Hi there, I am new to this forum and completely new/clueless about towing/hauling. I've been reading up for the last day and a half about towing and all that it entails. I'm a bit intimidated by the numbers to be honest. But I am slowly learning. I have a few questions, some general but most of them about towing a 5 X 8 Pace American Journey cargo trailer behind my 2008 F-150 4.2L V6 Reg. Cab truck.

My F-150's placard states that I have Axle code: 19. I looked that up and I believe that means I have a 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio. The truck's manual says I have a maximum GCWR of 10,000-lb. and a maximum trailer pulling weight of 5,000-lb. Front axle's GAWR is: 3,400-lb. and rear axle's GAWR is: 3,400-lb.

The Pace American 5 X 8 Journey single axle cargo trailer I am looking at has a GVWR of 2,990-lb. and a payload capacity of 2,230-lb.

My question is, can my little F-150 with a mere 4.2L V6 pull this trailer day in and day out loaded to capacity without killing my engine and/or tranny?

I realize there are more factors that go into the equation but in general, if I were to get an auxiliary transmission cooler could I expect to haul this trailer without any long-term problems? I am okay with driving the truck at 60mph or slower if I had to.

Any help would be great, thanks.

 

You have an automatic? I say get a transmission cooler if you do not have one and go. Just make sure the transmission doesn't shift often, say every mile except hills. The use the next lower gear, like overdrive off.

 

APT, Thanks for your reply. Yes, it's an automatic. Which is a good point because the manual transmission could not pull as much. I will definitely have a transmission cooler put in, any suggestion on which brands, companies make good ones? Does ford make an OE trans cooler I can drop in my f150?

This trailer isn't huge but fully loaded and towed day after day as I plan to use it, it will takes its toll. The trailer is a single axle with no brakes, it will weigh less than the f150 even when fully loaded so I see no reason to put brakes on it. I will have to be aware of start and stop times and drive like a grandma I suppose. I might pick up a weight distributing hitch, as I have heard it distributes the weight between towing and towed vehicle.

Should be straight forward but nothing in life really is. Anything else I should be considering?

Thanks for the help.

 

I really wouldn't worry much about it. That trailer loaded to it's max will weigh less than 3,000 pounds. The trailer's GVRW is the weight of your load PLUS the trailer itself. That's a very reasonable task for your truck.

Your truck may already have a transmission cooler installed from the factory. But in the event that it doesn't, it's a good idea on any truck. If you do end up installing one, I recommend mounting it between the radiator and AC condenser. That way your AC still works at it's most efficient, but you still have a trans cooler. Here's an excellent cooler, and I did a quick search to see who had the best deal on it.

http://www.amazon.com/70268-SuperCoo.../dp/B000CIGE9G

Since you're new to towing, the best advice I can give you is to make sure you have about 60% of the weight in front of the trailer's axle. If the trailer is too heavy behind the axle, you will experience trailer sway. The kind that makes your life flash before your eyes. Not fun. You don't have to measure every thing going in there, just be mindful that you want more weight in the front of the trailer.

Second thing to mention is to check your tongue weight, if possible. You can put a scale under the trailer tongue jack to make sure it's not over your hitch's rating (usually 500 pounds). Too much tongue weight can cause the rear of the truck to squat, and the front to lift.

Don't sweat it too much. It's like riding a bike. It doesn't take long to get the hang of towing. And once you learn, you'll never forget.

Happy towing!

 

You should be fine that isn't much weight at all I used to tow 4000lbs with my little 4 banger sonoma which wasn't good but my other truck was rolling on 4 flat tires... I would get a trans cooler and just take it easy. It sound like you new to towing so just taker easy in the beginning and you will be fine.

 

No weight distribution.


I don't have trailer brakes on my single axle open deck landscape trailer either, but I only use it a few times a year. The issue is the truck's brakes are designed to stop its GVWR, not its GVWR plus 3000 pounds. My compromise was to use better brake components.

 

A 3000# 5x8 cargo trailer? Just hook it up and go as long as you have a real hitch, not just a bumper ball. That's all I do with mine and I have a manual trans. It will pull it just fine with no mods. Get a full trans fluid exchange every 30k under towing service, synthetic fluid preferred. When it's time for new brakes, get premium ceramic pads and premium rotors.

Speed limit on those trailer tires and axles is 65 mph! DO NOT exceed that, I found that out the hard way! Lock it out of OD if it keeps hunting between 3rd and 4th and/or the torque converter keeps unlocking while cruising.

 

I know this is a old forum but my 2 cents. Have a 2000 Ford F-150 v6 5 speed I will admit not fun but possible I pulled 2500 lbs 150 one way and over 8k lbs 150 miles I slid down a mountain at 5 miles an hour about ten feet with bald tires while it was raining had to jack knife the trailer but I got it done only thing was my trans was bad and I couldn’t stop all the way without a lot of effort every time I did the trans innards would jump like I said not fun but possible for a short time auto may be easier though got that truck home though