I posted before with What should I do? Well I have towed my new travel trailer(4500lbs) with my '97 F150 RC, 4.6, 3.55 gears. It pulls fine but I dont like the way it lags on hills. I am planning a trip(deep sea fishing) and plan to pull the camper about 400 miles. This really worries me. I am not very experienced with towing and it just does'nt feel right. I have a WD hitch and sway bar. The trailer has no sway, actually it feels like the truck is swaying.
I know I'm rambling a bit. I have just about given up on towing with this truck but what should I get. I really like the F250 4 door 4x4 but the price tag is way out there. Would just a plain F250 be ok? What about a F150 SuperCrew? F150 3 door?

My dad says I should trade the Ford for a Chevy 1500HD but I just cant do it.

thanks for your help

 

One mistake I made the first time I towed with a Weight Distributing hitch was to pull them up too tight. That takes too much weight off the back of the truck and gives it a real wishy washy feel. Make sure the bars take up most of the weight but I let the back of the truck squat slighty.

 

That 4.6 is a real dog. I know, I had a '98 and if I got off of the flat highway it was terrible.
If your w/d hitch is adjusted properly and you still get that wishy-washy feeling, it's probably because of the "P" tires you have. "LT" tires carry more air pressure and the sidewalls are stiffer so you will have a firmer ride.

I now have a 5.4 SuperCrew that does a much better job. One thing that I had changed before I took delivery was the ring and pinion ---- went to a 3.73.

 

My vote goes to the tires as well. Get some LT rated ones. At the minimum, you should be running ones with a Load Rance C. Most of the 3/4 ton and above will have Load Range E tires.

The sacrafice here is that they will be pretty stiff when running empty, but that's not why you got a truck in the first place, right?

 

So what do you think? Keep the F150 and struggle with towing or move on to the F250 or something else?

 

Hi Pony, if you are not satisfied with the power going to a 5.4 will help but if you are not satisfied with how the truck feels pulling your trailer going to a Supercrew won't help. They have the same wheelbase as a regular cab longbed so really there is no advantage. I've pulled a 21' 5'ver with a GVW of 4800# with my 98 F150 reg cab 4.2 V6 and the truck handled well but of course I was short on power. I had to pull in 4th at times (manual tranny) but always maintained the speed limit plus. Perhaps your trailer loaded is over the 5000# and requires more truck. I kept mine till the warranty expired then traded in on the extended cab with 5.4 and so far I'm satisfied. Good luck, hope you find the answer.

 

You're asking alot from your 4.6L. If you really want to move get a F250, V10. 3.73 gears would be OK for your trailer. Any heavier then go with the 4.30's.

 

ponyfan2;
I have been reading some of the responses to your your post and I am curious about what you are going to do. You have to keep in mind that by pulling 4500+ pounds of trailer, you are going to feel a difference in power and acceleration no matter what pick-up you pull it with. That is just a fact of towing. Since 95% of your driving will be with an empty and unloaded truck, why not stick with the 4.6, and keep you r expenses down as well as the impact on the environment. I tow almost as much weight as you are with a 4.2L in my truck and although I won't win any races, the truck is capable of towing the weight. Drive smart and try to keep the load rolling as much as possible, much like a driver of a transport. How many times have you passed a transport only to have him catch or pass you at the next light because you had to stop and he kept it rolling and timed the light corectly? Good luck with your trip. GlennMc.

 

I have a (stock) F150 SuperCrew KR 5.4L (love it). I just pulled my 29' TT 7800# up a 2.5 mile, 7 degree grade at 48mph. Not as fast as a F250 would have done it, but I was passing "some" cars.

Tony

 

I own and run a small frieght trucking company and have hauled just about everything from horses to heavy equipment. And if Ive learned anything it is this, its not the pulling but the stoping you have to worry about when hauling a load. So, if you feel comfortable with how your truck handles and stops when pulling your trailer then I would say keep the truck. You have more than enough motor to handle that amount of wieght.

 

Ponyfan2,

Look at what Glenn Mc said. He says exactly what I was going to say. I pull the same load here in Idaho and we have hills and some hot wheather too. I have the same engine as you along with 3:55 gears. The only thing I might add is you need to keep the enging in the power band when you tackle a hill. I keep mine at 3700 to 4200 rpm when I climb a hill. Never use overdrive either. The truck wont be fast but will always get the job done.

 

I'll echo mlaugh's comments. Use the engine RPM and second gear to your advantage. The trick is to let the torque converter lock (not WOT), and let 'r go. Taking a hill at 50 in second gear is noisy, but won't hurt a thing.

Here's another vote for Talltail's comments too. Suburbans and light trucks used to run P235/70R XL tires -- and the XL stands for eXtra Load -- where the max pressure was (usually) 42 PSI -- and the tires didn't wallow around.

LT tires will help reduce the Pucker-Factor -- due to the increased lateral stability they exhibit.

You ARE using an anti-sway control, right?

I towed my 5,000# 20' Wilderness trailier all over the place with 130 HP Suburban Diesel with no trouble -- and the 4.6 makes more HP/torque than the diesel at any RPM. (By the way, my Y2K has fully twice the HP than the GMC Diesel -- and/but it doesn't feel like twice the power in the part of the band where you cruise/tow.)

 

I pull a 5000lb tra"vail" (when my wife and kids are in the truck) trailor with my 4.6 / 3.55. I pulled my trailor today thru the hills and had no trouble. Even had to pass a car. I've riden with friends when they tow and my truck pulls alot better than their 3/4 suburbans. I think no matter what you get, you'll know there is something behind you and as long as it doesn't pass you, you're ok. good luck

 

p.s. here a little more info on my truck. picture coming soon.