Boat Trailering
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria VA
Boat Trailering
Okay, let me try again, I bought a 2002 F-150 Supercab 4x4, 3.55 limited slip axle, 5.4L V-8.
Also I have the class III towing packet, it that means I have a tranny cooler and oil cooler? Sales person could not answer me that question.
How much weight I can pull safely. I checked the driver's side label, and it shows:
GVWR 6500
Rear GAWR 3500
Front GAVR 3600
What all this information means, can anyone please tell me what is the safe weight I can pull on the trailer?
Thank you for all your help.
Also I have the class III towing packet, it that means I have a tranny cooler and oil cooler? Sales person could not answer me that question.
How much weight I can pull safely. I checked the driver's side label, and it shows:
GVWR 6500
Rear GAWR 3500
Front GAVR 3600
What all this information means, can anyone please tell me what is the safe weight I can pull on the trailer?
Thank you for all your help.
Last edited by wengerda; Apr 3, 2002 at 08:01 AM.
Certified Goat Breeder
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,182
Likes: 19
From: the moral high ground
No one here can answer that question.
Maximum weight does not equal Safe weight.
Maximum weight is determined by Engine/trans/gears/drivetrain
Safe weight is all of those things plus driver and no one knows you.
My maximum towing weight is 8300 lbs.
My safe towing weight is 5000 lbs.
Your maximum towing is probably more the mine.
Your safe towing weight (what you are asking) well,
either you'll tell us or we'll read about it in the newspaper.
Maximum weight does not equal Safe weight.
Maximum weight is determined by Engine/trans/gears/drivetrain
Safe weight is all of those things plus driver and no one knows you.
My maximum towing weight is 8300 lbs.
My safe towing weight is 5000 lbs.
Your maximum towing is probably more the mine.
Your safe towing weight (what you are asking) well,
either you'll tell us or we'll read about it in the newspaper.
Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
To stay within the "vehicles rated limits" for towing, you need to stay within the GCWR that is listed for your vehicle in your owners manual. Look in the index in the back and it will tell you what page to go to to get your vehicles GCWR value... then usually, it's in a table with the options available for the vehicle (4x4, 4x2, gear ratio etc). The GCWR is the "Gross Combined Weight Rating" for your vehicle. This the total amount your vehicle, trailer and all the stuff you have in/on them can weigh and still operate the vehicle safely. For a 2001 F150 Supercrew 4x4 5.4L 3.55 limited slip axle (according to my owners manual) is 12,500lb. The truck wieghs just a tad over 5000lbs. This is without passengers/fuel/other things so you have to take this into account. So, if myself, passengers and anything else in the truck weigh 500 pounds, it means that I can safely tow 7000lbs (trailer and it's contents). 12,500 - 5000 (truck wieght) - 500 (passengers and stuff in the truck) = 7000. Obviously this changes with how/what you load in the truck.
What you are reading on your door pillar is the maximium wieght your vehicle can carry (not including what you are towing) without exceeding the design specs for your vehicle. So for wengerda's vehicle, he can load the vehicle up to 1,500 lbs in the vehicle (include himself, passengers and their stuff) before he exceeds his vehicles carrying capacity.
There are alot of people that say the Ford rates their trucks for 50% of what they can really do. Quite frankly, I wouldn't risk it myself. That's gonna be a heck of a wreck comin' down the mountain if the brakes fail or a big repair bill if the tranny/engine goes out on me goin' up the hill carrying more than I'm rated for.
Now, there is the towing package. What that is going to specify primarily is the tongue wieght. The class III towing package (if I remember correctly) rates the hitch/tongue maximum weight at 500lbs. This is how much downward pressure the trailer can exert on the trucks hitch. There are a few of these forums with sections dedicated to towing and they would probably be well worth the read if you are trying to understand towing. The higher the class rating, the more you can put on the hitch. But I think they top out at about 800 lbs.
Hope this helps,
Cheleri
What you are reading on your door pillar is the maximium wieght your vehicle can carry (not including what you are towing) without exceeding the design specs for your vehicle. So for wengerda's vehicle, he can load the vehicle up to 1,500 lbs in the vehicle (include himself, passengers and their stuff) before he exceeds his vehicles carrying capacity.
There are alot of people that say the Ford rates their trucks for 50% of what they can really do. Quite frankly, I wouldn't risk it myself. That's gonna be a heck of a wreck comin' down the mountain if the brakes fail or a big repair bill if the tranny/engine goes out on me goin' up the hill carrying more than I'm rated for.
Now, there is the towing package. What that is going to specify primarily is the tongue wieght. The class III towing package (if I remember correctly) rates the hitch/tongue maximum weight at 500lbs. This is how much downward pressure the trailer can exert on the trucks hitch. There are a few of these forums with sections dedicated to towing and they would probably be well worth the read if you are trying to understand towing. The higher the class rating, the more you can put on the hitch. But I think they top out at about 800 lbs.
Hope this helps,
Cheleri