Towing capability
#1
10-14-1999, 10:19 AM
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Rosamond, California, USA
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Towing capability
I have a 1999 F150 XLT with the 5.4 Triton Engine and towing package. My GCWR is rated at 12700 and my crub weight is 5460 which leaves 7240 tow weight. I want to buy a travel trailer "toy hauler" which weighs 5600 lbs. When I add portable generator, motorcycles, etc...I'll max out the towing capability. To make a long story short, will my truck pull ok when I max out the capability? Has anybody else pulled travel trailers with a F150? Did it handle ok? Did you have to manually shift down (automatic transmissions) on hills?
#2
10-14-1999, 04:06 PM
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Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
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For safety's sake, you should NOT exceed the GCVWR of your vehicle. You should weigh your truck loaded (i.e. People and full gas tank) and then subtract that from your GCVW to get the MAXIMUM weight of the trailer. (I don't know what "curb weight" means.)
The MAXIMUM weight of the trailer also means "loaded" (i.e. Generator, Motorcycles, food, water, etc.)
Many people tow rigs that are beyond the GCVW . Every trailer salesman I've ever talked to has said something like, "Your truck will handle this trailer without any problems!" When I've pointed out things like the GCVWR on my truck and the GVWR of his trailer, they always have a comeback like, "Ford builds at least 15% safety margin into their trucks and you are only 10% over the GCVW so you're OK."
To them I say, "B... S..t!"
Weigh everything. Stay withing your GCVWR and you're OK.
Good luck.
BTW - the GVW on my trailer is 12,100.
------------------
1999 F-250 XLT Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed
V-10, Automatic 4R100, 4.30 Limited Slip.
GVW = 6700# Towing Capacity = 13,300#
4 Wheel ABS disks + Reese 15K hitch
Dark Hunter Green. Ford Running Boards.
Grey Rhino-Liner. Captain's Chairs. CD+Tape
Polished Stainless Steel Wheel-well Molding http://members.home.net/jchartier/jnctrk.html
The MAXIMUM weight of the trailer also means "loaded" (i.e. Generator, Motorcycles, food, water, etc.)
Many people tow rigs that are beyond the GCVW . Every trailer salesman I've ever talked to has said something like, "Your truck will handle this trailer without any problems!" When I've pointed out things like the GCVWR on my truck and the GVWR of his trailer, they always have a comeback like, "Ford builds at least 15% safety margin into their trucks and you are only 10% over the GCVW so you're OK."
To them I say, "B... S..t!"
Weigh everything. Stay withing your GCVWR and you're OK.
Good luck.
BTW - the GVW on my trailer is 12,100.
------------------
1999 F-250 XLT Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed
V-10, Automatic 4R100, 4.30 Limited Slip.
GVW = 6700# Towing Capacity = 13,300#
4 Wheel ABS disks + Reese 15K hitch
Dark Hunter Green. Ford Running Boards.
Grey Rhino-Liner. Captain's Chairs. CD+Tape
Polished Stainless Steel Wheel-well Molding http://members.home.net/jchartier/jnctrk.html
#3
10-14-1999, 04:15 PM
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Sorry - I got a bit carried away...
Now, to answer your questions:
You will probably find yourself downshifting on hills - the steeper, the lower gear you'll be in.
If your trans starts shifting in/out of OD, turn the OD Off until you're back on level ground.
Any time your trans shifts up/down between any pair of gears, you should manually select the LOWEST.
Manually upshift as the going gets easier.
Heat is what destroys automatic transmissions. Shifting up/down frequently generates heat. Manually selecting a lower gear will stop the up/down shifting and allow your trans to cool down.
Also, give the engine a chance to keep its cool by slowing down a bit - even below the posted maximum when in a lower gear.
Will your truck do 65MPH in second?
Will it do it all day?
Now, to answer your questions:
You will probably find yourself downshifting on hills - the steeper, the lower gear you'll be in.
If your trans starts shifting in/out of OD, turn the OD Off until you're back on level ground.
Any time your trans shifts up/down between any pair of gears, you should manually select the LOWEST.
Manually upshift as the going gets easier.
Heat is what destroys automatic transmissions. Shifting up/down frequently generates heat. Manually selecting a lower gear will stop the up/down shifting and allow your trans to cool down.
Also, give the engine a chance to keep its cool by slowing down a bit - even below the posted maximum when in a lower gear.
Will your truck do 65MPH in second?
Will it do it all day?