I'm looking to buy a 2002 F150 and will be towing between 6000 and 6500lbs. Should I go with the 7700lb payload package to get the 3.73s, or will an upgrade to 3.55s be sufficient? I would be getting the 5.4 with an auto tranny.

Also, as far as the Class III tow package. The receiver is rated for 5000lbs weight-carrying, and 8700lbs weight-distributing. Is it possible to get a weight-distributing setup on a boat trailer? I'm familiar with the bars to a-frame setup on a travel trailer, but not with a boat trailer, where the a-frame is much further back.

Could I mount the Class V receiver from an F250 to the F150 to avoid needing a weight-distributing setup?

Thanks for the input!

 

I would suggest that you consider buying an F-250. The weight you are talking about is going to push the F 150 close to the limit. By the time you add fuel, people, gear,etc. you could easily overload the truck. With the F 250, get the tow package, 5.4, and at least the 3.73 gears and possibly the 4.10 gears. If the truck is going to have a steady diet of pulling this load- the F 150 ain't gonna last long.

 

Thanks for the reply Flash! Actually, I was initially considering an F250, but then I looked at an F150 with the 7700lb payload package. I'm told that it has the same 4R100 tranny as the F250, a HD frame, coils/springs/shocks, axles, bigger brakes and 7-lug wheels.

So, I thought that as long as I stuck with the 7700lb payload package, I should be happy towing with it. Someone told me that this package was sold in a truck called the F250 light duty. I never herd of that before.

I will be towing a boat mainly during the summer months only. Not quite every weekend, but when I do, I surely want to be comfortable doing so. Like you say, the F250 will probably leave me more breathing room so that still might be the way to go. Plus, I love the look of the 250.

Thanks Again,
MP

 

I agree with Flash, if what you plan is a steady diet of regular heavy (near rated limit or long distance or hilly terrain) towing.

If, however your plans are for moderate (short haul, occationally near rated limit) the F-150 w/ 7700# payload package would be a fine choice. This truck weighs approx 800 lbs less then the F-250 HD yet has close to the same rated towing cap.

This very package was sold as the F-250 in 1997 & 1998 when Ford disignated the older body style F-250 the F-250HD. Remeber, this was prior to the introduction of the "new body style" F-250 HD. Then in an attempt to reduce confusion when the "new" HD F-250, F-350, F450 & F-550 models were introduced, the Regular F-250 (w/ F-150 body style) model disignation was discontinued and they renamed the thing the "7700# Payload Package.

If you were able to follow that at all, you understand why Ford figured that it didn't want two differant trucks sharing the F-250 name. If you couldn't follow the above, thank Ford for sparing you the confusion in the future by having made the change.

Petrol

 

I plan to tow a 5th wheel camper that weighs about 6300# empty, and
just purchased a 2002 F150 with the 7700 GVW package for that purpose.
I haven't towed with it yet, but I expect it to work just fine. The
F150 is lighter than the SD250 but uses the same transmission and I
prefer the 4wd setup used on the F150's.

I had a 99 F150 4.6 and I'm sure it would have been maxed out with
the new camper. It worked well with a 4600 lb trailer though.

Tom F.

 

well you may be alright but then again you may be "pushing" it a little with that 6300# empty trialer F-150 7700# paylod package rig (or it may be pushing you when the trailer is loaded that is)

You have to look at much more then just empty trailer weight.

Have you estimated the weight of the equipment/goodies you will be loading into your trailer/truck combo when setting off on your camping trip? What type of terrain will you be towing in and how often? How many miles will you be subjecting your truck to these towing conditions at a strech?

Remember a family of four can easily be in the 500-700# range (Pop=200, mom=140, sis=100, lil bro=80) and that doesn't include lugagge! Now add your camping gear and, well it won't be long before your draggin the equavilent of 8000# or more of tailer, people and gear.

Petrol

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-Mar-02 AT 09:21 PM (EST)]Actually, the F150 with the 7700lb payload package has decent specs. Not quite an F250 of course, but more heavy duty then the regular F150. Ford actually considers the F150/7700 snow plow capable, not that I would plow with it.

Comparing 4x4 SuperCab short bed F150s and F250s:

F150/7700/5.4L/3.73
-------------------
Trans: 4R100
Max GVWR: 7700lbs
Max GCWR: 13,500lbs
Max Payload: 2670lbs
Max Trailer: 8200lbs

F250/5.4L/3.73
-------------------
Trans: 4R100
Max GVWR: 8800lbs
Max GCWR: 13,500lbs (15,000 w/ 4.10s)
Max Payload: 2815lbs
Max Trailer: 7100lbs (8600 w/ 4.10s)

 

My brother has the 02 F150, 7700 payload package. He pulls a 6000# 5th wheel that he used to pull on a 94 F250. However his wife also drives the truck and for that reason they bought the F150 simply because it's a daily driver and much smaller the '94 F250 (supercab, longbox)

The only complaints he has towards the F150 when towing his 5th are windy days, hills and rough roads. Under full load he sez, it's a night and day difference in the handling from his '94 F250 and the new F150. He was always "aware" of the 5th in his F250, but with the F150 he definitely knows it there..if that makes sense.

All in all he sez that if you've never towed anything with a F250, then you probally won't really know any different - but he considers his decision to buy a F150 a bad one, but livable.

