Hello I'm kinda in a hurry but i wanted to ask a few questions to help my dad out. He just got a 2001 kings ranch and is going to be using it to tow his flat trailer with his 56 ford Sunliner on that trailer, so its going to be pretty heavy the trailer is a dual axle 7000 lbs cap.car weighs around 5000 lbs. the trucks sags very badly with the car on the trailer so i told him to get air lift helper springs but cant seem to find some strong enough for his truck? he is also saying he needs to get a class IV hitch. what do yall think any help, part numbers or references would be deeply appricated. thanks you so much

 

You don't need to find bags that hold the weigh of the whole load, just the toung weight divided by two since there are two of them

 

For that weight he should have a weight distribution hitch. His receiver has a max 500lb tongue and max 5000lb tow weight without a wd hitch.

 

I have an 02 and my trucks max towing weight is about 7100lbs...He is probably way over his cyrb weight limit for the drive train anyway.

 

http://reese-hitches-online.com/heav...und_bar_wd.htm

 

No issues at all!

 

Given your info, there is more to this than you might think.
Here are the things you need to consider.
The trailer capacity is not the prime item here.
The total gross weight is. 5000 lb car on what trailer weight ?.
Just assume the following.
The car is 5000, the trailer maybe 1800 lbs. The total would be 5000 +1800= 6800 lbs total.
If your truck weighs in at say 6000lbs with gas, and 2 people, you will weigh a total 'gross combined weight (GCW) of 6000 + 6800 = 12,800 lbs.
This is usually beyond the rating of an F150 truck by about 1200 lbs +/-.
There are other items that factor into the towing capacity to be legal on the road as well as for insurance purposes if there would be an accident and you were found overloaded..
So you can see from this exercise in weight considerations that it is not to be taken lightly.
Wonder why the truck's rear sags?
Look at the total legal gross weight of just the truck. Then the loading limits on the door jam sticker. From this you can determine the max allowable load in the bed or weight left over that might be applied to the hitch. Remember that any passengers or box load subtracts from the weeight that is left for capacity.
Then you can see why the trailer tonge weight might be a bit much for the suspension on an F150.
To many don't look at towing in this manner and yes, get away with it but is not safe.
You need an F250 to do it right, then there is the little matter of engine size and gear ratio, towing add-ons etc to make towing a good experience over the long term.
I just know there will be people who will phoo phoo this and dismiss it but they take chances doing so besides the relibality factor on overloading an F150 in towing.
Just because a 100 people do it and get away with it does not make it correct or safe or just because they could pull a bulldozer does not make it fine either.
Check the numbers for your combination against the factory towing limits and not just that you were told the truck can tow 7000 lbs. That means very little when you put the weights all togather and see what you really are doing.
You got the first hint already that the weight is to much on the hitch. It warrents the above considerations.
Good luck.

 

Good post Bluegrass. Always tow safely!

The Sunliner weighs just about 3500 pounds and the hauler is a heavy duty trailer so I'd bet the weight is closer to 2500 pounds. Still, Bluegrass' advice is spot on.
I'll add to the advice by Kingfish51 about a load distribution system by saying he'll need a trailer brake control unless the trailer has surge brakes and a sway control system may be needed.

Looks like the maximum towing capacity for any F150 from 97 to 01 is 8300 pounds so you need to subtract the gross weight of the truck, passengers, fuel, cargo & etc. from that to get the allowable weight of the trailer and it's load. Keep in mind that the vehicle in question may have a maximum towing capacity as low as 6700 pounds.

Here's the Ford Towing Specs Page.

 

I guess my trucks an exception. It weighs roughly 4800, and tow rating is over 10k.