Howdy all,

I've got a 97' Lariat with a 4.6 V8. It has 17" wheels and it's an extended cab, 4X4 with a little less than 70K miles.

I don't have the manual so I'm wondering if I can pull a 25' travel trailer that weighs about 4,500lbs dry.

I need to pull it approx. 800 miles total with some good size hills (twice over the sisque summit on I-5).

Any thoughts and/or advice?

Thanks,
dvickery

 

You probably have the 3.55 axle whcih means the rating can handle that load. However, with the 4.6L and hills, expect to tkae your time and you'll get there safely. Highly recommend a good brake controller and weight distributing hitch, but the rest should be fine for a well maintained low mileage 97.

 

A #4500 "dry" weight trailer will end up weighing about #1000 more on the most part, so figure you will be hauling around a #5500 trailer at the minimum.

Your F150 will tow it, no question but, IMO, you'll be at or just over the max ratings for your truck......

The cooling system, trans and the rear end take the most abuse in towing anything.......

You should only attempt this if your truck has the factory "tow package" because for the 4.6, that includes an aux trans cooler. You WILL fry your trans if you don't have an aux cooler on it for that weight of trailer.

The rear end, well, you have the 8.8 rear, which is a fine rear end, but not as beefy as the 9.75 and I don't think the 8.8 holds as much gear lube either?? Might be wrong on that, but if it's the original lube, you might want to consider chainging it.

Has the cooling system been serviced?? How about plugs and wires? Trans fluid changed? Hopefully, you have at least the 3.55 rear end gears with those 17" tires....... Those don't help at all and will lower your actual tow ratings by about #500.

In my case, I tow a 22', #4500, "wet" weight trailer with the 5.4 and I don't have any problems at all. However, I would not really want to go much heavier because I'm already maxed on my GVWR on the truck when I'm all hitched up and ready to roll....... Pretty close to my rear GAWR too, so I'm towing about all that the trucks lowest weight limits will allow even though I'm about #2000 UNDER my GCWR..........

You'll need a good weight distribution hitch setup and a brake controller as well....

Anyway, if it's just a "two time thing", then you should be ok (with the trans cooler however....), but just expect to be in second gear and at 4000 rpms on those long grades and just take it slow and easy.....

Good luck!

 

thanks for the advice. this travel trailer is a rental so i think to be on the safe side i'll pitch in a few more $'s and go with the motor home. this way, the F-150 will be safe and sound in the driveway. i wish i would have had more foresight and went with a bigger truck. i've got a 3,500 lb boat that sometimes i can definately tell is behind me it's a single axle too though...

oh well, maybe one of these days... "power stroke" or "duramax" or "cummings".. mmmm diesel!

thanx again,
dv

 

I have a 97 4.6 auto without the tow package, no aux trans cooler. I tow 4600lbs (stang+open trailer), the trans never goes over 150F even in traffic. I never expected it to stay that cool. If I ever really get into towing heavy loads I will lock the converter up all the time with my SCT software, that will keep heat down as well.

I was going to add an aux cooler but theres no reason to at this point.