Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Fred replied:

Scot - My feeing is that you will have ample power but may need modification to the cooling system and aids/mods to the suspension. Sedans are just not built for towing the way 4wds are. Of course the size of van is important but you didn't mention that. Obviously the larger the van the more closely you need to examine cooling, suspension, transmission requirements. Have a look at the handbook. A mate of mine checked his and found to preserve his new car warranty and tow a 16ft pop top he had to spend about $1000.00. He had a Commodore type car. Some of that may not have been essential but that was what the manufacturer required for the warranty to be honoured!! I used to tow with a Holden and ended up fitting a larger radiator, transmission cooler and getting a 4 bar set of level riders. I now have a cruiser and just put the van on the back and go - no need for any changes. Good luck!!

Member - Tony replied:

Scot,
I guess Fred hit a button too many times :)
I had a '76 Fairmont (302, or 5L, C4 auto). Used to tow great (loaded large (8x5) trailer, car trailer). Only mod I had were extractors (more HP) and air shocks at back. Never had any cooling problems. Did howver crunch a couple of diffs (didn't have a 9in), bt I can't put that down to towing incidents. Can't really speak for the later Fords, but I can tell you the old Clevo's used to take it all in stride.

Cheers, Tony

Member - Tony replied:

Granted, Fred. Yes, increased wind resistance would be a factor. Of course, it does come down to how well an older car (and Scot is talking a '92 model) has been maintained, modified etc.

Out of interest, I remember an article (in I think it was Wheels magazine back in the '70's), doing a comparo between a XA Fairmont (302), HQ Premier (253) and a VH Valiant. All vehicles were tested towing a caravan over several thousand kms through SE Australia. I remember the auto in the Ford failed (losing 2nd I think), but no mention of any cooling problems from memory. Can't remember how the others performed, as I was only interested in Fords at the time :)

Scot, I'd suggest talking to several experienced mechanics as well as opinions from mugs like myself! Happy touring.

Damien replied:

My parents tow their 21ft caravan, weighing just over 2 tonne, with their 5.0L Fairlane, which i think is a '94 model. The car is dual fuel & even on LPG it seems to tow the van adequately. They have been up the east coast from Melbourne to Cairns (my sister lives there) several times as well as a lot of week long & weekend trips. The engine has over 200K on the clock but is still original. I'm not too sure about any problems as such, apart from the suspension needing to be replaced (but you'd expect that).
I know they are talking about doing the big around Australia trip in the next couple of years & are considering buying a 4wd for this. They were amazed at how well my 3.0L T/D Jackaroo towed the van & how stable it was compared to the fairlane.
So, bottom line, the car will do the job (assuming it's mechanically sound), but a 4wd would probably be better.