I just bought an OLD (1968) single axel 17' travel trailer, w/ electric brakes. I have a 1994 F150 with a 4 pin connector, and a bumper hitch. im jsut wondering what I absolutly need to move this thing about 130 miles, this will be the one and only time i'll be towing it with this truck. what is the bare minimum?

p.s. there are plenty of back roads that I can take

 

minimum for what? and there are backroads everywhere. need more info to answer your question

 

the minimum number of things I need to add to my truck to move the trailer 130 miles. So to be more specific: will my bumper bend in half, or do i need a reciver hitch? will my brakes stop the truck and trailer the entire way or will they burn up after 50 miles? also to re phrase my post script I do not live in an urban area, so if my brakes do go out, or if my bumper does fold in half im not endangering hunndreds of people.

 

Just go easy, and don't worry about it. How much do you figure the trailer weighs? I doubt it would be so much that you need to do anything. That being said, I would put a reciever on it. I did pull a corvette 700 miles once with a rental (don't tell Enterprise) Chebby using the bumper ball. About 4000 lbs Car/Trailer on I-90/94 at 75 with no problems.

 

Definitely need to know how much it weighs. If it's within your bumper's specs, should be fine. Don't know about the brakes though. Need to know the wieght.

 

A SWAG on the weight of a 17' travel trailer would be that it weighs less than 4,000#, probably a fair amount less.

I would guess the trailer connector is either the Ford 7 pin or the Phillips(?) 7 pin, at least I vaguely think they are both 7 pin. Either way, if you plan to use the trailer brakes, you probably need to wire in a controller and a connector. You could risk going without the trailer brakes, but your stopping distance would be lousey and you could fry your brakes if there are any hills.

Check your bumper hitch to make sure it is rated for at least 5,000# which I think is typical for such a bumper. Check the ball height. That is usually the problem with older trailers, the ball is down way low and most bumpers are too high(especially 4x4). This might require you to get a frame mounted hitch or a drop ball mount.

I would take it slow and easy, plan your stopping distance and pray for light rtaffic.

The wise route would be to either set your truck up to use the trailer brakes(assuming they even work) and use a frame mount. Or rent or borrow a truck properly set up.

The 150 is strong enough for light towing(assuming your don't have a tiny engine etc), it's the brakes and ball height that may be your problem. You also may be over your GVWR and or GCWR which would leave you open to legal issues especially if you had an accident, check your manual. You would need to know engine, tranny , gears, xWheel Drive etc to get "official" figures on towing.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Get a 4 pin to 7 pin adapter just to work the lights. You can't work the brakes off a 4 pin. This will give you running lights and brake/turn lights. Check your bumper mounting bolts and brackets to be sure all is tight and not rusted or corroded. You should have a ball mount on the bumper. Get the correct ball, get the safety chains hooked to the frame horns, and go. If you take it easy and give yourself lots of room to stop, you should be ok. Lots of other people get away with worse setups. The truck should pull it--300 CIDs are pretty good torquers.

Just remember, if you have to panic stop, it will be tough.

If you want to do it right, borrow an F150/250 with tow package and electric brake controller.

 

in an emergency you can go to uhaul and get the taillight bulbs with the wires sticking out of them then find the wires on the trailer that work it should get you there i used a set for 1000 miles and left them in the car they still work

 

Thanks guys, i'm giving it a try this weekend, wish me luck, and il let you know what happens

 

I ended up buying the 7 pin adapter, and threw the trailor on the bumper hitch. it pulled with no problems at all, I found out the electric brakes on this trailer, are only there if the trailer comes off the hitch, it locks up the electric brakes, I couldnt find out how much the trailer weighed, but my truck didnt even squat when i put it on.
thanks for the suggestions and help, i appreciate it