Hi, I just recently purchased a F150 SuperCab Lariat 2x4 with the 4.6 V8, 17 inch wheels, Automatic tranny, and the 3.31 rear axle. The truck came with the Class 3 Towing Package, and the 6050GVWR package.

I need to pick up a car and bring it back to Houston. The car is 'about' 3800 pounds ('52 Chevy Deluxe Couple 2dr) based on some internet research. My friend offered to loan me his 18ft Car trailer that he uses for racing. The trailer weighs 1300 or 1800Lbs (I can't remember which). The tow will be 365 miles with the first 180ish of it through some hills.

I am a complete noob to towing. If I'm correct, I need to be worried about the GCWR (10,500 pounds) and the Max Trailer Weight (5,900 pounds) per the Ford Owners manual. The trailer weight plus the car weight comes out to 5100-5600 pounds (depending on the trailer weight), which should put me below the 5,900 Max Trailer Weight, meaning I should be ok to tow this, I think.

Am I correct in my estimates? Can my truck pull this? I assume that I cannot use OD for this tow correct?

The trailer has electric brakes, so that shouldn't be a concern.

Thanks in advance for any help, info, advice,
Jason

 

You will be fine on the weight--just about any f150 will tow a car trailer with a car on it.

The electric brakes on the trailer will not work unless you have a brake controller installed--should cost about $125-$150 installed.

Don't go over about 45 until you get used to how it handles and have the brake controller adjusted to how hard you need the brakes to apply on the trailer. Be sure the trailer is tongue-heavy, not tail heavy; this should be a given if you put the car on facing front. Some people back the cars on and the engine weight is behind the axles, making the trailer tail-heavy, which can cause the trailer to sway.

Good rule of thumb for speed on hills--don't go down a hill in a higher gear than it took you to climb it. Downshift the trans to give you engine braking to help the trailer brakes.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the info. So the truck does not come with a brake controller? Where can I pick something up like that?

The truck has the plug in the rear for the brakes, didn't realize I needed anything else.

 

Walmart sells Reese electronic brake controllers for about $60. I have one and it works great.
If you got the tow package you should have received a brown cardboard box with a 7 blade round to flat-4 plug adapter (which you use for smaller trailers without brakes), a couple of relays and a pig-tail with a plug on the end that is used to wire up a brake controller. There are also instructions enclosed on how to install the relays under the hood and wire-up the controller. The controller, after you wire it up, plugs into a connector under the dash on the driver's side. Really easy to deal with actually. I did mine in about an hour or so. Good tips from hoser1 too on the trailer loading. Follow the instructions that come with the controller on adjusting the thing. I followed them and it worked perfectly. And you will have to get used to how the brakes work on the trailer. It's a little strange at first. Again, hoser1 makes a good point of limiting speed until you get used to it.