2001 Ford F-150 safe towing capacity
Hello foks first time post, I would appreciate any help I can get. I have a 2001 Ford f-150, 5.4L Supercab,4X4, 3.55 LS axle. GVWR is 6500 lbs, Front GAWR 3600 lbs Rear 3550 lbs, factory hitch. I...
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How about this answer, If I was to put my family of 6 in your truck, I would have NO tow capacity! that is correct! At the end of the day, what you can tow safely will depend upon the payload of the tow rig, AFTER you put people, pets, other gear etc in it. If you have no payload after this, you can not generally speaking, safely tow a trailer. This is true from small trucks, ie the 4 banger midget trucks, up to 5 and 6 axel semi's with 80-100K gvwrs for the truck alone!
Best way to figure out max trailer for me, has been take remaining payload, divide by the % hitch wt I need, and I have the max trailer I can safely tow! If one has 1000 lbs, divide by .10(10%), and you have a max 10K trailer. if you are pulling a heavy pin wt 5w at 25%(.25), you have a max trailer of 4000 lbs. ALL for the same truck.
I also take a ratio I learned about many years ago, of no trailer bigger than 2x teh grawr of the tow rig. SO if you have a 4K grawr, then no trailer larger than 8K lbs. WHich might be less than the above figure, or more!
There is no simple way to say what is safe or not. As one can also be under the gcwr grawr etc etc etc, and still be cited for towing an unsafe trailer if it is swaying more than IIRC 12-18" per side from center. You will also not be able to move the trailer until you show the LEO that the trailer can pull in a straight line!
There is a LOT to safe and sane towing that many do not tell you, know about etc.
Marty
Best way to figure out max trailer for me, has been take remaining payload, divide by the % hitch wt I need, and I have the max trailer I can safely tow! If one has 1000 lbs, divide by .10(10%), and you have a max 10K trailer. if you are pulling a heavy pin wt 5w at 25%(.25), you have a max trailer of 4000 lbs. ALL for the same truck.
I also take a ratio I learned about many years ago, of no trailer bigger than 2x teh grawr of the tow rig. SO if you have a 4K grawr, then no trailer larger than 8K lbs. WHich might be less than the above figure, or more!
There is no simple way to say what is safe or not. As one can also be under the gcwr grawr etc etc etc, and still be cited for towing an unsafe trailer if it is swaying more than IIRC 12-18" per side from center. You will also not be able to move the trailer until you show the LEO that the trailer can pull in a straight line!
There is a LOT to safe and sane towing that many do not tell you, know about etc.
Marty
