My '99 owners manual shows a max trailer weight of 2500 pounds for a 4.2 Reg Cab 5 speed w/3.08 gears, and 2,300 pounds for a 4.6 Reg Cab 5 speed w/3.08 gears.

At least part of the difference must be the extra weight of the bigger engine, because the heavier SuperCabs have lower max trailer weights than RegCabs with the same engine & gears.

My guess is the clutch &/or 5 speed trannys are weak, as the auto trannys are rated at much higher trailer weight. Ford doesn't seem confident that the manual will hold up to lots of trailer hauling.

BTW, a simple change to 3.55 gears adds 1,100 - 1,200 pounds more max trailer weight on a Reg Cab 4.2 & 4.6 w/5 speed.

 

2500lbs ?
That's horrible that Ford would even consider such a weak tranny/ clutch for a full size truck.
Even my 1.6L 4cyl Honda Odyssey can pull 3500lbs.
Ford really needs to fix this.
I'll bet the old straight6 w/5speed wasn't so weak.
They should really be using the same 5speed as the Superduty.
It's a sad day when a 4cyl Honda can out-tow a full size Ford truck.

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99 XLT 5.4L Regular Cab 4x2 120" Wheelbase 4 wheel disc brakes/ABS 5 star larait style wheels Toreador Red/Silver 3.55 gears 255/70/16 OWL Delta toolbox, Ford Running Boards, Ventshades, Bugflector, Bullrings, Donnelly compass mirror, 2" Rear drop.
Eclipse 5340 cd player
Memphis ARCS50 component speakers w/tweeters mounted flush in the door panels (excellent sound)powered by a Sherwood 35x2 RMS amp
Kicker ZR360 for the 2 Audiobahn AWC10 subs
regcab54@sc.rr.com

 

The 4x4 and Supercab are even lower w/ the manual tranny. A '99 4x4 SC with 4.6 and 5 speed can tow (according to Ford) a whopping 1,700 pounds. That's a couple of jet skis and a lightweight trailer. Forget about towing a boat.

 

Man, that bytes eh? I can BARELY tow my boat! Imagine, a full size pick-up that pulls less than what its bumper is rated for !

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98 F150-XL, Black
2WD 4.6L 5spd. Triton V8
RegCab, Shrt WB, Styleside 3.08
Air, Rear Slider, Ford Duraliner Boxliner,
profile+ wrap-around bug deflector,
Tint: 5%(#4)Rear
35%(#2)Sides

My Site
www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Port/3091

 

No Honda minivan will out tow any full size pickup. Ford has, for the last twenty years or so, recommended an automatic over ANY of its standard shifts for heavy duty towing. That includes light and heavy duty transmissions. I believe Ford has replaced far too many clutches under warranty and has found it easier to downgrade the standard shift transmissions rather than educate individual drivers. Oh, the "old" straight six most definitely did come with the Mazda M5OD, had one, and the 4.6L weighs virtually the same as the 4.2L. The 4.6L peaks at higher revs, however, probably part of the reason the 4.2L gets a better rating and the automatic versions only differ by 1000 and 1400 pounds in towing capacity, respectively (in actual use, no real difference). Never heard these types of complaints until the '97s came along and the "new" breed of pickup owners came crawling out of the woodwork. Giving up their little Nissans, Toyotas, etc. and nitpicking their pickups to death. The 3.08 rear end is a sorry towing setup with any engine.

[This message has been edited by Ford man (edited 03-12-2000).]

 

Well guys take a look at what the F250 Super Duty 5.4L will tow with a 5 spd manual. 10,000 pounds! Interesting huh? maybe it's that jap tranny they use in the F150?

 

If that rating were in any way true, it would indicate the E4OD/5.4L combo was weaker. Towing capacity has other variables; i.e., rear end capacities, springs, etc. The M5OD is not a "jap" transmission. It is built here in the U.S. It is interesting to note, the Warner T-18, a time tested transmission of the medium duty variety, has the same ratings as the M5OD and is/was intended for vehicles below 8500# GVWR just like the M5OD. Far too many of the "new" breed of pickup owners ask their 1/2 ton rigs to do the jobs of 3/4 ton and 1 ton rigs and condemn things they don't understand. Better go back to the Nissans.

 

I don't get this.

A manual transmission, reg cab, 4X2, 4.2, v6 with a 3.08 rear has a max trailer weight of 2300 lbs.

The same truck with a v8 only has a max of 2200 lbs.

