I am considering purchasing a 2004 F-150 Supercrew Lariat. I am concerned with the towing capabilities. I have a 20' enclosed trailer with a 1500 lb sand rail and two full size quads in it. I figure the total weight may be about 7000 pounds. Has anybody towed this much weight with one of these trucks? I currently have a 1999 Expedition and it does a terrible job of towing it. It kind of gets that "tail wagging the dog" effect. I don't want to purchase a brand new F-150 just to be disapointed in it's towing abilities!

I would appreciate any input from anybody knowing how well it will tow a trailer. I kind of worry about the short wheelbase.

Thanks!

 

With 3.73 gears and a 5.4 the 2004 F150 "anything" has a GCWR of #15000. With the 3.55 gears, it's #14000.

It also has "max tow ratings" too, but those are only valid if the truck weighs in at it's published "curb weight" and if you are going for a Lariat, then just the options alone will bring that "rating" down some.....

I'd take the trucks GVWR and subtract it from the GCWR and that would be MY max trailer weight I'd go for......

The odds are, that you'll be really close if not over the trucks GVWR anyway, since we all like to bring along other people, throw some stuff in the bed and the trailers tongue weight adds to the trucks payload as well, so that has to be factored in.

So, a #7000 trailer will just about get you to that max load.....

I tow a #4500 travel trailer and while mine is an older F150, it does very well with it, but I am at the trucks GVWR so I could not really go much heavier..... Don't really want to either, as I like being able to take 6% grades and not share the semi truck lane!!

How you load the trailer will make a difference in how it tows. Do you put the quads up front or on the back? Which way do you put the sandrail on.... Engine forward or backward? Depending on how you answer these could have very different towing characteristics.

You'll need a WD setup too. The factory hitch is only rated for 500/5000 load carrying OR 1000/10000 with a WD setup.

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Get a 250. you will be much happier.

 

I think the f-150's max trailer rating is 9800 lbs, so it should be able to handle it. You'll be happier with the f-250 for regular towing applications, but if you only tow every now and then, though, you should be fine with the f-150.

 

I frequent another Forum for RVer's @

http://irv2.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=8076099152

Ask your question there.

Good Luck

 

Thanks for your help!! I bought the truck anyway, couldn't resist!! I am sure it will be much better than my Expedition was and I don't tow the trailer with my truck that much anyway.

So far I love the truck though!!

 

 

Hey Dunelover I tow a 28ft tailgator loaded with 5 atv's pushing my weight limit fully loaded down maybe even exceeding it. The truck did great with no mods to truck and its lifted 6" pro-comp on 35's