I am thinking of installing a hitch on my truck and need some info on realistic requirements. I have a 99 4.2l SC with I think a 3.55 gears. On the manual it lists max towing weight is 5K+. Is this with a 5th wheel hitch or any hitch will apply? I want to be able to tow up to 3500 lbs with 1000 payload in the bed (for those that remember, I am the one with the frozen fish). I am a neophyte when it comes to towing.

Leo dC

 

I recently bought a 24' camper trailer. It is approx. 5600lbs. I will let you know what I find. It towed ok on the way home, but I have not been on the interstate or on any hilly terrain.

 

Good_Guy, The first question is do you have an automatic or a manual transmission? The manual transmission with 4.2L and 3.55 has a max. towing capacity of 2800# and the automatic 5500# (if my memory serves me correctly). The factory and most aftermarket hitches available for these trucks have a ClassIII rating which means 5000# load and 500# tongue weight. The load that you plan to haul is within the limitations of the truck, but I'm sure the V6 will have to work a little bit. Keep the overdrive off and save your transmission.

I have pulled my boat (approx 3000#) with 7 people (probably 1000#) in the truck. The truck handled this load very well for small V6, maintained speed with minimal downshifting.

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Michael Krieger
99f150@pickupman.com
mkrieger@mailcity.com
99 F-150 XLT Supercab, 4x2, Bright Red/Harvest Gold, 4.2L, Automatic, 3.55LS, 255/70R16 Goodyears, Captains Chairs, Keyless Entry, CD Changer, Tow Package
Accessories: SuperChip, Donnelly Compass Mirror, Lariat Wheelwell Moldings and Bumper Cap, Ford Splash Guards, Bug Shield, Bed Mat, WeatherTech Deflectors, Mobil1 Synthetic Oil
Modifications: Painted Tailgate Handle, A/C on/off switch


[This message has been edited by mkrieger (edited 08-31-1999).]

 

I towed my wife's car (2900lbs) with an 800lb tow dolly and about a 1000lbs in the bed all the way from New Jersey to Texas. I have the 4.2L V6 with automatic trans. The truck didn't have any problem towing or keeping up with traffic....however, if you don't have a Superchip, there are going to be times that you'll just want to turn off the Overdrive.

Most recently running from Hurricane Bret last week, we had all of our irreplaceable itmes in the bed (diplomas, guns, powertools and all 200 pairs of my wife's - a.k.a. Imelda - shoes, etc.)which amounted to at least 1800lbs.

On the way down I37 I got a page from a friend who's vehicle stranded him and his family on the side of the road. Folks...when there's 300,000 people running from a hurricane there aren't many taxi's to be found. We stopped and picked up him, his wife and daughter along with about 1200lbs of their treasures. My friend had to sit in the back with the hamster and the dog and enjoy the rain. My truck's little shortbed was seriously overloaded, but in stop and go traffic at approximately 3-20mph we made it 150 miles to safety (in a whopping 8 hours), without overheating (like many other cars) and the truck pulled the load without any problem.

Ford makes a great vehicle (the one we chose during a life threatening hurricane) and that little V6 will tow or do just about anything you ask of it and the Superchip just makes it all that much better.

There, that's my plug for Ford and Superchips.

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"Baby Huey" (Big Round and Loves to Eat gas) aka '98 F150, Auto, 3.08 axle, Blaupunkt, SuperChipped, Oil Stain on Seat from Service Tech at WalMart, Small Dent on passenger Door from "soon to be deceased" co-worker.

 

Its a 99 SuperCab V6 automatic with 3.55 gears F-150. Aftermarket parts is a K&N and a Glasstite Targa Series Cap.

Leo dC

 

I agree with the others on the 4.2 towing ability. With the 4.2 company truck I had for a few months, I towed upto 4000 lbs with no problems in city driving, but on long highway drives it felt taxed. With 2000 lbs on the highway it felt fine however, like the tailer was barely there. That said I don't think Ford,s rating of 5500 lbs is realistic if you want your truck to live very long.

