Towing
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Towing
I have 1997 F-150 Supecab, V-6, 5-speed, 4x2. I am interested in purchasing a travel trailer with a GVWR of 6300 lbs. Can anybody tell me if they have a truck like mine that pulls a trailer like this. I don't know much about trucks and towing and would like to know if my truck would handle it or if I should find a smaller trailer. Thank you for your help.
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Towing
Don't do it.
Almost all 6 cylinder engines top out at 5,000 lbs towing capacity. To do that you need an automatic tranny. Usually a manual transmission with a 6 will cut the towing capacity in about 1/2.
Your engine does not have the torque to move a 6,300 load on a sustained basis. I doubt if your clutch or transmission would survive for long.
We use a use a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 L inline 6 cyliner engine for towing a 4,000 lb tandem axle cabin travel trailer. This JEEP was ordered with the towing package which is heavy duty cooling, automatic trans and cooler, 3.73 rear axle ratio, overdrive lockout switch etc. In stock form it handles the trailer fairly well but needed a little more air on long steep mountain grades. After 4 years of towing we added a K & N air filter, a performance header and exhaust system and a transmission temperature gauge to help on the long hills.
To tow a 6,300 trailer you really need at least a 5.7 or 5.9 litre V-8 and up gas engine or a diesel.
With your current truck engine/trans combo you wouldn't have any fun waiting at the side of the road waiting for the tow truck.
Almost all 6 cylinder engines top out at 5,000 lbs towing capacity. To do that you need an automatic tranny. Usually a manual transmission with a 6 will cut the towing capacity in about 1/2.
Your engine does not have the torque to move a 6,300 load on a sustained basis. I doubt if your clutch or transmission would survive for long.
We use a use a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 4.0 L inline 6 cyliner engine for towing a 4,000 lb tandem axle cabin travel trailer. This JEEP was ordered with the towing package which is heavy duty cooling, automatic trans and cooler, 3.73 rear axle ratio, overdrive lockout switch etc. In stock form it handles the trailer fairly well but needed a little more air on long steep mountain grades. After 4 years of towing we added a K & N air filter, a performance header and exhaust system and a transmission temperature gauge to help on the long hills.
To tow a 6,300 trailer you really need at least a 5.7 or 5.9 litre V-8 and up gas engine or a diesel.
With your current truck engine/trans combo you wouldn't have any fun waiting at the side of the road waiting for the tow truck.
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Towing
Dusty,
It depends on rear gears too: w/ 3.08, ford does not reccomend towing, w/3.55, max is 3600lb.
If you are serious about towing the trailer, I'd recomend the same truck with an automatic and either a 4.6l (7000lb) or a 5.4l (8000lb).
All the weights and gears I quoted are from the 1997 F150/250 LD brochure, and are MAX trailer towing. If you are that serious, with an automatic, I'd also reccomend a large trans cooler. But that depends on where you live too! (deserts get to 115 )
Anyway, let us know what you decide.
Tony
-----------------------------------------------
'97 F150 SC 5.4l/E4OD 3.55ls Tow Package, K&N, LARGE Trans Cooler, towing 18' Car Hauler
It depends on rear gears too: w/ 3.08, ford does not reccomend towing, w/3.55, max is 3600lb.
If you are serious about towing the trailer, I'd recomend the same truck with an automatic and either a 4.6l (7000lb) or a 5.4l (8000lb).
All the weights and gears I quoted are from the 1997 F150/250 LD brochure, and are MAX trailer towing. If you are that serious, with an automatic, I'd also reccomend a large trans cooler. But that depends on where you live too! (deserts get to 115 )
Anyway, let us know what you decide.
Tony
-----------------------------------------------
'97 F150 SC 5.4l/E4OD 3.55ls Tow Package, K&N, LARGE Trans Cooler, towing 18' Car Hauler
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Towing
Thank you for your help. We ended up purchasing a 1997 F-250 Super Duty, 4x4, Crew Cab with a 460 engine. I don't think we'll have a problem towing the trailor now!!! Thanks again for all of the input and helpful info on our other truck not being able to pull the trailor. I really appreciate it!
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