If a 20' trailer weighs ^v 5000lbs, a 30' should weight considerably less than 9900 lbs. Still...why would Ford put out that rating if you can only pull 5000lbs? That should not be happening. Hopefully its not the trannys and just a matter of too much too soon. The most I pull is about 4-5000 so I shouldnt have any problems....knock on wood.

 

This camper is a 1991....it has been pulled by F150 since 1991 without 1 problem. I also said is was around 5000# and was not sure to the exact weight.

I am not trying to pull 9900# with my truck....I am pulling much less and still had a problem.

Like I said...I was with another '04 and he was pulling a 30' trailer......he had less than 200 miles, and he didn't have a problem.

 

2004 models with the 5.4 and tow-package "SHOULD" be able to pull a 5000-6000 trailer with no issues (besides poor fuel mileage)

 

Tell me about it....6 MPG into a head wind.

BTW...it does have the tow package....and I checked the trailer weight......5800#

 

Beastboy,

What RPM was your engine running at while towing?

My thinking, Internal problem with transmission resulted in it not shifting correctly. Would lead to trans problems and low gas mileage.

Also, did you get the trailer towing package?

BTW, Knocking within a transmission is a bad thing. Everything in a transmssion is rotating. "Knocking" is typically associated with translating (moving). Thats very bad.

 

lol...yeah even with my 01 Scab Lariat 4x4...I only got about 8 mpg on that 20'. But then again that was at about 65mph.

 

Yep..I got the tow package.

THe RPM was right around the 3K range...between 2800-3000. I was actually behind another camper doing about 70mph.....I was driving in OD...rpm about 2000...I went to go around him, and obvisouly the motor downshifted.....I don't normally drive with the OD on, so I right away turned it off. The motor never rebounded and regained the speed and would not shift....I quickly dropped to about 50mph. And that is when I pulled over.

I would associate the knocking to a clicking noise due to the faintness of it.

I just want the damn thing fixed......I noticed it needs vacuumed out badly....LOL.

 

Congrats,

Sounds like you will be the proud owner of a new transmission soon. Just be glad it did it under warranty. I can think of a lot of things that would explain your noises and problems. Unfortunately, none of the things are good and if not under warranty would involve at least a transmission rebuild. If they get to talking clutch packs, gears, and valve bodies, which I think they will, tell them to pull the da*n thing out and put in a new one.

 

I hauled a 30' camper for 3000 miles around the west with a 92 suburban 1/2 ton with the infamous 700r4 transmission. That was when the truck was only two months old. Guess what, with much towing since then the odo just turned 140,000. Time for its first real tune up.

I think (maybe hope) the F150 has a waaaay better drivetrain, and I wouldn't give a second thought to pulling a 30' camper trailer with it. I will be finding out soon enough as I've just placed my order for a 150.

just my .02

 

Took the truck in yesterday evening....I should hear something today.

 

uhhh, very bad to tow something that heavy in OD. Granted a 1 time deal, sounds like there are serious problems with the trans in your truck. Hope you get it resolved, I would not tell them I was towing a trailer that big in OD. Good luck. Let us know how it works out.

 

I wonder if Ford made any improvements on their trannies? I've heard that the trannies in previous model years are pretty weak and haven't reallly been updated to handle the increasing hp of the motors. Can someone elaborate?

 

uhhh, very bad to tow something that heavy in OD

marc_brown98 ~ So, it's preferrable to tow with OD OFF? How come? Just wanna know because I'll be towing our boat, eventually, and DO NOT want any transmission issues arising.

 

Biggest reason for not towing in OD has to do with shifting. The torque produced in OD is typically low enough that any type of hill will cause the trans to shift. Excessive shifting is not healthy for a transmission.

Therefore, depending on where you live (Flat or hilly - even slight hills) and the weight of what you tow (how much it takes to keep it moving) driving in OD can be a bad thing.

If you a towing a "light" boat (Not a 21' Ranger) and you live in flat land, towing your boat in OD shouldn't be a problem. Especially, if you get the towing package. (Transmission fluid cooler)

 

what mecheng said. I think the owner's manual has a blurb about it too, not sure though.