I have a 1995 F150 Extra Cab 2WD. How much can I tow? I am looking to buy a fishing boat that ways about 7000 pounds (total)Can my truck pull this beast? If so what would you rec I do to make it a better ride? The boat is 20' long and sits on a twin axle trailer. My friend recomends I purchase an air ride system for it.
Thanks for you help,
John

 

I would check with your dealer but I suspect that your f-150 will not pull 7000 lbs without out doing significant damage to your tranny. I also suspect you probably have a small V8 in that truck and will not give you the power that you need to tow that much wait. I could be wrong but I know I would not attempt to tow that kind of weight with anything less than a F-250.

Your problem is also braking. While i am sure your trailer with have electric brakes your truck will still be significantly taxed in the braking department as well..

These are just my thoughts. I tow a 2000 lb horse trailer with rwo horses (1500lb each) and will only ever do it with at least a F-250

 

>I have a 1995 F150 Extra Cab 2WD. How much can I tow? I am
>looking to buy a fishing boat that ways about 7000 pounds
>(total)Can my truck pull this beast? If so what would you
>rec I do to make it a better ride? The boat is 20' long and
>sits on a twin axle trailer. My friend recomends I purchase
>an air ride system for it.
>Thanks for you help,
>John



You left out some critical information that we need to give you some help.

What motor do you have? What transmission? What rear end ratio? Factory trailer package?

7k is alot of weight, but with the right equipment it could be done.
I have a '93 F150, and occasionally I tow around 6500lbs without any problems. I have overload springs, which help a CONSIDER amount. Air bag's are do the same thing, but are more expensive. Does the trailer have brakes? I assume it does, since most states requre trailer brakes on 2k+ lbs trailers.




'93 F-150 loaded and modified!

Several other project vehicles

 

You're probably ok, but you should check your owners manual before you buy the boat. 7k pounds sounds like a lot of weight for a 20 footer. Your weight estimate may be high. How much tongue weight do you figure? The typical 10% would put it at 700 pounds. Thats alot for a lighter duty truck, especially important since most boat trailers don't have equalizer bars. Air ride would certainly help. Get a good hitch too.

Yeah, your truck should be able to pull it - my little brother could pull his 28' Cigarette (about 9k pounds) with an F150 4WD. The tongue weight made the truck squat big time. You've probably got enough motor to pull it, but how about braking power? He traded for an F250. Says it feels much better pulling it. Make sure you add up the weight of all the additional goodies you intend to have in the boat and truck enroute to the ramp - you, gas, beer, water, wife, kids, girlfriend, etc. and make sure it doesn't exceed the Gross Combined Weight Rating listed on the trucks door jam. Ensure your hitch is fully rated for the weight you intend to pull, and make sure the boat trailer brakes work properly - many don't. In my towing experience, Brakes are the biggest asset you have. F150 brakes aren't all that robust. From an insurance liability point of view, if your rig is in an overloaded condition, and you are involved in an accident, the possiblity exists that your loss may or may not be covered. Also factor in how far are you going to tow the boat? We've all seen overloaded vehicles pulling trailers without incident, but I wouldn't want to risk it - especially if I owed money on them.

Comment on the weight of that 20' 7k pound fishing boat. My 27' Formula with twin V8's sitting on a 3 axle trailer is about 8.5k (includes 100 gallons of gas) at the local truck stop scales. I would think a typical 20 footer fishin' boat would be about 4500 max on the trailer.

Chris
'88 F350 XLT Lariat CC/DRW/460/4.10/C6

 

 

the '95 f-150 sc 4x4 I used to have was rated at 7200 I believe but it had the 5.8l and the AT. and 4:10 gears. I Pulled trailer that heavy before the brakes were a little week but I never had a problem.