Towing the Lightning
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,516
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area, California
Towing the Lightning
Im looking for a truck just to tow the lightning. Would a 99 Reg Cab Short Bed F-150 with a 4.6 be able to tow my 5000lb lightning on a open trailor? If it can do it would it be able to do it with no problem or will it be sturggling?
Thanks
Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
Likes: 6
From: Puyallup, WA
JMO, but when you also add the #2000+ trailer weight, that'll bring your total weight to over #7000. That would be a 'struggle' for a 5.4 F150.
I tow a #4500 travel trailer, and while it has more frontal area to deal with (wind resistance) then an open bed car hauler, it's still a lot of weight and I would not really want to tow any heavier with my truck.
Now, if it was only going to be a one time thing, or you were only going to do it a couple times a year, you could probably get away with it. You'll probably be over the limits of the 4.6, but it would tow it.
Maybe you could find a used F250 SD with the 5.4 in it?? That would be a much better towing vehicle for your Lightning IMO.
Good Luck!
I tow a #4500 travel trailer, and while it has more frontal area to deal with (wind resistance) then an open bed car hauler, it's still a lot of weight and I would not really want to tow any heavier with my truck.
Now, if it was only going to be a one time thing, or you were only going to do it a couple times a year, you could probably get away with it. You'll probably be over the limits of the 4.6, but it would tow it.
Maybe you could find a used F250 SD with the 5.4 in it?? That would be a much better towing vehicle for your Lightning IMO.
Good Luck!
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
Likes: 6
From: Puyallup, WA
Egoblast,
Well, the ones I have seen that can handle a #5000+ payload are at least that heavy. Should have at least Load Range D tires and have brakes on all four wheels too. A good weight distribution hitch setup would not hurt either.
At least I'd want it to be that heavy if I were to be towing that heavy of a payload...... JMO however
Well, the ones I have seen that can handle a #5000+ payload are at least that heavy. Should have at least Load Range D tires and have brakes on all four wheels too. A good weight distribution hitch setup would not hurt either.
At least I'd want it to be that heavy if I were to be towing that heavy of a payload...... JMO however
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 449
Likes: 0
From: Motown
I have a open deck car hauler that weighs 2000lbs. I tow my Lightning on it to the track. I had a 2wd Expedition with the 5.4 and 3.73 gears in it. Towing was not a problem at all. I now tow with my 4x4 Supercrew with 3.55 gears and it does it but not as good as the Expy. You definately have to have weight distributing hitch. The Lightning is heavy in the front end. Also, a good electronic brake controller is a must. I was towing long distances with the Expy (state to state). If you're towing locally then just about any fullsize truck will work.
