Tow max of a 2004 4.0L?
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Location: Woodbury, Minnesota
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Manuals are lower rated than automatics because the clutch is the limiting factor. A Ford acceptance test requires that a vehicle must be able to launch at GCWR from rest on a steep test grade. An automatic uses the torque multiplication of the converter to nearly double the available torque into the transmission at launch. The manual, on the other hand, must waste part of its available power to heat loss through the clutch during the critical initial part of the launch from rest.
If you took a 4.0L auto and a 4.0L manual and loaded both to 9500 Gross Combined Weight Rating and tried to launch them on the Ford test slope, the automatic would slowly crawl away while the manual smoked its clutch into oblivion.
Obviously, the situation is not nearly so problematic for the manual when launching on level ground. However, for liability, warranty and customer satisfaction reasons, Ford's maximum tow ratings must consider performance in the worst case scenario.
If you took a 4.0L auto and a 4.0L manual and loaded both to 9500 Gross Combined Weight Rating and tried to launch them on the Ford test slope, the automatic would slowly crawl away while the manual smoked its clutch into oblivion.
Obviously, the situation is not nearly so problematic for the manual when launching on level ground. However, for liability, warranty and customer satisfaction reasons, Ford's maximum tow ratings must consider performance in the worst case scenario.
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