need advice on trailer
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,436
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From: Montana
need advice on trailer
I have a 92 f-150 5.8 and it will have plenty of power....e40d, and an 8.8" with 4.11 gears and a true track. It currently has a leveling lift with an ad-a-leaf. Im going to lift it with a 4 inch lift and add leaves to the rear springs and have them arched appropriately to increase load. Now to the point....I am looking for a camp trailer to tow and am trying to figureout where my limits are on weight and length? I know the axle is the weak link so can you help me find my limits on weight and length?
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 327
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, MO
EM, as you know there should be a sticker some where on the drivers door or door jam that will give you the GCVWR, and GVWR. (Gross combined vehicle weight rateing, and gross vehicle weight rateing.) Most RV dealers can give you an idea of how much you can tow. You might try you local ford dealer, they can find these ratings for you.
I think the weak link is the tranny, and cooling system and possibly your tires.
I spend about 3 to 4 months a year on the road and I can tell you that I see all kinds of stuff being towed by half ton p/u's. Some of it scarey. Be sure to get a good brake controller, and a good load distrubition hitch with spring bars to shift some wt to the front axle.
My 5-W is about 25ft and has a dry wt of about 4800 lbs. It could have been pulled with a 1/2 T.
There's an old rule of thumb that says you can tow about the same wt as your p/u. Some of the new trucks are towing more than this 50%/50% wt split.
I just found what you wanted. The GCVWR for a 5.8L F-150 with 4.10's and auto is 13,000 lb. and a max trailer weight of about 7,200 lbs. These numbers may be off 200lbs or so if you have 4wd, or extended cab.
Have fun camping
I think the weak link is the tranny, and cooling system and possibly your tires.
I spend about 3 to 4 months a year on the road and I can tell you that I see all kinds of stuff being towed by half ton p/u's. Some of it scarey. Be sure to get a good brake controller, and a good load distrubition hitch with spring bars to shift some wt to the front axle.
My 5-W is about 25ft and has a dry wt of about 4800 lbs. It could have been pulled with a 1/2 T.
There's an old rule of thumb that says you can tow about the same wt as your p/u. Some of the new trucks are towing more than this 50%/50% wt split.
I just found what you wanted. The GCVWR for a 5.8L F-150 with 4.10's and auto is 13,000 lb. and a max trailer weight of about 7,200 lbs. These numbers may be off 200lbs or so if you have 4wd, or extended cab.
Have fun camping
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2004
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From: Montana
Thanks man yea the door says its like 6320 or something but I have modified the suspension alittle and bumped the gears up. Im running 33x12.50's with extra heavy duty sidewalls so im not worried about the tire payload. I was just thing ing that my axle bearings will take a beating if i go to heavy.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
A good general rule for 1/2 ton trucks is not to tow anything much longer then the vehicle and over 5K pounds. Arching a spring does not increase its load capacity.
imo, The weak link is not the rear axle or suspension. It is the cooling system for the engine, transmission, and power steering. I would upgrade those first.
imo, The weak link is not the rear axle or suspension. It is the cooling system for the engine, transmission, and power steering. I would upgrade those first.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,495
Likes: 7
From: Not as far west as I want
A lift kit will raise the center of gravity, would make trailer towing interesting possibly even scary. 6000 LBS with a 10% Tongue weight, would be 600 LBS. That would be livable When looking at trailer weights detemine weather the weight is dry weight. (No water, propane, or supplies.)
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Originally Posted by EgoMan
Thanks man yea the door says its like 6320 or something but I have modified the suspension alittle and bumped the gears up. Im running 33x12.50's with extra heavy duty sidewalls so im not worried about the tire payload. I was just thing ing that my axle bearings will take a beating if i go to heavy.
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: Montana
yea...I dont want to arch them for capacity im going to add leaves for that to thicken the stack and raise it...arch if necessary to gain the 2.5 inch increase. 4 inch lift isnt very tall at all. Its got very think swaybars and I plan on putting all the stabilizers I can find for everything on it. I am building the motor and trans for increased power and towing ability. In the process I will be going with a larger core radiator, high flow pump, and a larger trans cooler...(I never use the radiator for cooling the trans). I was looking for something about 6K LB. just wasnt sure about the length and all that, we used to tow a 17ft camper behind a 85 toyota sr5 so I figure a good ford aught to ro better than that.
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2004
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From: Montana
you can not load it past the 6,320 listed on the door you can not do anything to change the rating. the weak part is the frame, axle and brakes. with that tire size your effective gear ratio is about 3.73. if you plan on towing a lot i would not raise it.
what do you mean by raise it? I get what ya mean the axle is what I thought would be the problem, didnt think of the frame though....hell or even the brakes. lol I just want to tow maybe just over 6K. around 20-25 ft trailor.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 279
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From: Tillsonburg ON
Hey EM, my truck is exactly the same config: 92 F150 XCab SB 5.8L E4OD, only difference is a 3.73 rear. Mine has the full factory tow package, oil & tranny cooler as well as extra springs on the rear, stiffer coils on the front and a brake controller.
I'm just in the process of getting ready for a move back east -- 2,500 miles towing a 23' enclosed car hauler. According to the local pros here (and believe me, every second vehicle around here tows -- horses, RV's, boats -- that's the trouble with living in paradise) ... with an equalizing/sway controlled hitch I'll be legal in Canada up to 8k lbs and my trailer will be 7,500 loaded. I'm praying that I make it and I only plan on doing 400 miles a day.
Another question you have to ask yourself is how often you are going to tow that travel trailer. I've been towing horses for years with both my F350 and my F150 (since the divorce :-) and I consider my impending trip a real gamble with a half ton. Gotta agree with rebocardo -- no more than 5k for a half ton and if you're going to do anything, do the cooling upgrades and get electric brakes on the trailer. No matter what the legal limit, if you're going to tow that trailer regularly, get a Super Duty.
I'm just in the process of getting ready for a move back east -- 2,500 miles towing a 23' enclosed car hauler. According to the local pros here (and believe me, every second vehicle around here tows -- horses, RV's, boats -- that's the trouble with living in paradise) ... with an equalizing/sway controlled hitch I'll be legal in Canada up to 8k lbs and my trailer will be 7,500 loaded. I'm praying that I make it and I only plan on doing 400 miles a day.
Another question you have to ask yourself is how often you are going to tow that travel trailer. I've been towing horses for years with both my F350 and my F150 (since the divorce :-) and I consider my impending trip a real gamble with a half ton. Gotta agree with rebocardo -- no more than 5k for a half ton and if you're going to do anything, do the cooling upgrades and get electric brakes on the trailer. No matter what the legal limit, if you're going to tow that trailer regularly, get a Super Duty.