Carver

I just got a 1999 F-150 XLT. It has the 4.2 L engine and 5-speed manual tranny. I want to buy a small utility trailer to tow along my heavy chainsaw carvings, tools, logs, etc. The listed GVWR is 6000 pounds, truck weighs 4200. Does this mean all I can tow or carry is 1800 pounds? Most trailers I'm looking at weigh at least 1000 pounds, that leaves only 800 pounds for cargo, is that correct?

Sorry for what may seem a stupid question, but I'm just getting into this.

00gstang

1000 pounds is pretty light .... you should tow that no problem

nick.

You can pull q little more that that, you have the advantage of a 5 speed to control the gearing for towing, hopefully you have a frame hitch rather than just the bumper hitch.

Carver

Yes, it has a frame hitch with a 2" receiver on it (there's a bumper hitch on there as well). I looked up some specs and I've found that I can tow 1900 pounds with the 3.31 rear end, but up to 3200 pounds with the 3.55. How do I tell which one I have? Are they hard to swap if I happen to have the higher geared one? I really want to be able to pull some serious weight if possible.

I noticed that the trucks with automatic trannys are rated to pull more weight. Did not know that. I stayed away from an automatic because of all the problems I had with my last truck. Hope I didn't make a mistake regarding its usability.

BTW I realize many of you are into the show trucks. Nothing wrong with that, and I hope no one takes offense at me asking practical questions about a working truck. Figured you guys would be the ones to ask.

nick.

See if theres a bolt difference between the tears, that would be the easiest easiest way to tell I think, if you get the bigger one, should be a pretty easy replacement with close to no fab needed.

nick.

*rears not tears

Carver

Thanks, Nick, I'll look at that. A buddy mentioned jacking the truck up and turning the rear wheel while counting how many rotations the drive shaft makes for each turn... or was it for each two turns, I can't remember now. Anyway, good to know they can be exchanged fairly easily.

Had my first long drive with the truck today. Helped a friend and came back with a load of valuable scrap. This is gonna be fun, don't know why I let almost ten years go by without having a truck. Can't wait to check out some of these "free firewood" ads on Craigslist. I burn over 6 cord a year, costs close to a grand cut/split/delivered. The truck can earn its keep while I have fun driving it the rest of the time. Win-win situation for me.

19674x4

THere should be a tag on the rear Differential Cover that will tell you the axle specs. Also, yo ucan decode your Vin and it will tell you your gear ration. I would imagine with a 5 speed, you probably have 3.55's