RE: Towing suggestions for a newbie at PU camping.

[Royalmomness]

 
Boy do I love this site!  I am new to PU camping and just got a  01 Coleman Mesa which weighs 2450.  I have a 2003 Ford Windstar that we hope will be a fair tow vehicle as the dealer told us that we could tow up to 3500.  
 
 I am curious if anyone else tows with a Windstar or something similar.  Any suggestions or things to avoid?  The camper has electric brakes, and sway bar.  We plan to have the complete tow packge installed on the Windstar but haven t done so yet.  I would be most abliged for any hints or suggestions as this brave mom will be doing most of the camping alone with the kids this summer.

[Tim5055]

 Royalmomness
Welcome to the board!!!
 
 
 

ORIGINAL:  Royalmomness
 I have a 2003 Ford Windstar that we hope will be a fair tow vehicle as the dealer told us that we could tow up to 3500.  
 

 Was this the Ford dealer or the Coleman dealer?
 
 Pop Up dealers are famous for telling you that you can tow a Bayside with a Yugo.  Verify your tow rating with your owners manual and Ford dealer.  I would be willing to bet that the 3500 only comes after installation of the factory tow package.  But, all is not lost.  You can add most of the parts after the fact.
 
 Here is a little light reading for you:
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/FAQ.htm]Frequently Asked Questions [/link]
 
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/Hitch.htm]Towing and Hitch Information[/link]
 
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/Sway.htm]Sway Information[/link]
 
 
 [link=http://www.title-3.com/Safety.htm]Campsite Safety[/link]
 
 Good luck

[Royalmomness]

 Royalmomness
It was a Ford dealer that said with a tow package we could tow up to 3500.
 
 THANKS, Tim, for the links.  All the terms are still confusing to me, but I am working on it!!

[tlhdoc]

 Royalmomness
Hi and welcome to the board.  I towed my 1999 Coleman Nevada for 3 years with a 1999 Windstar with the factory towing package.  The Windstar did an OK job at towing.  You should do fine as long as you don t expect to go 0 to 60 in 10 seconds or less.  You do want to get the tow package installed on the van and you may want to get a weight distributing hitch.  My Windstar had a rear end sag.  My DH doesn t camp, so I am also a Mom that takes the kids and goes.  I hope you enjoy camping in your new PU and that the kids have a great time.  If you have more questions ask away, that is what this board is about.

[whippetwrun]

 Royalmomness
Welcome to the board.  I don t have a Windstar so I can t help there.  But I do have the same pop up!  and 2 kids - 6 and 3.  Since my DH meets me after work at the cgs, I usually set up on my own.  The kids stay in the truck until I have the popup level.  
 
 Then the 6 year old is able to help with some of the setup. He helps hold the awning poles (which I set in those tiki light holders -kind of like small umbrella stands) while I get the supports in place.  He also " double checks"  to make sure I attach all the bungee cord under the bunkends.  He and DD help place the mat under the awning and open the chairs, they put the gray water container and all the hoses by the drain and the water connection.  Basically it is busy work that saves me a step or two, but is simple enough for them to feel they are helping.
 
 Packing up is usually easier since DH takes the kiddos to to a playground so I can pop down faster.
 
 Good luck and have fun!

[Royalmomness]

 Royalmomness
I am so excited to see that there are other moms who do this alone!  Girl power!  I am hoping that the PU will help my DH enjoy camping more but I am determined to raise " camping kids"  even if I have to do it by myself.

[tlhdoc]

 Royalmomness
That is why I go.  If I pushed him to go he would make everyone unhappy.

[Gamecock Camper]

 Royalmomness
You should do fine towing with a Windstar.  Read up on towing with the links provided and just use common sense.  More time to go from 0 to 60 and more time to go from 60 to 0..... simple stuff like that.   I d also use common sense when packing the van and PU.... meaning that you should make sure you don t pack too much weight in the front or too much weight in the front of the camper.  Don t fret about it though, use caution, but have fun.  That s what it s all about.

[wynot]

 Royalmomness
There s a lot of us who have towed with a Windstar on here.  You may want to check the archives for threads on it.
 
 Windstars are only equipped to handle 3,500 with a transmission cooler and the factory tow pkg (which doesn t consist of much, btw).  Then you start taking pounds off because that 3,500 assumes a single driver of 150 lbs, etc.  Windstars not equipped for towing are capped at 2,000 before the above weight loss.
 
 We put Airlift 1000 airbags on our rear coils to help level the ride, which sagged more on our 2000 Windstar than our 95.  Hope you got a Class III hitch.