Hello,
I have a 1995 F-150 4x4 5.0 5/spd. I am currently looking at buying a travel trailer in the 18 to 20 foot range. I've read my owners manual and have figured out what my towing capacity is. What I want to know is what size trailers, length and/or weight are the rest of you pulling comfortably? I'm more interested in someone with a similar engine/tranny combo but would like to hear what everyone else is pulling.

Doug

1966 Fairlane 500 428 2-4v MR 4/spd
1995 F-150 4x4 5.0 5/spd

 

I tow a 25foot boat, loaded it's right up around 7,000-7,500. I know I'm right around capacity for the truck but it tows fine and I only go 25 miles one way. I have a 95,f150,5.8,4x4 ext cab. I know I don't have the exact same setup but this might help someone else, and besides, I'm a proud truck owner and like telling people what I tow.

Jim

 

I have a 18' car hauler, with 7700 weight limit, tandem with single axle brakes. My 1993 F-150 tows it fine, although I'm sure a 5.8L would do better.

 

My Dad tows a 32 foot Coachman or a 35 foot Dutchman coast to coast with a '96 F150 4X4 300/M5spd.

Trail Rider

 

TrailRider: Those trailers must weigh around 6000 lbs or more. What rear end ratio does he have? He's got to be gearing way down and running kinda slow throught the mountains.

 

Oh yeah, Im running a 3.55 rear gear.

Doug

1966 Fairlane 500 428 2-4v MR 4/spd
1995 F-150 4x4 5.0 5/spd

 

Well when you're towing a heavy load isn't that the idea?

Trail Rider

 

Exactly! I had a blast towing my 2000+ lb camper through the rocky mountains (including over Trail Ridge Road at 12,000+ feet in Rky Mtn Ntnl Pk) last October. That was a '95 F150 with a Mazda 5speed and 300 I6 with 3.08 rear end. This truck seems to run better with a load.

 

I'm most concered about what 5 speed you have. I'm assuming the Mazda which has a tall first gear. If your towing an 18-20 foot trailer, I'm not sure of the weight, but I'm assuming 4-6 k lb? I have an 89 F-150 with the 4.9 I-6 and the T-18 tranny, which is really only a 3 speed since 1st gear tops out at about 8 mph. However this is a great tranny for towing and I think many will agree with me here.

I just looked in my 89 owners manual. The 5.0 with a 3.55 rear and a manual tranny is rated for 2000 or 2000-4000 lb with a 60% frontal area. My truck is rated the same except for 2000-2600 lb. In my opinion Ford is partially right on these numbers. When I take off in 1st with a load there is very little to no clutch slippage and it handles the load very nicely. If I forget and take off in 2nd with my 5500 lb boat the clutch is working really hard and I cringe at the thought of burning it up.

I don't know my numbers for sure, but I have friends with the Mazda 5 speed with the 3.08 and 300 and top speed they say is around 25-30 in first. I rarely take my truck above 25-30 in 2nd so I'm assuming the ratios are fairly close my 1st to your 2nd.

If your load is not too heavy maybe this will not be a problem, and the closer ratios would be great for more acceleration. Personally if I were you I would either look into a T-18, T-19, NP435, or the ZF 5 speed OD which is the only one with an OD and granny 1st. Not trying to scare you just trying to look out for other owners.

 

I think you'll be surprised at the size trailer you can tow. I was recently at a camper chow in Va Beach and there are many 20-25 foot trailers out there under 3k lbs. I tow a pop-up that weighs almost 3300lbs loaded with a 96 e150/e40d/5.8l/3.55 and don't know it's back there. There are also many new "hybrid" trailers on the market (travel trailer that has "pop out" beds on the front and sometimes rear.

Happy camping!

gp

 

gpierce123: You have a big advantage with a pop up in that your wind resistance is a minor part of the equation. Given that, you should do a lot better then me at 70 mph on a level surface. Still, the weight will be the major factor on steep grades.

 

I towed my 2500lb pop-up camper once with my F250 (5.0L, M5OD). The only way I knew it was there was when I looked in the mirror.
I also towed it with my wife's Bla$er through the Black Hills. I hate to say it, but that V6 towed it pretty darn good.
Roger Lane
Test Analyst
Sr. Automated Test Engineer
IBP, Inc.

 

I have a 18 foot Camping trailer and it ways about 3000 pounds, it is pretty old. I pull it with my 1986 F150 4x4 302 4 speed auto. The engine has about 300,000 hard kms (about 200,000miles I think) Anyways it barely pulls the damn thing. I just bought a triler hitch for my 1985 F250 with a 351w and 3spd auto and a new ignition system so i am quite excitted whether to see if it will pull good or not. I am sure it will.

 

 

CanadianFordMan: With a 351 you ought to pull that trailer like a piece of cake.