01 upgrades to tow?
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Joined: Oct 2008
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01 upgrades to tow?
I have an 01 F-150 ext. cab with the small v8. I am going to have to start trailering an offroad vehicle and was wondering what I could do to make sure that my truck will handle it! The vehicle I will be trailering weighs close to 4000lbs. SO I was thinking helper springs on the rear end....but what about the transmission (auto) and engine. Will I be putting to much stress on them? Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Had I known that I was going to be pulling a heavy trailer I would have bought a heavier truck...but you know what they say about hindsight! LOL Thanx
James
James
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, KY
4000 + 2000 for the trailer, plus equipment... that'll be a lot for that truck. Helper springs won't help very much in this situation, a tagalong trailer only puts 10% tongue weight on the truck. That's only 700lbs or so, less than half the capacity (bed capacity of 1500lbs). The hardest hit part of that truck will be the engine... it'll struggle up hills.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 17,398
Likes: 317
From: Whittier, CA
I would feel better about 4,000 total, not too happy with 6,000. I guess it's not clear which it is. Is it a low profile trailer, like a car hauler? Or tall and wind heavy like a camper? That makes a BIG difference in how much your engine labors. (Oops, I see now it's a car hauler)
I say you need a tranny cooler, and I would recommend a tranny temp gauge so you can monitor it and adjust your driving as necessary.
You will NEED brakes on that trailer, and a brake controller in the truck. That is too much trailer to pull without brakes.
Consider changing your differential gears.
I say you need a tranny cooler, and I would recommend a tranny temp gauge so you can monitor it and adjust your driving as necessary.
You will NEED brakes on that trailer, and a brake controller in the truck. That is too much trailer to pull without brakes.
Consider changing your differential gears.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 87
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From: Snohomish, WA
What kind of off road vehicle are you towing? And have you actually weighed it? If it has been modified, the weight starts to add up really fast.
I tow a 2004 Jeep Rubicon with 33" tires, 4.5" of lift, winch, a bunch of skid plates, tools, etc, and packed up to go wheeling it weighs right at 5000 lbs. My 16 ft flatbed trailer weighs 1800 lbs, so my total towed weight is 6800 lbs.
I have the 5.4L and 3.73 axle, and it gets the job done, but I wouldn't want to do it with anything less.
Here's my setup:
I tow a 2004 Jeep Rubicon with 33" tires, 4.5" of lift, winch, a bunch of skid plates, tools, etc, and packed up to go wheeling it weighs right at 5000 lbs. My 16 ft flatbed trailer weighs 1800 lbs, so my total towed weight is 6800 lbs.
I have the 5.4L and 3.73 axle, and it gets the job done, but I wouldn't want to do it with anything less.
Here's my setup:
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