Towing question
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Towing question
My parents want to give my family and I a 2000 26ft forest river travel trailer because they don't use it anymore. I have found dry weight numbers on the trailor anywhere from 4800 to 5500 pounds. I have 3 choices as far as a tow vehicle. 1st is the truck you see below. Nothing has changed with it since I wrote the signature and it just went over 170K. 2nd is my wifes 2002 Mercury mountaineer with the 4.6 and the tow package. It has 90K miles with a rebuilt trans and many other fun new parts (rear wheel bearings for all you 3rd gen explorer mountaineer owners). My third option would be to buy something different probably an excursion which obviously would tow this no problem.
I live in the mountains of colorado so there would be some hill pulling that would have to be done to get anywhere towing this thing. I am just wondering what some of your opinions are on my options. I just don't feel that my current vehicles are equipped to do this work. Any input very much appreciated. Thanks
I live in the mountains of colorado so there would be some hill pulling that would have to be done to get anywhere towing this thing. I am just wondering what some of your opinions are on my options. I just don't feel that my current vehicles are equipped to do this work. Any input very much appreciated. Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
Likes: 6
From: Kansas
Your truck can do it but it's not going to like it and you will be pulling high rpms with it. The tranny temp gauge you have on it will become very important. A 5.4 will still have to work but do it easier than a 4.6.
Question: Does your dual exhaust provide enough back pressure for the engine to produce it's rated torque? You are going to need every bit the 4.6 has in the mountains.
Question: Does your dual exhaust provide enough back pressure for the engine to produce it's rated torque? You are going to need every bit the 4.6 has in the mountains.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 3
From: SE Wyoming
I think you'll be asking for nothing but trouble and most likely an accident pulling it with the Merc. When the wind gets a hold of it it will be nasty, weight wise the F150 can handle it but with the wind we get it is a different story, not to mention the quick elevation changes. I think a '92-'97 F250 would be the smallest thing I'd pull it with. If you lived where it is flat and no wind I would say the F150 would do just fine.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 213
Likes: 0
From: Aston Pa USA
I'd look for something bigger.
The Excursion would do it, but I'd look for a diesel or a V10.
The dry weight you gave is at the upper end of what the f-150 rated to tow, although the 4.10 gears will help. A weight distribution hitch is a must for a trailer that heavy.
I wouldn't even think about doing anything more than moving it around your backyard with the mountaineer.....
The Excursion would do it, but I'd look for a diesel or a V10.
The dry weight you gave is at the upper end of what the f-150 rated to tow, although the 4.10 gears will help. A weight distribution hitch is a must for a trailer that heavy.
I wouldn't even think about doing anything more than moving it around your backyard with the mountaineer.....
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,171
Likes: 12
From: SE Texas
My parents want to give my family and I a 2000 26ft forest river travel trailer because they don't use it anymore. I have found dry weight numbers on the trailor anywhere from 4800 to 5500 pounds. I have 3 choices as far as a tow vehicle. 1st is the truck you see below. Nothing has changed with it since I wrote the signature and it just went over 170K. 2nd is my wifes 2002 Mercury mountaineer with the 4.6 and the tow package. It has 90K miles with a rebuilt trans and many other fun new parts (rear wheel bearings for all you 3rd gen explorer mountaineer owners). My third option would be to buy something different probably an excursion which obviously would tow this no problem.
I live in the mountains of colorado so there would be some hill pulling that would have to be done to get anywhere towing this thing. I am just wondering what some of your opinions are on my options. I just don't feel that my current vehicles are equipped to do this work. Any input very much appreciated. Thanks
I live in the mountains of colorado so there would be some hill pulling that would have to be done to get anywhere towing this thing. I am just wondering what some of your opinions are on my options. I just don't feel that my current vehicles are equipped to do this work. Any input very much appreciated. Thanks
The F150 will be fine though. I previously owned a 30' Jayco that was 6500GVWR and towed that with the '98 F150 Supercab that I sold to my dad. That truck had the 4.6L, a 4R70W and a 3.73 gear. I pulled that trailer all over the place in the two years I owned it before I upgraded to a much heavier and larger trailer and of course,upgraded trucks. The whole key is to keep the engine in it's powerband by locking out OD-you're not gonna tow it in OD at 1800-2000rpms-the engine doesn't have enough torque at that RPM to hold the wind drag and weight at speed,but it will tow it no problem. Proper weight distribution is important,and well as sway control. I used a Reese round bar weight distribution hitch and a Reese standard friction sway controller. Also-if the truck has the OEM external trans cooler-add another one-it's not big enough. If it doesn't have an external trans cooler, add one-the larger the better.
