Windstar towing

[windstarit]

I have a 1996 windstar with a 3.8 engine.
I have had it for a few years and It seems to run very nice.
I would like to tow other cars with a tow dolly with it.
If I add a Transmission cooling system and a oil cooler to this van do you think I would have any problems? Does any one else tow other cars with this van?

[wiswind]

The transmission cooler is the critical point.
Also, make sure that your radiator fans come on and STAY on whenever you have the A/C on.
If they don't, then a likely problem is the radiator fan low speed dropping resistor, I have shown the location of this item in my pictures.
Having the radiator fans running with the A/C on will make a MAJOR impact on cooling in stop and go traffic.
Of course, make sure that you are up on the transmission fluid.....needs to be changed AT LEAST every 30K miles (21K miles for severe service).

Make sure that the rear suspension is up to the task, if those are the original shocks back there......they will likely be a bit soft.
Also....check the front suspension.....the springs are prone to corrosion and breaking.....

[garync1]

Towing other cars.. Ouch.. Remember you have a Taurus transmission already pulling a truck which is your van.. Short trips of 5 miles might go ok.. But I would be scared to do it over that. My 2001 was pulling a 2,000 + or - a few lb total weight with junk in the trailer and started leaking out the vent tube as it got hot..Of course I did not have a cooler then.. I do now.. I think pulling anything over 3,000 lbs would scare me. just my thoughts.

[tripletdaddy]

I have also pulled a trailer around 2000 lbs. At times that is too heavy to pull and to stop, especially on the mtns. Ditto on coolers. Brakes would be a big concern of mine. I'd expect most of what you would tow combined weght would be more than a ton. I can't remember what minimun trailer weight the law requires a trailer to have its own brakes. I know if you tried to rent a tow dolly from U-haul, they will do a vehicle analysis to determine what it can handle. I was surprised they wouldn't let me put any ole car on a dolly and pull it with my full size pickup. Give them a call. You will get a fairly well based assessment of what it reasonably can handle. Your owner's manual and the dealer can also tell you what sort of towing weight it can handle.