I'm convinced that the 7700 F-150 is the right choice for me as a replacement to my 98 f-150, but I don't know how to go about finding one. There are a gazillion f-150's that come up in the listings, any way to narrow it down? Can you tell from the VIN number which is which 7700 vs non 7700?

I'm looking for a 99 or 00 S/C 4x4 SB XLT Group A (no 4.10 gears!)

Thanks


Chris

 

Hey Chris, glad to see you join my CLUB!! Just bought a '00 S/C 4x4 SB XLT Group A myself.

You can narrow it down by looking in the VIN at the fourth digit. If it's a "P," you have a vehicle with a GVWR range of 7,001-8,000lbs. The non 7700 trucks have an under 7,000 lb GVWR so their letter is different. You'll need to have the VIN look something like this "_FTPX18L______" to have a supercab 4x4 with the 5.4L and the 7700 package (yes, I know all 7700's came with the 5.4) the blanks can very depending upon where they were built and when.

Also look at the F-250 LD's. I think they were produced in 1999 and will have the P and L in the same positions, but have X21 as a body code. They are the same vehicle, different badging.

Hope you find what you want. It took me some time, but I'm happy with mine

-Kerry

 

Maybe a dumb question...

If the weight of an F150 2wd is ~4600#, and the GVW is ~5400#, how is there a 7700 F150? Shouldn't that be at least an F350, or does the combination 4x4 running gear and 5.4L engine add 2000# to the weight of the truck?

Thanks to any who may be kind enough to entertain me with an answer.

/Kris

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Sep-02 AT 10:18 PM (EST)]The 7700 is a rather obscure option. As you probably know it is actually the original F250, but to eliminate confusion with the Super Duty F250, they call it an F150/7700. 7700 is the gross vehicle weight rating. Maybe somebody else will know if it affects the VIN. I believe the option code is "627" and that 16" steel wheels, LT245/75R16D tires, and the 5.4 are mandatory. The 3.73 axle is included. My information is that it is 2WD only for model year 2001, but apparently there were 4WD's earlier.

Any truck so equiped should have a red "7700" below the F150 nameplate on the tailgate. Its similar to the way that "XLT" appears on the fender F150 nameplate.

Hope this helps.

MrBSS

 

>Maybe a dumb question...
>
>If the weight of an F150 2wd is ~4600#, and the GVW is
>~5400#, how is there a 7700 F150? Shouldn't that be at
>least an F350, or does the combination 4x4 running gear and
>5.4L engine add 2000# to the weight of the truck?
>
>Thanks to any who may be kind enough to entertain me with an

I can understand your confusion, but your question applies more to the differences between 1/2 3/4 and 1 ton than f150 and 7700 f150.

a 1/2 ton truck you would assume has a 1000lb payload, 3/4ton 1500lb and 1 ton 2000lb. But here is the difference. 1/2 ton usually has less than 8800 lb GVW, 3/4 ton 8800 to 10000lb and 1 ton 10000lb and up (to 15000lb even more).

So the 1/2 3/4 and 1 ton designation is kinda ambiguous as the weight of the truck increases with the weight it can carry. So it would seem that the 2000lb increase would add "1 ton" to the truck. I don't know the exact weight of a 7700 f150 but doubt its alot more than your example. My truck currently is a RC SB 4x4 and its GVW is 6000lbs, so a 7700 truck adds 1700lbs of payload? I doubt it, but the only way to know would be to see the GVW of a 4x4 S/C SB truck, i think its like 6600 lbs though.

Hope this isn't more confusing than it is helpful.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Sep-02 AT 11:03 PM (EST)]The GVWR refers to the carrying capacity of the vehicle's suspension. The 7700 option indicates that the vehicle, when loaded to its max capacity, will be able to carry 7700lbs. This includes the dry weight of the truck, fluids (gas, oil, water), occupants, and payload. To find out how much you can carry in payload (not trailering but bed weight) subtract the total weight of the vehicle including the fluids and the occupants from the 7700lb rating.

