towing capacity
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2017
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towing capacity
I have researched this and am now totally confused. Just some real world numbers as I am thinking new 5th wheel RV.
My truck is 96 F-250 XLT crew cab with 7.5L and C6 automatic. I have no idea what gears, etc. My current RV has unloaded weight under 5K pounds and pulls effortlessly but am thinking toy hauler and most are kind of portly.
I think I understand the payload/tounge weight issue; considering I don't exceed these, what can I pull. Oh yeah, have 10 ply tires and super heavy duty shocks but no bags. Truck already rides like a truck. PLEASE, no math just a ball park number based on experience; math makes my head hurt as I am a Texan.
My truck is 96 F-250 XLT crew cab with 7.5L and C6 automatic. I have no idea what gears, etc. My current RV has unloaded weight under 5K pounds and pulls effortlessly but am thinking toy hauler and most are kind of portly.
I think I understand the payload/tounge weight issue; considering I don't exceed these, what can I pull. Oh yeah, have 10 ply tires and super heavy duty shocks but no bags. Truck already rides like a truck. PLEASE, no math just a ball park number based on experience; math makes my head hurt as I am a Texan.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
Likes: 1,499
From: Ottawa, Ontario
You need to find your axle gear ratio. Is the calibration decal still present on the drivers door pillar? If so post up the axle code.
Trailer tow ratings can be found in the owners manual if you have one. I have a manual for a '90 so this data is a little out of date perhaps, but it says the GCWR for a 7.5l auto truck with 3.55 gears is 15k and it's 18k with 4.10 gears. To find your max trailer weight simply subtract the loaded weigh of your truck ready to travel and that is the max trailer weight. A good ballpark for the loaded truck weight would be 7000lbs and that means you can legally tow a trailer weighing anywhere from 8000lbs to 11k depending upon gear ratio.
Trailer tow ratings can be found in the owners manual if you have one. I have a manual for a '90 so this data is a little out of date perhaps, but it says the GCWR for a 7.5l auto truck with 3.55 gears is 15k and it's 18k with 4.10 gears. To find your max trailer weight simply subtract the loaded weigh of your truck ready to travel and that is the max trailer weight. A good ballpark for the loaded truck weight would be 7000lbs and that means you can legally tow a trailer weighing anywhere from 8000lbs to 11k depending upon gear ratio.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
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From: Roseville, MN
(edit: apparently Conanski types faster than I do)
The "no math" answer is pull whatever you want. Whatever number anyone picks, someone else will say "I've pulled way more than that with no problems." The only trouble with the "no math" answer is it might not keep you out of legal trouble.
Trying to give a real answer with minimal math, you need to know your truck's axle ratio and your truck's approximate weight. My '97 F-250HD 4WD, 460 E4OD weighs 6600 lbs empty except for me and a fiberglass topper. So I'll guess 7,500 lbs for your truck loaded for a camping trip.
If you have 3.55 gears your GCWR is 15,000 lbs, so subtract the 7,500 for the loaded truck and you can pull a 7,500 lb trailer. If you have 4.10 gears the GCWR is 18,500 and you can pull an 11,000 lb trailer (these numbers are from my '97 owner's manual, should be at least really close for a '96).
The "no math" answer is pull whatever you want. Whatever number anyone picks, someone else will say "I've pulled way more than that with no problems." The only trouble with the "no math" answer is it might not keep you out of legal trouble.
Trying to give a real answer with minimal math, you need to know your truck's axle ratio and your truck's approximate weight. My '97 F-250HD 4WD, 460 E4OD weighs 6600 lbs empty except for me and a fiberglass topper. So I'll guess 7,500 lbs for your truck loaded for a camping trip.
If you have 3.55 gears your GCWR is 15,000 lbs, so subtract the 7,500 for the loaded truck and you can pull a 7,500 lb trailer. If you have 4.10 gears the GCWR is 18,500 and you can pull an 11,000 lb trailer (these numbers are from my '97 owner's manual, should be at least really close for a '96).
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,227
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From: Washington
You can download the owner manual from Ford's website, but I'll attach it here for ****s and giggles.
96f23og1e.pdf
RWD vs 4x4 matter too, but you didn't mention which. However, Ford didn't build 4x4 Crew Cabs, so the point is moot
RWD Auto 3.55 gears = 15000 Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)/9400 max trailer weight
Swap in some 4.10 gears in the rear end and your towing capacity increases to 18500 GCWR/ 12500 max trailer weight.
