Mikekoz13

I currently own a 2005 F150 woth the 5.4L and a 3.73 rear axle. Honestly, it's never towed a s well I hoped when I bought it used a few years ago.

I'm going to trade it in but I want to be sure I'm OK with the tow package I'm going to buy. I've done some research on this Forum, on the Ford website, and i spoke over the Ford site yesterday about all this.

I have a 6400 lb. travel trailer to pull. It has a hitch weight of 675 lbs. and it's 28 feet long.

I'm looking to buy a SuperCrew with the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. Most of the trucks I've looked at have the 3.55trear axle, which according to Ford's own chart means that the truck has a GCWR of 15,500 lbs. and will tow 9,600 lbs.

Add the Max Tow package and 3.73 rear axle and those numbers go up to 17,100 and 11,200.

Nearly every truck I've looked at has had the 3.55 axle and 7200 lb. GVWR (and I'm assuming theGCWR of 15,500).

So am I OK with hauling my trailer with the regular tow package and the 3.55 axle or do I need to move up? The answer seems obvious but the whole towing numbers game has always been a little mysterious to me.

Thanks for any help guys!

curtw48

Mike,
I would say that with a trailer as light as yours, that little eco-boost will pull it all day with the 3.55 rear end. I upgraded from a 2004 f150 to a 2009 f150, and the difference with the 6 speed tranny is remarkable.
I tow a 7700 # 5ver with my 2009 supercrew 6.5' bed, 5.4L, 3.73 LS and max tow package. The extra 2 gears in the transmission make a world of difference. Ecerything else is the same as my 2004, but the 2009 pulls much better.

I would suggest you opt for the factory integrated brake controller if possible. It works better than any aftermarket I have ever had. Also get the tow mirrors if you can.

Hope this helps at least a little bit on your decision.

Mikekoz13

Thanks Curt. The controller isn't in the truck I'm looking at but I'll pay to get that one added if they'll do it. Damn truck has pretty much everything else but the brake controller. Go figure.

curtw48

It will be money well spent for the brake controller. I can promise you , you will love it! I also know you will be pleasantly surprised at how much better the new truck will handle your trailer. Even though I still have the 5.4L engine, I was amazed at how much better it tows that my '04 did. I now have 70,000 miles on my truck, and plan to keep it until the 2015 MY comes out. I hear that is when the next gen. F150 will debut.

magblue10

Yes if you can have them throw the brake controller in. If you get from dealer its about 250 plus they charge you about 100 to reprogram it. If they don't get on eBay and you'll find it for 150 and then you pay to have them reprogram. Anyway you do it get the ford one it's wonderful. I tow about the same trailer you have I have a 2012 FX4 screw with yhe EB and it tows it with ease. I have 3.73 but not max tow. I like 3.73 but did tow with my 2010 with3.55 and it wasn't bad. There is a lot of torque in the EB so you should be just fine. The only thing is if you go to a heavier trailer a few years down the road. The max tow gives you more towing capacity and payload with the big tow mirrors and if you buy a 13 the are electric in and out and folding which was not the case on the 12. Good luck any way you go your going to love it

mbopp

With the 3.55's you'll run out of payload before you run out of trailer weight capacity. Check the door sticker, my SCAB has a 1486# payload and the SCREW will be less.
Add up the tongue weight, hitch head, passengers, and gear in the bed and I'll bet you'll be over the payload on a 7200# gross rating. I can get away with it since mine's a SCAB and it's just my wife and I when I tow.
3.73's get you another 500# on the rear axle. And the Max tow has the brake controller and tow mirrors already.

Mikekoz13

Does GVWR = Truck weight + passenger weight + hitch weight + cargo weight?

And what does this truck weigh?

Mikekoz13

Looks like it weighs about 5700 lbs......

blueovelboy

the tow mirrors are not aways added!

EcoboostKev

If your truck have the max tow pkg option then the big elephant ear mirrors are most definitley added..