Tow Rating Help....
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Tow Rating Help....
Can someone tell me the towing capacity for a 1988 F-150 4x4 long bed standard cab truck with a 3.55 rear and automatic, 5.0 engine? I have searched everywhere and can not find that year ratings anywhere. Looking to get a class III or IV hitch to tow a car trailer with a 1978 Malibu, approx 3000 lbs. Can I do this? Need to tow about 60 miles.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
There should be a door tag listing the GCWR. This would be the total weight of everything you could travel with (PER Ford). This would be the weight of the truck, passengers, everything in bed of truck, trailer, everything on trailer. Without knowing for sure the trailer weight I feel that you would be maxed out or even over for a 1988.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by bigredtruckmi
There should be a door tag listing the GCWR. This would be the total weight of everything you could travel with (PER Ford). This would be the weight of the truck, passengers, everything in bed of truck, trailer, everything on trailer. Without knowing for sure the trailer weight I feel that you would be maxed out or even over for a 1988.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Originally Posted by Rbomar
Can someone tell me the towing capacity for a 1988 F-150 4x4 long bed standard cab truck with a 3.55 rear and automatic, 5.0 engine? I have searched everywhere and can not find that year ratings anywhere. Looking to get a class III or IV hitch to tow a car trailer with a 1978 Malibu, approx 3000 lbs. Can I do this? Need to tow about 60 miles.
John
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
GCWR is not on the door tag in these trucks, just the GVWR, which is how much the truck alone can weigh. GCWR is in the owner's manual for the truck of that year and is in tables that are based on auto/man tranny, engine, 4x4/4x2, and rear end ratio. There are also some limitations based on whether you have "Super Cooling", "Trailer Tow Package" and "Handling/Suspension Package". Without any of those, you're limited to 2000 lbs. Limit is 3500 with the S/C, and 7700lbs. with everything.
This is all from the '90 owners manual, but I imagine the '88 is pretty close to that. I once towed a U-Haul tandem auto trailer with a '74 Jeep on it 550 miles with my '90 F150 (302, 3.55, AOD, 4x2). I regretted it. I think both my engine and tranny lost a large part of their life from that trip. Both were replaced within 2-3 years.
Jason
This is all from the '90 owners manual, but I imagine the '88 is pretty close to that. I once towed a U-Haul tandem auto trailer with a '74 Jeep on it 550 miles with my '90 F150 (302, 3.55, AOD, 4x2). I regretted it. I think both my engine and tranny lost a large part of their life from that trip. Both were replaced within 2-3 years.
Jason
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Leader
Your truck will haul that load just fine. The stock rear step bumper will work too, just add a ball & go.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 3
From: North Dakota
I'll argree with leader on this one! put a ball on the thing and go! We towed a 6-8k TT with an 86 F150 with the 302 and 3.73s and although we didn't break any speed limits we could maintain 60mph without to much problem. We weren't towing in hills and the trip was only 50-60 miles so we didn't worry about it to much. The bumper that was on the 86' was plenty strong for 5k and I think underrated as already was stated. If you want a little added security go ahead and put on hitch but don't worry about the truck.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Wow! I feel much better now knowing my purchase was not wasted as that was the sole purpose I bought the truck for. I think I will go ahead and add a class III or IV hitch on it and try it.
Thanks for all the replies.
Thanks for all the replies.