Well I have a '02 f150 with the 4.6 and 3.08 gears. I purchased the vehicle used from a dealer. It came with what i assume is the towing package it has the frame mounted hitch the 2 connectors and what i think is a tranny cooler located behind the radiator. (is this the tow package) My next question is with my set up ( eng - gears) from what i have read i can only tow 2000#(is this right) I'm not trying to pull a house but i would like to tow a small fishing boat in the near future. Small boat being about a 10-15 ft aluminun boat just to get me out on the water. And last does the gearing i have really reduce my tow weight that much.

thanks in advance

kevin

 

back to the top

 

I have a 4.6 and can tow over 5000#. But I have 3.55 not 3.08. I think part of a tow package would be heavier suspension and different gears.

 

I have towed a 14' Alumacraft with a 2wd Nissan 4 cyl for years. You should have no problem with your F-150.

 

If you have the manual transmission and 3.08 gears, yes, 2000 is probably the limit. The automatic should be about double that number. Did you get an owners manual, or are you trying to guess based on other information?

Jim

 

Jim's question does have merit. To be safe, you would do well to verify the specifications of the componets of your truck. The door jamb decal has a code on the lower line that gives the rear axle. Too, the axle itself has a metal ID tag bolted to the cover at about the 2:00 position. It will give you the axle ratio, the ring gear diameter, whether or not it is limited slip, the build date of the differential, and the factory code for either Sterling Axle Plant or VanDyke Axle Plant.

Because of the torque amplification of the torque converter, an automatic transmisson--of course, with proper cooling--will always allow for a larger and heavier trailer towing than a manual.

If the truck did come from the factory with a trailer towing package, the side of the truck side trailer connector will have a Ford part number in raised characters on it. I've an aquaintance who is a driveline engineer with Ford and he told me that the great majority of pickups and SUVs built by Ford DO have the towing package stock. Too, if the automatic transmission fluid cooler is connected to the fluid tubes with nylon connectors--similar to those used on heater hose connections and the fuel line to fuel filter connections--you can be assured it is part of the Ford towing package.