Anyone installed a trailer hitch?

marauderman,

Take two asprin and lie down for awhile...then repeat this phrase: It's only a car, it's only a car... until your BLOOD PRESSURE GOES DOWN!;) :rolleyes: ... I don't think a black hitch will be real visable on the MM...and I always remove the ball and bar when it's not in use..too many banged shins!:( Plus with all the rear enders in Atlanta I may be saving someones insurance company a bundle!:D
 
SargentMac,

What was done with the Mustang is really my point. Mercury sales are declining. Why not mix and match some of the parts in the assembly plant. In this market, a 10% sales increase might not be a bad thing. An ordinary GM with the DOHC might change the "old man's" car image a bit (in addition to the very rare Marauders that one sees). A passenger car towing a boat might also attract some attention---especially as people start looking away from SUV's.

I don't know that the Marauder frame is any different than the 2003 GM's. However, the police frames used to have some extra gussets and welding (to help with curb jumping or something). In any event, one of the 2 or 3 frames should be capable of handling a 3500 lb trailer. Also, the police cooling package (lots of accessories and air-conditioning on during extended idling) should handle towing needs. If the Marauder ever comes out with some decent colors, I might still take a run at towing my boat with one. Otherwise it's a Honda or Toyota.
 
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03 Merc --

Okay _ I guess it's okay when hinden like you said and yeah--those shins --ouch!!!..but -Can't help trying to pic an MM pulling anything!---
Gonna be alot of jerking going on won't it?
 
427435...
There's a world of difference between the MM and GM, enough to say that they are not the same cars, despite their visual likness. When Buick produced the GN, it came one way, that's what made it a GN. I don't think I would feel that my MM was special, if it could be had with variety. That's why I bought an MM, it's a unique car available in limited numbers. There are a dozen reasons why sales are down, and sadly, your suggestion would not solve one of them.
 
I have yet to locate a tranny cooler on my MM. Does it have one? If so is it a legitimate, free-standing cooler or just a loop through the end tank of the radiator? How about and engine oil cooler? My '89 9C1 Caprice had both and engine oil and tranny cooler plus the loop through the radiator and I felt good pulling my old sports car on my car hauler behind it (approx. 4000 lbs.). I'd love to think I could do the same with the Marauder but LM's 2000 lbs. limit scared me off. Will the air bags handle 400 lbs of tongue weight plus a couple hundred pounds of tools and spares in the trunk? I'll probably go with a weight distributing hitch to help out if I try this. Will that reek havoc with the load leveling system?
 
IMHO, the design of the MM was carefully planned, a specific purpose in mind. Towing wasn't in the design cards.
 
Russ,

The Expedition with the towing package also has air bags. The procedure for it was to turn off the air suspension when you were hooking up and then turn it back on after the load was on the hitch. Then start her up and watch it level.. I intend to follow the same procedure with the MM... The transmission cooler on the MM is supposed to be between the AC condenser and radiator...I have not looked yet though to confirm that..

BTW I would advise putting those tools and stuff in a box on the front of the trailer rather than in the trunk. That would also help you get the minimum 15% of load on the tongue... If I can keep my tongue weight below 350 lbs. I'll be happy..

SergntMac,

I agree that the MM and GM have some differences...but the MM is a option on the GM, not a seperate car line.. Also the things done to create the MM, like the HD suspension, enhanced cooling, more power, are the things that used to be in "tow" packages when they were available.. The only "down" side I see to using the MM is the motors torque curve is not as low as I would like it... But then as Bigdogjim mentioned the Aviator doesn't appear to do to bad with the same basic motor... And I think a chip will resolve some of those issues..
 
I agree, Wayne, that the MM shares many components with the GM, as it also shares with the CV/PI. Its all FMC, yes? But, I disagree that the MM is just an option package on a standard GM, so, let's leave this here.

My point is not to debate the MM heritage, but to point out that LM didn't design the MM to be a tow vehicle. There is no tow package option on the order sheet, and that may be something to you to consider.

www.mercuryvehicles.com.

This LM site has the specifications for all 2003 cars, and clearly, the tow capacity of an MM is intentionally minimal; "Class I, 1500lbs, total weight not exceed 6600lbs." That's telling, and I encourage deeper thought before towing anything heavier than a pair of jet skis.

If you wish to install a Class III and tow 4500 pounds, the MM will probably pull it off. But, when she breaks, better drop your hitch assembly before calling the tow truck, its presence will imply abuse over manfacturer's specs, and that may void your warranty.

A Class III hitch is risky, but the same risk I took when upgrading my MM for performance. Now, I'm banking on the fact that an LM dealer installed my 4:10 and stuff without a whisper of foul, but I'm still rolling the dice. I paid more that I should have in labor, but I believe I'm buying a bit of insurance by having the LM shop and certified techs do the job. It may be worth a few extra coins to buy a new hitch through a dealer and have them install it.

That's my point, gentleman, thanks for listening.
 
Having LM do it sounds very smart, and sound advice.

It did say in that buyer profile that the Marauder buyers would be willing to pay a premium, if it was worth it.
 
