Supercharger during towing?
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Supercharger during towing?
Is it even worse on an engine when it's superchargered and used for towing? A guy said that all the new trucks with supercharged engines have a 0 tow rating. Was looking to learn alil bit here.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.
Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 1
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Supercharger during towing?
Off the top of my head, I remember that the new Lighnings are rated to tow up to 3000 lbs. It would stand to reason that towing puts a big load on the motor, and so does a supercharger. If it's to work, it better have some serious timing retard! Just thought I'd pass that along. TK
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Supercharger during towing?
Well, I do use mine to tow a 2500lbs snowmobile trailer at the most, 7-8 times a year and a 4000lbs boat once a year. I was just curious because someone mentioned it. Thanks TK.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds .
Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
New User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Supercharger during towing?
Curtain Supercharger engines are great for towing. If you get a supercharger with a twin-screw type compressor you will receive full boost throughout the whole rpm range. Now with that being the case you will see more HP and more torque with will help you in towing. A supercharger does not put strain on the engine it actually helps it out, and that’s why under normal driving conditions you will see your gas economy increase. The main cause of premature engine wear is driving patterns like towing and racing. In many cases superchargers will help ease the strain on the engine since you engine does not have to work as hard to produce power.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 467
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From: On the farm near Loveland
Supercharger during towing?
>Off the top of my head, I remember that the new Lighnings
>are rated to tow up to 3000 lbs.
Yo, TK-
I think the rating of the Harley version is also pathetic, IIRC barely rated to carry a Harley in the bed!
According to the owner's guide of my '00, the trailer tow rating of a standard F-150 5.4L auto trans is anywhere from 7,000 to 8,300 pounds, depending on tire size and axle ratio, up to 13,500 lbs GCWR.
I'd assume the drivetrain, the tranny, axle, frame, etc. of a Lightning or Harley edition is not built any weaker than a plain vanilla F-150, the reason has got to be that the engine can't reliably take running at boost for extended periods of time. Could there be any other reason?
If that's the case, then putting a blower on a truck for better towing performance is probably a bad idea. If better towing is the goal, the first thing I'd be doing is changing out the axle gearing to something appropriate for heavy towing, 3.55 and big tires just ain't going to cut it, no matter what you've got under the hood. Even the gutsy 460s and V-10s usually came with 4.10 gear sets for serious towing.
-Bill in Colorado
Two Easters Ranch
>are rated to tow up to 3000 lbs.
Yo, TK-
I think the rating of the Harley version is also pathetic, IIRC barely rated to carry a Harley in the bed!
According to the owner's guide of my '00, the trailer tow rating of a standard F-150 5.4L auto trans is anywhere from 7,000 to 8,300 pounds, depending on tire size and axle ratio, up to 13,500 lbs GCWR.
I'd assume the drivetrain, the tranny, axle, frame, etc. of a Lightning or Harley edition is not built any weaker than a plain vanilla F-150, the reason has got to be that the engine can't reliably take running at boost for extended periods of time. Could there be any other reason?
If that's the case, then putting a blower on a truck for better towing performance is probably a bad idea. If better towing is the goal, the first thing I'd be doing is changing out the axle gearing to something appropriate for heavy towing, 3.55 and big tires just ain't going to cut it, no matter what you've got under the hood. Even the gutsy 460s and V-10s usually came with 4.10 gear sets for serious towing.
-Bill in Colorado
Two Easters Ranch
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Supercharger during towing?
I do have 3.55s and 32" tires. Power isn't that big of a problem for towing with my 302. I just want one for more power in general, towing wasn't really my concern. The trailers i tow are pretty light. I was just curious, because I do tow, if it's a really bad thing.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds .
Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: ct
Supercharger during towing?
if you only tow a few times a year i wouldnt sweat it too much. just retard the timing a couple of degrees before the tow. this will help with heat and detonation control.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,123
Likes: 2
From: Fort Smith
Supercharger during towing?
I put an Eaton M90 on the 302 in my X, and haven't had a bit of problems yet. I pull 2 jet ski's every weekend, and about once a month, I pull a 1500lb tandem axle trailer with a 6000lb John Deere tractor sitting on it. Have been doing this now for about a year. With the limited slip 3.73, it has done a very good job.
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Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Supercharger during towing?
The gearing on a lightning would be high, if it needs to accelerate, which would be what you want for towing (high gears).
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds .
Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
From: ct
Supercharger during towing?
the gearing on the early lightnings is 4.10. and the torque rating was like 370ftlbs at 2800 rpms. more torque than any other gas engine ford made at the time, 302, 351, 460. if im not mistaken.
New User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Supercharger during towing?
>The gearing on a lightning would be high, if it needs to
>accelerate, which would be what you want for towing (high
>gears).
I could have sworn that a lower gear ratio was for towing and a higher gear ratio was for gas economy and speed.
>accelerate, which would be what you want for towing (high
>gears).
I could have sworn that a lower gear ratio was for towing and a higher gear ratio was for gas economy and speed.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
Supercharger during towing?
He just got it backwards, very common mistake.
But for the no too mechanically inclined, a
"low" gear has a higher numerical ratio than
a "high" gear, 4.10:1 = "low", 2.73:1 = "high"
Steve & the Rockette
'63 F100
'68 F100
'72 Capri 2L
'73 Capri 2.6L V6
'73 MG B GT 2.6L V6(Ford)
'98 Contour SVT 2.5L V6 (Mods)
'01 ZX2 (No Mods yet)
But for the no too mechanically inclined, a
"low" gear has a higher numerical ratio than
a "high" gear, 4.10:1 = "low", 2.73:1 = "high"
Steve & the Rockette
'63 F100
'68 F100
'72 Capri 2L
'73 Capri 2.6L V6
'73 MG B GT 2.6L V6(Ford)
'98 Contour SVT 2.5L V6 (Mods)
'01 ZX2 (No Mods yet)
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 14,947
Likes: 6
From: Topsfield, MA
Supercharger during towing?
Ok, a 4.10 would be quicker in acceleration and more power for towing, but a slower top speed than a 2.73 ratio. The 2.73 would be slow in all aspects, weak for towing, but you'd get good gas mileage.
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds .
Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!
Primary rig is Green Thunder:
95' F-150 XLT 4x4, 302, 5 spd, MSD 6A, Flowmaster American Thunder Exhaust, Sunroof, Clear corners w/ Diamond headlights, CD player with 2 10" subs and some 32" BFG Muds
.Check out my Gallery for a look-see.
Then theres:
99' Mustang GT 4.6L
88' F-250 Heavyduty 4x4 351/c6
95' Mercury Cougar 4.6L V-8
80' E-350 300/6 with a
3 spd column shifter. Weighs around 7,000lbs w. 65mph top speed, who wants to race me!