 

I have a 1998 F-150 with 4.2L, auto, 3.55. Tow a loaded horse trailer regularly in the hills of NM. At 7000 feet with a load of about 4000 pounds, the truck struggles uphill. What do you expect from a V-6 at high altitude on a steep grade?

However, the truck tows very well on the flat or on limited grades--actually, when wind is not a factor and I'm towing uphill, I notice little trouble.

The towing cap on my truck is 5800 pounds. A chevy with a vortec 350 only towed 6000 pounds up till a couple years ago.

Don't do much passing with the truck while towing, mainly because I don't want the horse to slip when the truck downshifts. The Superchip makes for rough shifting--supposedly saves the tranny.

Anyhow, A 4.2 with auto and 3.55 will tow very well.

-Mike

 

I have a 97 4.6 automatic with a 3.08 gear. I tow 4000#. I am about maxed out at this weight. I always keep it in 3rd(OD off) and it does pretty good. It would have a real problem in mountainous areas. With your 3.55 gear it will help towing in 3rd but your engine rpm including accessories will sure be turning a lot of rpm and receiving undue wear and tear if you tow a lot of miles. You really need a larger engine if you are going to tow on the highway or in hills. I also have a longbed truck which weighs 4245 pounds so I have a little more weight built into the truck to begin with too. I believe that the 3.08 gear in 3rd is the perfect towing gear and if lower gearing is required to carry the load then you need a larger engine. This gear equates to 2400 rpm at 65 mph. A 3.55 would yield about 2800 rpm and that is to much.

Refer to my post in this section about 4.6 and towing 4000 pounds.

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97 4.6 F150, 1/4 = 17.48 @ 82.2 mph, 88 5.0 Mustang 1/8 = 7.409 @ 93.72 mph


[This message has been edited by LarryS (edited 09-02-1999).]

 

I do understand that the 4.2L with the manual tranny has a lower towing capacity--I can see that in the manual.

What I don't understand is, why? I would think it would have a higher towing capacity, given the reduced complexity of the standard shift. It does't make sense. Is the manual tranny hardware not as beefy or something?

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'99 XL 2x4 4.2L SC 5-Spd SC Black over Silver
Penda Liner, Chrome Tubular Step Bars, Prime Designs Bug Deflector

 

Yeah
Unfortunately Ford cheaped out on the manual tranny.
If they would have put in a stronger tranny I would have bought one.
Superduty tranny perhaps?

[This message has been edited by 54regcab (edited 09-30-1999).]

 

All of you better be careful if your truck didn't come with the tow package or heavy duty cooling. Ford does not recommend towing over 4000lbs without heavy duty engine and tranny cooling.

The manual tranny tows less because Ford puts in a whimpy clutch and flywheel. That becomes the "weak point" of the system.

 

Simple answer to why 5spd tows less? Clutch. Ford doesn't want to use a heavy duty clutch that requires more leg push. They want a "soft" clutch... And if you've ever had to drive a heavy duty clutch all day, you'll understand why...

 

Someone with a superduty please post how hard it is to push the clutch.

 

Technically the feel of the clutch is not a factor anymore. All newer vehicles have hydraulic clutches. Fluid does all of the work. I did tow my camper with my 4.2L and it did fair. I would suggest anything over 4000# to get the 5.4L. I sold my truck and now I own an 86 F250 351W. Tows my 5600# camper like it is a pop-up.

 

Check out www.centerforce.com, they list a clutch for $289 that will increase the towing capability by 30%. Does anyone know where you can get a clutch that will increase it more?
P.S. Had to tow a friends Plymouth Voyager home when his tranny went. Used a nylon tow strap to go about 10 miles. The clutch smelled a little after that, but, it didn't have any problem pulling it.

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Red '97 XLT, 4x2, 4.2L, 5sp, SB, X-Cab, Norfalk, DP Box, Duraliner, P245/70R16 Michellin LTX