96f23og1e.pdf
RWD vs 4x4 matter too, but you didn't mention which. However, Ford didn't build 4x4 Crew Cabs, so the point is moot
RWD Auto 3.55 gears = 15000 Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)/9400 max trailer weight
Swap in some 4.10 gears in the rear end and your towing capacity increases to 18500 GCWR/ 12500 max trailer weight.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2017
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I currently get about 7 or 8 mpg pulling and perhaps 10 mpg with no trailer in tow. If I change to a 4.10 rear end, I suspect my mileage would go up to about 35 mpg with my old 7.5L economy engine? 
Geesh, can't imagine getting even worse gas mileage. Have to ask the missus to ride in the rv trailer so I can put a couple 5 gal gas cans up front where she would sit. Think a newer diesel will have to be the answer if I want to pull a "Queen Mary" type fiver that weighs a bunch. Wish I had money...
Geesh, can't imagine getting even worse gas mileage. Have to ask the missus to ride in the rv trailer so I can put a couple 5 gal gas cans up front where she would sit. Think a newer diesel will have to be the answer if I want to pull a "Queen Mary" type fiver that weighs a bunch. Wish I had money...
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,227
Likes: 4
From: Washington
I averaged less than 6mpg when my truck weighed about 10000lbs. I recorded 11.3mpg yesterday now that the truck is empty(5840lbs).
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I currently get about 7 or 8 mpg pulling and perhaps 10 mpg with no trailer in tow. If I change to a 4.10 rear end, I suspect my mileage would go up to about 35 mpg with my old 7.5L economy engine? Geesh, can't imagine getting even worse gas mileage. Have to ask the missus to ride in the rv trailer so I can put a couple 5 gal gas cans up front where she would sit. Think a newer diesel will have to be the answer if I want to pull a "Queen Mary" type fiver that weighs a bunch. Wish I had money...
Geesh, can't imagine getting even worse gas mileage. Have to ask the missus to ride in the rv trailer so I can put a couple 5 gal gas cans up front where she would sit. Think a newer diesel will have to be the answer if I want to pull a "Queen Mary" type fiver that weighs a bunch. Wish I had money...An F-350 diesel that is less then 7 years old is going to be anywhere from $25k-$75k. And you have to remember that fuel costs more, parts are more expensive, and annual maintenance is going to cost much more then two oil changes a year in a gas truck. But in the long run it may be worth it if you're planning to put in a lot of miles.
Now I'm not saying that a newer diesel is not going to be better then a 20 year old 460, but these are just a few things to consider before dropping a stupid amount of hard earned cash on what I feel are overpriced trucks.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20,382
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From: Mi'kma'ki
I currently get about 7 or 8 mpg pulling and perhaps 10 mpg with no trailer in tow. If I change to a 4.10 rear end, I suspect my mileage would go up to about 35 mpg with my old 7.5L economy engine? Geesh, can't imagine getting even worse gas mileage. Have to ask the missus to ride in the rv trailer so I can put a couple 5 gal gas cans up front where she would sit. Think a newer diesel will have to be the answer if I want to pull a "Queen Mary" type fiver that weighs a bunch. Wish I had money...
Geesh, can't imagine getting even worse gas mileage. Have to ask the missus to ride in the rv trailer so I can put a couple 5 gal gas cans up front where she would sit. Think a newer diesel will have to be the answer if I want to pull a "Queen Mary" type fiver that weighs a bunch. Wish I had money...
It's actually,always an answer to spend more.Driving an old 460 (even though it's so hard on fuel) is like driving for pennies on the dollar,compared to buying and driving a newer diesel truck.It's even far more environmentally friendly,to keep the older truck,than supporting the building of a new truck,due to the pollution produced,in building it (that's why the "cash for clunkers" was such a fools folly). A lot of environmentalists,don't take this into account.That's why I have no hard feelings with driving pre-emission controlled diesel trucks.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2017
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Driving the 96 F-250 keeps me from buying a $70K toy hauler that weights 25000 lbs. What the heck, I can't afford one of those either. To be honest, the F-250 is so noisy when it kicks down into a lower gear pulling, my wife thinks a diesel would be quieter so doesn't kick a lot of fuss. I guess I had not better bring up my "reverse mortgage to invest in a diesel" scheme with the missus as she is right handy with a sidearm hehe
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
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From: Roseville, MN
Page 240 of the same manual says that a 4x4 (everything else the same) has a GCWR of 15,000 and a trailer weight range of 0 - 9,100 lbs.
So it's really only that the 4x4 weighs more and therefore leaves less of the GCWR for the trailer. But when the OP didn't want any math I decided to leave that little difference out.
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