Can a Crown Vic Police Interceptor tow a TT?

[spacenorman]

Whenever a conversation regarding towing starts to attract "I don't care about the manufacturer's specs with regard to capacity say... - I think it can tow more!" sort of comments - it's time to head for the door and head for church to pray that I'm never anywhere the vehicle in question and/or the individual making those sorts of comments.    :

 

[LarsMac]

Whenever a conversation regarding towing starts to attract "I don't care about the manufacturer's specs with regard to capacity say... - I think it can tow more!" sort of comments - it's time to head for the door and head for church to pray that I'm never anywhere the vehicle in question and/or the individual making those sorts of comments.    :

I would agree. It's one thing to exceed the recommended limits in a one-off situation, knowing that you may be exceeding specs, but to consistently overdo it, knowingly would be just asking for trouble. My friend's Scamp is within the manufacturer's specs. A 7000 lb trailer might be daring the Gods a bit.

 

[Bill N]

Thanks for the new info. FWIW this is a 7-year old discussion, and the OP hasn't been back since 2010.

Thanks Tom.  You remind me to keep checking those dates before I get involved.  This one is too old for me.

 

[Dougie Brown]

Thanks for the new info. FWIW this is a 7-year old discussion, and the OP hasn't been back since 2010.

It's now 8 years old and it was offered by Google to me tonight as perhaps being relevant to a Crown Vic towing query I had.  Plus I knew it would be a quality thread.

Dougie.

 

[Lou Schneider]

It sounds like the 2.88:1 rear axle ratio on the Police Interceptor version is what kills the tow rating.  It's geared for speed, not pulling power.

Trucks with that size engine typically have a 3:55:1 or a 4:10:1 rear axle ratio.  A 4:10:1 axle ratio will deliver 70% 30% more torque to the road than a 2:88:1 ratio.

 

[Dougie Brown]

Trucks with that size engine typically have a 3:55:1 or a 4:10:1 rear axle ratio.  A 4:10:1 axle ratio will deliver 70% more torque to the road than a 2:88:1 ratio.

Wow. ?

 

[Lou Schneider]

Yeah ... I corrected my math mistake above.  Sorry about that.  :-[

 

[Dougie Brown]

Actually I was just done looking at axle ratios when you posted. Mine's a 2006 and I'm looking at what a 1.5T/3600lb trailer would do to it. 2.88s are long gone.

2004 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.34
2004 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.44
2005 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.44
2006 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.57
2006 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.73
2007 Ford Police Interceptor "3:34" 16.70
2008 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.29
2008 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.35
2009 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.71
2009 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.69
2010 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.42
2010 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.74
2011 Ford Police Interceptor "3:55" 16.75
2011 Ford Police Interceptor "3:27" 16.82

(Final column figures are ? mile times in second)

Dougie.

 

[9c1fanatic]

I know this is old but saw so many inaccuracies in this thread I thought I would include a few things for future reference for someone considering pulling with a late model Crown Victoria.  historically, cars of this nature had decent tow ratings that rival some 1/2 ton trucks of old but a major change was made to the Crown Victoria's rear suspension in 1998 that severely reduced its towing capacity.  That is in the 1998 restyle, the car changed from the traditional 4 link rear suspension to a watts link suspension.  Prior Crown Victorias to 1998 could tow a lot more.  The 1991-1996 GM B Bodies, (Caprice, Roadmaster etc) could tow 5000 and even 7500 on the wagons when properly equipped)

Either way, the Crown Victoria was not a unibody vehicle  as mentioned earlier, it has always been body on frame.
A 351 V8 has not come in a Crown Vic since 1991.  The gear ratios were later corrected in a later thread.  Always 3.55 or 3.27 on a police version with the 4.6L

 

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I am also looking for towing responses on 2004-2011 P71.  My previous panther was a 1997 and I could comfortably tow 5500# but with every necessary mod ie leveling air suspension, shift kit, heavy duty shocks, tranny cooler, heavier rear sway bar from HPP package Vic in boneyard, brake controller and e brakes, sway controller friction bar on load leveling hitch.  This requires a lot of care when braking but never an issue with swaying on the freeway and could maintain freeway speeds without overheating on 100 mile trips but you have to unhook the trailers sway control before backing into a parking space.    As others have mentioned this is a common tow vehicle vs load weight combo in Europe but most campers have a huge tow vehicle for even a modest TT.  I was the only one pulling a 19 ft at the campground with a MGM that's for sure