2003 Ford F150 4x4 Towing

[pwebster2]

I'm considering the purchase of a 22' travel trailer with a dry weight of 5200 lbs.
My Pick Up has the 5.4 L motor with tow pkg, 3.55 gears, and a tow rating of 7500 lbs. GCVR is 12,500 lbs.
Is anyone towing with a later model Ford 1/2 ton? Are you pulling similar weights? Issues or not?

[jamesu]

I towed with a ‘03 F-150 4x4 “Lariat” for 10 years. Nice truck. TT was 5330 lbs. dry weight. Probably was towing 6500-7000 lbs.

The F-150 gave me it’s all, but after 10 years of driving the Mt. Passes up here in the NW it was time for a change. After my last few trips up and over the Mt passes in both the Cascades and in the Calif. Siskiyous I had had enough. Got tired of heading up the passes at 35 mph and sweating whether or not my brakes would hold out coming down the other side.

I traded in my 1/2 ton Ford and bought the 3/4 ton Chevy Duramax diesel, used, in my signature. There is no comparison: up the Mt. Passes at 60 mph consistently, and down the backside with the Allison Transmission slowing us down. I know longer worry about burning out my brakes. Much safer and much more enjoyable. Tows beautifully and very dependable.

Your F-150 will do the job, but it will be working really hard in order to do it. If you can swing it, I advise towing with a 3/4 ton truck at a minimum; a 3/4 ton diesel is even better.

[falconbrother]

You'll be fine.

[Grit_dog]

^ What the last 2 guys said. If the truck is in good shape, it'lL handle it NO PROBLEMO. May want to bring a brick to give your right foot a break if there are alot of grades to climb!

(At least back in 2003 it would as I recall driving the wheels off of many 5.4 F150s....now the old men are getting softer and afraid of their shadows, so you'll get all kinds of responses about how 2 extra cans of bean will put you over weight (the trailer, not you personally). So if you neglect the responses that say it's not enough truck, then you'll be fine.)

[APT]

I towed my current TT which is similar weight to yours with a 2003 F150 4WD 3.73 Supercrew. Handling was great, power was ok. Practically you have 2 gears for accelerating and 1 for cruising. You will spend a lot of time between 3000-5000rpm on hills and accelerating, but it will pull it fine. Flush all your fluids. Get some towing mirrors, a proportional brake controller, and a WDH.

[MitchF150]

I did about 7 years ago... Was only towing a #5000 GVWR TT at that time.

97 F150 with the 5.4 and 3.55 gears and tow package of the day.

Did fine and towed the TT well.. Just needed to rev the engine to get up the grades.. 2nd gear for the most part.

Just don't be afraid to let it rev.. That's where it's power band is, so just let it rev..

Good luck! Mitch

[theoldwizard1]

Regular tow package or HD tow package ! HD includes a bigger radiator and auxiliary transmission cooler plus 3.73 rear axle. You want all of those !

[mkirsch]

5200lbs dry will easily turn into 6500lbs loaded and ready to camp. It's a good load for any F150. Whether it is too much depends on the driver.

The only concern you should have is the age of the truck and its components. Engines, transmissions, universal joints, and differentials wear. Brake and fuel lines rust. You could have issues or you might not.

[Lwiddis]

"Pulling" will not be your issue and "dry" weights are useless.

Loaded and wet your proposed trailer will weigh 6,400+ pounds and have a tongue weight of about 800 pounds. So, you are within the GCVR. What is your truck's payload max? Probably enough. Who will ride in the truck (their total weight) and how many pounds will be in the bed?