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Good luck and I hope it works well for you! Like I mentioned above, we went slow and easy... and stayed close for a few years before finally having the opportunity to upgrade to something more substantial. Now I'm not saying it was the smartest, or the safest thing to do, but it worked!
After spending hours and hours looking and looking...I just couldn't, in my mind...justify spending approximately $25K for a bigger truck that was as old as the one I have. The TT I currently have is a bit big for my truck but...I don't think too big if I stay within a couple hours of my home in Southeast Missouri and there's plenty of nice parks / campgrounds close to me. I'll even, in the next year or so...as long as the tranny holds up...venture to meet up with the in-laws around Kansas City (about 6 hours from me). Most of it will be highway driving and no mountains to climb. Now...Smokey or Rocky Mountains...different story. I just can't afford a $400 to $500 per month truck payment. I purchased the TT so I could spend some good quality time with my kids before they dash out the door...oldest is 16 so...time is dwindling. I don't wanna be "truck poor". I super appreciate your advice tho! Really...I appreciate everyone's advice on this site...everyone has been VERY understanding and seems to have all been in my spot. It's been very accommodating. I'd by you all a beer if I could.
After spending hours and hours looking and looking...I just couldn't, in my mind...justify spending approximately $25K for a bigger truck that was as old as the one I have. The TT I currently have is a bit big for my truck but...I don't think too big if I stay within a couple hours of my home in Southeast Missouri and there's plenty of nice parks / campgrounds close to me. I'll even, in the next year or so...as long as the tranny holds up...venture to meet up with the in-laws around Kansas City (about 6 hours from me). Most of it will be highway driving and no mountains to climb. Now...Smokey or Rocky Mountains...different story. I just can't afford a $400 to $500 per month truck payment. I purchased the TT so I could spend some good quality time with my kids before they dash out the door...oldest is 16 so...time is dwindling. I don't wanna be "truck poor". I super appreciate your advice tho! Really...I appreciate everyone's advice on this site...everyone has been VERY understanding and seems to have all been in my spot. It's been very accommodating. I'd by you all a beer if I could.
I totally understand that! The one thing I wish is that I would have bought my camper much sooner! I have no idea what that would have looked like with the towing situation, but I wish I would have had it sooner for more family time. In the past I did a lot of backpacking, and while I was able to get parts of the family out several times for that, it was still an effort. Since getting the camper, the family isn't all that opposed to taking camping trips now... lol! However, by the time we got ours my son was getting ready to go into 11th grade, which meant he was spending more time at work and with his friends than going out with us. (And to be transparent here... me and my kids mom are divorced and both remarried, so we only got them every other week... this made time getting out all together even harder.) In the end, my daughter has been with us on most of our trips, but my son has only been on about 4 or 5 total... and now that he is graduated and in the Air Force and living in Japan... well, no more trips together with him... However, the trip I talked bout above when we rented the F250 and set out on a 4K mile trip in only 9 days was the most fun I think we have all had together in a long time! So yeah, I totally understand that you want to be able to spend this time together and make memories! And while I don't know your exact situation, it sounds like it can still be achieved. Slow and easy... and lots of prayers and God got us through it all safely! Safe travels, prayers and good times for you and your family!
Protip: take lots of photos along the way, then have them printed and hang them inside the camper!
I think if you stay reasonable with your expectations, you will manage just fine. Just knowing you are at the limits might help you from finding the breaking point.
so the 4.6 is down on power a bit for heavy hauling. That means the transmission is going to work harder to keep the engine where it makes power. managing transmission heat is the key, and I think the larger factory cooler will make the difference you need. See below for the best advice you can ever get regarding temperature. If you can keep it under 220, that’s happy town. If you can keep it from spiking over 250, that’s best.
mote frequent service is probably not money wasted. At least it wouldn’t be for me, especially if it has gotten hot very often.
be mindful of engine temps as well. Also know that your oil temps will be higher as well. Synthetic oil might be a good idea just to shade on the safe side. I use synthetic now in everything. It’s just piece of mind for me. Oil, transmission, axles, power steering, anything that can be changed out has synthetic. Just for a margin of safety- piece of mind for me.
