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I am thinking of getting an open trailer for towing my Pantera when I need to do so. What do people have as trailers and what vehichles do you use? I have a Dodge Dakota
quad cab, with the tow package, 5 speed, 4.7l V8, 3.55 gears. I am wondering if I would have any problems towing with this truck? Anyone else have a similar set up?
TIA.
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I suggest a dual axle covered trailer. The Pantera with its rearward weight bias has screwed up several owners over the years, particularly with open, single-axle trailers. People would load the cars with the rear end fwd due to the mid-engine weight bias causing tongue weight problems. Then find that while the rig towed just fine, the wind blast at 70+ would unlatch the decklid and fold it over the roof! You don't even want to know the cost of those repairs! Dual axle trailers are more tolerant of the weight position, and in any case a covered trailer solves the decklid problem. What one tows it with is almost irrelevant as long as the tongue weight is proper and it has a big-block under the hood!
I'm using a 16 ft. dual axel open trailer. I
had to take the tire rack off to get the car far enough forward to get enough tongue weight to tow right.
Towing is hard on clutches. Automatics actually are better for towing than standard shift.
My tow motor is a '93 F150 extended cab with 302 cu. in. and auto trans. A little under powered. Wont cruise much over 80 MPH.
Jim Hendrickson
Thanks for that info. I know autos are better for towing if one tows alot. I don't
tow very often and I like to drive a stick.
So there I am. I am considering a dual axle open trailer. How does one check the tongue weight considering I will be loading the car at my house and I am sure I don't have a scale I can use for that. My other problem is I am taking the car up to Mass (about a 6 hour drive) and I originally had planned to drive up but I have had so many little problems disable the car since I have had it that I don't quite trust it on that long a drive (yet). I would hate to get stranded on an interstate in a Pantera. Plus with a truck I would have a/c which also does not work on mine. Thanks for any more suggestions.
I have not tried this myself yet, but a dragster friend said he loaded his car on the trailer and put a scale under the tongue. Then he moved the car around until he had 200 pounds tongue weight.
If that is the only car you will be hauling, you can screw some blocks to the floor so you can load it in the same place every time. I plan to paint marks on mine for Escort, Grand Marquis, and Pantera.
I would make sure that the wheels are blocked good and have jackstands at all four corners for safety.
Jim Hendrickson
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