Towing capacity
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From: Waynesboro, PA
Towing capacity
Alrught, since I now have the 1998 F-150 with the 5.4l 4x4, do you think that I would have a problem towing my 1983 F-150 on a dual axle car trailer. I am selling it on e-bay and I think that delivery would be beneficial for the sale. Somebody asked if I could get it to Philadelphia for them which is like 200 miles away. What type of gas mileage do you get on a trip like that also?
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From: Southwestern Pa.
I tow a 6000 lb+ travel trailer with the same truck(tow package). No sweat. In the hills of West virinia I was getting only 7mpg. Did a bit better on the flat but really don't remeber.
My travell trailer is dual axle and weighs in at 6000lbs empty. I have used that type trailer to tow the old minivan but it was about 4000 if I rermeber correctly. I would check the load rating on the tires and see what they will take. U-haul puts those reverse decals on the trailer fenders warning do not exceed 45 mph which I doubt if anyone ever took serious. If the tires are rated for your load I'd go for it. Just my 2 cent.
My travell trailer is dual axle and weighs in at 6000lbs empty. I have used that type trailer to tow the old minivan but it was about 4000 if I rermeber correctly. I would check the load rating on the tires and see what they will take. U-haul puts those reverse decals on the trailer fenders warning do not exceed 45 mph which I doubt if anyone ever took serious. If the tires are rated for your load I'd go for it. Just my 2 cent.
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From: Waynesboro, PA
Awesome, yeah that is what I was figuring. They don't look to be such a bad price to rent either. I have the tow package on the F-150 also so it can supposively pull like 8200lbs or something like that. Thanks for the help.
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From: central TX
Around here we have quite a few "25 dollar a day" trailer rentals. Thats what I've always used to tow trucks/cars with. Don't remember the exact weight capacity, but's it's definately enough to safely and LEGALLY support the truck. If the unexpected happens you could be held criminally liable if overloaded. The rest of the trucks sounds fine.
Hard to say on MPG, but I'd figure it at 10MPG (you'll get better) and a little more for wear and tear if your wondering about delivery charge.
Hard to say on MPG, but I'd figure it at 10MPG (you'll get better) and a little more for wear and tear if your wondering about delivery charge.
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towing eh. . .
i am in the Marine Corps and when i moved from Pensacola Fl to Beaufort SC a few weeks ago i towed my car on one of those uhual dual axle trailers (Pontiac Trans AM) not the lightest in the world, the guy at the uhual place said it wasnta safe set up. . . bleh, it worked fine. i towed basically a two bedroom apt and my car in the back of my F150 and packed into my Trans Am on the trailer. my whole load totalled around 12220 IBS, thats what it was when i got it weighed at the weigh station. And i bleieve thats on the stock replacement tires, and it was on the stock tow hitch. Man was it saggin low.
o yea and i forgot. . . HORRIBLE gas mileage.
o yea and i forgot. . . HORRIBLE gas mileage.
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From: central TX
OK, but with such an obviously simple solution, why risk it? It's not like he owns the trailer, he still has to go somewhere to get one. Why not cover your bases and get the tool for the job if only for piece of mind? They aren't expensive to rent and I'd find it pretty hard to believe a town w/ a UHAUL wouldn't also have other trailers. This doesn't sound like a one way trip (the only benefit I can think of w/ uhaul)
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From: Waynesboro, PA
I am not too sure of the weight of that 1983 F-150, but do you think between a heavy duty trailer and the truck, will the 5.4 pull it? That is getting close to 10,000 pounds if not over that.
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From: central TX
The 5.4 will be fine(It will suprise you, they do pretty well), unless you have some serious hills to climb over and over. I don't remember PA being all that bad (is it?). If it doesn't feel comfortable, don't do it, tell them to make other arrangements.
Going by memory (not always perfect) the trailers I've found weren't much over 2K lbs empty, and had just over 5K payload capacity (for a little over 7K altogether). Cutting it close but I doubt your 83 weighs 5K(maybe it does?). I'd just do some calling around tomorrow and see what you can find. If your worried go to the scales and see where your at.
I'm no towing expert though, I mostly responded because of the weight capacity question (my answer on that will always be not to exceed-with all the crazy lawsuits these days tha last thing you need to do is give them a legitimate reason). Maybe after easter other more knowledgeable people will view this you'll get some better informed responses. Good luck.
Going by memory (not always perfect) the trailers I've found weren't much over 2K lbs empty, and had just over 5K payload capacity (for a little over 7K altogether). Cutting it close but I doubt your 83 weighs 5K(maybe it does?). I'd just do some calling around tomorrow and see what you can find. If your worried go to the scales and see where your at.
I'm no towing expert though, I mostly responded because of the weight capacity question (my answer on that will always be not to exceed-with all the crazy lawsuits these days tha last thing you need to do is give them a legitimate reason). Maybe after easter other more knowledgeable people will view this you'll get some better informed responses. Good luck.
Last edited by tdister; Mar 27, 2005 at 04:56 PM.
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I just towed a 1980 trans am on an 18' trailer behind my 98 5.4. Car weighed 3800, trailer 1700 = 5500 plus the weight of a S-cab 4x4 F150.
I missed my 5.9L Ram from a stop but on the highway it was superior.
Only issue is those U-haul trailers use surge brakes. My setup had a electric brakes on both axles.
I missed my 5.9L Ram from a stop but on the highway it was superior.
Only issue is those U-haul trailers use surge brakes. My setup had a electric brakes on both axles.
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From: Southwestern Pa.
Good point. The tow rating for an F150 4X4 5.4 with 3.73 gears is 8200 lbs(on 16 inch tires). With that load trailer breaks are a necessity. Electric brakes with the controller in the cab or surge breaks are safety items that should not be circumvented. 200 miles is a reletively short trip and should be a breeze for your truck. I've done 3000 miles without any issues and the same load. Again I would check the tires on the trailer for their capacity and use that as a guide.
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