5.4L 2003 F250 Crew Cap Towing Capacity

[phurley]

Hi,

My truck has a 3.73 axle and they say that the maximum is 7200 pounds. For those that have this truck, is this reality?

Thanks,
Patrick

[dodge_guy]

I'm sure it will do fine. However a switch to 4.30 gears will really wake that 250 up. And it will get better mileage towing! Because the 5.4 will not be working as hard. If the truck is in good shape and you are not considering a new truck, the investment is well worth it!

[fla-gypsy]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

phurley wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
NO..........

MAX Tow Rating is a MFG. Marketing Ploy
Base model with 150# driver and 20# cargo

When you saying marketing ploy, are you saying that it will tow less or more than their Max Tow Rating number?

LESS

Reality..........a lot less if staying within trucks weight ratings

That's a bunch of baloney. The same truck with a 4.10 is good to close to 9k. 7700 is easy for the truck referenced. I did it for several years. Payload was over 2k.

[Old-Biscuit]

3oaks wrote:
It won't be a speedster, but should be capable. And the 5.4L will certainly rev. up when climbing, but that's the nature of the beast.

I wonder how many people who automatically say NO, when it comes to towing with a 150 or 1500 pickup truck without knowing all the facts, actually had first hand experience towing with them. :@

If referrencing ME.........
I have towed with 150/1500, 250/2500 & 350/3500

ALL are capable towing platforms provided one understands their real world capabilities ---------weight ratings and how to do the simple math.

One only needs to get vehicle weighed, match those numbers against ratings and then decide IF there is enough weight carrying capacity left to accommodate the additional weight of trailer tongue/pin

Not rocket science ----just simple addition/subtraction.
Don't even have to have owned any of those to do the math.

[Old-Biscuit]

phurley wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
NO..........

MAX Tow Rating is a MFG. Marketing Ploy
Base model with 150# driver and 20# cargo

When you saying marketing ploy, are you saying that it will tow less or more than their Max Tow Rating number?

LESS

Reality..........a lot less if staying within trucks weight ratings

[SoCalDesertRid1]

I would change the axle ratio to 4.88.

[phurley]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
NO..........

MAX Tow Rating is a MFG. Marketing Ploy
Base model with 150# driver and 20# cargo

When you saying marketing ploy, are you saying that it will tow less or more than their Max Tow Rating number?

[fla-gypsy]

I owned a 03 with 5.4 and 3.73. 7500 is no problem but the 5.4 will have to work. Very stable platform.

[Terry_25]

It's an F-250. Payload within the tow limit is not a factor. My truck weighed 7200lb when hooked to the camper, admittedly a lightweight 2wd XL model. GVWR was 8800lb.

[lanerd]

As Old Biscuit was alluding to, mfg's "tow ratings" should not be a factor as you will run out of payload capacity long before you come close to their tow rating. Find your payload capacity on your door jamb and use that for figuring out what you can to. Typically, that labeled payload capacity includes a full tank of gas plus a 150 lb driver. Any thing else you put on the back of the truck.... you (anything over 150 lbs), passengers, equipment, tools, camping gear hitch, trailer pin/tongue weight...etc will be counted towards that limit. If you don't know the trailers pin/tongue weight, you can usually figure 12% for tongue trailers and 20% for 5th wheels.

Hope this helps

Ron

[MFL]

You could make it work, if towing on level roads, or smaller hills. If you tow on a 7 percent or more grade, you will be in first gear, with the E40D tranny.

Years ago, I towed with a 5.4 2valve, 3.73 gearing, towing about 6,000 lbs. It did okay in flat country, but took a lot of patience, with head winds, big hills etc.

Jerry

[3oaks]

It won't be a speedster, but should be capable. And the 5.4L will certainly rev. up when climbing, but that's the nature of the beast.

I wonder how many people who automatically say NO, when it comes to towing with a 150 or 1500 pickup truck without knowing all the facts, actually had first hand experience towing with them. :@

[Terry_25]

Just traded a 2003 F250, 5.4, 3.73 6 sp man 2wd Supercab with 147,000 miles. Towed 6000 LB Terry tt to Calif and numerous trips to Fl. Not a speedster but adequate. Crossed Western passes (Cajon, Tehachapi, Siskyou, Cabbage Hill) at 50-55mph in 3rd gear. Never exceeded 3000 rpm. Now towing Rockwood 2608 scaled at 6600lb. Not been to West coast but added 600 lb isn't noticeable. Traded because of mileage and a slowly leaking rear main oil seal. GCWR was 12,900 lb. I was a couple hundred lb over with both trailers. Hope this helps. BTW, towing capacity on my truck was 100lb less due to the man trans.

[Old-Biscuit]

NO..........

MAX Tow Rating is a MFG. Marketing Ploy
Base model with 150# driver and 20# cargo