We're looking at buying a lite trailer about 5000 lb w/ all the options on it. I have a 2001 Expedition w/4.6 and a factory tow package. When we bought it they said I could tow up to about 7000. Now I can't find anything to support that. All I can find in my owner's manual is 5900. But I thought with the tow package I could tow more.
The label on my vehicle between the doors says the vehicle's GVWR is 6700. Is that what I can tow w/the tow package?
My husband's truck is a 1997 F150 Supercab w/a tow package and he can tow 7000, but he has 180,000 miles and we might not always want to use his truck.
Thanks!

 

The towing package does not mean you can tow more,

Its just a package that includes the class 3 hitch, 7 and4 pin connector, tranmission cooler and aux oil cooler.

Hope this helps

Josh

 

momdawg,

First off welcome to FTE i see this is your first post, lots of good people and information around here.

Here is a link to the 2002 FMC trailer towing guide (couldn't find a link for the 2001 but they are basically the same), it is in PDF format.
http://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/r...02_default.asp

Second go to this link in the Super Duty Tech folder and it has a good write up on trailer towing and loads www.clubfte.com/users/monsta/safeloading.html

Use the search function on this site on trailering and loading and you will find a lot of information to read.

Also you can go to RV.net for some good RV and towing info.

Hope this helps

 

Sure, you can tow more with a hitch....than you could with just your bumper. I have a class 3 tow hitch that allows me to safely two up to ~6000 lbs (it's what the hitch is rated for). The bumper on my truck is only rated to 2000 lbs. So yes, you can likely tow more with a tow hitch, assuming you are not exceeding the rating of your tow vehicle.

 

I have a 97 Expedition with the two package. In my owners manual it lists capacities -- with a weight distribution hitch I can two in excess of 8000 pounds. With just a normal receiver and ball it does down to around 5000 pounds. Since I am towing a 2 horse trailer that hits 5000 when loaded, I went for the extra WD hitch (and sway bars) just to add some safety margin.

If yoiu mounted a ball on the bumper itself, that has its own lower weight capacity. The factory tow package gives you the hitch to connect the WD and it adds features like better gear ratio and transmission oil cooler that reduce the load on the SUV from pulling that around.

 

I pulled the guts out of my '97 F-150 w/4.6 pulling my toy hauler..close to 7k fully loaded, switched up to a SD, you dont know there is a trailer behind you until you look in the mirror.