f150 travel trailer towing

I HIGHLY recommend installing a HD radiator and auxiliary transmission cooler ! These came on F150 with the HD trailer tow package.

1320Fastback wrote:
The truck will not break down if driven reasonably. When the transmission down shifts on hills let it, if it hunts between gears lock it into the lower one. Even on the open highway if it hunts hold it down a gear. Id rather go down the highway in 4th at 62mph than 4-5th constantly at 65mph.

EXCELLENT ADVICE !!

People will say it is a waste of money, but I always switch to premium fuel when towing through mountains.

We had an F150 towing a 27' Wildwood trailer. The pickup pulled the TT ok but I never felt comfortable going down the road with a cross wind or when an 18 wheeler passes you. We bit the bullet and bought an F250. The difference is like night and day pulling. We just returned from a 700 mile trip to Florida to visit Tropical Storm Cindy, and felt very little movement from big rigs passing me. We are glad we made the upgrade.

I would have no worries. Don't make it a race up or down the hills and you will be fine.

The truck will not break down if driven reasonably. When the transmission down shifts on hills let it, if it hunts between gears lock it into the lower one. Even on the open highway if it hunts hold it down a gear. Id rather go down the highway in 4th at 62mph than 4-5th constantly at 65mph.

Looking at Ford's towing guidline for that year at max 7,100 for your trucks specs it does say no cargo or passengers in the vehicle but take that with a grain of salt. Sounds like legalese to me.

Tyler0215 wrote:
Little truck, big trailer. Not a good combo.
5100 lbs sounds awful light empty weight for a 30 ft. trailer. I'm guessing it's much more. Get loaded up, all your gear and family,and get to a scale.
Most 150 or 1500 pickups are closer to a big car than an actual truck.Very little payload.
You will be over the payload of the pickup when loaded.
Have fun in the mountains, and pray for no high winds.

That weird, my 2007 Chevy 1500 had nothing in coming with my wife's Pontiac Grand Prix. In fact it was built a lot like a 2500 of 3500 just smaller. My truck had a solid rear axle with leaf springs just like a 1 ton maybe not as big but same idea. Both trucks used independent front suspension. Even most of the body was the same between the trucks. Wait there was one thing. The key it was the same. So your right my half ton truck was just like a car.



The 1500 and 150 are not supposed to have big payloads it's not what they are built for. Just like how a 2500/250 or 3500/350 could never do the work of a true heavy duty truck.

Gets old hearing people short sell half tons. Technically, their payload can run out quickly, but they are NOTHING like a big car. They have stout frames and suspensions, along with larger brakes, etc. Payload is a fun term too, rarely related to the actual capability of a truck. However, your truck really is limited by that small engine. If it's within it's tow ratings, I would say it can do it, but it will not be fun once you get to the western mountains. JMHO

"5100 lbs sounds awful light empty weight for a 30 ft. trailer."

Sure does, Tyler.

Little truck, big trailer. Not a good combo.
5100 lbs sounds awful light empty weight for a 30 ft. trailer. I'm guessing it's much more. Get loaded up, all your gear and family,and get to a scale.
Most 150 or 1500 pickups are closer to a big car than an actual truck.Very little payload.
You will be over the payload of the pickup when loaded.
Have fun in the mountains, and pray for no high winds.

As noted, get some real weights. Having said that, I have that same engine and I would not want to tow much over 4,000 pounds with it. It will get you there but use a lot of rpm's and gasoline to get the job done. If you don't plan on a lot of mountain traveling, it will work. You will not be using the top three gears very much.

"I’m sure I’m getting close to the #7100 tow limit of the truck."

Get the to a scale....loaded and wet.