I have a `95 F-150/ 5 spd. man./ 4.9L I-6/ 3.08 rear ratio/ reg. cab/ long bed. I've posted under the towing section here before and never really got what I was lookin' for so I thought I'd try the "engine people" . I race go-karts and I have a two kart operation. Ideally I'd like a trailer between 12'-16'. I found a great deal on a 16' trailer but I am getting cold feet because it exceeds my GVWR. The curb weight of the trailer is around 2500lbs. and will have on the inside: a cabinet up front/ tire racks on the side/ couple 5hp engines/ and two kart stands. I'm guessing the total weight of the trailer when loaded would be around 4500 lbs. max (of course I'm not real good at the guessing game sometimes). I've heard that my engine can handle this just fine but when I look in the manual it only allows me a 2300lbs. trailer. My brothers 4cyl. chevy sonoma is rated for 3000lbs. I thought that was ludacris so I asked around and found that it was probably because my truck was a manual tranny and that the clutch was the weak point. So, if you're still with me, after reading that background can anyone tell me what the heck will work with my truck? Could I just replace the clutch with a more heavy duty clutch for my towing needs? A new truck is basically out of the question because I'm still a "poor college kid". Any advice would be useful here. I'm slightly frustrated lol.

Thanks,
Landon

 

You've got 2 problems. The weak clutch is certainly an issue, but the 3.08 gears aggravate the problem by putting more load on the clutch when you try to get a load moving. Your tow rating goes way up with 3.55 gears, but still not what you'd like.

 

Is it possible for me to go to 4.10 gears? Would this be beneficial?

 

I have a similar truck with the 3.55 rear end. I do not feel this will pull well enough for you. A rear ratio of 3.70 or greater will probably be best and use more fuel. The 4.11 will tow well, but will use much more fuel. If your truck is a 4x4 both the front and rear differentials will need to be changed.

 

Here is my old combo on my 94 F150 4x4, rc/lb, 4.9, 5spd, 3.08, and 31x10.50's. Now here is what I haul, 26ft travel trailer (4600lbs empty), Yamaha Grizzly(@600 lbs), 14 boat, motor, and gear on boat rack(@500lbs), and other misc. gear (food, beer, etc..).

Now this is no speed demon, but it will haul all this and maintain 55mph (don't like to go much faster anyway with a travel trailer) in 4th. You do have to drive the truck now, like prepare for hills (down shift and accelerate), and don't expect to pass anyone.

I did this atleast once a month in the summer and fall, sometimes more, for the last 4 yrs. I would do it again, but if you are able, I would change the gear ratio to min 3.55, prefer 3.73, would not bother with 4.10, your day to day driving will suffer.

My 93 5.0 e40d, 3.55 ,235 tires, pulls the same combo with relative ease, but burns almost 1/4 tank more.

 

I appreciate all the feedback... I think I'll play it safe and stick with a 6x10 or 6x12 with trailer brakes. Don't want the legal liability. Thanks again ya'll.

Landon

 

Hello, I don't advise using 4.10 gears with the 4.9 because this is a low rpm motor and will run about 2700 rpm at 55mph in 4th gear which is wound pretty tight.I switched my truck to this and was not satisfied at all.

 

Another weak point to consider is the rear bumper i also have a 1995 with the 6 and 5spd but mines a supercab with the 8' box. Last time i looked the stock rear bumper is rated to 3000pounds. The truck itself should be up to the task i had 3000 pounds in the bed this past summer and still made it up hills just fine in 4th gear. Like some said before me an old 6 will do it but you wont set any speed records.

 

you just need to make sure and stick under you GCWR NOT your GVWR. the GCWR for your truck is 2800 lbs + the GVWR then subtract curb weight from that total and you get your total tow rating.

 

If you have a hitch/bumber rated at 5000 lbs or more you should easily be able to tow a 6x12 with or without electronic brakes. I currently work part time at UHAUL while I go to school and have towed our 6X12 trailer with surge brakes only and my F100 w/ 240 at the time handled it just fine, braking didn't suffer too much either.

 

I tow a 7X14 box trailer with my inline 6, doing 55-60, not sure what i have in the rear, but my trailer is dual axle, and prolly weighs somewhere around 4500-5000. It tows just fine. Make sure u install a class 3 hitch though, or else ur gonna rip the bumper right off. Also this is an F-250 so it may be different for your 150 suspension wise.

 

I would swap in a set of 3.73s, install an 11" heavy duty clutch, and install a class III receiver hitch. It should tow like a dream! I have 4.10s with 33s in my 84 F150 4x4 with a 4spd, I towed another 4x4 F150 on a 16' trailer was easily able maintain 65 mph. If I had to i could run 75 pretty easily.

 

All I know is that altough my truck is an 1985 F-250 auto w/3.55 rear gear (2wd), the 300 6 would have no problem yanking a 16 ft trailer with 2 go karts on it. I wouldn't even know it's back there. I recently hauled a 1998 Ford Crown Victoria on a trailer with no problems. I say that your truck could handle a 16 ft trailer especially after a little modification.

 

the 4.9L will tow that trailer just fine. The issue here is the rest of the drive train. You would be happier with an auto tranny, in my opinion, pulling that weight.

Perhaps looking in the apropriate forums, for towing or axles would be of better help.

And now a Minor rant...

And as for U-haul, I don't have much confidence in the corporation. Wouldn't let me tow any of their trailers because my 1981 F-150, came with the Explorer trim and option package, and had badges and a hood ornament on it that said Explorer.

Placing my 1981 F-150 in the same class as the Explorer SUV is stupid, just because a trim package on my F-150 and the newer SUV share the same name.

They told me if I took my badges off my truck, I could tow their trailers. I told them where to put their idea, and went to another rental place, where they DID know the difference between, a SUV, and a option package on a 1986 or earlier F-150, F-250, or F-350.

End rant...

 

I have a 1988 F150 4x4 w/ the 300 I6 4sp and just installed a Cat 3 Hitch. I didn't have any problems towing my 1947 Ford 8N tractor (1.2 tons) on a 16' dual axle trailer in 2wd. I definitely wouldn't haul from the bumper though.