Being 2-wheel drive makes a gear change more realistic as well. If needed, swap to a lower gear that will allow the engine to operate more toward the peak of its power band. I had a v8 explorer with 235/70r16 tires and 3.73 gears. It ran 3,000 rpm at 65 with OD off and it was an absolute animal when it came to towing. And in OD the rpms came down enough to get really respectable mileage. I would recommend that setup to anyone - it drove and worked out really well. Shoot me your tire size and I’ll shoot you some gearing options if you would like.
keep us posted on how it works out for you.
side note, where did you put your temp sender for the gauge? B&M recommends the cooler return line, which works out OK. The pressure port on the drivers side is the best all around location and tracks most closely to the internal temperature sender.
i had bad luck with my B&M gauge. I would verify your readings with an IR gun to be sure it is working and reading correctly. Ultimately I had to swap it out with an auto meter gauge to get one that read accurately. Just check it, that’s all.
Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
That's normal. The Ford spec is that you can run as high as 220°F all day long. The fluid isn't going to oxidize and be destroyed like they say in this thread. That used to happen in the 1960's, but fluids are a lot more heat resistant now. You can go as high as 250°F for no more than a half hour at a time without causing any problems.
If you want to lower the temps replace that aux cooler with one from a 6.0L truck. That will bring the temps down.
I totally understand that! The one thing I wish is that I would have bought my camper much sooner! I have no idea what that would have looked like with the towing situation, but I wish I would have had it sooner for more family time. In the past I did a lot of backpacking, and while I was able to get parts of the family out several times for that, it was still an effort. Since getting the camper, the family isn't all that opposed to taking camping trips now... lol! However, by the time we got ours my son was getting ready to go into 11th grade, which meant he was spending more time at work and with his friends than going out with us. (And to be transparent here... me and my kids mom are divorced and both remarried, so we only got them every other week... this made time getting out all together even harder.) In the end, my daughter has been with us on most of our trips, but my son has only been on about 4 or 5 total... and now that he is graduated and in the Air Force and living in Japan... well, no more trips together with him... However, the trip I talked bout above when we rented the F250 and set out on a 4K mile trip in only 9 days was the most fun I think we have all had together in a long time! So yeah, I totally understand that you want to be able to spend this time together and make memories! And while I don't know your exact situation, it sounds like it can still be achieved. Slow and easy... and lots of prayers and God got us through it all safely! Safe travels, prayers and good times for you and your family!
Protip: take lots of photos along the way, then have them printed and hang them inside the camper!
Your family pic is the reason I bought the camper! Very nice :-)
I think if you stay reasonable with your expectations, you will manage just fine. Just knowing you are at the limits might help you from finding the breaking point.
so the 4.6 is down on power a bit for heavy hauling. That means the transmission is going to work harder to keep the engine where it makes power. managing transmission heat is the key, and I think the larger factory cooler will make the difference you need. See below for the best advice you can ever get regarding temperature. If you can keep it under 220, that’s happy town. If you can keep it from spiking over 250, that’s best.
mote frequent service is probably not money wasted. At least it wouldn’t be for me, especially if it has gotten hot very often.
be mindful of engine temps as well. Also know that your oil temps will be higher as well. Synthetic oil might be a good idea just to shade on the safe side. I use synthetic now in everything. It’s just piece of mind for me. Oil, transmission, axles, power steering, anything that can be changed out has synthetic. Just for a margin of safety- piece of mind for me.
Being 2-wheel drive makes a gear change more realistic as well. If needed, swap to a lower gear that will allow the engine to operate more toward the peak of its power band. I had a v8 explorer with 235/70r16 tires and 3.73 gears. It ran 3,000 rpm at 65 with OD off and it was an absolute animal when it came to towing. And in OD the rpms came down enough to get really respectable mileage. I would recommend that setup to anyone - it drove and worked out really well. Shoot me your tire size and I’ll shoot you some gearing options if you would like.
keep us posted on how it works out for you.
side note, where did you put your temp sender for the gauge? B&M recommends the cooler return line, which works out OK. The pressure port on the drivers side is the best all around location and tracks most closely to the internal temperature sender.
i had bad luck with my B&M gauge. I would verify your readings with an IR gun to be sure it is working and reading correctly. Ultimately I had to swap it out with an auto meter gauge to get one that read accurately. Just check it, that’s all.
Thanks meborder! Watching the gauge pretty close while towing...the temperature didn't stay around 250 for very long...not 30 minutes...more like...10 to 15...then drop back to around 220 or so. It only hit the red area when I was driving up a decent sized hill...for the most part...it hovered in the yellow...around or just above 220.
As for how / where the gauge is attached to the transmission...I'm not sure...how would I check this? The dealer did the work so...I'm kind of trusting them (I know...that might not be the best idea...lol).
