Bought a 21' camper this spring and will be pulling it with my '99 f150 xlt x-cab long box 4.6 auto/w overdrive 4x4 totally stock.
Camper weighs just under 3000lbs. Do I need to do anything special to my truck to tow on a extended vacation. Tranny cooler? Mods like fipk, or chip, etc? Have already installed class three hitch and electric brakes. dont want to go overboard but want to be adequate. All suggestions appreciated.

THANKS!

 

I think you would be fine, just keep it serviced and stay out of overdrive.

I just bought a 27' TT it's at 4520 lbs. I have a 4.6L w/ 3.55 gears and it pulls fine at 60mph/4th gear. It works it butt off to get over 60, pulling in strong wind I just shift down. Hill's suck. I'm sure she's maxed out on total wieght but just traveling locally (flat land) and in year or two will trade for more power. Wishing I had the 5.4 now. Couldn't pass up the deal on the TT though, found a guy who had to sell.

 

Weight wise you should be fine, as long as you don't overload your truck with goodies (GCVW is important). Go with the aux tranny cooler as a minimum, the other mods aren't necessary but wouldn't hurt either. I'm assuming you also got the equalizer hitch setup with the trailer, if not you'll need that also. I pulled a 5100 pound travel trailer with my 4.6L 98 S/C and wasn't comfortable with it, but that's a lot more weight.

I also towed a car on a trailer weighing in excess of 7000 pounds without a problem. Less tongue weight and wind resistance played the factors there.

Driving in overdrive is a matter of opinion. If you search the board you'll see it's been discussed many a times. General consensus has been it's okay and long as it's not hunting and turn it off on hills. Some will disagree though.

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99 F250XLT Supercab LD
5.4L 3.73 LS
White/Silver
Graphite interior
6 CD changer/Captain's Chairs

 

JD I have not got the load equalizer hitch yet, but I thaought maybe I should. How about anti-sway bars?

 

If you don't have the factory hitch, then you probably don't have the "towing" package either. I'd get a tranny cooler right off the bat. Get the frame hitch and go for the anti-sway bars. They will help level out your rig when it's all loaded up. And the trailer will tow much nicer too. The stock rear suspension sags really easy! I put 1000# load in the bed and it darn near hit the bump stops!

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1997 F150 4x4 Off Road, SuperCab, Short Box, 5.4, Royal Blue/Silver, K&N, Gibson SS, LT265/75/16 Wild Country APT's

 

Longbox,

I would recommend putting on a pair of Hellwig progressive helpers. These things sell for about $150.00 and are fairly easy to install. It took me 1 hour and I'm no mechanic! I put them on my truck to haul a gooseneck flatbed with a tractor. The helpers keep the rear from sagging and really help on the turns. Even when I'm not loaded, I like the stiffer ride and better control on shrp corners. Take a look at the suspension section, there is a lot more information. Other than this, I wouldn't sweat the 3000# pull.

Good Luck!


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TRUCK:
1997 F150 4X4 LARIAT
OFF ROAD
TOW PACKAGE
B&W GOOSENECK HITCH
SHORT BED
RAM STEPS
2500# HELPER SPRINGS
5.4 L

 

I've got the Hellwig springs on my rig and they solved the sagging problem I had. Also, keeps my Dad from laughing at me when I load up some wood or dirt from his property. He has a Dodge Ram 2500 with the 24 valve diesel, and he kids me enough about not getting a Dodge!

 

Thanks for your replies. Hooking the camper for a test run this weekend. Will see how the rear end handles the tongue weight. Where and what kind of a tranny coooler should I get and is it something I can install myself?

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Factory: '99 F150 XLT, 4X4, 4.6, Auto, supercab, longbox, running boards, foglites, sliding rear window, loaded
Additions: bugshield, topper, bedliner
Future: FIPK, Chip, Exhaust mod.?

 

If a Nissan Extara can pull a 4500# trailer with its V6 then your teck should handle that load with no problems as they showed the Nissan on some RV show on TNN last weekend as I just happened to see the segment on it as the show was on Just before TRUCKS.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box