I'm just getting ready to buy a used truck but the dealer can't tell me for sure if the 99 F-150 has a towing package. Is there a way to tell from the VIN or the door sticker?

While it has a towing hitch, I want to make sure it has the other goodies since I'll frequently be pulling a couple of horses. Thanks for any help you can give me. Chuck

 

I have the Ford factory tow package but I don't know of a VIN code diference. The easiest way to tell would be to crawl under a new one at a dealer. Or if you look at the electrical socket for the trailer it should have a black plastic door with Ford embossed on the outside and should be mounted about five inches to the left of the receiver. It uses a round plug. Ford hitches also have a sticker on the receiver on the opposite side of the power connector that gives the weight ratings. 500lb tongue weight and 5000lb max trailer weight, not necesarily worded exactly that way. You should also find extra cooling for the drive train mounted to the radiator. Hope any of this helps. I have found in the past that a trip to the dealer on Sunday(No Sales Vultures) has helped me answer some of my questions. Which actually brings up a good point. I have a 98 F150 Extended Cab 4x4(NO Off Road Package) and I found that if you look at 4x4's if the one you are looking at buying is an off road it will have an extra leaf(4 Total) in the rear end and will carry a higher gvwr(Something like 6600lbs versus 6000lbs for a regular 4x4) something to consider if you like to tow. Any way, good luck!

 

Thanks nextone. It had everything you listed and we bought the truck last night. Chuck

 

I was going to say, check the size of the radiator but, I didn't want the crap to be beaten out of me!

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1999 Ford F150 Lariat RegCab shortbed 5.4L 3.55LS Towpkg Line-X
15.714@85.21

 

Keep in mind that a 4x4 won't tow as much as a 4x2. The difference seems to be about 300lbs, and it's an additional 500lbs off if you have the ORP 17" tires!

[This message has been edited by anteater (edited 03-24-2001).]

 

I noticed that in the owners manual. Our trailer GVW is only 5000 so we should be set.

I find it hard to believe that Ford can't tell from the VIN if a truck has the towing package and other options. We did finally get a print out that listed some of the options but not all. We did a check after we got a used Jeep a year ago and got a very comprehensive list.

Thanks for the reply. Chuck

 

ROFL !!!!!!!!!!!



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2001 Ford F150 Supercab 4.6L
Airlift Rear Suspention with onboard compressor

 

If you have the hitch then most likely you have the tow package.

Towpackage:
receiver hitch
7 pin wiring harness
HD shocks
HD 72 amp battery
Super engine cooling
aux tranny cooler

If you have the stock Motorcraft battery it should say 72 amp/hr on it somewhere. Just another thing to check for. Enjoy your new truck.

 

One thing to add to V10's is the notation that the extra engine cooling is only on the 5.4L not on the 4.2L or 4.6L towing package.

 

I ordered the towing packag on my new 03 STX and I noticed that not only do I have the external transmission cooler behind the grill, I have another cooler next to it. The dealer said that it was a power steering fluid cooler, but for the life of me I have NEVER heard of a power steering cooler. I haven't had the chance to track down where the lines go, but they don't appear to be super high pressure lines (but could be on the low pressure side of the P/S pump), so to me I'm thinking it might really be an oil cooler.

Anybody know what the second cooler really is?

 

nextonef350,
I do not have the ORP, IMHO waste of $$$, and I have 4 leafs. I believe it is dependand on the truck configuration. Ie: 4x4 SC gets the 6250# package by default therefore the 4 leafs.


mscott,
The extra cooler is indeed a PS cooler. Thay all have them. My 88 Beretta even had one.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier