I have a 2000 Ford F-150 4X4 with 305/70R17's with the 5.4 with an auto tranny and my uncle has a 98 2 wheel drive 4.6 with 265/70R16's with a five speed manual tranny.... I have regularly stommped the sheet out of his truck at the local track.... Big Tires and all!!! Of course the Grenetalli Diablo enhancer helps.... but even before that little mod I still was able to take him ... every time Of course you may have had the economical bit right... I just dropped $55 bucks to fill her up with premo... ouch!



If you got'em smoke'em....Sidewinder Bighorn 305/70R17's

 

I feel that I must reply to this one. I have a 97 F-150, 4.6 with a 3.08 rear end and I just towed my 04, 30' empty Cougar RV which weights 6100 lbs approx 50 miles to the campsite. Not a problem, I was suprised at how well the F-150 pulled the RV. A bit slow on take offs, however did not take long to reach speed limit. The road to the campsite has no hills. I also have the trans cooler and EQ hitch. With the 4.6 I would not tow this RV for a long distance and I would definately not travel over step hills. The towing rating for my F-150 according to the door code is only 2000 lbs, this makes no sense to me at all, considering that 2000 lbs is not very much for a truck with a V-8. Anybody out there with a same situation.

 

Thats got to be tongue weight. 2000 lbs is problably the tongue weight. Shiat, my v6 is tow rated to pull 5000 lbs.

 

From the Owners manual....

ENG..CAB...TRANS..GEAR...DRIVE..TOW CAP
4.6....SUP....MAN....3.08....4X4....1700
4.6....REG....MAN....3.08....4X4....1800
4.2....REG....MAN....3.31....4X4....1900
4.6....SUP....MAN....3.08....4X2....2000

I'd hate to have the trailer behind me that has a 2,000 pound tongue weight.

 

I have a 2001 SC 4.6 w/3.08 that I am pulling a recently purchased 4,000 lb TT with. The truck pulls it fine, but I am fixing to change out the rear gear to 3.55. I don't know that I have to, but I think I will feel better knowing the transmission is not having to take on any extra load than what the rear end is rated for. Kinda like a little added insurance for my own conscience. The 4.6 with 3.55 is rated at 6,900 lbs. Seems like a awful big jump from the 3.08. I have pulled a 6,000 lb tractor on a trailer before with the truck for about 150 miles. Still had no problems, but it knew it was back there.

 

Once you get up over the 5000 mark brakes beome important. Here in Canada the minimum speed on a 4 lane highway is 80km (50mph). Big rigs that are going slower use their 4 ways. As a general rule if I can't make 50 mph I won't pull it.

JMC

 

I guess I should have said that the trans is an auto and not man, I think this may show a different towing rating.