Towing with a leased car

[stuz88]

Can't find anything in my agreement, but I assume using it to tow a camper would be a no-no?

 

[dg_moore]

If there's anything they can penalize you with later they are bound to do so...

 

[CanukV6]

Can't find anything in my agreement, but I assume using it to tow a camper would be a no-no?

I would check with your Leasing Company, but as long as you use an approved Tow Hitch and don't alter the bodywork to install it, I can't see why they should care. I would recommend a Hidden Hitch that is bolted not welded, so you can remove it before you turn-in the car at the end of the lease.

 

[TJPark01]

Can't find anything in my agreement, but I assume using it to tow a camper would be a no-no?

Page 5-59 of your owners manual. You're better off renting a truck for a week, or what ever, too much liability associated with trying to do this.

Towing capacity:
We do not recommend using this
vehicle for trailer towing.
Cargo capacity:
The cargo capacity of your vehicle
will increase or decrease depending
on the weight and the number of
occupants.
R1-090003
Steps For Determining Correct Load
Limit -
1. Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX
kg or XXX lbs.'' on your vehicle's
placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4. The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if
the "XXX" amount equals 1400
lbs. and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.
✽ NOTICE
We do not recommend using this
vehicle for trailer towing

 

[stuz88]

I should have read the manual before jumping into print. Says right there "this vehicle is not recommended for trailer towing" (sect.5-64)
I wonder why?I have the 3.8 V6 and HP and torque are more than my old Marquis, which could tow up to 2000 lbs.

 

[mcginnpm]

Says right there "this vehicle is not recommended for trailer towing" (sect.5-64). I wonder why? I have the 3.8 V6 and HP and torque are more than my old Marquis, which could tow up to 2000 lbs.

It's probably the lawyers. If they tell you (multiple times) that "We do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer towing", then they can more easily fend off drive train, engine, and brake related warranty claims if you did install a hitch.

I've had a tow package on both of my Saab 900's and my Volvo S70, and I didn't have a problem with any of them (I had a motorcycle trailer and 1 bike, so it wasn't a huge load to begin with).

TJPark01's quote about gross weight does need to be taken to heart, but I feel that it more accurately applies to what's in the car itself, i.e., the tires, wheels, suspension, unibody, etc. were designed to handle a certain vertical gross weight load. If you exceed that weight, you might damage some of the above mentioned parts. With a trailer you need to factor the "tongue weight" into the gross weight equation. I had my motorcycle trailor rigged up so that the tongue weight was about 30 lbs, which means I could put 30 fewer lbs in the trunk when I had the trailer hooked up. Towing weight is another issue, which primarily has to do with torque stresses placed on the drive train and engine when trying to move a gross weight horizontally. A car with puny gears, spindly drive shafts, dinky bearings, little lubricating and cooling capacity, a tiny brakes should not be used for towing. If you double the gross weight of your car with trailor, those items may not be able to handle the extra stresses, no matter how light the tongue weight might be.

 

[nearwater]

It's probably the lawyers. If they tell you (multiple times) that "We do not recommend using this vehicle for trailer towing", then they can more easily fend off drive train, engine, and brake related warranty claims if you did install a hitch.

I've had a tow package on both of my Saab 900's and my Volvo S70, and I didn't have a problem with any of them (I had a motorcycle trailer and 1 bike, so it wasn't a huge load to begin with).

TJPark01's quote about gross weight does need to be taken to heart, but I feel that it more accurately applies to what's in the car itself, i.e., the tires, wheels, suspension, unibody, etc. were designed to handle a certain vertical gross weight load. If you exceed that weight, you might damage some of the above mentioned parts. With a trailer you need to factor the "tongue weight" into the gross weight equation. I had my motorcycle trailor rigged up so that the tongue weight was about 30 lbs, which means I could put 30 fewer lbs in the trunk when I had the trailer hooked up. Towing weight is another issue, which primarily has to do with torque stresses placed on the drive train and engine when trying to move a gross weight horizontally. A car with puny gears, spindly drive shafts, dinky bearings, little lubricating and cooling capacity, a tiny brakes should not be used for towing. If you double the gross weight of your car with trailor, those items may not be able to handle the extra stresses, no matter how light the tongue weight might be.

So true.
OP, I'd be more worried about the transmission than anything else.
Not sure what kind of load you're thinking about, but I'd just rent a pickup truck for towing duty.
Good luck.

Dan

 

[tjc78]

I should have read the manual before jumping into print. Says right there "this vehicle is not recommended for trailer towing" (sect.5-64)
I wonder why?I have the 3.8 V6 and HP and torque are more than my old Marquis, which could tow up to 2000 lbs.

The Grand Marquis was/is a body on frame vehicle that alone would make it more suitable than the Genesis for pulling a trailer. Those Panther platform vehicles (Town Car, Crown Vic, Grand Marq) are really robust and tough.