MAD-3R,

I agree having the LM dealer supply the iron do the install would minimize the potential hassle factor, especially on the electrical side... Now if Mercury, and Ford, would get off their duffs and get a detailed 2003 accessory catalog out, not the mini catalog in the jacket package, I would consider it...

SergntMac,

The good news is my trailer weight is a lot less than 4500 lbs....more like 2400 lbs...fully loaded.... And I agree 4500 lbs would be pushing your luck...and brakes.. Now if I deduct my MM at 4300 lbs from the recommended 6600 lbs. GVWR I am at / near the limit...deduct for passengers and I am over it..but not a lot...kinda like being "slightly pregnant" I suppose..;)

As far as the MM being a package (Order Code 300B) on the GM model lets just agree to disagree on that one...

All,

Thank you to everyone for your suggestions and insights..
 
Class 1..that is not much... Good Point...I will Keep the dealer involved...my trailer is 2500 with about 10% tongue wt...Odd that the MM is so much lower than like vehicles. My dealer told me my (97) town car has a 5000lb limit. w/the tow pkg....and it is a much weaker car than the marauder in it would seem every respect...
 
I put a hitch on yesterday. It was made by "Drawtite". They had no listing for the MM, but used the one listed for an '03 Marquee. It looks ok and the receiver is a good 10 inches behind the bumper. They offer a class I and a class II .
 
A couple of points. Having owned 2 grand marquis with trailer tow III packages, (93 and 96) I can say that this car is not far off from
either of those 2 cars. They were rated to tow 5000 lbs. Now with the power that these MMs have, and the appropriate hardware to transmit it to the track (er, road) , this makes the MM platform even more capable. The one lacking thing is the oil cooler, these cars don't use one. You could put one on, the modular engine supports changing the oil filter base openly with oil-cooler line equipped versions. My 96 had its base crack on the line fittings, and cost was substantial to replace it, so I converted away from the fatcory cooler, which is actually just a water to oil line heat exchanger in the lower radiator hose.
The big diff is that there is no mechanical fan on these MMs, but again, I believe that the electric fan is just as good. A transmission cooler add on would be smart for 4K pounds of towed load. The load leveling rear air suspension can't be beat in this app. I towed my boat with 300 lbs of tounge weight and 5 people in the car, and that air suspension never failed to get the car level. The one really nice thing about the factory trailer tow and what is available now is that the factory used to install an electrical isolation system in the trunk (hidden) that delivered all trailer signals, plus a dc charging or service line and was able to also pass electronic braking data out to the load being towed, with no ability to knock out the car's lighting circuits, a complete isolation of the trailer wiring from the car. Furthermore, the MM's brakes are far superior to anthing that the 93 or 96 models came with. So, how can it be ill-advised to tow with the MM? Myself, having just parted ways with the '96 grand marquis, I was faced with a decision to place a hitch on either the MM or my Lincoln LS. I chose a class 2 hitch for the LS, instead of the Marauder. I no longer have my boat, but still use a 4x8 Haulin' utility trailer a few times a year. As it turns out, the only thing that you can see on the LS for the hitch is the square tube and the loops at its side for attaching the safety chains to, which pleased me to no end. The crossing components of that hitch are completely hidden up under the rear bumper fascia cover. So overall, if you can get away with it, a hitch may not stick out too bad on a very capable of towing Mercury Marauder, especially if you don't explicitly need a class III hitch.

Mike
 
Ford dealers can supply Police Interceptor oil coolers and mounting hardware. A much simpler and cheaper solution is to just use synthetic oil. The Marauder has a very effective transmission cooler sandwiched between the radiator and the AC condenser.
 
Note to all about the transmission on your MM. It is from the F-250 pick up line. One of the things that had to be done to make it work. I do not thnik that is the same trans that is in a GM? Car and Driver noted the transmission trait for quick up shifts. I find that most of the time I start out with the od button off till get on the highway. If indeed it is the F series trans that will help with towing.
Big Dog Jim
 
Class lll Hitch

Here's what a class lll hitch looks like on a MM for all of you that were concerned how bad it would be. Doesn't stand out much.
For all you MM owners in the Southern part of the country.....EAT YOUR HEART OUT! I know you wish you had some of this white stuff to slide those big tires on ;)
 

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Yeah, we're missing the snow down here. NOT! Those poor guys in NC, etc. are really hurting.

By the way: hitch looks pretty good, and I guess if ya gotta tow something...

But I just can't stand the thought of pulling something behind the MM that would hide that nice derriere!
 
Anybody else notice that though the Mercury website says 1500lbs, the OWNERS MANUAL says 2000lbs?

Wish they could at least tell a consistent story.
 
Sure is a lot of interest in this subject----gee, I wonder if some Mercury product planner might get some insight into an option that could sell them a few more cars!!!
 
Russ,

If you go to the Ford Crown Vic site it says the combined weight of the car and trailer should not exceed 6600 lbs...

I am sure someone will find the weight limit the hard way... Having towed RV's for years I would suggest anyone towing anything serious, 2000 lbs and up, look into electric trailer brakes (unless it's a boat trailer with surge brakes) and sway control...once "the tail wags the dog" you will definitely wish you had...

Mikeenh,

Is that a Draw Tite?
 
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