Hey everyone! Thought I would actually register here & stop lurking... hehe

Anyway, I'm just wondering what my towing capacity of my truck is. I have a 97 F150 4x2 flareside with the 4.2L V6 & 5 speed. I've been using the bumper hitch for the past few years to tow, and it's rated at 5000lbs, but I'm not sure what my vehicle's towing capacity. I've used the truck to tow my 19' travel trailer (Dry weight 3500 lbs, tandem axle), and my 17.5' boat. ( Would guess around 2000lbs). I hardly notice the boat there when I'm towing it... but the travel trailer makes the truck struggle a bit, especially on hills.

Just don't wanna damage my baby!

Thanks!

John

 

I forgot to add that the truck is a regular cab short box.....

 

According to my owners manual, a 97 reg cab 4x2 4.2 manual weight limits are:

3.08 axle: GCWR 9,000 lbs
3.55 axle: GCWR 10,000 lbs

*****(edit... this is wrong. I looked at the wrong chart. This is for the automatic.... I correct myself in a post down the line..... duhhhhhh)*****

What this means is that the total weight of your truck AND trailer all loaded up with gas, family, dog, beer, etc. can be at a maximum of either of those two figures above. Depending on your gear ratio.

Just for comparison, it does list an actual trailer max weight and it's 4,800 and 5,800 respectively.

But to be able to tow that much of a trailer, your truck has to weigh no more then 4,200 lbs fully loaded!

I'd say you are ok on the boat. That trailer is gonna max you out pretty fast however. If you continue to tow with the bumber, just double check all the bolts that hold it on!! And don't tow that trailer anymore!!

 

I need a bigger truck! hehe.

So short of parking the truck on a scale, is there anywhere on the truck that lists it's weight? Also, how would I find out the rear end's gear ratio?

Thanks for the awesome reply, BTW. This is one awesome forum!

 

The "actual" weight is not listed. You have to phyically weigh it to determine that. On the door jamb, there should be a sticker with various codes listed. Look for one labled "Axle". It'll then have a code like "H9" (which is a 3.55 limited slip). "I9" is a 3.55 open diff. I don't recall what the 3.08 is, but if your's is not one of the above, you probably have the 3.08........

Just as a side note, my truck registration has a "SCLWT" (scale weight) listing of 4045. I don't know where that figure came from (I never had it weighed), but I know that I'm over that just sitting still. My GVWR is 6250, so I estimate that my rig weighs in around 5000 lbs with gas and me in it (no payload). My GCWR is 12,700, so I can't really tow anything over 7,700 lbs. I'd never tow that much with a half ton anyway, but that should give you some idea of what a "heavier" half ton's capacity is. I am looking at trailers at the moment, and only looking at ones that have a max weight of around 5,500 lbs.

 

We have the same truck (except auto/V8) I put it on scales with a tank of gas and deducting me it was right around 4200lbs.

(Of course this scale was at a dump run by the mafia so, who knows)

My registration card has empty weight of 3968 (no fluids?).

 

So on my label on the door jam it lists my PVWR as 5550 lbs and my axle is listed as what look likes a 19.... it could be an I9... I'm not sure... According to my truck manual, if I do have a 3.55 rear end my trailer towing capacity is 3600 lbs... which is pretty close to my trailer's dry weight... which is kinda scary... but I'd still pull it because I never drive farther than about 1/2 hour, and I've done lots of dumb things in my life... hehe. If I do have a 3.08 rear end (And I hope to God I don't)... the manual lists my trailer capacity as only 2,300 lbs... which means I'll actually start crying like a baby.

So anyone have an idea on the cost of getting a 3.55 limited slip rear end put in?

Thanks for all the response... you guys are the best!

 

I'm not sure if it's a "1" or an "I" either, but the "9" part tells me its the 3.55 at any rate. Don't know what an LS runs to put in, but I "think" the original option price when ordered from the factory is ~$200. Won't help your towing capacity any however. maybe going to a 4.10 gear would help some.......

I just realized that I originally gave you the specs for an 4.2 4x2 AUTOMATIC.... Sorry about that. That means your weight limits are even LESS!!! Your GCWR is actually only 7,800 lbs! and the max trailer weight is 3,600 like you said. (but only if your total combined weight is not over 7,800)

All I can say is that I would get a class III frame hitch to tow anything. They only run around $100 bucks and the holes should already be drilled in the frame. You just gotta bolt it up.

At the worst, you're just putting extra stress on the tranny/clutch and it'll just wear out or break sooner then "normal". Since you've been towing it for the last couple years without any major problems, then you should know what you're doing.

Good luck man! Take it easy. And sorry again for the wrong info I gave you at first.......

 

hehe no problem man.... I'm sure glad I got the 3.55 rear end! I suspected that I did, because I've never really had a problem towing the trailer..... (Plus the fact that I could never get over 40km/h in 2nd.... hmm, something was geared pretty low)

Boy, you guys are sooo helpful! Looking forward to some great discussions in the future... hehe

note to self.... buy an automatic next time....

 

Welcome to the board and have fun towing that trailer.