Trailer towing ratings

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Nov 18, 2007 | 12:53 AM

kandyman4

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New User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 3

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From: North Georgia USA

Trailer towing ratings

Hi Folks,

Just a newbie checking in for the first time. Been following this site for awhile. What a great bunch of contributors.
I've a bone stock (execpt for exhaust) '97 F250 PSD Extended cab, 4spd AOD and I believe a 3.55 diff. with 235/85X16E shoes.
Looking to tow a fifth wheel RV trailer soon and need to know the weight limits for the trailer or even the Gross Combined Weight Rating from Ford. Not even my dealer knows for sure, although the sales guys said "oh it'll tow anything". Also looking for a mild "tow/haul" chip, a less restrictive air filter and to install a 3" downpipe. I would appreciate some guidence in this area.
The truck has 109K miles now and I bought it a year ago with 102K miles. Recently replaced the glow plug relay, the exhaust system with 3" pipe and no cat. and stainless straight thru offset muffler. The fuel filter housing just has been replaced due to the previous owner not seeing that the system was maintained properly. What a bill that was.

Last edited by kandyman4; Nov 18, 2007 at 12:55 AM.

Nov 18, 2007 | 07:43 AM

DG65

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 193

Likes: 0

From: Des Moines, IA

We have identical trucks (except mine is completely stock) and initially I thought the rating was 10k until I double checked the chart. According to this chart Ford sets it at 9300 lbs.

<TABLE border=1><TBODY><TR><TH colSpan=15>MAXIMUM LOADED TRAILER WEIGHT (LBS.) -- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION</TH></TR><TR vAlign=bottom><TH rowSpan=2>ENGINE</TH><TH rowSpan=2>AXLE

RATIO
</TH><TH rowSpan=2>GCWR

(LBS.)
</TH><TH colSpan=7>Regular Cab Pickup</TH><TH colSpan=5>SuperCab Pickup</TH></TR><TR vAlign=bottom><TH>F-150

4x2
</TH><TH>F-150

4x4
</TH><TH>F-250

4x2
</TH><TH>F-250

HD 4x2
</TH><TH>F-250

HD 4x4
</TH><TH>F-350

4x4
</TH><TH>F-350

DRW
4x2
</TH><TH>F-150

4x2
</TH><TH>F-150

4x4
</TH><TH>F-250

HD 4x2
</TH><TH>F-250

Hd 4x4
</TH><TH>F-350

4x2
DRW
</TH></TR><TR align=middle><TH vAlign=top align=left>4.9L

EFI I-6
</TH><TD>3.08

3.31
3.55
4.10
</TD><TD align=right>9,000

9,500
10,000
11,000
</TD><TD>4,600

5,100
5,600
--
</TD><TD align=middle>(1)

--
5,300
--
</TD><TD>--

--
5,300
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
6,200
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>4,300

4,800
5,300
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
6,000
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD></TR><TR align=middle><TH vAlign=top align=left>5.0L

EFI V-8
</TH><TD>3.08

3.31
3.55
4.10
</TD><TD align=right>9,000

11,500
11,500
12,500
</TD><TD>4,700

--
7,100
--
</TD><TD>--

6,900
6,800
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
7,800
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
6,800
--
</TD><TD>--

6,700
6,600
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD></TR><TR align=middle><TH vAlign=top align=left>5.8L

