Towing Help
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 251
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From: Sedalia, MO
Towing Help
Honestly, my truck is for fun - not for work. I will probably tow a couple times in my life and will use the 4x4 strictly for the joy of it but in two months my daughters and I are moving home when my hubs deploys again and will be gone for around a year. The military doesn't move us if isn't official orders so I'm packing it all up myself and moving it back.
2010 XLT SCREW 4.6 V8 3.63 7000 GVWR
How much can it tow?
Is the tow weight weight of trailer+weight of items ONLY or do you add the weight in the truck, too? How do I calculate this?
Last time the military moved us the truck driver told me our HHG were about 5,500 lbs and we might be closer to 6000 lbs now - should I have a problem towing that?
Does anyone have a guesstimate on MPGs towing? I'm thinking 8 mpg - does that sound realistic?
Thanks in advance!
2010 XLT SCREW 4.6 V8 3.63 7000 GVWR
How much can it tow?
Is the tow weight weight of trailer+weight of items ONLY or do you add the weight in the truck, too? How do I calculate this?
Last time the military moved us the truck driver told me our HHG were about 5,500 lbs and we might be closer to 6000 lbs now - should I have a problem towing that?
Does anyone have a guesstimate on MPGs towing? I'm thinking 8 mpg - does that sound realistic?
Thanks in advance!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Gvwr is max weight on the truck, including.tounge weight of the trailer, full tank of fuel and all occupants and gear in and on the truck. Gcwr is the trucks Gvwr plus the max that the trailer can weigh. You will have to look up the max Gcwr, then subtract the Gvwr to determine the max weight that the trailer can weigh. I don't advocate towing over weight rating, but I have done it many a time without incident. If you break something, or get in an accident, it is entirely on you.
I imagine that you should be fine at that weight, bit checking on the Gcwr is advised.
I imagine that you should be fine at that weight, bit checking on the Gcwr is advised.
Hotshot
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10,459
Likes: 10
From: RVA
According to the specs sheet:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/20...d-f-150-1.html
your setup is rated to tow up to 9,300lbs.
That weight is the trailer and its contents, not taking into account the truck itself. Your Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is 15,100lbs, which is your truck, your family, your gear in the truck, and the total weight of the trailer and what's in the trailer.
Do you have the towing package? 4-pin adn 7-pin connector? If you do, you also have the upgraded trans cooler, etc.
Pulling 8-9klbs is going to tax the 4.6L pretty heavily, depending on your terrain. 8mpg is probably pretty accurate.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/20...d-f-150-1.html
your setup is rated to tow up to 9,300lbs.
That weight is the trailer and its contents, not taking into account the truck itself. Your Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is 15,100lbs, which is your truck, your family, your gear in the truck, and the total weight of the trailer and what's in the trailer.
Do you have the towing package? 4-pin adn 7-pin connector? If you do, you also have the upgraded trans cooler, etc.
Pulling 8-9klbs is going to tax the 4.6L pretty heavily, depending on your terrain. 8mpg is probably pretty accurate.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 1
From: South Jersey
According to the tow guide your truck can tow 9300# for a 145" SCrew 4x4 with a 373 rear axle gear. With a 355 axle rear the tow limit is 7700# and this is with the 3V 4.6 V8. As was already mentioned, you have to subtract the weight of cargo, fuel and passengers from the maximum tow weight and that is what the truck can tow, but 9300 sounds like a lot for a small V8 to tow to me, but that is the rating. Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 251
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From: Sedalia, MO
Thanks guys. It does seem like a lot of weight... is it safe to go from never towing on a transmission to towing a heavy load... should I try to break it in?
I honestly don't know if I have the towing package - it has all the right hookups in back (the place to plug in the trailer and the hitch) so yes? But I don't have a trailer brake installed.
Now I have to go do some math... fun Appreciate all the help!!
And the axel ratio is 373. Sorry - dumb mistake
I honestly don't know if I have the towing package - it has all the right hookups in back (the place to plug in the trailer and the hitch) so yes? But I don't have a trailer brake installed.
