Question about my F150's specs

Go to this Ford page. Enter your vin to start and it will tell a little about your vehicle. There are links for Ford towing info etc. there as well as manuals that you may or may not have.

http://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/vin-decoder/

That is funny, as I have towed many many miles without one. And I thought I was conservative. Do I think auxiliary transmission coolers are a good idea when towing? Yes. Mandatory for every situation? No. Remember, we are talking auxiliary transmission coolers here. All Automatic transmissions have a way of cooling the fluid, as they come from the factory.

Here is what a company that sells the add on products has to say:

"All automatic transmissions have the means for cooling. Automatic transmission fluid brings heat from the internal components and transfers it to the transmission case and pan. Air passing by the case and pan, remove a great deal of excessive heat from the transmission. There is normally a cooler outside of the transmission as well. Most vehicles have a transmission cooler built into their radiator. In many cases this is more than adequate to maintain transmission temperature."

TomG2 wrote:
You really think that you have to have an auxiliary transmission cooler to tow a five thousand pound ten miles in flat country? Ford doesn't.

on a 7 year old vehicle with who knows how many miles on it?

You bet.

it is only 150.00 at best. It would and should be the first stop before anything.

You really think that you have to have an auxiliary transmission cooler to tow a five thousand pound ten miles in flat country? Ford doesn't.

TomG2 wrote:
rfryer beat me to the point. "If" you are only towing short distances on flat ground, then things like the transmission cooler are not as important as if you are planning on towing from coast to coast every year. Having said that, there are lots of lightweight trailers on the market.

I do not agree with this. No matter how far you tow anything an external tranny cooler is a must.

2007 will need a complete service job on all components as well before towing starts.

dnmccoy wrote:
Ok..so lets just say I'm stuck at the 5000lb weight limit, are there many options when it comes to travel trailers or hybrids for beginners?

There are literally hundreds.

I don't think you would be "stuck". You say you are new at towing but you would like to consider towing over 5000 lbs? You shouldn't and do not need to.

Start small considering there are only 2 of you. Get use to towing, reversing, manipulating, storing a smaller trailer before you buy a big honking unneeded TT .

Fordlover wrote:

dnmccoy wrote:
Excuse my ignorance, but I got the go ahead from my better half to start researching a camper for us! I have a 2007 F150 and got the specs from the link below:

http://www.fordf150.net/2007/2007-ford-f150-specifications.php

It says my max GCWR is 14,000lbs and that my max loaded trailer weight is 8600lbs. I saw something in my owners manual that's said if you do not have the towing package that the max loaded trailer weight is 5000lbs. Which is right?

Thanks!

Something is wrong with your info. Based on this chart ford towing guide page 16 your truck can only have a GVWR of 13,500 or 15,000.

I hope you mean GCWR, as I have yet to see an F150 or any typical half ton 15 series truck with a gvwr of 13500-15K lbs!

ANother thing that many do not think about, is aerodynamics, and frontal areal. At one time Ford used to give you the max trailer wt ratings with up to 80# of frontal area, reduce this by 2500 lbs if 80-100#, and another 2500 or 5K total if in the 100-120# range.

Airstreams by there round nature, and lower to the ground, will pull upwards of 10-15% easier per there brochures. Aluminum sided trailers vs a smooth fiberglass trailer of the same brand etc, while the fiberglass trailer may be 300-600 lbs heavier, it will pull easier, and worth it in my book/opinion to get vs the lighter one. Even if I was over a Mtw or gvw frankly!

As also noted, MTW you can tow is about as clear as mud to figure out. If your truck is at gvwr before hooking up a trailer, you have NO trailer tow capacity. If you have 500 lbs of free payload, you have upwards of 5000 lbs of total trailer wt between the axels and hitch wt, assuming 10% HW., 500 hitch, and 4500 in axel wt. If you want to tow a 5W with upwards of say 25%, you are limited to a 2000 lb total wt 5w, 500 lbs of hitch, 1500 in axel wt!

Marty

dnmccoy wrote:
Excuse my ignorance, but I got the go ahead from my better half to start researching a camper for us! I have a 2007 F150 and got the specs from the link below:

http://www.fordf150.net/2007/2007-ford-f150-specifications.php

It says my max GCWR is 14,000lbs and that my max loaded trailer weight is 8600lbs. I saw something in my owners manual that's said if you do not have the towing package that the max loaded trailer weight is 5000lbs. Which is right?

Thanks!

Something is wrong with your info. Based on this chart ford towing guide page 16 your truck can only have a GCWR of 13,500 or 15,000.

dnmccoy wrote:
Ok..so lets just say I'm stuck at the 5000lb weight limit, are there many options when it comes to travel trailers or hybrids for beginners?

Based on your photos, you DO have the HD towing package. Your truck has a 3.73 Limited slip rear axle, which is more proof of the factory tow package. The only things your truck needs to tow is a brake controller installed, and the proper Weight Distributing hitch set up, and tow mirrors if you desire.

I'd also limit the search to trailers with a DRY weight of less than 6K lbs. RV salesman will tell you "you can tow 9K easy" but ignore them.

For the record, with the 3.73 axle, 5.4 V8, your tow rating might be higher than 8,400. You don't state 2wd/4wd, cab configuration, or bed length (though I can see 145wb which means supercab or reg cab with long bed.)

APT wrote:
Looks like you have the towing package then. Stay under 6000 pounds dry and you should be pleased. Change all the fluids before you start towing.

Yep by your pictures you not only have the towing package, but also the 3.73 Limited Slip rear gear. Axle code B6. You sir, are good to go.