2002 F150 for towing

mjonesnh · Dec 5, 2009

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?

themichelob · Dec 5, 2009

mjonesnh-Before I bought my 2002 Super Duty, I had a 1998 Ford equipped as you described. I only tow my 17 foot boat, and I thought the 5.4 L was gutless for towing on anything other than flat ground. It would bog down on the slightest incline. It might work for you for occaisonal use, but if you do alot of towing I would get something beefier. Regards, Mike

Diamondpilot · Dec 5, 2009

I owned a 2001 F-150 Supercrew and towed this with it. It only got 5.5 mpg on a trip to Lake Cumperland Kentucky and back and had to use 4 wheel Low to get it up the ramp. I was over weight at around 9,500# with this load. That is when I went to Diesel for my real loads.

I am a boat dealer and have access to data for all trucks and did not see that tow rating listed for a F-150. What cab is it, bed, and also 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive?

I will say I have had tons of gas powered trucks over the years, mainly Fords, one Hemi Dodge, and my new truck, a Nissan Titan and they are all about the same. The Titan will walk all over the others in acceleration but gets a little worse MPG. The 3.55 gears are going to make it a dog. All my gas trucks had 3.73's or 4.10's so it was much more livable.

Chris

mjonesnh · Dec 5, 2009

(I am a boat dealer and have access to data for all trucks and did not see that tow rating listed for a F-150. What cab is it, bed, and also 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive?)

Below is from owners manual
5.4L 3.55 5897 (13000) 3765 (8300)/
3628 (8000)
The (13000) is Max GCWR and the (8300) is MAX TRAILER WEIGHT

SuperCab/Super Crew 4x2 w/automatic transmission
4.2L 3.55 4530 (10000) 2495 (5500)
4.6L 3.08 4530 (10000) 907 (2000)
4.6L 3.31 4763 (10500) 2676 (5900)
4.6L 3.55 5216 (11500) 3130 (6900)/
2994 (6600)
5.4L 3.31 5443 (12000) 3311 (7300)
5.4L 3.55 5897 (13000) 3765 (8300)/
3628 (8000)
5.4L 3.73 6124 (13500) 3900 (8600)
5.4L 4.10 6803 (15000) 3900 (8600)

Diamondpilot · Dec 5, 2009

I do not doubt you. My book shows the second number only of 8,000# tow rating. Not a major difference. 300# is not going to mean a thing.

I will say the worst truck I have ever used to tow with was my 2 wheel drive F-150. That thing got stuck everywhere. In Southern Indiana we have big hills and many gravel drives. I could not get up them, especially with a trailer and forget going into a field.

Chris

mjonesnh · Dec 5, 2009

Diamondpilot:

Thanks for your replies. I did notice the dual numbers in the manual (8300/8000). I believe this has something to do with what size tire/wheel combo was Oem(16 vs.17 inch rims)

Diamondpilot · Dec 5, 2009

mjonesnh said:
Diamondpilot:

Thanks for your replies. I did notice the dual numbers in the manual (8300/8000). I believe this has something to do with what size tire/wheel combo was Oem(16 vs.17 inch rims)

I think you hit the nail on the head. My book is just a guide and says to check the manual in the small print. I usually find they give the conservative numbers. Ford offers so many options on tires and you seem like a smart guy. Hey, your looking at a Ford.

But many do not realize the bigger the tires the less grunt you have and the less braking due to more rolling mass. Because of this you take a hit. Larger tires are like dropping a rear end ratio but Ford has figured this out and corrected the numbers as you stated.

It kills me when you see the guys in a 80' Monte Carlo with 28" wheels but the factory drums and disc brakes on it. The stopping distance has probably doubled when they went to the big wheels. You would think if you can afford to put $5000 wheels and tires on a $800 car you could afford to spend $1000 and upgrade the brakes.

Anyway, I think this rig will do everything you want with your current load. Just make sure it has the towing package. Its more than just a hitch on a Ford. You get a larger power steering cooler and a larger tranny cooler.

Chris

GreatWhitehunter · Dec 6, 2009

I had an 02 f-150 supercab 4x4 with with 5.4 and 3.73. The truck was a good dependable ride. It was good for towing my atv trailer but not for pulling my tractor. I was towing max cap and as others have said the 5.4 is a real dog when towing. I sold it in 05 with 38k and got a new F150 supercrew with the 3 valve 5.4. It was better but still not great. The mpg was consitent. In late 05 I decided to go diesel and I think I'm done with gas engines for towing.

Matt

flusher · Dec 8, 2009

mjonesnh said:
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?

My 2001 F150 has the 4.6L engine, 3.55 rear end and is rated at 7200 lb towing capacity. When I moved from So. CA to Sacramento a few years ago, I towed stuff in a twin axle 6x12 ft U-haul trailer with GVWR of 4250 lb. I had it fully loaded. Did OK on the LA freeways, but really bogged down on I5 on the Grapevine and Tejon Pass through the Tehachapi Mts. Couldn't get more than about 45 mph out of it.

These older F150s are not my idea of good towing vehicles. Right now I'm looking for a used Dodge Ram 3500 diesel to do my serious towing (4500 lb tractors with a 20-ft deckover GN trailer).

Diamondpilot · Dec 8, 2009

flusher said:
My 2001 F150 has the 4.6L engine, 3.55 rear end and is rated at 7200 lb towing capacity. When I moved from So. CA to Sacramento a few years ago, I towed stuff in a twin axle 6x12 ft U-haul trailer with GVWR of 4250 lb. I had it fully loaded. Did OK on the LA freeways, but really bogged down on I5 on the Grapevine and Tejon Pass through the Tehachapi Mts. Couldn't get more than about 45 mph out of it.

These older F150s are not my idea of good towing vehicles. Right now I'm looking for a used Dodge Ram 3500 diesel to do my serious towing (4500 lb tractors with a 20-ft deckover GN trailer).

2 issues with the F-150 you had. First the 3.55 gears. Second, the 4.6L engine. They only made 231 HP and 293 FT TQ. These were 2 valve engines. The new 3 valve 4.6L makes a much better 292 HP and 320 FT TQ. A far cry from the 320 HP and 390 FT TQ the 5.4L makes.

Chris