I just bought a 1997 F150 V8, 4.6l, 3.55 Lariat (Supercab, automatic). My question: will it tow a horse trailer that weighs 3400 pounds plus my horse that weighs around 1100, plus the tack of about 45 pounds? I have a Class III hitch.

 

It should tow it just fine. I had almost the same truck expept it was 4x4 and I regurlarly towed a WW 2 horse with two Quarter horses and tack and it pulled it easily.

I wouldn't do it without trailer brakes and a good brake controller though.

 

Should tow with no problems

 

One caveat. The 99 Ford Towing Guide indicates that a transmission cooler is recommended for tows above 4000lb. I assume the guide for 97 was similar. If you have a factory tow package you are fine. Otherwise, look in front of the rad to see if previous owner installed one. If not you should get one. They're cheap.

Ditto on the brakes.

 

Thank you all! I feel much more confident now. Mine truck is also a 4X4, has a tow package and I have trailer brakes, but I'm not sure about the cooler. I will check on that this evening. The whole system will be checked Saturday morning before I haul my horse. Next summer I plan on towing to Northern Idaho; will the truck handle this also--about 450 miles?

 

No Way!
(You will have to stop and buy gas!)

 

If you have the factory tow package, then your truck has the tranny cooler. Your truck should tow your setup fine - as long as you have brake controller installed on your truck.

Just take it easy on the mountain roads. Turn off your OD when the tranny starts shifting in and out of gear and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

Hee Hee Re: No Way!
(You will have to stop and buy gas!). Probably many times!

I'll be sure and not use OD on the mountain passes. Actually, I've never used the OD. What is the advantage? Again, thanks so much for all your responses. I'm checking on the cooler this evening. Since I'm the second owner, I'm not sure who installed the towing package. Since this truck was owned by a rodeo queen and hauled horses, I would assume everything would have been installed to be safe. I know I have the controller for the trailer brakes.

 

So, the little red light is glowing at the end of the gearshift?
If this is true and you change your habits your gas mileage will go up(That's an advantage)

The red light means 'OD Off' because Ford figured by default you would want to use that 'extra' gear and wouldn't want that light glowing. Ford put it there to remind you that at that particular time you were not using OD put you would turn it back on(meaning light off) at your earliest convienence.

Years ago I had to travel with my boss in a small rental car.
A four speed Toyota Tercel.
My bosses' personal car was a Saab with three speed on the column.
For two days we drove around Atlanta Interstates with that little Toyota screaming for mercy in third gear, until I would say "shift" and he would say, "Oh yeah, I forgot"

Just how many times can you say "Shift" before you get fired?
Sorry about that, HERTZ.

(maybe the light is Green, I'm not sure because mine is always on)

 

It's Yellow.

I turn mine OFF when I tow on the highway because my load is enough to cause "hunting" at highway speeds. I have to admit it is a little scary to have the tranny downshift from 3rd to 2nd at 50+ mph, but it never gets close to redline.

OD is active by default. Even if you turn it off it will cancel when the engine is shut down. If you happen to have nothing to do (just sitting around the house waiting for a hurricane to hit for example) start your truck and press the button on the PRNDL-the OFF lamp lights. Turn off the truck, and restart it. The lamp on the PRNDL handle is not lit. Nifty huh?

 

Oh great! Another thing to add to my hurricane checklist.
I am not going to want that OD on when I am ready to beat feet!

 

You could keep the engine running in the garage with the OD off for the next couple of days.

 

Oh my, so much to remember and do! I'm just a little ole lady having the time of my life! Hope the hurricane doesn't land and you don't have to beat feet!

 

The attached link is worth a read since you'll be in the market for a brake controller, 3000# is the max trailer weight you can tow in Oregon without brakes. Not that you asked but I'll tell you anyhow; you'll need breakaway brakes and flares when you go to Idaho.

Controller

 

That's the craziest law I ever heard of!
Now, sometimes when I cross a State Line I might toot the horn but 'Flares'?
To me, that's a little overboard.