I was not sure where to post this so I am placing it the model year section.

I have a 2003 F150 SCREW cab with the 5.4L w/3.73s and 17" wheels with about 150K on it. My wife and I are looking to buy a Travel Trailer (5k wet max), but I have concerns about hauling a TT around the Colorado mountains with such high mileage.

What are your thoughts about towing reliability at this mileage point and what should I be look out for?

Thank you in advance.

S/F,
Chris

 

I would get an aftermarket high capacity transmission cooler, and do a complete fluid exchange using Amsoil synthetic ATF. I'd also change all the other fluids using premium synthetics.

 

If everything is in good condition I'd have no problem towing a travel trailer with that many miles on that truck.

 

Thank you both for the replies.

GLC, is there any cooler you would recommend?

Also I have the class III towing group w/ the "heavy-duty electrical/cooling package." Is that still inadequate?

Thanks again for the assistance.

S/F,
Chris

Edited for additional information

 

http://www.summitracing.com/search/d...t&autoview=SKU

 

Thanks for the reply. I was reading elsewhere in the forum that fin/tube was not so good and stackable is the only way. Granted I could not tell you the difference.

Also would this on top of or in place of the "HD" OEM cooler?

S/F,
Chris

 

If you have the HD OEM cooler, that should be sufficient. Wouldn't hurt to get a tranny temp gauge to keep an eye on it.

 

Somebody on the forum recommended the F250 Superduty trans cooler for driving in the sand. I'm not sure exactly which one they were talking about. You might find the forum if you search.

 

Thanks again to everyone for the replies!!!

 

Yep, don't use tube/fin type coolers. They cause pressure problems within the system. Plate coolers are much more efficient also. As mentioned, get a tranny cooler from a F250 LD (same body style as your truck). It's huge and bolts right in! The stock tranny cooler even with the towing package is useless if you're towing anything; trust me.

 

I towed my #5000 TT with my 97 F150 with well over 200,000 miles on it with just regular maintenance and knowing my trucks limits..

I'm not at the altitude you are in CO, but I was pulling the grades in 2nd gear and pulling 3500 rpms, but I was not pushing it either... I was at most around 4,000 ft elevation (going over I90 pass in WA state).

I traded the 97 with 255,000 miles on it in January of this year and it was still running strong and I wish I could have kept it AND the truck I traded it for, but that couldn't happen....

The 5.4's loved to run, but I can't believe the power of this little 3.5 with a couple of turbos helping it out!! I walk all over that 97 with the 13, but the 97 still did the job just fine..

Good luck!

Mitch

 

The F250 tranny coolers are popular with the Lightning crowd. I'm planning on putting one in my 02 FX4 this summer.

Here's a little more info:

http://timskelton.com/lightning/race...ranny_mods.htm

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...how-loads.html

 

I have the same truck more or less (I have Scab with 355 gears) and I tow in the Rockies. Our trailer is around 5500 lbs loaded. You will be working the truck when you climb but it will do it. I too recomend the F250 SD trans cooler and temp gauge. They work well in mine. I also upgraded the rad to a two row for extra engine cooling. A 150K for these motors isn't high mileage if you take care of it. If you are still concerned you could always find a lighter trailer. I have been thinking about getting a smaller one (ours is 19'). There is only two of us and sometimes bigger is not better.