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Junior Member
Joined: May 2002
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From: Dry Ridge, KY
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I have a '97 150 supercab 4x4 Lariat. I purchased a camper and brought it home the other day. It is 30' and weighs 5800lb dry. The truck pulled it (overdrive off) but it seemed like the truck strained the whole way home, about 45 miles. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't want to tear up my truck. I have thought about a chip, super charger and of course air filter - or do I just need to step up to a 250?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 161
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From: SE Wyoming, try and find me
What engine is it? 5.4 or 4.6-- I am hoping 4.6L I have not had that much trouble with my 97 reg cab 4x4 5.4 pulling that much wieght, i can also put around a ton in back of it and it squats like hell but pulls it like it isnt even there and this was before my superchip, exhaust and FIPK.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
horseman32,
5800 lbs plus the wieight of your 4x4. You are well over 10,000 lbs. Don't expect it to pull like the trailer was not there.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
5800 lbs plus the wieight of your 4x4. You are well over 10,000 lbs. Don't expect it to pull like the trailer was not there.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi horseman32,
JMC hit the nail on the head, you've actually got about 6 *tons* of weight that you are trying to haul around with a stock 281 cu. in. motor, and that doesn't work very well. Your problem is very simple, you're trying to pull too much weight with too little power, regardless of the factory tow ratings, which should be cut by at least 35% in my opinion.
Yes, you can certainly improve your performance with some bolt-on modifications, and that will help. You can pick up another 35-55 horsepower and 50-70 lbs/.ft of torque with some simple bolt ons, and even more with a few additional bolt-ons after that, before you get into the realm of a supercharger. So you can get significant improvements without going to a supercharger.
If you are going to be towing that 3-ton trailer more than just once a year and only for a very short distance at that (under 20 miles), then you need to think about doing several bolt on modifications. You may also change rear gear ratios, though I would do the bolt-on mods first, and the gear change last, and only if you can't get enough performance with the easy bolt-on mods.
We suggest our Stage 1 kit, which consists of the Superchip, the Air Force One intake kit and the Magnaflow cat-back exhaust; each part is the best of their kind and the best money can buy, in a very affordable and cost-effective package. That should be enough to get you want you need, the Stage 1 kit usually does the trick at those weights.
Give us a call when you get a chance and we can go over this with you in detail, letting you know exactly what each part will do, and we can work with you either with package deals or just doing things one at a time until you're happy with your towing performance.
It is possible to tow that kind of weight with your 4.6, it just needs some help.
JMC hit the nail on the head, you've actually got about 6 *tons* of weight that you are trying to haul around with a stock 281 cu. in. motor, and that doesn't work very well. Your problem is very simple, you're trying to pull too much weight with too little power, regardless of the factory tow ratings, which should be cut by at least 35% in my opinion.
Yes, you can certainly improve your performance with some bolt-on modifications, and that will help. You can pick up another 35-55 horsepower and 50-70 lbs/.ft of torque with some simple bolt ons, and even more with a few additional bolt-ons after that, before you get into the realm of a supercharger. So you can get significant improvements without going to a supercharger.
If you are going to be towing that 3-ton trailer more than just once a year and only for a very short distance at that (under 20 miles), then you need to think about doing several bolt on modifications. You may also change rear gear ratios, though I would do the bolt-on mods first, and the gear change last, and only if you can't get enough performance with the easy bolt-on mods.
We suggest our Stage 1 kit, which consists of the Superchip, the Air Force One intake kit and the Magnaflow cat-back exhaust; each part is the best of their kind and the best money can buy, in a very affordable and cost-effective package. That should be enough to get you want you need, the Stage 1 kit usually does the trick at those weights.
Give us a call when you get a chance and we can go over this with you in detail, letting you know exactly what each part will do, and we can work with you either with package deals or just doing things one at a time until you're happy with your towing performance.
It is possible to tow that kind of weight with your 4.6, it just needs some help.
Last edited by Superchips_Distributor; May 14, 2002 at 09:01 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 1999
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 2
From: OK
First thing you should do is to pack all of your clothes, dishes, pots, pans, tools, etc and take the trailer to some scales to get it weighed. Most RV manufacturers grossly under-state their weights to make their product more appealing to 1/2-ton truck owners. Another catch is that "dry" weight is usually the weight of the trailer with no options. Add TV, VCR, A/C, awnings, etc and the pounds really starts to add up.
IMO, the F150 isn't enough truck... even if it could pull it up and down every hill at 70mph, there is more to towing than just "going". Improved stopping and control are just a couple of the things that are offered by a larger truck. Check out a Super Duty.
IMO, the F150 isn't enough truck... even if it could pull it up and down every hill at 70mph, there is more to towing than just "going". Improved stopping and control are just a couple of the things that are offered by a larger truck. Check out a Super Duty.