Here's what I have to work with...

2002 SuperCrew Lariat FX4
Towing Package
Transmission Cooler
DIDO Exhaust

2005 Forest River Wildcat 25RKS
UVW: 6,260
GVWR: 10,810
Cargo: 4,150
Hitch: 650

We towed it last year, and on the flat, we have no issues whatsoever...the darn thing pulls like a dream. However, whenever going over mountains, my truck would pretty much remain in the 4,500rpm range and I just know that can't be good in the long run.

I'm hoping I can make modifications to my truck so I do not need to purchase a new one. I know if I go with a 250 or 350, I'll simply have no issues, but then again, I don't have $ 40,000 to throw down on a new truck.

Someone told me once that if I went with a cold-air intake, under-drive pulleys, electric fans, and a new rear-end, that would do the trick. Is that true?

All advice is welcome.

Thanx.

 

1st. How much is your 2002 rated to tow.
2nd. How much with all your stuff in it, does the trailer weight?

I would probably start off with a tuner, intake, and if you pull it enought some 4.10s.

 

From that list of mods, I'll think you'll get the most bang from the gears, I guess you have 3.73 now?

It's nice of them to list the tariler cargo capacity of the trailer at 4150 but, like you said, you don't have a SuperDuty.

Make your cargo figure a bare minimum - Buy crap when you get there and eat it all before you leave.

 

I'm pulling a little lighter trailer with a 4x2 (little higher tow rating) with 3.55ls
I had to add an extra trans cooler to mine. I do live in FL but I don't have mountains like in Oregon (I grew up in N.E.Oregon) The move to 4.10's would help some. You're still gonna have a weak link with the trans. I would advise getting a temp guage to know where you're at in the heat dept.

Have you thought about getting a low milage pre-owned 250? Might be a less costly option.

 

I've more than thought about it...I'd absolutely love to do it. However, since money doesn't grow on trees, y'know...



On the one hand, with the mods I've mentioned, I'm out (on the high end) about $ 3,000.00. On the other hand, the purchase of a used truck (that isn't completely trashed and looks half-way decent) I'm out (on the low end) $ 30,000.00.

So, unless I can find myself a screamin' deal out there in never-never land, I don't think the "replacement truck" is going to win over the "replacement parts."



Either way, I want to thank you guyz for the opinions, insight, and advice. It is greatly appreciated!

 

Yeah, you should be alright. Make sure you're keeping the trans cooled and don't expect to get anywhere in a hurry.

 

How do you figure you are out $30k or $40k on a used/new Superduty? Is your truck worth nothing? The delta cost betweeen your truck and a similarly equipped F250 w/ V10 is no more than $5k and $8k for a diesel. You'll have a much more capable vehicle than any mods you can do to a Supercrew.

The onlt thing I'd spend money on is gears and a tranny temp guage. What ratio do you have now? What tire size, stock 265/70R17? If you have 3.55 now, go to 4.10. If you have 3.73 now, go 4.56.

 

You can mod the heck out of your truck, but it'll still be a 1/2 ton with a 1/2 ton GVWR (probably #6750, right).... You can add gears, but unless it will enable you to stay in third gear instead of second on the same grades you are pulling 4500 rpms on now, you'll just be pulling more rpms...

How fast are you going on those hills to be pulling 4500?? Are you in first gear? When I'm pulling a 5-6% grade I'll be in second gear, going about 50 mph and holding around 3500 rpms. I think that's fine. Sure, I can go 60 and pull 4500, but what's the reason?? I'll still get to the top of the hill and to my destination, just a minute or so later..... I've had the big, bad diesels pass me going up the hills, but one time, on a long one, he must have started to overheat, because I caught him near the top and he pulled over just after we started the down hill side.....

Anyway, you need to concentrate on modding the tranny (probably a 4r70, right?) before you add more power to the engine.... Sure, gears will help from a stop, but if you can't keep it in a higher gear to pull the same grade, then it's not going to help..

4.56 gears 'should' enable you to stay in third where you would be in second with 3.73's, but the engine would need to have more torque at that lower rpm too. I've actually 'bogged' my engine down to where it had no more pull. I put the gear shift in second and was trying to pull a 12% grade that has a speed limit of 35 mph! (it's in a neighborhood and I did hit it at 40 mph) Anyway, I got slowed down by a car in front of me and lost all momentum. I already had it in second and I was going 30 mph and didn't what to shift into first.... Well, I made the hill at some 2000 rpms with the pedal to the floor and going around 20 mph.... This was with a trailer that only weighs around #4500 soaking wet!!

Anyway, if you have to keep the F150, then get a trans AND a water temp gauge. At least that will tell you how hard you are working it. You will probably need a larger trans cooler, since you are probably overweight on both GVWR and GCWR. Change the trans fluid and rear end fluid every year. Don't be surprised if it all pukes on you sometime... That could happen even if you add $3000 in mods!

What it all boils down to is you have a massive trailer and only a HD truck will tow it with the expectations you want.... Even with a v10, you'll be pulling some high rpms with it, but at least the rest of the drivetrain will have enough beef to handle it.....

Of course, this is only my opinion.. Others will say "I tow the same weight and have had no problems at all..." to " you need a semi to tow a tent trailer.." All you can do is take whatever advise you get and decide what works best for YOU! The main thing is to have fun and towing a trailer to your favorite spot for a vacation should be FUN and not all wrapped up in worry or white knuckle travel!

--EDIT-- Oh, what size tail pipe do you have on that DO exhaust? If it's 2.5", you could be losing some low end torque..... I've got a single 3" tailpipe and actually gained in the low end.... Just a thought...
Mitch