Now I have to go do some math... fun
Appreciate all the help!!And the axel ratio is 373. Sorry - dumb mistake
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 790
Likes: 3
From: Ontario, OH
with that much weight you will definitely need the trailer brake controller which requires the 7 pin connector.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,490
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From: Arizona/Texas
Honestly, my truck is for fun - not for work. I will probably tow a couple times in my life and will use the 4x4 strictly for the joy of it but in two months my daughters and I are moving home when my hubs deploys again and will be gone for around a year. The military doesn't move us if isn't official orders so I'm packing it all up myself and moving it back.
2010 XLT SCREW 4.6 V8 3.63 7000 GVWR
How much can it tow?
Is the tow weight weight of trailer+weight of items ONLY or do you add the weight in the truck, too? How do I calculate this?
Last time the military moved us the truck driver told me our HHG were about 5,500 lbs and we might be closer to 6000 lbs now - should I have a problem towing that?
Does anyone have a guesstimate on MPGs towing? I'm thinking 8 mpg - does that sound realistic?
Thanks in advance!
2010 XLT SCREW 4.6 V8 3.63 7000 GVWR
How much can it tow?
Is the tow weight weight of trailer+weight of items ONLY or do you add the weight in the truck, too? How do I calculate this?
Last time the military moved us the truck driver told me our HHG were about 5,500 lbs and we might be closer to 6000 lbs now - should I have a problem towing that?
Does anyone have a guesstimate on MPGs towing? I'm thinking 8 mpg - does that sound realistic?
Thanks in advance!
Your not going to be able to get a full 6000 lbs on one trip with a uhaul trailer. How far are you going? Unless you can find a much bigger trailer, your looking at multiple trips unless you rent a large truck.
Been there done that on the self moves. Just moved my son a few months ago. I was considering 2 trips with a trailer behind my truck, but after some smart thinking, decided it was cheaper to rent a big truck and haul it in one load.
Good luck. Wish we were closer, I'd come over and help you out. I know it's allot of hard work doing a move by yourself.
Last edited by msgtord; Aug 22, 2011 at 09:30 PM. Reason: add:
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 251
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From: Sedalia, MO
Interesting - I think you are right. I don't know if I will find a trailer big enough. Dang. Guess I might have to end up towing my husband's Explorer and getting someone to drive a uhaul truck. It is about a 300 mile trip, so I'd like to do it one swift run. I really didn't want to have to rent one of those big trucks but looks like that might be my only option. Grr! I was going to have my brother drive my husband's truck but looks like he might be on Uhaul truck duty.
BTW - really appreciate that link up there. I had no idea my truck had those capacities. Will never come that close but towing the explorer (on the "flat bed" that uhaul offers) should be fun Kind of excited to use my truck for what is really meant for
If his explorer weighs 4,500 lbs + trailer weight, will I be fine without the trailer brake? How much do those cost to have installed? Any ideas?
BTW - really appreciate that link up there. I had no idea my truck had those capacities. Will never come that close but towing the explorer (on the "flat bed" that uhaul offers) should be fun
Kind of excited to use my truck for what is really meant for If his explorer weighs 4,500 lbs + trailer weight, will I be fine without the trailer brake? How much do those cost to have installed? Any ideas?
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 39,979
Likes: 1,512
From: Maine, Virginia
Interesting - I think you are right. I don't know if I will find a trailer big enough. Dang. Guess I might have to end up towing my husband's Explorer and getting someone to drive a uhaul truck. It is about a 300 mile trip, so I'd like to do it one swift run. I really didn't want to have to rent one of those big trucks but looks like that might be my only option. Grr! I was going to have my brother drive my husband's truck but looks like he might be on Uhaul truck duty.
BTW - really appreciate that link up there. I had no idea my truck had those capacities. Will never come that close but towing the explorer (on the "flat bed" that uhaul offers) should be fun Kind of excited to use my truck for what is really meant for
If his explorer weighs 4,500 lbs + trailer weight, will I be fine without the trailer brake? How much do those cost to have installed? Any ideas?