EFI V-8
</TH><TD>3.08

3.31
3.55
4.10
</TD><TD align=right>10,000

11,500
12,000
13,000
</TD><TD>5,500

--
7,500
--
</TD><TD>5,200

--
7,200
--
</TD><TD>--

6,700
--
8,200
</TD><TD>--

6,500
--
8,000
</TD><TD>--

6,200
--
7,700
</TD><TD>--

6,200
--
7,700
</TD><TD>--

6,400
--
7,800
</TD><TD>5,300

--
7,300
--
</TD><TD>--

--
7,100
--
</TD><TD>--

6,300
--
7,800
</TD><TD>--

5,900
--
7,400
</TD><TD>--

--
--
--
</TD></TR><TR align=middle><TH vAlign=top align=left>7.3L V-8 DI

Turbo Diesel
</TH><TD>3.55

4.10
</TD><TD align=right>16,000

20,000
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>10,500

12,500
</TD><TD>10,100

12,500
</TD><TD>10,000

12,500
</TD><TD>--

12,500
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>9,600

12,500
</TD><TD>9,300

12,500
</TD><TD>--

12,500
</TD></TR><TR align=middle><TH vAlign=top align=left>7.5L

EFI V-8
</TH><TD>3.55

4.10
</TD><TD align=right>15,500

18,500
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>9,900

12,500
</TD><TD>9,600

12,500
</TD><TD>9,500

12,500
</TD><TD>--

12,500
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>--

--
</TD><TD>9,600

12,500
</TD><TD>9,300

12,500
</TD><TD>--

12,500
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Nov 18, 2007 | 09:00 AM

tndiesel

Elder User

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 999

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by DG65

We have identical trucks (except mine is completely stock) and initially I thought the rating was 10k until I double checked the chart. According to this chart Ford sets it at 9300 lbs.

<table border="1"><tbody><tr><th colspan="15">MAXIMUM LOADED TRAILER WEIGHT (LBS.) -- AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION</th></tr><tr valign="bottom"><th rowspan="2">ENGINE</th><th rowspan="2">AXLE

RATIO
</th><th rowspan="2">GCWR

(LBS.)
</th><th colspan="7">Regular Cab Pickup</th><th colspan="5">SuperCab Pickup</th></tr><tr valign="bottom"><th>F-150

4x2
</th><th>F-150

4x4
</th><th>F-250

4x2
</th><th>F-250

HD 4x2
</th><th>F-250

HD 4x4
</th><th>F-350

4x4
</th><th>F-350

DRW
4x2
</th><th>F-150

4x2
</th><th>F-150

4x4
</th><th>F-250

HD 4x2
</th><th>F-250

Hd 4x4
</th><th>F-350

4x2
DRW
</th></tr><tr align="center"><th align="left" valign="top">4.9L

EFI I-6
</th><td>3.08

3.31
3.55
4.10
</td><td align="right">9,000

9,500
10,000
11,000
</td><td>4,600

5,100
5,600
--
</td><td align="center">(1)

--
5,300
--
</td><td>--

--
5,300
--
</td><td>--

--
--
6,200
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>4,300

4,800
5,300
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
6,000
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td></tr><tr align="center"><th align="left" valign="top">5.0L

EFI V-8
</th><td>3.08

3.31
3.55
4.10
</td><td align="right">9,000

11,500
11,500
12,500
</td><td>4,700

--
7,100
--
</td><td>--

6,900
6,800
--
</td><td>--

--
--
7,800
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
6,800
--
</td><td>--

6,700
6,600
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td></tr><tr align="center"><th align="left" valign="top">5.8L

EFI V-8
</th><td>3.08

3.31
3.55
4.10
</td><td align="right">10,000

11,500
12,000
13,000
</td><td>5,500

--
7,500
--
</td><td>5,200

--
7,200
--
</td><td>--

6,700
--
8,200
</td><td>--

6,500
--
8,000
</td><td>--

6,200
--
7,700
</td><td>--

6,200
--
7,700
</td><td>--

6,400
--
7,800
</td><td>5,300

--
7,300
--
</td><td>--

--
7,100
--
</td><td>--

6,300
--
7,800
</td><td>--

5,900
--
7,400
</td><td>--

--
--
--
</td></tr><tr align="center"><th align="left" valign="top">7.3L V-8 DI

Turbo Diesel
</th><td>3.55

4.10
</td><td align="right">16,000

20,000
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>10,500

12,500
</td><td>10,100

12,500
</td><td>10,000

12,500
</td><td>--

12,500
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>9,600

12,500
</td><td>9,300

12,500
</td><td>--

12,500
</td></tr><tr align="center"><th align="left" valign="top">7.5L

EFI V-8
</th><td>3.55

4.10
</td><td align="right">15,500

18,500
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>9,900

12,500
</td><td>9,600

12,500
</td><td>9,500

12,500
</td><td>--

12,500
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>--

--
</td><td>9,600

12,500
</td><td>9,300

12,500
</td><td>--

12,500
</td></tr></tbody></table>

where did you find that chart?

