Ok, been searching and not having much luck for finding how much I can tow with the following:
2001 F150 Extended Cab
4.6L
2wd
Axel code 18
Reese Class III/IV hitch

I know its in the owners manual but I can't find what Axel code 18 is? Is it the 3.08 or the 3.31? I'm assuming the 3.08. I know that my cargo and everything gets factored in but trying to find out my starting point.

Looking at buying a boat and don't want to get something that I can't haul.

 

3.08 non limited-slip

Link Below is another forum where a list of axle codes are identified.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ot...code-19-a.html

 

The "18" axle code is a 3.08 w/o limited slip.

 

Thanks for the replies. Ok so by reading the manual then I can only haul a 2000lb trailer? That doesn't seem right.

 

Easiest way to find out would be to find your Gross Combined Weight Rating and then subtract your trucks curb weight and there is your max tow rating. If I remember correctly Ford was extremely conservative with the ratings on MY 2001 meaning the truck can probably handle a good bit more than it's rated for. If I had to put a number to it, I'd say you could probably pull 5000lb max safely, no way to say exactly without testing.

The only reason I say 5000lb, is because my Jeep Liberty CRD towed 5000lbs, and my father in laws tacoma pulls the same trailer. I would think a 2001 ford 4.6l v8 would be able to handle it.


Edit: Looking at the 2001 f150 owners manual on the internet it looks like all the towing information you need is on the door sticker.

 

That's correct. The 3.08 gears limit it to 2000#.

 

You must have the manual trans then? From the little "sticky" on trailer weights, the 4.6 with the AUTO trans and a 3.08 has around #5500 "tow rating"..

If it has the "Reese Class III/IV hitch" that might mean it does not have the OEM "tow package".

For the 4.6 and the AUTO trans, that would include an aux trans cooler and some additional fuses, relays and a 7 pin out the back.

Since you are looking at boats, if it has brakes on the trailer at all, it'll most likely be hydraulic 'surge' brakes, so you won't necessarily have to have a 7 pin connector. But, you'll want the aux trans cooler if you have the automatic trans...

If you have the manual trans, well, a little 12' aluminum fishing boat will work!

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Well I never thought that I was limited to that little. Heck I think my wife's Honda Pilot is even rated for that.

So are there any options other than selling the truck to be able to pull a ski boat that weighs with trailer around 3500lbs?

 

I have an Automatic trans. Correct no aux trans cooler. Correct all the boats I am looking at will have surge brakes on the trailer. My questions started when I was looking in my manual and it says maxium trailer weight 2000lbs for a 4.6L SuperCab 4x2 w/Automatic and 3.08. Or am I reading that wrong onpage 170? I took a pitcture of the page but don't seem to be able to insert it in my post.

 

A gear swap to a lower gear and a trans cooler would probably help you out. Would need to have the transmission programmed for the gear change for the speedometer. Would be cheaper than a new truck. Whether it is really worth the cost would be how many miles you have on the truck and how long you plan on keeping it. Easiest thing to do would be to just get a different truck with a better set of gears.

 

The Trailer Life Towing Guide concurs with your owner's manual - 2000# with either a stick or automatic.

Sure, you could upgrade to 3.55's or better, but that's going to be at least $600, if not more, and you still have not LEGALLY increased the tow rating.

 

There is nothing "legal" about what a manufacture lists as a "tow rating"..

It's not like if you hitch up a #3500 load you are going to get pulled over and cited for being over your "tow rating" by a LEO...

Civil is different, as you can sue someone for anything you feel like...

All the 'law' is going to worry about is your registered GVW. And maybe axle and tire load limits.

In my state (your state will probably be different, so you'll have to check that out yourself), I'm registered for "#6,000" GVW on my truck. It has a GVWR of #6250.

The next registration level is for #8,000 (usually 3/4 ton and above trucks), so as long as my truck is under #8,000, I'm good to go with my current registration GVW.

I do know that I'm north of #6,700 on the truck GVW when I'm hitched up and ready to go camping for a long weekend...

That's with a #5000 GVW travel trailer hitched up to it.

Get a trans cooler, go buy your #3500 boat/trailer combo and enjoy!

You may have to get creative when hauling the boat out of the water... It'll depend a lot on the ramp itself, but you'll be lugging it a bit to keep it from just spinning out (since you have an open diff, that's likely to be the result anyway... )

Going down the road, you should be fine in 3rd gear. Worse comes to worse, you'll need to get some real 'truck' gears....

My wifes RAV 4 has a #1500 'tow rating' and that thing can't get out of it's own way!!

This is just my opinion and you'll need to do what works best for you of course..

Good luck with it!

Mitch

 

My Escape had a #3500 "tow rating" and couldn't get out of its own way pulling a little camper that used a 1 7/8" ball and was designed to be pulled by cars back in the 60's. Wasn't much better with my current boat which is not even # 2k. It had enough HP, just lacked the gears to do worth a damn. I had two different rangers a 4cyl and a 3.0 v6 that had 4.10's and would run circles around that escape towing equal weight.