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Bumper towing capacities

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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 12:40 PM
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Bumper towing capacities

OK, here is my delima, I have my truck, has a hitch on it, but it is only a sixer w/ a 5 spd, and I cat/dont want to tow too much weight with it. my parents have a 01 SCrew 4.6 2wd auto. but it has no hitch, and I dont have the tools to switch the hitches around. How much could I realistically pull off the bumper on the 01. I need to tow a load approx 400 miles, about 100 miles of it is nice, beautiful hills, with more than a 7% grade...cause we do that down here in da south
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 01:25 PM
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How much weight? A number I've seen quite a bit for factory bumpers is 3500 lbs towed load, 350 lbs. tongue weight.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 01:27 PM
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well on the bumper is stamped 5k trailer weight and 500 tongue weight, which is not quite enough, I need 6500 trailer weight. But I also know that Ford has a tendency to under-rate their numbers, be in power or towing abilities.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 02:40 PM
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Jimmy -

Are you sure about the 6500 trailer weight? Does the trailer have brakes? If so, what type? I think you're asking for trouble hanging that much weight off the bumper - IMHO.

Steve
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 03:30 PM
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Check out www.etrailer.com. They have good prices on class 3/4 frame mount 2x2 box reciever hitches, which is what you want for the trailer you are intending to tow. I doubt the hitch from your early pickup would fit the frame of the newer pickup anyways. Better off just spending the money on one for that truck. Between the frame hitch, slide-in ball mount, ball, and wiring hookup you're looking at probly $200 if you shop carefully and do the install yourself.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 05:09 PM
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nooo. I have the hitch on my 02 150, same thing as what would go under their 01, I jsut dont have the tools to switch themm... I tried. :P but ok, so that is a no-go on towing with the bumper. guess I am going to be tryin to get a hitch installed on their truck this week sometime.


thanks guys.
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 06:15 PM
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Jimmy -

Good choice, especially since you're going that far and running up and down them thar' hills - good luck! BTW, you didn't mention trailer brakes - surge or electric? The trailer must be level for surge brakes to work properly (hard to level off the bumper), and you'll need a controller for electric brakes.

Steve
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 06:42 PM
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bo idea on brakes, havent checked yet. it is going to be a rented trailer I am using. I dont have the money to afford a bigf truck or a trailer
 
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Old Aug 28, 2004 | 07:19 PM
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Jimmy -

That's why I brought it up - if you find out at the last minute they're electric, you either need to install a controller and 7-pin connector or run without brakes (assuming you can even rent it without the proper set-up).

Steve
 
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Old Aug 29, 2004 | 12:17 AM
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Jimmy Dean, I thought you were talking about taking the hitch from your '91 and moving it to the '02, sorry for the confusion.

It typically takes a 3/4" wrench and a 3/4" socket and ratchet to remove or replace a hitch....
 
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Old Aug 29, 2004 | 02:20 AM
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yeah, but I was ussing a wrench with a 2 ft breaker on it and could not get it to budge, so to hell with it. it also does not use normal bolts, it has those round headed ones that I have no idea how to take it off.
 
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Old Aug 29, 2004 | 07:40 AM
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Rental trailer will probably have surge brakes. Most rental companies use these so they know the trailer brakes will be in use even if the tow vehicle does not have a brake controller installed.

Dave / Believer45
 
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Old Aug 31, 2004 | 11:16 AM
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Make sure the new hitch is rated for 6500 lbs.

You could pull more with the F150 (5K rating) if you use weight distribution (WD) (may be able to rent the WD set up).

WD cost more than a Class V hitch though.

Anyway.
 
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Old Sep 10, 2004 | 05:50 PM
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Most trailer rentals don't like to rent thier larger trailers unless you have a receiver. I just got a class 5, 15000 lbs drop shipped from A-Z Trucks for about $150.00(3 days).
 
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