I have a '97 F150 long bed r/c w/4.6 & auto &3.55 limited slip. The sticker in door jam reads GVWR 5500 but says nothing about max tow rating. Is there a formula to figure this out?

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'97 F150 4.6L XL WHITE,FLEETSIDE R/C L/B, LEER SHELL W/FISHING POLE RACK, BED MAT,LIMMITED SLIP,245/75/16 DESERT DOGS ON POLISHED ALUM, WHEELS.
AIRAID, 3" CAT BACK OUT THE SIDE w/MAGNAFLOW MUFFER

 

I don't have the numbers for 97 but I do have them for the 2000 model. For a 4.6 3.55 it's 11,500 GCWR max. Your 97 may be rated a little lower???

 

I had a 98 2x4 xlt with a 4.6l and 3.55 rearend. It had a GVWR of 6000lb and a GCWR of 12000lb. It had a trailer towing capacity of 7000lb. If you have a GVWR of 5500lb. I would speculate on a towing capacity of 6500lb.

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2001 Silver XLT 2x4 SuperCrew 5.4L 3.55LS Tow Package & Cab Steps

Mods: K&N Filter, LoRider by Raider Fiberglass Tonneau

Tow: 31FT. Glendette Deluxe Camper Trailer

recent memory: 1998 F150 XLT SC 4.6l

 

Good idea! I had a 98 with 4.6 and 3.55's, rated at 7,000 pounds towing capacity. Did not feel comfortable towing my trailer rated at 5000lbs before goodies.

Search the board, lots of good info to consider like combined gross weight and tongue weight.

 

Thanks for the replies I believe a dealer guestimated at 6700#. I have been looking at trailers that have gvwr of 7500# with a weeks worth of food and beer even with the holding tanks half full I would probably be very close. I guess I need to look at lighter ones or get a superduty, cause the way my luck runs some Barney Fife will put me on a scale and won't be able to leave with it until I come back with a bigger truck.

 

Finally got a reply from Ford, they say GVCW for my truck is 11500#. So I figure my truck reg.cab longbed is around 4300# + 2 adults 400 + shell 200 + tool box & other misc.crap 100 = 5000# so I should be able to tow a trailer up to 6500# when fully loaded. Any veteran haulers have any input?

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'97 F150 4.6L XL WHITE,FLEETSIDE R/C L/B, LEER SHELL W/FISHING POLE RACK, BED MAT,LIMMITED SLIP,245/75/16 DESERT DOGS ON POLISHED ALUM, WHEELS.
AIRAID, 3" CAT BACK OUT THE SIDE w/MAGNAFLOW MUFFER

 

I think you should take your truck to some scales and get it weighed. Be sure to have it loaded the way you would if you were pulling the trailer- including a full tank of gas. Then, you can start looking at trailer weights, hitch weights, GAWR, and GVWR. Finally, remember that ~10% of the trailer weight will be on the rear hitch. Thus, that weight needs to be figured into the final GAWR & GVWR numbers.


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1997 4x4 Expedition- 4.6L, true dual exhaust w/Ravin DI/DO, K&N air filter, SuperChip, airbox mods, Edelbrock shocks, 285/75R16 BFG ATs, 2000 F150 "XLT" wheels, 4.10 gears, Auburn LS, Clarion In-dash CD player, Smitty Bilt push bars and nerf bars.

2000 4x4 F250 SD XLT SuperCab SWB- 6.8L, Offroad Pkg, Camper Pkg, 4.30LS, Tape & CD player, Remote Keyless Entry, Sliding back glass, tinted windows, 265/75R16 OWL tires, Smittybilt nerf bars & Line-X bedliner.

NoMo's site

 

Does absence of mention of the towing package or HD Cooling and the included auxiliary coolers mean you don't have them?

If so, you won't have the extra cooling needed to take full advantage of the HP/Torque of your engine -- or be 13500# GCW rated.

 

No I don't have the true tow package, but would not use it more than 5 times a year, I got this vehicle in '96 and only have 50k miles on it, my commute is only 13 miles. If and when I start hauling some real weight I would add a trans cooler. Now I am only hauling a tent trailer which my truck does with ease. My lease is up in a few months and I'm trying to decide whether to buy it or go for something more heavy duty. With the research I have done the GMC 1500hd looks real tempting, a 1/2 ton that has the bigger brakes, crew cab, and towing capacity of a 3/4 ton truck without paying the penalty on the tags.

 

I am looking at the 98 specs from the brochure-4.6 w/3.55 automatic trans (?) is GCWR of 11,500 and a max trailer of 7,200. Make sure your receiver/bumper can handle the weight and don't tow that much uphill in the desert during the summer w/o cooling.

 

Ya know, it's just common sense.

If you're to be an occasional mule -- and can ensure that you won't be pullin' Pike's Peak in August at 102F -- you'll probably do just fine.

The fact that you're smart enough to check it out is enough evidence that you're ahead of most. Just follow your hunches and enjoy!

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Y2K™ Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WHITEFLIGHT:
[B]I have a '97 F150 long bed r/c w/4.6 & auto &3.55 limited slip. The sticker in door jam reads GVWR 5500 but says nothing about max tow rating. Is there a formula to figure this out?

SNIP

Whiteflite,

My 1997 F-150 Flareside 4.6/3:55 4X4 was rated to tow #6600...

Based on my past experience towing a #6300 27' Travel Trailer you don't want to be anywhere near that weight...

Even after a SuperChip, Airaid, and Gibson Catback, the truck had little if anything left above 60 MPH... This was in part due to the large profile of the travel trailer... In my opinion at that weight (and size) the towing performance was miserable...

I got a bigger truck!!!

Best Regards,
Les



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2000 F-250 Super Duty XLT
4X4 Off Road, SWB, Super Cab, V-10/4R100/3:73LS