Nov 18, 2007 | 09:11 AM

DG65

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 193

Likes: 0

From: Des Moines, IA

Well, don't tell anyone but I found it here- https://www.ford-trucks.com/faq/9497faq/geninfo/95ttg/16.php3

Nov 18, 2007 | 09:41 AM

tndiesel

Elder User

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 999

Likes: 0

So according to that chart 12,500 pds. is the max I can pull. I pulled a 16,200 pds. load back from Indiana (430 mile) last week no problem. What can these trucks really pull? I have dual rear wheels and 4:10 rear end.

Last edited by tndiesel; Nov 18, 2007 at 09:59 AM.

Nov 18, 2007 | 09:55 AM

alchymist

"Mifflin Clay"

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 3,177

Likes: 4

From: Mifflin, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by tndiesel

So according to that chart 12,500 pds. is the max I can pull. I pulled a 16,200 pds. back from Indiana (430 mile) last no problem. What can these trucks really pull? I have dual rear wheelsand 4:10 rear end.

What can these trucks really pull? Depends on how you define "really". Do you mean in a legal sense or in an actual all out sense or a practical/safe sense? The three can be very different!

Nov 18, 2007 | 10:06 AM

Bobcat7

Senior User

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 148

Likes: 0

And the determing factor might just be a jury. If, god forbid, a little old lady pulls out in front of you and the worst happens... Don't think for a minute that the insurance company isn't going to look for a way out from paying damagaes. They will say you were over the manufacturers gvwr hence you are at fault. Ignorance is no excuse. common sense will tell us different. i have routinely pulled my dump trailer at 14,000 full of sand back and forth no problem. I have a digital trans temp guage and ample proportional braking. But...... what if?

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Nov 18, 2007 | 05:46 PM

DG65

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 193

Likes: 0

From: Des Moines, IA

I hate to admit it, but my 30' fifth wheel crosses the scales empty at 11k and a gross weight rating of 14.5! Someday I'll get something that's not so heavy... hard to trade quality for weight.

Nov 19, 2007 | 03:34 PM

#10

alchymist

"Mifflin Clay"

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 3,177

Likes: 4

From: Mifflin, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by DG65

I hate to admit it, but my 30' fifth wheel crosses the scales empty at 11k and a gross weight rating of 14.5! Someday I'll get something that's not so heavy... hard to trade quality for weight.

No, No, No ....just trade the F250 for a 350! (Actually, I couldn't get rid of the new trailer, so the old ('05) F250 had to go. Darn it!

Nov 21, 2007 | 03:05 PM

#11

2 stroke man

Postmaster

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 2,609

Likes: 0

From: somerset KY

i pull safely (in my opinion) 23000+ pounds with my 250 single wheel (obviously since its a 250) auto runnin 70 mph in od. fun fun fun but, i only do it with a tandem dual trailer that can stop the truck and trailer easily if no input from truck. its got a heck of a set of brakes.

Nov 21, 2007 | 04:29 PM

#12

alchymist

"Mifflin Clay"

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 3,177

Likes: 4

From: Mifflin, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2 stroke man

It may be "safe", but an accident even if not your fault could land you in the soup from a legal standpoint......... IMO.

Nov 22, 2007 | 07:01 AM

#13

Bobcat7

Senior User

Joined: Jan 2007

Posts: 148

Likes: 0

I have an old '77 f-750 that runs great and dumps, shifts, brakes flawlessly but I don't use it as the DOT cop here would love to write me for something just to get it off the road. Single braking system, holes in the floor, etc.. BUT... these guys with a half ton loaded with wood piled over the sides with the bumper six inches from the ground NEVER get stopped. No doubt over the rear axle gwr. Overheight - center of gravity of loose pieces must be six inches BELOW the buckboards/sides. SO... I started using a dump trailer that looks clean and straight, good brakes etc. And like 2stroke man I keep my brakes in good shape and my controller set high enough to handle any emergency. So how does the law enforcement community decide who to pull over? An f-250 with a gooseneck and 20k behind him? A retired walmart greeter with his first 35 foot motorhome? (I want out of the way!) No I think they are looking for the easy money - speeding tickets. But... as I said and alchymist said "what if the worst happens?" Then we are on our own...

Nov 22, 2007 | 07:10 AM

#14

alchymist

"Mifflin Clay"

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 3,177

Likes: 4

From: Mifflin, PA

Got to agree with you there - but since when has common sense been applied liberally in this country? (Wonder why it's called "common" when it's so rare?).