truck question
11-23-2014, 11:13 PM
#1
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truck question
Hey guys new here, I just had a quick question. Looking to get a 96 f150, I want it to pull my TT and use it for work as well. Is there a link or anything like that to find out the exact towing capacity or a Vin decoder. Also what are the differences in each model? It is a 5.0 v8 so does that mean anything on tow capacity? I have seen 7,500lbs then 8,200lbs so any help is appreciated greatly.
11-23-2014, 11:38 PM
#2
Salvage Yard Pro
Depends on your trucks rear gear ratio....
5.0 and automatic trans 2 wheel drive, regular cab
3.08 & 3.31 = 4700lbs
3.55 and up = 7100lbs
Check your door tag or the tag on the differential if it's still in place to determine the gear ratio.
If the tongue weight is 10-15% of the trailer weight, then you need a Weight Distributing Hitch and I highly recommend using a sway control bar with the WDH. Makes a huge difference with a Travel Trailer. I'd also recommend bypassing the radiator and using an external transmission oil cooler, especially if your in the high mileage category, which most of us are. I paid $99 for my Hayden Dawg External cooler and fan. Lowers radiator temps by removing the hot transmission fluid and cools the trans very well. I'd also recommend going with electric fans. Free up 15-20hp and cool much better than stock mechanical fans. Here's a write up.
https://www.f150forum.com/f10/electr...light=fan+swap
Not sure where you got the truck, but it (Paint) closely resembles some of the police trucks some of the smaller towns around here used. Looks like it had a light bar on top as well by looking at the roof channels. Most of those were run in the ground. I'd do a full tune up and seafoam the intake. You can search the forum or youtube for the seafoam process. Takes about an hour and always produces good results. As far as differences in models and towing, the manual trans always have lower tow ratings. Extended cabs weigh more and the added weight takes away from towing capacity. 4x4's also have lower tow ratings, again, added weight. The 4.9l 300 doesn't even qualify to tow unless it's geared at 3.08 or better. My 2.73 specifically restricts towing completely.
Here is a vin decoder. It might uncover a police or service package if the truck was in fact ordered for that purpose when new,
5.0 and automatic trans 2 wheel drive, regular cab
3.08 & 3.31 = 4700lbs
3.55 and up = 7100lbs
Check your door tag or the tag on the differential if it's still in place to determine the gear ratio.
If the tongue weight is 10-15% of the trailer weight, then you need a Weight Distributing Hitch and I highly recommend using a sway control bar with the WDH. Makes a huge difference with a Travel Trailer. I'd also recommend bypassing the radiator and using an external transmission oil cooler, especially if your in the high mileage category, which most of us are. I paid $99 for my Hayden Dawg External cooler and fan. Lowers radiator temps by removing the hot transmission fluid and cools the trans very well. I'd also recommend going with electric fans. Free up 15-20hp and cool much better than stock mechanical fans. Here's a write up.
https://www.f150forum.com/f10/electr...light=fan+swap
Not sure where you got the truck, but it (Paint) closely resembles some of the police trucks some of the smaller towns around here used. Looks like it had a light bar on top as well by looking at the roof channels. Most of those were run in the ground. I'd do a full tune up and seafoam the intake. You can search the forum or youtube for the seafoam process. Takes about an hour and always produces good results. As far as differences in models and towing, the manual trans always have lower tow ratings. Extended cabs weigh more and the added weight takes away from towing capacity. 4x4's also have lower tow ratings, again, added weight. The 4.9l 300 doesn't even qualify to tow unless it's geared at 3.08 or better. My 2.73 specifically restricts towing completely.
Here is a vin decoder. It might uncover a police or service package if the truck was in fact ordered for that purpose when new,
Last edited by unit505; 11-23-2014 at 11:55 PM.
11-23-2014, 11:58 PM
#5
Salvage Yard Pro
Edit, it will..........but not for long! If you get pulled over or get in a wreck pulling with an overloaded truck, it'll suck to be you! Also, newer 1/2 ton trucks will pull those loads. They are engineered to do that. Not these old trucks.
Last edited by unit505; 11-24-2014 at 12:01 AM.
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11-24-2014, 10:01 AM
#10
Salvage Yard Pro
^^x2^^
You have to get into at least a powerstroke or a 460 with 3.55 gears to get above the 8200lb mark in a 9th gen chassis. The powerstroke was rated at 10k lbs. across the board while the 460 was rated at 8900 - 10k lbs depending on gearing. All of this information is DOT Specs which is what your insurance and the police would look at in an accident. I've seen 9th gen f350's pulling over 20k lbs of hay bales frequently. Your talking about a travel trailer over open road and lots of weights and standards cops, so you need to look at legal over anything else.
A good research tool is trailerlife.com towing guides. They start at 1999 with their tow guides and give gear ratio, vs. reg cab, ecab, etc. These are all DOT numbers. I pull a 4500lb travel trailer with a '02 Silverado with the little v8 and 3.42 gears and the Chevy hates that load. It's rated at 6700lbs. No way it will do that on the highway for any length of time. With the trans cooler and trailer package, I can safely get 60mph out of it until I hit any type of grade then it's down to 45-50mph if I'm lucky. You have to chose your tow vehicle carefully when your shopping. You can swap out rear gears to achieve the higher factory DOT numbers, but you have to maintain documentation to go along with that to prove that you were geared for the load you are pulling and that you haven't gone over your tongue weight.
http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/
You have to get into at least a powerstroke or a 460 with 3.55 gears to get above the 8200lb mark in a 9th gen chassis. The powerstroke was rated at 10k lbs. across the board while the 460 was rated at 8900 - 10k lbs depending on gearing. All of this information is DOT Specs which is what your insurance and the police would look at in an accident. I've seen 9th gen f350's pulling over 20k lbs of hay bales frequently. Your talking about a travel trailer over open road and lots of weights and standards cops, so you need to look at legal over anything else.
A good research tool is trailerlife.com towing guides. They start at 1999 with their tow guides and give gear ratio, vs. reg cab, ecab, etc. These are all DOT numbers. I pull a 4500lb travel trailer with a '02 Silverado with the little v8 and 3.42 gears and the Chevy hates that load. It's rated at 6700lbs. No way it will do that on the highway for any length of time. With the trans cooler and trailer package, I can safely get 60mph out of it until I hit any type of grade then it's down to 45-50mph if I'm lucky. You have to chose your tow vehicle carefully when your shopping. You can swap out rear gears to achieve the higher factory DOT numbers, but you have to maintain documentation to go along with that to prove that you were geared for the load you are pulling and that you haven't gone over your tongue weight.
http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/
Last edited by unit505; 11-24-2014 at 10:21 AM.