I'm trying to decide what truck to buy to pull my 1976 24' travel trailer. It weighs around 6300#.

Is it possible to beef up my 1997 F150? It pulls it now but I don't want to kill it.

Thanks for any info.
sp

 

What engine does it have. Is it 4x4? Does it have the factory tow package? An oil cooler and tranny coller would help alot.
Jimmy

 

The basic differences between the light duty trucks (150, 250 ld and 150 7700) and the Super Duty Trucks, is the super duty's have solid alxes front and rear (where applicable) heavier springs, sway bars front and rear, full floating 10.5 or heavier rear axles, heavier wheels, stronger frame, slightly stronger automatic, much stronger manual transmissions, and much bigger brakes.

 

Jimmy,

It is an XLT xtra cab 4X4 with 4.6L, off road package, and factory tow package. I'm not sure about the other stuff. I haven't really gotten into it as yet.

aldridgec,

So, the basic differences between the light duty trucks (150, 250 ld and 150 7700) is what?

Thanks
sp

 

The F250 LD and newer F150 with 7700 package can carry more weight and tow a little more as well. The springs and brakes are heavier on them.

Your truck will pull your trailer but your 4.6 will be working hard.

I have a 5.4 F250 LD, my neighbor had a 4.6 F250 LD and we both pulled the same heavy duty double axle trailer. He claimed he never pulled it much faster then 65 mph. With the 5.4, I had no problem pulling it up to 80 mph and cruising in overdrive. I had higher gears then he did but my 5.4 didn't seem to mind.

The frontal area on your trailer is what is going to kill your performance along with that 6300 lb.

How much and how far are you going?

 

Dan,

I'll pull the camper about 12 times per year. I just pulled it to and from Dover Delaware from home(Connecticut) and it didn't seem to mind. I use a weight distribution system and most of the time I have to look in the mirror to see if it is still there. I just don't want the truck to start falling apart on me, know what I mean?

Steve

 

The F250 LDs had a variety of options packages. I think you could get the 4.6 and 4r70w tranny among others. THey might of even had the lighter duty rear.

THe 7700 has extra cooling, bigger battery/alternator, more front and rear spring capacity, bigger semifloating rear axle and heavier wheel/tire combo. All 7700s have the 5.4, but not all have the 4r100 like they should.

 

I think that you will do just fine. I would watch the tranny fluid pretty closely. But if you pull it OK, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

I think the 7700's have 7 lug wheels instead of 5or 8. That's what is shown in the 2003 brochure anyway.
Jimmy

 

The 7700's and F250LDs both have the 7 lug wheels

 

Guys, Thanks for the information, it is very helpful.

Any idea what year they started making the 7700?

Steve

 

The 7700 pkg came out in 2000 after the SD's were introduced. In 1999 they were still called (LD) F250's. You can use the term 'light duty' loosely, I had an 01 7700 and it was a heavy duty truck in my opinion. They don't feel like a regular 150 at all.

 

Just as a heads up:

If you do decide on the LD or 7700, and do a lot of the maintenance on the vehicle yourself, you have to be careful about some of the parts you get. I've not experienced it yet, but it appears some of the parts houses don't know what a 7700 or LD is and will try to give you regular F150 parts. This seems to apply more to the brakes and axles, than anything else. It's that darned 7 lug pattern and the 10.25" rear being on these trucks that just throw people off.

Love the truck, feels solid and I don't have the larger truck payment (like $25 more a month, but tack on gas, insurance, and licensing and it's close to $75).

Good luck

-Kerry

 

Good tip Kerry....if they dont ask you if it's a 7700 or not when you go for brake parts etc you might think about going somewhere else

 

More concisely, the 7700 came out apparently because there was alot of confusion/overlap between a 250 LD (or just a 250) and the f150, because of the superdutys. It was clear that it seemed ALL 250's were superdutys, mostly noticeable because of its different looks and bigger running gear. Since the LD 250 "looked" like an f150 with the only easily visible difference being the 7 lug wheels and 250 emblems (which are really easy to see going down the road), Ford (this is unofficial, but the most consistent theory) changed the 250 LD to a 7700 f150. This reduced redundancy between the models, and made a niche for the 7700. Just being an f250 didn't guarantee you much, as I think many of them came with smaller axles (8.8), and could have the 4.6. A 7700 always came with a 5.4 and 10.25 rear (as far as I know). F250 LD's have been available since the F150 changed in 1997. When the SD's were introduced in 99, they changed to the 7700 the following year.

Typcially a heavy duty truck has full floating axles. Doubtful I could ever break the 1.5 inch axle shafts in the 7700, but the Full floating seems to be the single distiguishing factor.

Chris