96 F-150 Trailer Towing Quandry

Your truck will be entirely safe pulling it, as the automatic version, which in all respects except STARTING THE LOAD is identical, is rated to pull about 5000 or 7000 depending on the finer details. They put lame tow ratings on the manual transmission trucks.

I don't work for Ford, but here's what I've always assumed: Your truck is rated to tow 2000 because they don't trust you to get it moving without burning the clutch. I don't know if they were trying to avoid clutches under warranty or just unhappy customers. I would assume it was warranty work, but I doubt if the clutch is even covered..

I don't have a clue if I'm right, but anyway the truck is certainly just as heavy-duty as other versions rated for 2 or 3 times the weight.

On Sat, 19 Jun 2004 02:27:31 -0400, "Joe" shouted from the rooftop:

Actually, the slushpump 302 V8 model is rated for 2,500 pounds.

I agree with this- the axle is a 2.73 ratio (great on gas) and it wouldn't take long for an inexperienced driver to damage the drivetrain.

-Carl "If you don't have enemies, you don't have character"-Paul Newman

Carl,

The low tow rating is probably due to the low 2.73 ratio. Just make sure you don't 'lug' the engine and use lower transmission gears.

: Actually, the slushpump 302 V8 model is rated for 2,500 pounds. : : >I don't work for Ford, but here's what I've always assumed: Your truck is : >rated to tow 2000 because they don't trust you to get it moving without : >burning the clutch. I don't know if they were trying to avoid clutches under : >warranty or just unhappy customers. I would assume it was warranty work, but : >I doubt if the clutch is even covered.. : >

: I agree with this- the axle is a 2.73 ratio (great on gas) and it : wouldn't take long for an inexperienced driver to damage the : drivetrain. : : -Carl : "If you don't have enemies, you don't have character"-Paul Newman

What you have is a grocery hauler. Try getting a real truck.

On Sun, 20 Jun 2004 11:52:10 GMT, "Tyrone" shouted from the rooftop:

There's one in every NG. You must be it for this one.

-Carl "If you don't have enemies, you don't have character"-Paul Newman

Oh, like it's not a grocery hauler? The manufacturer gives the truck the highest rating they dare to, lawsuits considered. Then you always have someone who comes along and thinks he knows better. The difference between a two thousand or a three thousand pound load may not be the end of the world in this case. However, this guy might be an idiot like my son-in-law, who hauls a 48' air conditioned, enclosed, gooseneck trailer, with two race cars, a generator a toolbox and two spare engines. He does this at speeds of 90 mph with a 1996 F350, PSD. The loaded trailer weighs just under 24,000#. To make matters worse, two of his buddies are riding in the trailer at the time. When you point out to him that he is way over the manufactures limit and a safe speed limit, he says, "You think so? I see lotsa guys doin' the same thing." So he continues to do the same thing that other idiots are doing with

450's and 550's. Next thing you know, Carl will be hauling 7,000# at 90 mph, with his grocery hauler, because some idiot like you told him it was OK.

24,000 lbs requires an F-650. Even the F-550 isn't rated for that much weight. He is running at almost twice the rated max weight for an F-350.

The problem is three-fold :

1) Gas engines get their torque at high engine speeds; diesels get their torque at lower speeds. (this goes along with #2) 2) A manual transmission doesn't like to be engaged at high engine speeds - you either burn the clutch as it slips or you slam the drivetrain hard. The torque converter in an automatic solves that problem, and also solves the potential overheating problem because it has a trans. fluid cooler. 3) The rear-end ratio affects the pulling capacity.

Suspension and brakes are probably a factor too, but I think the above is the first problem with the limits for your particular truck.

I have the same truck (300 CID w/ 5-speed trans and 2.73 rear end) from 1993. I love the truck, but I don't pull much weight (I've never pulled a trailer) nor do I have the back end full (volume-wise) very often.

-D

difference

Tell me about it. And, if and when, he kills someone, it will cost him everything he owns, for disregarding the manufacturer's stated limits.

My Nissan Frontier V6 is rated at 3500lbs with the manual transmission and 5000lbs with the auto box. I am guessing they feel the clutch is the weak link. I can't imagine that Ford having a problem, with 3000lbs. I agree with Tyrone on all of these idiots with diesel pickups pulling waaay too much weight, however. Just because your truck has enough ass to accelerate the load does not mean you should be pulling it. I think the state DOT's should be banning this type of behavior. In North Carolina, I think they only care how many axles you have, not the manufacturers rating. As such, A pickup is allowed to pull as much as a single axle dump truck.

-Rob

Here in North Carolina a private tag is rated 4,000 lbs and a trailer adds an additional 4,000 lbs.

So in N.C. as long as his truck/trailer/contents weighs less than

8,000 lbs they don't care. Anymore and he is overloaded for a private tag.

Welcome to the real world. We haul 24 - 30K every day with one ton trucks. Just have to use your head.

Thank you for being so honest and admitting that you are an idiot.

Most F350's weigh at least 7000lbs. So clearly I am not talking about private tag vehicles. While I am sure Steve is a very capable driver, I have to agreew with Tyrone that he is not using his head. If he gets in a wreck and maims somebody, he will likley lose everything when the Lawyers get wind of how overloaded he was (based on the manufacturer's ratings).

-rob

trailer

private

transmission

Yes but, Steve thinks he is so much smarter than the manufacturers and everyone else on the road. After all, he is not "INTENDING" to get in an accident. The problem is, there is some little old lady who can barely see over the steering wheel who just may pull out in front of Steve and cause an accident. When Grandma is killed and the dust settles, Steve will be homeless and selling pencils in front of WalMart for a living.

You obviously aren't using yours, or you would never do this. Better hope the cops never pull you over or that you never get involved in an accident.

Being an idiot doesn't even begin to describe this level of stupidity.

Be advised that mfgr's rating have nothing to do with the legalities of the matter. AND it's all about NOT getting in a wreck to begin with. You'd be hard pressed to find any landscape company not overloading (by these definitions). We log somewhere in the neighborhood of 700,000 miles a year with 35 trucks and have yet to be involved in an accident. It's all a matter of training and common sense. (and proper vehicle maintainence (my job)).

Nope, i don't drive them. (never happen even if i did)