2002 F150 for towing

[Diamondpilot]

Yes, I was referring it the Front End of the GM trucks. We all know the drive line is rock solid. They are coming out with a new chassis for the 2011/2012 year and from what I read many GM, especially Dmax fans are hoping for a solid front axle to take care of that short coming. The plow issue is easily solved but you lose ride quality. The only other option is to run it like it is and eat up front tires. I agree 100% the GM trucks ride and handle the best but for me I work my trucks extremely hard and I will give that up any day for brute. I have a car and a 1/2 ton Titan for a good ride.

What the market really needs for guys like yourself is a 1/2 ton diesel with 12,000# tow rating. Something making 300HP and 450 FT TQ would fit nice. I know all the manufactures were working on it before the crisis but who knows now?

Chris

 

[pitt_md]

I am considering Purchasing a 2002 F150 XLT with automatic transmission and 5.4 liter engine with 3.55 rear end. This is a one owner truck with 38,000 original miler already equipped with trailer hitch and brake controller According to owners manual this combo should b good for 8300 lbs trailer weight. My trailer and tractor weigh approx. 6500 so I should be ok there. Has anyone here on TBN towed with this truck combo before?

I just sold my 2002 F150 setup the same as you are looking at to my son. I have used it to pull a bumper pull horse trailer and two over fed horses around with out a problem. I use a F250 now which is an all around better towing vehicle but I really didn't have a problem with the F150. Stability on the road is much improved with the 250 though.

 

[ART D]

I have once used my 2003 F150 5.4L 3.73 rear to tow my MF231 on a tandem axle trailer back and forth to a dealer for repair. Yes it is flat here but I had to cross two bridges. I took it slow and easy but thought the truck did a fine job.

 

[Lt CHEG]

What the market really needs for guys like yourself is a 1/2 ton diesel with 12,000# tow rating. Something making 300HP and 450 FT TQ would fit nice. I know all the manufactures were working on it before the crisis but who knows now?

Chris

I know I'd be in line for one. Preferably I'd like to bring the horsepower up to 315 or 320 but what you are describing is exactly what a lot of people like myself would love to have.

 

[ModMech]

We used our (now sold) '99 F-150 4.6L auto (235 HP) to pull my 1969 Lincoln Continental "home" from storage at my cousin's farm. It was a 700 mile round trip with a 2,000# flatbed trailer outbound and a 7,400# package on the return trip. IIRC, the rated towing capacity (Class V tt pkg) was 7,500 BP and 8,800# GN.

The truck pulled the load with NO problems, under no circumstances could you call it an easy load or that we had "more than enough" power but it worked and was safe.

I hear all the time how you need "X" Hp at least to pull a heavy load, bunkus! The old 454 and 460s in 1 tons only made 240ish HP in emissions trim and no one said you couldn't pull that 5er or 6 place horse with them!

I'd rather have the more efficient smaller powertrain spec'd correctly (tt pkg etc) than the big powertrain package and pay the mileage penalty PLUS the $3,000+ more in up-front costs!

In today's times, it seems everyone wants everything FAST, I'm an oddball I guess and I want quality and reliability. Speed costs money, money I'm not willing to part with, there are other things I want a LOT more than a powerful truck..... like a new UT.