Can my 02 FX4 be beefed up enough to tow a 30ft 5th wheel.Just a few trips,maybe 3-4 through the summer.
Its has the 4.6 in it also.I like the truck and am in it at a great price.The f250 are pricey and not as easy to live with day to day IMO.Any Ideas would greatly be appreciated.
Its an xtra cab stepside.

 

what is the pin weight, also what is the total loaded weight of the 5th wheel. I think you will be pushing it hard with that. 4x4? Gear ratio? Also how far do you plan to pull it. Do you already own the camper? If not i would look into a Pull behind. 1/2 tons pull them all the time, but i think 5th wheels should be left to the 250/2500 trucks, unless it is a light weight 5th wheel made for a 1/2 ton, but they are usally like 25' and dont have the very high roof in those. If you are pulling it like 15 min to the camp ground where you can drive slow i may would do it depending on the questions above. if long trips i would not chance it at all.

 

but to answer you question, best i can with the info. AAL springs, or Air bags, Lower gear ratio in the rear, front and rear if 4x4. A tuner not for the added HP or Torq but to stifen up the shift pressure on the Auto trans. a very good brake controller. there is a few things

 

The simple answer is it can't be done safely, you'll lose a lot of turning radius, and that 4.6 is going to be way overworked depending how much weight you have. It's best to leave it to a 3/4 or 1 ton truck.

 

A 30 foot 5th wheel on an F150 is a big no-no.
The truck has about a gross combined weight rating of 11,500 lbs.
Your GCW with the trailer will be well over this limit.
The trailer loaded will weigh nearly 1-1/2 times the truck weight.
Don't be foolish trying to do this.
An F150 with the 4r70 trans is not built to handle this amount of total weight over the long term.
You need to go the the F250 or larger truck model with heavier trans, brake area, suspension and bigger motor.
You came to ask, please take the advice.
Refer to the thread by 'horsetrainer'. He is also wanting to do foolish towing.
Good luck.

 

https://www.f150online.com/forums/19...e-trailer.html

Post #18:

You do not have the right tool for the job. I wouldn't even tow a 30 foot bumper pull with a 4.6.

 

It's ok GLC you can quote me with my name

"I am the service manager in a trailer repair shop. We will NOT install a gooseneck hitch in any 97-03 F150. Look at the truck frame right above the rear axle. It is the weakest frame Ford ever put in any full size truck.

I do not recommend towing a in bed hitch trailer with 97-03 F150's.... don't care how small the trailer is. "

 

I knew the answer and you guys verified it.Thanks for the advice and for not flaming me.I'll be looking for a bigger truck.

 

smart move

 

I would pull it with the 7700 series. LOL. My one of those. You get the best of both worlds, F-250 chassis and driveline, F-150 body!!! Problem solved

 

Sorry *Buy one of those

 

Whats is a 7700?Not familiar with them.

 

F250 light duty.

 

The 7700 model is still too light to meet the "original posters" intent.
Take a look at the specs.
The highest gross weight rating is still only 13,500 lbs. for a 7700 with the 5.4, trans, gearing, tires, spring rate etc.
This model does have some items to legally increase it capacity but not that much.
Good luck.

 

But how do you figure? There are F-250's made in early 2000s with the same driveline and chassis pulling 5th wheels, of course the 5.4 will struggle a little but I don't see why it is still to light? I'm not trying to belittle your comment but I really don't see any noticable differance between the 7700 and F-250 other than badging and obviosly its not a diesel. I had a F-250 diesel 7.3 I actually sold to buy my 7700 just because I could pull the same weight without the fuss of diesel care and the price of fuel. But I will stat the diesel had allot more power but I see no real differance besides those. My knowledge is that the 7700 was labeled below the F-250 for reasons Ford could not produce F250s because they produced so many in certain yrs. So they just took the F150 body and slapped it on the F250 chassis, and fingled the numbers a bit so they wouldnt have to be classified as a F250. Maybe Im wrong?