Friends,
Have a 97 F150, 4.2L. Sticker claims 5500 max rating. I found some web sites that state that it's only around 1800. This will not do. I just got rid of a 6500 pound TT and was taking that dough to spend on a 21 footer that weighs 2500. Am I fooling myself or do I have to go elk hunting in a 3 man dome tent....what about the elk I may get...how do I get him in the freezer??? All those *&%$#@ commercials showing ford trucks pulling the titanic are getting on my nerves...lol. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

Better get on over to Cabella's or Sierra Trading Post.

Here's a couple of links you might find useful in calculating ACTUAL configurations:

http://www.rversonline.org/ArtWtandBal.html
http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/weight/index.html

 

A lot of people are buying used F150 trucks without a manual.
This chart is from 1999 and is sorted from leastest to mostest.

Engine.Cab...Trans...Axle...Drive..Trailer(lbs)

4.6....SUP....MAN....3.08....4X4....1700
4.6....REG....MAN....3.08....4X4....1800
4.2....REG....MAN....3.31....4X4....1900
4.6....SUP....MAN....3.08....4X2....2000
4.2....SUP....MAN....3.08....4X2....2100
4.6....REG....MAN....3.08....4X2....2300
4.2....REG....MAN....3.08....4X2....2500
4.6....SUP....MAN....3.55....4X4....3000
4.6....REG....MAN....3.55....4X4....3100
4.2....REG....MAN....3.55....4X4....3200
4.6....SUP....MAN....3.55....4X2....3300
4.2....SUP....MAN....3.55....4X2....3400
4.6....REG....MAN....3.55....4X2....3500
4.2....REG....MAN....3.55....4X2....3600

4.2....SUP....AUTO...3.31....4X2....4600
4.2....REG....AUTO...3.31....4X2....4800
4.2....REG....AUTO...3.55....4X4....5400
4.6....SUP....AUTO...3.08....4X2....5500
4.6....REG....AUTO...3.08....4X2....5600
4.2....SUP....AUTO...3.55....4X2....5600
4.2....REG....AUTO...3.55....4X2....5800
4.6....SUP....AUTO...3.55/17.4X4...6100
5.4....SUP....AUTO...3.08....4X2....6300
4.6....REG....AUTO...3.55/17.4X4...6300
5.4....REG....AUTO...3.08....4X2....6600
4.6....SUP....AUTO...3.55/16.4X4...6600
4.6....REG....AUTO...3.55/16.4X4...6800
4.6....SUP....AUTO...3.55....4X2....7000
4.6....REG....AUTO...3.55....4X2....7200
5.4....SUP....AUTO...3.55/16.4X4...7700
5.4....SUP....AUTO...3.73/17.4X4...7700
5.4....REG....AUTO...3.55/17.4X4...7800
5.4....REG....AUTO...3.55/16.4X4...7900
5.4....SUP....AUTO...3.55....4X2....8000
5.4....REG....AUTO...3.55....4X2....8300

 

The biggest question is do you have a stick or an auto? The manual trannies in the f150's are pretty weak. You do have the smallest engine, which means you either have at most a 2wd supercab or a 4x4 regular cab.

 

Right track Chris.... not to mention that the tow rating doesn't take into account how much you may be hauling in the cab or bed.

A better number to go by is the gross combined weight rating. This is the number that both the truck and trailer can weigh when loaded to the gills. When you subtract out how much you put in to the truck (gas and gear plus you and anybody else..etc.) Then you'll find out how much you can really tow. A V-6 at it's max rating had a GCWR of 10,000 with 3.55 and auto. Subtract a regular cab 4x2 truck (I believe it's 4100 lbs for an empty XL), add me, my gear and a tank of gas (about 1000lbs.... and I'm not being generous), this tells me me with those options you should have no problem towing a 2500lb trailer. You must also take into account front cross sectional area (how much wind is that trailer seeing?) the larger the nose, the "heavier" the trailer will seem, especially in a head wind. Overall it sounds like the sticker is about a 1000lbs higher than what you should safely consider towing.

You didn't ask for an opinion, but I'm going to give you one anyway... unless you live where there are absolutely no hills, no wind or like to be passed by 18 wheelers, that older V-6 ain't going to like you for long towing a travel trailer, regardless of the weight.

-Kerry

 

Thanks for the replies. In a way I'm depressed, but I couldn't put any more dough into that 82 F250...heck, didn't even know how fast I was going or how much gas I had. I just didn't want to have to resort to a "pop up" trailer. I've got a tent!!! There is one 17' TT that weighs I believe 1800 lbs. but that's without anything in it. Here's an idea...let's say I buy a 300+ hp 5.0L out of summit racing and throw in a Richmond five speed coupled to some 3.73 gears.....anyone have any cash they'd like to donate...lol...seriously though...thanks for the comments guys.

 

Hey Doc, what tranny do you have, auto or manual?

 

Manual...that mazda 5 speed, just got off the horn with Ford Engineering...they said 2300# max trailer taking into consideration a fully loaded truck. Guess I'll have to build a TT out of bamboo and balsa wood...lol...hey, maybe there's a market for that...doubt the banks would give a small business loan for that little venture...lol