My 4.2 99 F150 started flashing the OD light after 81000 miles. Took it to the shop and found the transmission (4R70W) was bad. Well, $1300 later it is rebuilt. The shop told me I should get an auxiliary cooler for it. Since this truck has the 6000lb towing pkg, I had always thought it had a cooler, but the shop said nope.
So, due to the stupidity of Ford engineers, I am out $1300 for this transmission rebuild, and find out that I have to lay out another $125-150 for the cooler to be purchased and installed.
Then the guy tells me that the 4R70 is not that great a transmission to use for towing in the first place.
Boy, the next truck sure won't be a Ford.

 

Uhm OK. So your truck didn't have a cooler and you think that ford ripped you off because of it. Here are the facts.
Ford coolers that get used on these trucks aren't very good anyway. Get the 44,000 btu tru cool unit and never worry about it again.
No 4r70w's aren't the best for towing they are light duty transmissions. To tow the weight you tow you should have bought an F-250. The f-250's have 4r100 transmissions which are more suited for heavy towing. The 4r70w is the light duty transmission only found in f-150's.
Any chevy or dodge 1/2 ton truck would give you even more transmission problems using it the way you do. You're lucky you haven't blown that 4.2 working it like that. You bought a cheap truck to do heavy work. You cheaped out and now regret it.
Alan

 

i second dirty dogs statement you get what you pay for

 

When I buy a used truck that has the sticker in the window showing that it has a towing package of 6000lbs, then I expect that the truck is engineered to perform the task.
Second, I only tow a boat about 3 times a year around 40 miles. The boat only weighs around 4100 pounds with trailer. I am well under the towing capacity of my truck.
Third, I do not tow in overdrive and if necessary, I will shift down to a lower gear.
Yes I would like to have a 3/4 ton truck with a big diesel and Allison tranny to pull my little boat, but I was forced to make the choice based on circumstances.
Ford did a half assed job of engineering on this .

 

You say bought it used, who's window sticker said "6,000lbs. towing capacity? Was it Ford's original sticker, or something a used car dealer threw on?
If it had a Ford factory towing package, I'm almost certain that it would of had a tranny cooler. Depending on your truck's configuration, it could be factory rated as low as 2,000lbs. towing capacity.

 

I'm sorry that your unhappy with your Ford but it's not Fords fault. You made an uninformed decision. As was said in an earlier post, you could have the same problem with any truck. If you bought a V6 Chevy or a V6 Dodge it's just as likely that you would have a problem. It's like when we go to the store to pick up a new tool or TV or a microwave. If you are looking for the lowest price then your chances are probably greater that you will have a problem. Now just think if you were buying one of these items USED.

I'm assuming that you have very recently joined this site to complain to a bunch of people who like, and are generally happy with their Ford trucks. You shouldn't expect people to sympathize with you. You apparently didn't do ANY research before buying that truck. I don't know off the top of my head but I believe that the towing capacity for that truck is right around what your towing. I don't think it's likely that it's the 6k.

The F150 is offered in many configurations. I think that the real problem is you didn't choose the right configuration for the tasks you had planned for it. Ford does carry blame for a lot of things, as do all other auto manufacturers. In this particular case though, I think there is only one person to blame. Buyer be aware.

 

RIGHT ON GUYS, i didnt buy the big 5.4 in my truck and expect to get 23 MPG like my dads lil 4 banger toyota, just like you dont buy a v-6 for a boat. i like to think of it as buying ATV's you dont buy a cruising honda 300 so that you can rip stumps out, thats what a grizzley 660 is for, you dont buy a grizzley for sand dune riding and jumping.... getting the drift??

 

I checked 02 towing capacities for some reference.
If the truck is 2wd and 3.31 rear geared, the towing is 4500 to 4700 depending on the Cab style.
A 3.55 gear still only gets to 5500 lbs.
This is for the v6.
It is good to be informed when you buy so you get what you need.
Can't make some one else responsible.

 

You get what you pay for. Do your research before you buy. You could have asked any of these guys on this site before buying and it could have saved you from embarrassing yourself. All you got was a barrage of replies from guys that know their stuff and basically told you that you just cannot polish a turd!

 

if you are going to whin then go but a chevy and cry when you have to push it everywhere!

 

It's not an adequate towing combination, but anyone can crawl under their truck and make sure they have an AT cooler.

 

Get this, I was getting ready to move my mobile home a couple miles down the road. Wouldn't you know it, I give it a yank and the bumper rips right off. The tow strap was undamaged, but my '84 Ranger 2.0L C3 looks idiotic w/o a bumper. JK!
Why do some people think that every single full size pick up is supposed to pull several tons of weight with no problems? A V-6 with a manual trans. and 3.73's or better, maybe, but even then, you're putting a lot of strain on a motor that small.

SL

 

This is the factory sticker that was in the owner's manual. It has the 3.53 rear end, and is rated for 6000pounds.
The truck has the factory installed hitch also.

I could have bought a Ranger and get a so called 5000 pound tow rating but it sure as hell would stop that much weight.

I have also been a member of various Ford Truck sites longer that some of you clowns.

No I didn't come on the site to put down the truck. I came on to let you know the short comings.

 

Oh. My apologies. The thread title confused me.

 

While a trans cooler may have helped, I have a nice large cooler and my first trans (4R70W) started failing before 50K. Ford repaired it a few times and the trans finally gave up at 74K. The overhauled trans gets Mobil 1 ATF only, I put a drain plug in the pan and change 4 qts trans fluid every oil change. I now have 150K on the truck, so the replacement trans is lasting longer than the orig.

Come to find out, the overhauled 4R70W transmissions generally have a few upgrades installed. This is done to correct some serious flaws.

Chris