As for "re-gearing"...I'll have to consider that based on how things go when I get the tranny cooler installed (and cost). I have to have the AC looked at as well...it doesn't blow cold air when I'm towing my rig and...the other day...coming back from St. Louis...while it did blow cold...I could have swore I heard water noises. I've never been impressed with the AC on this pickup from the beginning. It's the first Ford pickup I've owned that didn't freeze you out. All the Ford tucks I've owned (and I've owned several...mainly 96's) had AC that would freeze you out in the worst 100 degree heat and humidity in Southeast Missouri. I had them look at it once but it was at the tail end of having other work done...plugs and coils replaced and...I think they were wanting to get it done and out of the shop. When I have the tranny cooler installed...I'm going to tell them I want the AC thoroughly checked as well. I have 3 dealers relatively close to me so...I kind of bounce between the 3...for some reason...it seems if you throw too much at any one...they get overwhelmed...lol. I don't know why...I'm paying top dollar...for dealer work. I've always thought it was because my truck is 12, 13 years old and they're used to doing easy stuff on new pickups. I've always wondered if they were asking themselves...why I wasn't taking it to Jim Bob's shop on the corner. I do to the dealer because I want it fixed right the first time and...I want them to stand behind their work. I've had too many bad run-ins with "side shops"...not that their aren't good ones out there...I've just never found one. I'd just rather pay more up front and get it done right the first time.
As for the tires...they're the standard that came on the truck...no upgrades. Below is a pic...but might not be close enough for you to tell. Just let me know and I'll take a closer pic.
Dave - I have a 2000 F150 7700 with 5.4L, 4 speed, 3.73 rear end, larger tires (makes effective rear end gear about 3.50) and towing package. I have a 1990 travel trailer with a wet wt of 5500#. The truck has no issues with overheating the engine or tranny but constantly hunts for gears on any kind of hill. The trailer now sits at my hunting camp but I do not want to pull it with this truck.
Several guys at work have bought TTs similar to yours while owning 1/2 ton trucks. Data says the truck can tow the trailer. To a man they have purchased 3/4 or 1 ton trucks after a short while. The big issues were that they felt they were being pushed around by the trailer going down hills or from sway on the highway (cross wind or tractor trailer passing them).
I am going to buy a trailer with max weight of 10,000 lbs (dry wt 6400 - 7000 lbs) after the Covid campers start unloading their trailers. I will purchase a F350 4wd with 4.30 rear end to pull it. My attitude is more truck than i need is better than less truck than i need, so buy once, cry once. Was going to buy a 2022 but with all of the semiconductor shortage issues will likely buy a 2023. This is my perspective so take it for what it's worth.
add a good cooler (that bypasses the cooler in the radiator) and drive it.
That is not advisable as the radiator cooler(water to oil) is way more efficient than an air to oil cooler. Addition of an air to oil cooler is fine but I think you are probably under trucked or over trailered and nothing added on will likely resolve that. My daughters truck is essentially the same and there's no way I'd consider pulling a trailer of that size with it...it's a dog empty!
When I bought my first travel trailer 8 years ago, I bought a 2010 2WD F150 with the 4.6l truck. I assumed a v8 full size truck could tow anything. After all, the commercials act like they can tow a house! I had a rather lite weight trailer though and it towed fine. But I could tell it was all the truck would want to tow. Two years later I sold them and got a class C RV and then a Jeep. Now I just sold the RV and got another travel trailer (GVWR of 7,800 lbs).
This time I did more research and ended up with an F250 (see my signature below). It will tow anything I will ever pull and it tows my trailer at 65 MPH at 2,100 RPM. It pulls very easily. I have just started pulling it though and suspect it will pull considerably more RPM in the mountains. But my v10 RV pulled 4,500 RPM at 45 MPH up steep mountains and never complained and it ran 2,500 RPM at interstate speeds. So I expect this truck to pull less RPMs to get up the hills. But know these engines are made to do it.
When looking to buy a truck, know that the engine, gear ratio and options you choose will affect your payload and tow rating. I have a payload rating of 3,417 lbs and most diesel F250s will be below that because of the heavy engine. If you want diesel, you might step up to the F350 to get the payload back. See the link below for info on payload and tow ratings for F250s.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
However, the trip I talked bout above when we rented the F250 and set out on a 4K mile trip in only 9 days was the most fun I think we have all had together in a long time! So yeah, I totally understand that you want to be able to spend this time together and make memories! And while I don't know your exact situation, it sounds like it can still be achieved. Slow and easy... and lots of prayers and God got us through it all safely! Safe travels, prayers and good times for you and your family! 