The VIN gives indication of the weight class as a requirement of federal law. It is used to determine what type of braking system is required. I used this as a way to determine if the truck has the 7700 option since it is the only Ford truck that falls into the 7,001-8,000lb category. In Wasington state they also use this part of the VIN to determine how much your tabs are for you license plates. The more you can carry, the more you're taxed.

To assist in entertaining Kris about the GVWR of the trucks...
F-250 SD max GVWR is 8,800lbs
F-350 single rear wheel max GVRW is 9,900lbs
F-350 dual rear wheel max GVRW is 11,500lbs
F-150 4x2 reg cab w/8 ft bed and 4.2L engine was 6050lbs. The truck itself weighed around 4000lbs. I wouldn't try putting anywhere near a ton in the bed of that truck, but this is what the Ford Commercial Vehicle brochure says. The highest GVWR optioned F-150 other than the 7700 was the S'Crew at 6750lbs. So the GVWR varies depending upon what the truck's intended use was (by tire size, weight class, suspension component rating, gearing, and engine size).

The books I have indicate the 7700lb option was available for 4x4's since it's inception, but only in the 139" wheel base and non-supercrew forms.

Anymore questions about Ford trucks....this is the place.

-Kerry

 

Your information on the VIN is invaluable! Thanks! Whats nice is alot of sellers don't even realize they have a 7700 for MY '00 so it doesn't cost more!

Chris

 

The VIN# info is helpful - I didn't even realize there was a difference.

Also, if you see a vehicle up for sale in a lot or by a private owner, a quick way to tell if it's a 7700 is that it has 7-bolt wheels - I don't think any other Fords use that pattern. The older ones were labeled F250, but the new 7700s just have the tiny red letters on the tailgate...which are tough to see when you're driving by a truck parked alongside the road. Of course, you probably already know that if you've looked at a couple of them.

I have an '02 7700 4x4 (regular cab), and so far I love the truck - great on the highway, and can still haul a load. I'm not sure what a supercab weighs, but my regular-cab weighs about 4,900-5,000 lbs. empty which leaves a payload of about 2,700-2,800 pounds. I've only had 2,000 pounds in it so far, but it handled it without any problems (it doesn't squat and get loose handling like my non-7700 F150 did). The drawback is that the truck is pretty tail-high from the factory - I actually measured it, and the bed was even a little taller than the SRW F350 sitting next to it (the 2wd is much lower). It makes it tough to load, but I think it'd still be fine for gooseneck trailers and such. Another minor drawback I can think of is that you can't find 7-bolt aftermarket wheels...you're pretty much stuck with what it comes with.

What else...I have the 3.73 gears w/limited slip, and in mixed driving get about 14mpg - though I can pull out 16-17mpg on highway trips. The only real complaint I have about the truck is that the brakes don't seem up to the payload - investing in aftermarket rotors would probably be a good idea.

But, overall it has been a good truck.

LK

 

It's nice to have the people selling them not know what they have. Hopefully they won't be the same people servicing the vehicle for you .

My dealer knew what he had because I requested the model. Cost me about a grand more than a compareable non-7700 model. My search took me two months and I found a '99 F250 LD (that was out of my price range, I guess because of the F250 badge) and an '01 F150 7700 (that the dealer didn't want to deal on). That's out of all the '99-'02 F150's in the Seattle-Tacoma area. I ended up with a truck from Kamloops, BC. Dealer had it shipped in. If I hadn't bought it, they already had another customer in line to buy it. You know you have a killer truck when everybody wants it.

Priced a new one with nearly the same options on-line (some stuff they don't offer anymore like the single CD, Island Blue paint in the F150 line, interior fabrics). It would have cost me close to $35K out the door. I figured I saved a bundle in buying used.

Any other comments?

-Kerry

 

>did). The drawback is that the truck is pretty tail-high
>from the factory - I actually measured it, and the bed was
>even a little taller than the SRW F350 sitting next to it


Hmm, didn't realize it was that high, but it seems alot of f150's are tail high. Mine current truck now that I think about it sits pretty level. But it shouldn't be a big deal. The 7 lug wheels are the dead giveaway, but its tedious to look at on the pics in online ads, the vin is usually in the text listing

 

>Hmm, didn't realize it was that high, but it seems alot of
>f150's are tail high.

