I have read many, many posts to this board looking for the towing capacity of my Bronco. As I have often read, the ratios, engine & tranny combinations make a differrence in the numbers. I have been unable to find one close enough to mine to help me.

Here are the spec on my Bronco: 1987 XLT 351W C6 tranny 3.55 gears. The engine was rebuilt 20,000 ago and upgraded by removal of all smog equip, addition of equal length long tube headers, 2 1/2" dual exhaust and K&N air filter.

I have the original owners manual. It says to get the GCWR, and provides tables based on powertrain setup. The problem is that the table lists for a 5.8L w/3.55's, three different Max. GCWR's.. 1st is 9,500# w/0-2,000# trailer weight... 2nd is 10,500# w/2,000-3,500# trailer weight and 3rd is 11,500# w/3,500-7,600# trailer weight. How do I determine which of these applies to my truck? The numbers on my door pillar sticker are not readable due to partial removal from tape after new paint job.

Is there anyone out there who can help me? please? Anyone with the same (or very close)setup currently pulling a trailer? My wife & I are looking at purchasing a 24 - 30' camping trailer and will be using electric brakes. But what good are the brakes if I can't keep the thing moving in the first place.

I'm not looking to do top speed with this rig, but I have a good deal of money tied up in the truck and don't wish to damage or destroy anything by trying to enjoy a little camping excursion.

FYI.. I am running Amsoil transmission fluid and plan to add a cooler, any sugguestions on which brands are best? I have a Reese class III frame mounted 2" receiver and will be using a weight distributing hitch.

I apologize for the lengthly post and for asking a question that seems to have been ask before. I hope I have given enough info for someone to be able to answer to my question.

Thanks to all.

 

Someone else in this forum had the same trouble identifying the spec's on their '73 truck.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/DCForumID1/144.html

They eventually ID'd it with the VIN by communicating with Ford via their website. He didn't elaborate on the details.
http://www.ford.com/servlet/ecmcs/ford/index.jsp

 

Seems like too much trailer for a short wheelbase Bronco. A friend and his family had their 87 Bronco on its top with a 20 footer attached, after a west Texas wind caught that load. Not enough vehicle to keep under control.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 03-Aug-01 AT 11:01 AM (EST)[/font][p]Short wheelbase vehicles, such as Broncos, tend to fishtail and get out of control very easily. I have a friend who just lost his '88 Chevy 1500 Reg cab shortbox while pulling a 19' Nash TT. The trailer started to fishtail and the truck went along for the ride. The trailer ended up on it's side and the truck on it's roof. Both were totalled, thankfully both passengers walked away. My suggestion is to get the right tow vehicle for the job. Be sure to visit the scales with your tow vehicle and make sure you do not exceed either the GVWR or the GCWR of your tow vehicle. Also, never go by what the truck salesman or rv salesman tells you, 99% of them will tell you whatever it takes for you to buy the hvehicle. They have no idea how unsafe it is to be overloaded. Just my $.02

Rich

 

You should have all the towing information you need, if the owners manual gives you GCWR. Gross Combined Weight Rating.
That's vehicle loaded plus towed load. So if you weight your
vehicle with 2-3 passengers and a full cargo load, you can subtract that from the GCWR number to see how heavy of a trailer you can pull. If you still have a question about how much to pull, ask it.

 

ranger pat,

You first need to know how much your truck weighs wet but empty, then add the weight of your gear. The easiest way to figure this all out is to fill up your truck with fuel, passengers, and anything else you will take with you and head over to the local truck stop and weigh the truck. Then take that weight and sutract it from the GVWR. This will tell you how much hitch weight you have available. Truck, passengers, gear, firewood, generator, and hitch weight can not exceed the GVWR of the vehicle. The GVW (total weight you found at the scale) and the GVW of the trailer can not exceed the GCWR of the truck. Have fun telling your sweetie she can't load the trailer the way she wants to because it would put you over weight.

Rich