Here's a shot of me towing that trailer rolling over 200K miles....
JL
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
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I agree with the above posts...but I'm not sure I'd even tow it around the back yard with the Mountaineer! I've got the 5.4 in my '98 and it tows heavy camp trailers excellent. I'd definitely follow the advice of Johnny and install an add-on tranny cooler (the biggest one you can find). Mine also has an engine oil cooler that helps too (you might already have one)....I think those are a couple hundred if you're adding on aftermarket, and with your 4.6, I know there's a lot more room without having to mount the oil filter remotely under the bumper.
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Elder User
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The trailor does have a weight dist hitch. If I bought an excursion, it would have to be a v10, I cant afford a diesel and wouldn't even consider a 5.4 in an excursion.
Whats crazy is my f150 has a tow rating of 6800lbs and the mountaineer has a tow rating of 7300lbs. I would definately feel safer towing it with the f150 but I still think it might be too much for it.
I guess I could tow it with the f150 and have the wife drive the mountaineer with the kids, dogs and supplies to keep the weight down in the trailer, but that means two gas tanks to fill up. Thanks for the input guys.
By the way, if anyone out there wants to trade their excursion for a mountaineer let me know. I might even through in my 97 escort
Whats crazy is my f150 has a tow rating of 6800lbs and the mountaineer has a tow rating of 7300lbs. I would definately feel safer towing it with the f150 but I still think it might be too much for it.
I guess I could tow it with the f150 and have the wife drive the mountaineer with the kids, dogs and supplies to keep the weight down in the trailer, but that means two gas tanks to fill up. Thanks for the input guys.
By the way, if anyone out there wants to trade their excursion for a mountaineer let me know. I might even through in my 97 escort
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Again, the fact of combined gross weight is being ignored.
Lets say your trailer has a weight of 6500 lbs empty.
Add another 500 lbs of gear/food/cloth/water etc and your up to over 7000 lbs.
Combine that with your truck weight, passengers full tank of gas and your up in the (7000 + 6500) truck weight at a total of 13,500 lbs combined.
Now this is just a guess but the point is you would be way over the truck's GCW rating.
Enter the towing in the mountains and your set up for quick failures of transmission from low road speed not cooling the fluid enough as well as brake issues that it was not designed to handle that kind of loading, etc.
You need an F250 or larger to have reasonable equipment life and equipped with towing hardware.
An old saying; even if something given free, it will cost to own and use it, it's not free.
Go to a trailer dealer and spend some time there. You won't often see an F150 class truck towing a trailer that size by anyone who has done it any length of time.
Lets say your trailer has a weight of 6500 lbs empty.
Add another 500 lbs of gear/food/cloth/water etc and your up to over 7000 lbs.
Combine that with your truck weight, passengers full tank of gas and your up in the (7000 + 6500) truck weight at a total of 13,500 lbs combined.
Now this is just a guess but the point is you would be way over the truck's GCW rating.
Enter the towing in the mountains and your set up for quick failures of transmission from low road speed not cooling the fluid enough as well as brake issues that it was not designed to handle that kind of loading, etc.
You need an F250 or larger to have reasonable equipment life and equipped with towing hardware.
An old saying; even if something given free, it will cost to own and use it, it's not free.
Go to a trailer dealer and spend some time there. You won't often see an F150 class truck towing a trailer that size by anyone who has done it any length of time.
New User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8
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I say the F150 would be a better choice over the mountaineer. I also have a lariet with a 99 4.6 L 4x4 and I have pulled loaded horse trailors and other loaded trailors with no problem other than remembering not to use OD...... The only problem I see that you may encounter is stopping..... but if the trailors has brakes on it that solves that problem...
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
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The trailor does have brakes and I do have a brake controller in the truck, but I think I am going to wait until I can afford to get something bigger to tow it with. Guess we'll be tent camping this summer.
New User
Joined: Apr 2010
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Pre-wired
I dont know about the 97 model, the 99 came pre-wired for the brake controller. So my only expense was the brake controller itself, and if memory serves me right... it was about 60.00.....
What ever u decide good luck...
What ever u decide good luck...
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,845
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From: Montague, NJ
just something to take into consideration. the yesterday i pulled an equipment trailer with a car on it all day long. all in all, the total combined weight was over 10,000 lbs. i towed that all day. up and down steep hills. with my little high mileage 4.6. tranny never got hot, engine temp didnt move, and my brakes still work.
and to those who dont believe on the weight, i have pics and the scrap yard weight slips.
and to those who dont believe on the weight, i have pics and the scrap yard weight slips.