My 7700 sits about 4-5" (maybe even 6") higher in the rear than in the front, though I've seen other 7700 trucks which didn't seem to have quite that much 'rake' to them. Perhaps I have some sort of mutant truck with an experimental rear spring stack. I was worried it would be a problem with gooseneck or 5th-wheel trailers, but since it's only a half-inch or so higher than the SD F350 4x4 I can't imagine it would be an issue. I'm planning to put slightly larger tires on it (265/75R16 or 255/85R16, not enough to mess with lifts), but that will only raise it another inch or so.

The rear springs are quite a bit stiffer than on the non-7700 trucks...though that isn't a surprise, as it's built to handle a lot larger load. With my stock trailer on there (750-lb. tongue weight, no equalizing hitch) the rear still sits about 1-2" higher than the front...while my old F150 practically drug the bumper on the ground. It has a lot firmer ride, but I actually prefer it that way...it is a truck, after all. I keep 40psi front and 50psi rear, but when I'm hauling I bump it up to the Ford-recommended 50psi front and 60psi rear. Ford put in 40psi front & rear from the factory...not sure why they didn't use their own recommendations, unless they wanted a softer ride for when people were test-driving them. Especially considering Ford's tire history, I find it odd that they would have the rear pressure 20psi low right from the factory - I got the truck right after delivery, so I can't imagine it lost pressure sitting on the lot. Maybe they reduce pressures when they haul them to the dealer, so they don't bounce as much on the truck? Maybe I'll mention it to the dealer at some point...40psi is enough when you're running unloaded, but is way too low if you're carrying a heavy load.

LK

 

I had no idea. I thought some F150s looked a little stouter than others. Sounds kinda like the old Heavy 1/2 that Chevy made (c'mon guys cut me some slack for mentioning Chevy). In any case I'm sure most used car salesman have no idea about this.

 

What a coincidence! I just bought (Tuesday) a 2000 4X4 with this package.
It does sit a good bit higher, and is "sprung" stiffer, but really rides a lot better than my ranger xtra cab. It will also pull nearly twice as much as my wifes expy. (5.4 with 355 rear). My wife saw it and told me she found a pretty truck, and that's all I needed to hear! I had been looking for a 250 to pull our camper, but this works out really great for us.
Ford Fan!

 

Maybe there is a difference in ride heights between non 4x4 and 4x4 models. I've read the 4x4s are equiped to carry a snowplow as they have a much higher front axle GVW rating. Perhaps the 2wd ones have more rake to them. Is yours 2x or 4x?

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-Sep-02 AT 09:55 AM (EST)]I actually measured last night, and the rear of my truck is 4" higher than the front - which is the lower end of what I had guesstimated. Mine is a 4x4 regular-cab (w/the snowplow prep package), and I've noticed that the extended-cab trucks don't seem to sit as tail-high as the regular-cab trucks. I'm not exactly sure why, but a part of it is probably because they have more weight on the rear axle...though I thought Ford compensated for that with different spring rates.

Like I said, mine has the snowplow prep package on it (all 4x4 7700 trucks do now), but the front end doesn't seem to sit much higher than a 'normal' 4x4 F150 (if at all). The front end does have a higher load rating, though - 4,100-4,200 pounds, which is almost as high as the 4,800-lb. rated rear axle.

Anyway, the extended-cab trucks don't seem to sit nearly as high in the rear as the regular-cab trucks...not sure if they're really lower, or it's just an illusion because of the different body style. I'm not sure about the 2wd 7700 trucks - I haven't seen too many of them up close. The local cable company does use them so I've seen them around, but they are almost always loaded down with gear.

Funny thing, I bought my 7700 early this summer - and then a week later a local ranch bought a truck that's nearly identical to mine (white regular-cab 7700 4x4). So much for being unique!

LK