My dad tows a 5000 lb TT with a honda ridgeline. After a week with trailer hooked up the rear coil suspension is squated and takes about a week to return to normal. We found a used Trailer Toad to fix that problem.

It got me interested in how much my truck Tow, 7300 lbs with a 5.0 auto. Only 3600 if it had the manual. Is the manual transmission that comes in these trucks that weak?

 

I shouldn't use the word weak, that's derogatory and I love our old trucks. Light duty is more appropriate.

Are the manual transmissions really that light duty? I was stunned by the lower tow ratings when using a manual.

 

I read about that. I really want to switch my truck to standard but I can't stand the cut in towing capacity. Think my truck is 5500 at the moment but i'm not sure and down to about 3500 with a standard.

 

The Trailer Toad I mentioned is the heavy duty model, can handle trailer up to 24000 gvwr. I don't think we have a tow rig that could move that much weight, but tongue weight wouldn't be a problem.

 

There is not a 5.0 F-150 capable, by the factory specs, of towing 7300lbs, using the '95 as an example. Other years might be. It's dependent on gear ratio and wheel base. Every gear ratio is different towing capacity. The auto does show higher towing capacities. Part of that is due to wheelbase. When I was shopping for travel trailers, they would not allow me to drive off the lot with my chevy blazer 2 door nor my buddies jeep because no matter what the engine/gear combo, it was against d.o.t. standards to tow with it with the short wheel base. If you'll look at the following chart, my 2.73 SWB 4.9l reg cab says that I cannot tow with it. YEAH RIGHT! It says the same for the auto with 3.06 gear 4x4. You just cannot always depend on the Govt. to decide mpg and towing capacities. Government officials stand over these engineers and if they say a number the Govt. guys don't like, they publish what the Govt. does like. Also note, the factory didn't even spec out half the combinations listed.
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I would estimate my trailer weight at least 6000 pounds minimum. My 4.9 5 speed 3.08s handles it just fine. Sure I probably go through clutches more often than most, but it still does it just fine.

 

My curiosity was the reason behind the numbers. I'd kinda figured like Sean said, the clutch is the weak link. Is there a heavy duty upgrade or is it more an issue of overall diameter?

 

Two options, 10" and 11". Naturally the 11" lasts longer.

 

Well I certainly towed heavier then 2800 lbs. I would have thought 4x4 could handle more weight because of the suspension.

 

These are all DOT numbers. Is it safer pulling a trailer with a automatic? If you don't know how to shift while pulling a heavy load on a grade, possibly. Is it safer pulling a trailer with a long wheelbase vehicle? I've seen guys pull 16ft car haulers with beefed up rear suspension on Jeeps and others who couldn't pull a 6ft. trailer with a couple of lawn chairs on it. My dad yanked on a cottonwood stump with his 4 wheel drive GMC 1500 to the point of doing wheel stands and I hooked to it with my little 300 and slowly pulled it over. Also has allot to do with stopping power. My kids Toyota will pull a 16ft. trailer loaded with 6 atv's. Stopping it is totally different story. I put the whole towing capability thing in the hands of the driver. I know my truck wouldn't pull my little 14ft 70 model travel trailer (All steel and heavy as hell). So I don't do it. I can't afford all those clutch assemblies that Sean buys. My truck won't even support the tongue weight. I can pull almost anything on the 16ft. trailer with the load distributed correctly for my truck. My 4.9 stick would out pull my 5.0 auto all day long, so I just don't put any faith in those numbers. The only downfall is if you catch a dealer that has to pull the book out before he'll allow you to pull a trailer off the lot with a particular vehicle. Once I get someone to get it off the lot so I can hook up to it with my truck it is all my business unless it's an obvious stupid load and the Troopers get me.