1993 Ford F150 can it tow a 24' 5th wheel over the Sierras?

brakes, cooling the eng & trans are the major concerns.

spoon059 wrote:

45Ricochet wrote:
Back then a half ton truck was exactly that, a payload of 500 lbs.

??? Is that the "new math" I keep hearing about?

LOL yes your right, I should have worded it better. Once you subtract passengers and stuff in the bed it will leave you about 500 lbs for pin weight. I now see OP listed the weight of the 5er, that is one light fiver!

dodge guy wrote:
and for those that don`t know. the trailer has it`s own brakes to stop it`s weight. and I certainly hope no one is riding the brakes coming down a mountain. downshift to 2nd and let the engine do the braking. you should be fine whichever way you go!

Enjoy the trip.

Just to add to this have you trailer brakes check out and adjusted up. And well your at it go through the truck and have it checked out too. It may have only 70000 or so miles on it but if your not the original owner its any ones guess when it may have had any new belts or hoses put on it.

and for those that don`t know. the trailer has it`s own brakes to stop it`s weight. and I certainly hope no one is riding the brakes coming down a mountain. downshift to 2nd and let the engine do the braking. you should be fine whichever way you go!

Enjoy the trip.

45Ricochet wrote:
Back then a half ton truck was exactly that, a payload of 500 lbs.

??? Is that the "new math" I keep hearing about?

OP, there should be a factory spec sticker in your drivers side door jamb. It will list options and then directly underneath the options name will be a code. We need the code under the word "Axle". That code will tell you what rear axle ratio you have.

You can compare your code on your sticker with the codes listed below

click here for axle codes

I fully believe that you are going to be just fine... hopefully your code is H9 (for 3.55) or B6 (3.73) both with limited slip.

BTW.. a half ton should have 1000-1500 lbs of payload. Most of the half ton trucks back then were regular cabs. Not heavy payload eating crew cabs like we have now.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

Why would you go all the way North to 88 or 50? 120 Through Yosemite is MUCH more direct, going up to 88 is 90 miles further!!. The only place you have to watch is just past Moccasin stay on the highway taking New Priest Grade, designed for busses and RVs. DO NOT take Old Priest Grade. This will be the worst of it and the 351 will do just fine.

Or if you don't want to do this section, drop to 140 and take 140 in to Yosemite and 120 out, only 30 miles longer than take 120 all the way, and still 60 miles shorter than 88. 140 never gets above 4000 ft. and is pretty uneventful. There is a one lane section around a rock slide, but you are short enough. The rest of 120 is not a big deal. Very picturesque, especially the Yosemite high country, stop and take pictures!. While Tioga pass is high in elevation it is not overly steep. Some 8% going down to 395, just gear down and enjoy the sights. I have done it in a truck camper and towing a 5200lb trailer with a 4.6 Explorer Once at 395, Mammoth Lakes is a short drive South

Like skip said, your biggest issue is going to be the pin weight which is typically 20% vs a pull behind usually at 13%. Good thing is a 5th wheel will not cause the same sway problems a pull behind can. From what I could find, the 93 XL and XLT had max payloads around 1400lbs. Options, passengers and stuff eat into that. Just keep your packing on the light side, drop the trailer on and see how it looks. If the springs are bottomed out, don't do it.

Enjoy! I wish I was going to the Eastern Sierras :(

PIN weight as it relates to your available payload is the BEST reason you might run into trouble. I suspect you have a 6600 GVWR for the truck which will leave you very light on payload which must handle passengers, cargo, optional eqipment on the truck and the trailer PIN weight (probably 20% of total trailer weight.

Once again 88 is not any harder of a pull than 50 or 80.

Leaving July 25th. Pickup is stock LT only has 75,000 original miles on it and is in tip top condition. Automatic transmission, 5.8 liter, Manuel says it can tow 7500 lbs. weight of trailer empty is 3780 lbs. 1985 24 ft Vacationeer. I do not know gear ratio. Can we avoid all the hassle and just go hwy 80 which is way out of our way!