Last year we bought a 2007 Ford F150 King Ranch Supercrew 4x2 to haul a trailer for us to dog shows. A few months later we bought the trailer, a 2008 Coachman Captiva 288FKS.We've been towing all around Florida (where we live) without problems but I'm always worried. Three Ford service advisors have told me that truck can easily tow our trailer but I still worry. Ford towing guides state the truck can tow 8500 lbs.Truck specs:5.4 FFV V83.55 ratio axle18" wheels139" wheelbase7050# GVWR packagefront GAWR: 3450 lbs.rear GAWR: 3850 lb.Additional information: the truck did not have a towing package. Last week the torque converter broke down (just as we were backing into the yard when we got home!) so we had the tranny rebuilt with a new HD torque converter and they added an HD tranny oil cooler.Trailer specs:6580 lbs. (as purchased)tongue: 860 lbs.carrying capacity: 1,1813 lbs.I know we need to weigh the set-up but I wanted to hear from the experienced folks here.Thanks!

5.4l is a little anemic compared to the newer engines but a safe enough chassis to tow an 8000lb trailer.

Ford states max tow at 8500# ....course that is just mfg. marketing hype with a few *** fine print caveats ---150# driver and 20# cargo.Anything/everything added reduces it's real world towing capacity.You already know how poorly it tows.YES you really do need to get combo weighed!!!Trailer weight 6580# as purchased........haha. Nobody tows trailer empty except hot-shot driver that delivered it from factory to dealer.Tongue weight....860#.....haha. THat is dry weight. Real tongue weight is probably closer to 1000#With trailer loaded up to go camping and truck full of passengers/stuff to go camping you are most likely over trucks GVWR and RAWR....and over GCWRGCWR is 14,000# (Total truck trailer)Really need to go get weighed so you have REAL numbers vs mfg. bogus marketing numbers.Weigh truck only (with all passengers/stuff/fuel)Weigh truck trailer combo with WDH/bars hooked upWeigh truck trailer combo w/o bars hooked upGood step forward was the rebuilt tranny and cooler addedThat 5.4 is good motor just a bit lacking in torque for towing

hotpep1 wrote:I know we need to weigh the set-up but I wanted to hear from the experienced folks here.Thanks!The experienced folks here say get it weighed. Without real #'s we are just talking what-ifs.

Just going with a typical options + provisions + your stuff trailer weight "bloat" you're looking at a trailer that weighs around 8000lbs loaded and ready to camp. Tongue weight will be a minimum of 1000lbs, and I would not be surprised if it's around 1200lbs.That's borderline for ANY F150, except for the 7-lug HD payload package version. If you carry much in the way of people and/or stuff in the truck, odds are you are overloaded.Hopefully I'm erring a bit to the heavy side here for my armchair quarterbacking. You will definitely want to get it weighed to get a clear picture.

Whats your payload for the truck? Don't see that number. Weighing your config, loaded ready to camp, is the right answer. Short of that, start with Payload for the truck. Subtract what you have in the truck (passengers, cargo etc). Remaining cargo capacity is what you have available for tongue weight and the WD hitch weight.The fact you burned up the torque converter shows you were not a good match. The fact you upgraded that component, to include the tranny cooler is great, but that does nothing for payload/cargo capacity. Cargo Capacity can be found on the door jamb on the yellow sticker.Mike

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Wes_Tausend
Explorer
Oct 02, 2015
...

If money isn't a problem, you could upgrade to a newer F-150 with perhaps the Ecoboost package. It would provide the same smooth empty ride that you are used to, or better. And empty fuel economy would be superior to your present truck and far superior to any 3/4 ton truck. Many of the F-150 Ecoboost packages exceed your present needs and their towing ability exceeds my older 3/4 ton trucks. And don't forget similar trailer-towing Ecoboost Expeditions if a SUV will work.

If you might upgrade the size of your trailer, then get a 3/4 or 1 ton truck now, by all means.

Wes
...
PaPaGoose
Explorer
Oct 02, 2015
By all means, I suggest you get your weights. You are very close if not over your max tow capacity. The new HD torque converter and added HD tranny oil cooler should help, but you still have to consider the load on your axles, suspension, etc.
hotpep1
Explorer
Oct 01, 2015
Our truck is a 2007.

To respond about the transmission work we just had done, the technician said the trouble,began long before we bought the truck. Of course, you could say we didn'the do it any favors by continuing to use the truck for towing.
hotpep1
Explorer
Oct 01, 2015
Our truck is a 2007.

To respond about the transmission work we just had done, the technician said the trouble,began long before we bought the truck. Of course, you could say we didn'the do it any favors by continuing to use the truck for towing.
APT
Explorer
Oct 01, 2015
I would not recommend that combination to based on performance as well as you may be over rear axle or payload. However, you got what you got. You know how well it performs. Before replacing that truck, go to a scale to find out where it stands and what exactly should be upgraded.

What year is your current F150?
campigloo
Explorer
Oct 01, 2015
Got the bug huh? Now's your time. Go for it!
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Oct 01, 2015
You're probably over on some ratings IMO but weighing the combo will answer that
hotpep1
Explorer
Oct 01, 2015
I see the max payload for the truck is 1,831 lbs.

We put ourselves (2 people with a total weight of about 350 lbs.), 2 Dalmatians (totaling 100 lbs.) and a 6-lb. Maltese in the truck...a bit less than 500 lbs.

In the trailer we have a small amount of food in the fridge (we shop when we get to the show), a few dry groceries (no cans), clothing for a weekend, towels, & bedding.

There is storage is under-bed and in there we have a grooming table (20 lbs?), 2 folding chairs (5 lbs. each maybe), and a crate dolly (20 lbs.).

A small outside storage compartment holds two plastic totes, one with fresh-water hoses, the other with hose to flush sewer hoses.

We carry two sewer hoses in the bumper storage.

We seldom travel with anything in any of the tanks.
Terryallan
Explorer II
Oct 01, 2015
Here is the deal. 7050lb is a pretty good GVWR. EXCEPT for a King Ranch. All the stuff in the truck that make it a King Ranch also make it a heavy truck, and a heavy truck takes up a lot of that 7050. I believe you will be close if not over loaded. However since you are out of warranty anyway. Not a big deal. your truck won't implode if it is over GVWR a tad.

Not having a trany cooler, and towing in OD is what caused your trany problem. Other than that. IF you don't load 2000lb in to the TT (And I bet you won't) you should be OK. The 5.4 is a great towing engine. It will rev. But it would move the world, IF you just had a place to put it. I have been towing with my 5.4 for 10 years, up and down the mountains and I have yet to tax it, or even use all of the power it has to offer. I also have a 3.55
hotpep1
Explorer
Sep 30, 2015
"You already know how poorly it tows."

The truck seems to pull the trailer pretty well actually. Very well since we just installed a set of Reese dual cams. We were told by the transmission shop to drive with OD off while accelerating and going up inclines then switching it back on while at cruising speed.

The weight of 6580 for the trailer was as it sat on the lot with all accessories...the dealer said they'd had it weighed.

We may soon have an opportunity to upgrade to a 250/2500 truck but am wondering if we really need to.

We WILL get it weighed!

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