Just one more thing, my brother says really keep an eye on the payload if using the F150 set up.

His .02 worth

 

Thanks for the updated info MPTRUCK, my memory was that the two were closely rated, I just was unsure how close. When taking into consideration the weight differances (800# penilty?), purchase price differance ($1500+) the F-250 HD carries it seems that the F-150 w/ 7700# pack, 5.4L, 3.73 would make a fine overall truck for someone towing moderate loads.

I have always been one to promote over spec'ing your truck by looking at your expected max load/trailer weights and then getting a truck that is rated at 125% of that in order to have a safe margin of error. It looks like the F-150 w/ 7700# Pack works for this application.

 

Petrol,

No problem on the update. Actually, an F250 was my first choice, but then I came down to the reality that my next boat/trailer package would be more like 6500lbs and not 8500lbs. Even still, I'm like you and do like a good amount of headroom to be safe. You're absolutely correct that it doesn't take long to reach that max GVWR. I think the trailer's tongue weight adds to that also, is that right? At least the 7700 gives a significant increase in max payload over the regular 150. Almost a 1000lbs for a 4x4 SuperCab.

At first the $1500 or so difference between the F150 and F250 led be to think the F250 was the way to go for a few bucks more, but right now Ford has $2500 cash back on F150 and only $1000 on the F250. That increased the difference for the trucks that I was looking at to be around $3000. And of course I figured if I was to go with the F250 then it made no sense to stick with the V8 and instead go with the V10 for the $600 more. That would increase the towing capacity from 7,100/8,600 to 10,500/12,500 range depending on the axle ratio.

That thought spurred suggestions to go with the Powerstroke and not the V10, so now I was looking at another $4000 for that route. I guess the V10s like to drink, but then again, if that's what you need to be comfortable towing, then the $500 - $700 more in gas per year should not be a big deal.

So, I settled for the F150/7700 and I do hope that with all of the upgrades from the regular 150 that this truck will suit my needs for quite a few years. I think the weights that Tom F. and I are looking to tow will be an okay match, although from what JiveBoogle going any higher may not be a good idea. Hence that 20-25% headroom that you mentioned. Hell, Trailer Life towed a 6300lb or so trailer with a Tundra through the Sierra Mountains without a hiccup. I sure hope an F150/7700 with 5.4L and 3.73 will handle that weight range just fine.

I'm sure that Tom F. and myself will keep you posted when we hit the road with the boat and trailer! Enjoy your trucks!!!

MP

 

I think you will be please with the power output of the 5.4L. I have a 99 Expedition XLT 2WD, 3.73 limited slip w/ tow package and love it. I sometimes tow a four dirt bike trailer the loaded weighs maybe 2500# (not much I know) and load up the truck with me & three buddies and our grear (200 x 4 = 800# of folks, approx 50# each of gear) I hardly notice it's back there. When I got this truck I went with 2WD limited slip as I have for years, with no traction problems, even in deep snow on my often treks to the mountains for ski trips. Additionally 4WD adds $2k to the cost, adds 400# to the curb weight, subtracts from the trailer capacity, increases insurance & maintenance cost. Not to mention, being a racer, I favor the better power to weight ratio involved.

When we went dirt biking two weeks ago we didn't take mine. We took one of my buds, new to him '01 F-250 HD Crew Cab 4WD that also has the 5.4L w/ 3.73. He let me drive and though I didn't menition it to him, I really noticed the differance the additional curb weight (1200# + ?)of the F-250 HD 4WD had. Not that it had any trouble, no the motor is plenty stong, just that I could reall tell the differance the extra weight made.

For that reason, I would recommend the V-10 or PSD for anyone going the F-250 / F-350 route that has hills in their area.

Petrol

 

I used to own a '98 F250 light duty with a 5.4L and 3.73 rear end. This is what is now called the F150 7700 Group A package. I pulled a 26' fifth wheel weighing in at about 7000 lbs. loaded. I found it to be very stable and pleasant to tow, however I did have to gear down to 2nd gear on any hills greater than 5% grade. I gave the truck back when my lease was up (unfortunately), but I have now ordered a 2002 F150 with the "Group B" package. This comes with a 4.10 rear end. Also I believe that in '99 the horse power and tourque on the 5.4 L engines were increased somewhat. I'll let you know how well this pulls my fiver. Some of you may ask why I didn't go for the F250 super duty. That's because I generally only pull for 2 weeks out of the year and the rest of the time is stop and go city traffic, so I really didn't want anything too heavy. Also up here in Canada there are better incentives to by the F150. (about $3,000 - $4,000 price difference for equally equipped trucks)

 

Your right, in 99 the 5.4L PI (Performance Improved0 motor started to ship (I think F-series got it first with Expys coming on line later in the year, my Expy is an August build with this motor) The motor is rated 260hp and 350 lb ft for an increase of 20 hp and 25 lb ft, also the torque peak comes at lower revs with a longer flater range, 90 % of peak torque from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm.

I test drove both 5.4's before I purchased and believe me, the differance is very noticable. I would say the 5.4L PI is easily the equal of, if not more powerful then an earlier 5.4l with Chip, Cat Back Exghaust and FIPK upgrades.

Petrol