First, is this correct? And second, why is this the case? Is it becuase of the extra HP?
Had I thought about this in advance, I would have gone with a v6.




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98 F150-XL, Black
2WD 4.6L 5spd. Triton V8
RegCab, Shrt WB, Styleside 3.08
Air, Rear Slider, Ford Duraliner Boxliner,
profile+ wrap-around bug deflector,
Tint: 5%(#4)Rear
35%(#2)Sides

My Site
www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Port/3091

 

Yea I do not know if it is true either because they claim the same rating for the 4R100. Depends on which part of the ratings you look at. The Tow Guide rates the 5.4L and 4R100 combo at 400 pounds less than the 5.4L 4R70W combo. Bigger truck and all. I don't belive much of these ratings so I am shooting for a 30% safety margine on mine and going up to the Super Duty just in case. I get the payload increase anyway (8800 gvwr vs. 6300) and the 400 pound drop off in tow is not enough to hurt me on meeting my target margine.

Oh...and don't get your panties in a wad. I was just trying to get them going!

[This message has been edited by cphilip (edited 03-13-2000).]

 

Nothing in a wad yet. Should realize Ford used to give the C6/E4OD a higher tow rating than the S5-42 ZF standard shift transmissions (HD F250 and F350), just as they rate the AOD/E4OD/4R70W higher than the M5OD and Warner T-18s. A LOT of other items factor into tow ratings to which people seem oblivious. Like brakes, springs, rear ends, cooling systems, etc. The tow numbers are all very nominal and if they're not what they want to see, well it MUST be the transmission. How many have these critics owned or used? As an aside, I seem to remember reading a few years back that the M5OD was manufactured at a foundry in Indiana. If it were "jap" made it would have MADE IN JAPAN big as day. I've been all over this thing and it's not there.

 

Back to the original question, I would surmise due to the 4.6's higher rpms for peak torque (3250 revs), Ford rates it lower because there would be more clutch slipping versus a 4.2L with its lower peak torque rpms (3000 revs).

 

IMHO - A F-150 is a passenger car class vehicle with a truck body. If you want to TOW, get a real truck - i.e. A Super Duty.

Please don't FLAME me, I know you 150 owners love your "truck" as much as I love mine. I mean to ofend nobody.


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1999 F-250 XLT Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed
V-10, Automatic 4R100, 4.30 Limited Slip.
GVW = 6700# Towing Capacity = 13,300#
4 Wheel ABS disks + Reese 15K hitch
Dark Hunter Green. Ford Running Boards.
Grey Rhino-Liner. Captain's Chairs. CD+Tape
Polished Stainless Steel Wheel-well Molding http://members.home.net/jchartier/jnctrk.html



[This message has been edited by J-C (edited 03-13-2000).]

 

Ok, I will admit that for serious towing a 250 makes sense, but as for the so called "new breed" of pickup owners, my friend has a 96 (hardly a new breed) and his rear is a 2.73. I know, I know, not a fair comparisson, but i hate being associated with being a "new breed" of anything. It trivializes my purcahse and makes me sound like a yuppie. I am surprised at the low tow capacity, sure, but it's more than enough for small jobs. If I decide to become an "old breed" of pick-up driver (if that even makes sense) I'll be sure to get a 250.




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98 F150-XL, Black
2WD 4.6L 5spd. Triton V8
RegCab, Shrt WB, Styleside 3.08
Air, Rear Slider, Ford Duraliner Boxliner,
profile+ wrap-around bug deflector,
Tint: 5%(#4)Rear
35%(#2)Sides

My Site
www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Port/3091

 

You're exactly right J-C, the F150 is a light duty vehicle, always has been. As for "new" breed, defacto, I'm referring to yuppies that replace their cars with pickups. They complain about all sorts of stupid, petty things. They think their pickup ought to get the same fuel economy as the car they replaced. They think because they have a pickup, albeit a light duty one, it ought to tow ANYTHING and start tearing it down when they discover its limitations. People like that deserve trivialization.

 

That's WAY too funny! LOL! You've got a point, they do indeed deserve trivialization! What's funnier still, are the folks who buy the expedition or the exursion and expect to not spend any money on gas or be able to pull a house! Well, at the end of the day, I can at least pull my boat! (BARELY)


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98 F150-XL, Black
2WD 4.6L 5spd. Triton V8
RegCab, Shrt WB, Styleside 3.08
Air, Rear Slider, Ford Duraliner Boxliner,
profile+ wrap-around bug deflector,
Tint: 5%(#4)Rear
35%(#2)Sides

My Site
www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Port/3091