BTW - really appreciate that link up there. I had no idea my truck had those capacities. Will never come that close but towing the explorer (on the "flat bed" that uhaul offers) should be fun
Kind of excited to use my truck for what is really meant for If his explorer weighs 4,500 lbs + trailer weight, will I be fine without the trailer brake? How much do those cost to have installed? Any ideas?
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,504
Likes: 652
From: Sioux Falls Area
just throwing it out as an option. but there are other places that will rent you trailers. sometimes trailer dealers have loaners that can be had.
another option is to haul your exploder on a uhaul. this would save you the expense of installing a brake controller you may not use again. the uhaul trailers all have hydraulic surge brakes, so it would be safe to haul without additional expense.
you could haul two trailers, one with the truck, and one with the exploder. but, as of my last check, uhaul will not rent you a trailer if you plan to haul it with an explorer. maybe their policies have changed, but they told me "no" a couple years ago and I havn't been back since.
good luck on your move!
another option is to haul your exploder on a uhaul. this would save you the expense of installing a brake controller you may not use again. the uhaul trailers all have hydraulic surge brakes, so it would be safe to haul without additional expense.
you could haul two trailers, one with the truck, and one with the exploder. but, as of my last check, uhaul will not rent you a trailer if you plan to haul it with an explorer. maybe their policies have changed, but they told me "no" a couple years ago and I havn't been back since.
good luck on your move!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,490
Likes: 16
From: Arizona/Texas
just throwing it out as an option. but there are other places that will rent you trailers. sometimes trailer dealers have loaners that can be had.
another option is to haul your exploder on a uhaul. this would save you the expense of installing a brake controller you may not use again. the uhaul trailers all have hydraulic surge brakes, so it would be safe to haul without additional expense.
you could haul two trailers, one with the truck, and one with the exploder. but, as of my last check, uhaul will not rent you a trailer if you plan to haul it with an explorer. maybe their policies have changed, but they told me "no" a couple years ago and I havn't been back since.
good luck on your move!
another option is to haul your exploder on a uhaul. this would save you the expense of installing a brake controller you may not use again. the uhaul trailers all have hydraulic surge brakes, so it would be safe to haul without additional expense.
you could haul two trailers, one with the truck, and one with the exploder. but, as of my last check, uhaul will not rent you a trailer if you plan to haul it with an explorer. maybe their policies have changed, but they told me "no" a couple years ago and I havn't been back since.
good luck on your move!
You are still correct in that uhaul will not rent a trailer to tow behind an Explorer.
U-Haul has chosen not to rent behind this tow vehicle based on our history of excessive costs in defending lawsuits involving Ford Explorer towing combinations. This policy is not related to safety issues. This is an unusual circumstance for U-Haul – we have built our success for over 60 years by saying 'yes' to our customers. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and are committed to working with our customers to find alternative options to help with their move.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,594
Likes: 144
From: SE Georgia
I would go with the bigger u-haul truck and tow the Exploder behind it. Your F-150 will do the job...but for a few extra bucks, you can use equipment that can handle the job easier and not place the strain on your truck
I did this 10 yrs back to PCS from SC to Seattle using my Bronco. The 24ft U-Haul didn't really know the bronco was back there.
As a bonus, the diesel in the U-haul got better MPG loaded than a 20ft gasser U-haul I've also rented for a later PCS that we towed our F-150 with.
I did this 10 yrs back to PCS from SC to Seattle using my Bronco. The 24ft U-Haul didn't really know the bronco was back there.
As a bonus, the diesel in the U-haul got better MPG loaded than a 20ft gasser U-haul I've also rented for a later PCS that we towed our F-150 with.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 790
Likes: 3
From: Ontario, OH
with the explorer in a car dolly you may not need a trailer brake controller. I know in PA that any trailer with a GVWR of 3000# and above you are required to have a trailer brake. if you already have the 7 pin connector you should be able to pick up the controller and relay from ford for fairly cheap, if all you have is a 4 pin connector you can pick up the 7 pin connector and break controller for under $200. if you have basic mechanical/ electrical knowledge it's not a hard install, its just a matter of finding the correct wires on the back of the truck for the specific function. ie brake light/ turn signal wires.