F150 tow vehicle

Pretty easy to find. I just put in your information, added towing to the google line.

Your overall total weight is 12,000 pounds, so see what you weigh with everybody and everything in the truck, and allow for the hitch, and all the stuff in your camper. Weigh them both and most people might say if you are new to it, don't go to the limit.

I swapped my 3.55 to 4.10 ratio and it has been towing my 7880 GVWR trailer about everywhere just fine 12 years now. Click the truck in my signature for the towing guide. 2002 is same enough as 2001.

What is your payload number?

SuperCab 5.4 V-8 7,300b 3;21 2wd

SuperCab 4WD 5.4 V-8 7,000b 3;21 4wd

http://www.trailerlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Trailer-Life-Towing-Guide-2001.pdf

I think your limiting factor will be payload...

That year 150 was small body IMO.. I would look at 7.5 ft type trailers. Or something in the 4500 range..

Are you talking 5500 dry?

What trailer are you looking at?

Hitch 500
Dry 4700
GVW 7000

http://www.coachmenrv.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=60&ModelID=243#Main

Coming with the trailer tow package I suspect you have the 3:55 rear end which would be good news...

I had a 2006 SCab 5.4L with the 3:55 rear axle and it had a rated towing capacity of 8,600#. The problem was, as noted above, payload or the lack thereof. It pulled my 5,600# 22' TT like a dream but was right at max payload doing so despite being 3,000# under the towing capacity and a couple thousand under the GCWR it was maxed out.

I used this combo with nothing but good results for 4.5 years all over the west but was always conscious of weight distribution when loading {not over loading}. You should be able to run the Vin on the internet and verify your actual differential ratio. If it is 3:31 your towing capability will be negatively impacted.

Good luck.

:C

Check the door sticker. The axle code is probably on it.

Also check the payload. Payload = maximum weight of occupants and cargo.

An estimate of the maximum trailer weight is

Max trailer weight = (payload - wt. of all occupants and cargo - 80 lbs. hitch wt.)/0.13

Example: Trailer wt. = (1400 - 600 - 80)/0.13 = 720/0.13 = 5538

I don't think they had the yellow payload sticker in 2001?

At any rate, you'll get down the road. Just don't be surprised if it's in 2nd gear on the grades most of the time and only in 3rd cruising on the flats.. You might get into OD if you have a tail wind, but for the most part, you will need to let the engine rev to keep it in it's power band.

Towed a #5000 TT with a 97 F150 5.4 and 3.55 gears and it pulled fine.. Was over it's GVWR when hitched up, but did well for over 12 years and 255,000 miles..

Just don't be afraid to rev the engine.

Good luck!

Mitch

I had a 2003 Supercrew F-150 5.4L/3.73 axle truck when we bought our 5500 pound dry TT. We towed for 2 seasons with it. You'll find that you have two acceleration gears and one cruising gear. It will slow down on hills/overpasses, so you will spend a fair amount of time in second gear. As long as you are not in a hurry, the truck will do fine at under 5k dry. Remember, it's a 17 year old truck. How well it was maintained is critical to how it will perform and how reliable it will be.

Flush all the fluids. If it is 2WD, consider changing the axle ratio to 4.10 which is what I thought put the engine in a better speed in 3rd at 65mph.

clicky link
Use this from Ford.
Shows all the weight rating specs and trailer tow specs from Ford for the '01 models.

Wished GM and Dodge/Ram would make it this easy for truck owners to find teck info to separate myth from actual truck mechanical specs.

Truth is. Only you will know how well it tows. With the information you have given. You tow capacity is prolly closer to 6800lb. Which isn't that bad for that year 5.4.

You will need to be between 5500, and 6000lb loaded. there are lots of TTs that will fit in that weight.

I had a 2002 Expedition with the 5.4, and 3.55. The Tt I had then was in the 6K range. It did a great job.