With the upcoming move to Florida (yay!!!) I'm going to need to bring all my stuff down in one shot. The plan it to buy a 6x12' trailer and tow everything down and put whatever is left over in the bed. The trailer (fully loaded) will be 3500lbs., plus another 500lbs in the bed. Knowing that the manual tranny is a little weak, what would be the easiest way of increasing the towing capacity?? The most I can think of is have the gear ratio swapped out. But I do not even know what I have to begin with (98 F150, 4.2l, stick, bone stock)

Suggestion?? (lightening the load is out of the question, my motorcycles will be taking up 1200lbs of the total load.)

 

Well you probably have a 3.55 gear ratio, which you can simply crawl under the back of your truck and look in the middle of the axle area and there is a tab or tag of some sort which will say your specifications.. Definetly would need to switch over to a higher gear ratio which will probably cost you a few hundred to do. If I was you I would go with 4.10's-your truck would getty up and go then, especially when not under load!!

Do you think this is what you're going to do??

 

I can get a guy to hook you up with 4.10's for about $170 bucks. He's here out of Texas and I could relay the message to him if you REALLY are interested in buying them. If you think you will back out and not buy them, I won't tell him though. It's a really good deal, and it would GREATLY benefit your towing. If you know how to install it, that's also a huge plus. Just let me know.

 

How much are the 4.10's usually?

 

Nothing personal True4.2, but I would rather buy from a business that has some sort of warranty. Then I would have to find a shop local (Hyannis, MA) that would do the actual install. Working on motorcycles is easy, my truck is hard. I would much rather change the gear ratio for a couple hundred rather than trade in the truck. Forgot to mention the truck is XLT trim if that help at all. Thanks

 

One other option is going with a lower profile tire. I'm guessing you have 255's now. How about a set of 235's.
Even if you just got two rears for the trip - maybe a decent set of used or takeoffs?

 

Or you could simply pay uhaul instead of putting upgrades onto your truck that could cost you more than uhaul..and after the trip you probably wont want the upgrades on your truck, especially the 4.10s on an unlifted truck. Thats just my opinion..I'd pay u-haul instead of take the hard route. Then you don't have to worry about anything either..

 

Stop tempting me, I did some pricing overnite, and I came up with about $16-1800 for a rental truck one way with a car carrier. Only problem is, I would be moving again in July-Aug.

Also, where on the axle should I look to find out what gear ratio is currently installed. I did a brief glance while at work and did not see any plate (was kinda hoping it was that easy) that would have any info on it. Is it actually punched into housing of the axle??

 

The "Axle Code" is on the sticker in the b-pillar, driver's side door area near the latch post.
I can't remember which code means which rear-end. If you get the code, post it and I'll look in my Hayne's book and let you know.
I think the info is in the Owner's Manual - pretty sure it is.

 

Brian-Finding it on the door is impossible, I don't even think it is on my 01 model. I crawled under the back and it was in the middle of the back axle..

 

So somebody removed the sticker ??
What axle (rear end) do you have?

 

No there is still a sticker inside the door, it doesn't show that newhere though, I have the 3.55

 

Well, I crawled under the truck about 5 minutes ago, nothing. SO I took a picture of my door sticker


Hopefully this might help. Off to work.

 

Look under the word "axle". Looks like I see a two digit code there. I can't read it but it sure looks like it is there. Maybe 19 or 29 ??? Just can't read it.

 

Dude, i never thought that my truck could tow anything once i found out what the book rated the truck for (2000#) then we hooked it up and i drug my 1999 chevy s-10 ext. cab ( 4600#) and the trailer that Weighed 1500, pluse this and that for the trip 2100 miles, from cali to illinois.... i have the 4.2, five spd, with 3.08 rear end, i was told no way by lots of people, but i was in a pinch and had no choice, and would trust it to do it again. the only mods i have are as listed..

Airhog air filter
40's series flwmstr
$35.00 Helper springs from kragen auito parts...

And i made it just fine, take your time, your not going to win any races...and your not out to.