it is a very important one......even if you never use the vehicle to tow.
I have pictures posted that show how to do a transmission fluid exchange......the owner's manual does not call for the in-pan filter to be changed in over 100K miles......so you will be fine just doing the exchange part at the cooler line.....without removing the transmission pan.
My pictures show the whole deal, but the MOST important and critical part is the fluid change using the cooler line.
You can do it yourself or have a shop do it for you.
I would recommend a synthetic fluid.......Mobil 1 is a good one and easy to find (autozone, etc), if they still list Mercon V on the label.

The total amount of ATF in the tranny system is 12.25 quarts.
Dropping the pan gets you at MOST 5 or 6 quarts.........the gasket (if original) is a high quality re-useable gasket.......it will be a stiff-ish black one.
Some folks are more comfortable dropping the pan than doing the cooler line fluid exchange........but it will take at least 2 times to mostly exchange the fluid in the system (running the motor in between each pan drop).
It is also a messy job......I ALWAYS get some on the drivewy......as the pan is slightly larger than my 15 quart oil drain pan.
Either method will get the job done.

As for power steering, you can use the SAME ATF to change that fluid.....which is also very beneficial to your power steering system.
You can just use a turkey baster to suck some fluid out of the power steering resevior and replace with fresh ATF.
Run the motor......and repeat.......do that about 3 times and you will have it in good shape.
Newer windstars have a screen in the bottom of the power steering resevoir that has been known to become clogged.......so make sure yours is clear.
Windstars can get noisy power steering pumps.......and all you need to do is change the fluid as I mentioned......to quiet it back down.
Power steering systems run HOT, so the synthetic that I recommended for the tranny will be GREAT in the power steering....