Please help confirm towing capacity
 

Hey...

I just want to make sure I am correct about the towing capacity of my truck....

I believe it is 7,500 but better safe than sorry...

Would someone mind confirming this for me so I don't screw something up

Thanks

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/...3957acebd5.jpg

need to know year, engine, and if you have modified it at all

'93, 302v8, no mods at all....

2wd, regular cab

i know the towing capacity for my 300 I6 is about 7500 with a frame mounted hitch. so i figure the 302 has about the same torque specs, little bit higher hp, and weighs about the same, so 7500 should be alright. i would take it easy though, the truck aint exactly brand new ya know

7200 lbs with trailer towing package, according to this website:<P>
Camping Life Magazine

According to my owners manual the max combined weight raiting(GCWR) of truck and trailer for the 302 with 3.55 gears and auto trans is 11,500lbs, so subtract your loaded truck weight from that and you'll have the max trailer weight. A 2wd reg cab probably weighs 4500lbs with a full tank of gas and driver so that leaves 7000lb for the trailer. This is of course for a brand new truck so you should derate that for age and overall condition of the vehicle, personally I think 5000lb is probably the safe limit for a 20 year old truck in top shape.

What are your plans for towing? If you're towing close to the limit with the truck, plan on installing an aftermarket trans cooler. Also I don't think you should tow in OD on the E4OD

I will be towing a 20' featherlite dual axle (approx weight 2800lb) with between 1000 and 1250lb of gear.... Racing go karts.....Tools...... Etc

The trailer is 8' wide and has a 7.5 foot ceiling height so I figured I should also factor in for poor aerodynamics....Saving grace is that it has a v nose

I just want to make sure I don't need to make any mods such as a tranny cooler or stiffer springs

I estimated that if I stayed around 4000lb (+/- a couple of hundred) I should be fine....

Also, from what I understood, you should never tow with OD on..... Is this true?

Better safe than sorry

Thanks for all of your input

Your truck should have no problems hauling that trailer. An aux tranny and/or engine oil cooler is nice but not necessary unless a lot of your towing will be all stop and go. I have put a tranny cooler on all of my automatic tow vehicles, cheap insurance.
regards
rikard

Sounds like 4,000 should be safe. Here's a discussion about towing w/OD.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/907915-over-drive-questions-in-re-guards-to-towing.html