I drive a 2004 F150 with the 4.6 litre engine. I'm looking into purchasing a small camper trailer (a 21 footer). I'm looking for anyone who has a similar setup to give me first hand experience in what I would be looking at. I live in the canadian prairies, so mountains are non existent. I know it's doable, but would it be too much of a strain on the truck? I have the towing package already on there (I just have to get the 7 pin connector and brake controller).

When I purchased the truck, I wasn't planning on buying a trailer for a few years, which is why I went with the smaller engine. I love my truck and would rather use this one then having to get a new one. So again, if anyone has had similar experience, please share.

Thanks!

 

Probably depends in large part on what your rear diff ratio is. I've got the 4.6 with a 3.55 LS and the new 6 spd tranny and it pulls my 2500# cargo trailer and my approx 6500# boat pretty well. However, the low gears (1-2) in the new tranny are what make the engine tow better, at least around town. Also, the new 4.6 is rated at a few more ponies than the older engines....

I'm fairly sure your truck will pull a smaller trailer like you describe without too much trouble, esp in flat country. I'd strongly advise you go with a weight-distributing hitch if the gross weight on your new trailer is above 5000#.

And altho I'm American with Canadian parents (BC) I'll let you do the conversion math form # to kgs.

 

dan58, I have a 06 F150 4.6L XLT 3.55 gears. How much does the camper you are looking at weight? Im asking because my truck has a max towing capacity of 6300 lbs and the 2006 models with 4.6L V8's and 3.73 gears have a max tow of 6800 lbs. If the trailer weights around 5000 lbs. your truck is going to pull it but wont pull it well. Hope you have a transmission cooler because the transmission will be doing most of the work to pull this load because the older 4.6L motors are 2v and arent very strong. They started making a 4.6L 3v in the F150's in 2008 i believe and they pull much better than the 2v ones. When i pull anything around the 4000lb weight, my truck will pull fine but i lose speed climbing hills and if you arent going very fast in 4th gear, the truck will down shift to 3rd to make it up the hill. I dont mean to discourage you but i want you to know its not going to pull well. If you only have to go short distances and your always on flat ground, it will get the job done, but it will not be strong in the process.

 

Great, thanks for the quick replies. Would something like an edge programmer help at all? And yes, the truck has the tranny cooler already on it.

 

Like stated, it will do it fine, just expect it to work hard.

This should be helpful too.
https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...ailer_F150.pdf

 

Work hard indeed. The trans is whats going to be doin the most work. A programmer will help in this. The reason being is that the programmer, when set to a "Towing" mode, will make the trans hold the gears longer, so as you arent jumping in and out of gears just for a little added throttle. I pulled my 72 c10 chevy (see my album for pics) w/ out a programmer (just had sold it) and the trans SCREAMED everytime we started to go over a bridge on the freeway. Nothin broke, and everything is still good, but I did burn a ton of gas because of that trans always kickin up to a high RPM. Just take your time, and dont worry if you are the slow guy gettin passed.... you'll atleast have your truck after the tow this way. Good luck and post up picks of your haul!

 

The edge evolution will help you a lot. And your 4.6 will do fine pulling a trailer. My dad pulls 6 and 7000 pounds all the time and we live in virginia so its in the heart of the appalachin mountains and he pulls up hills all the time. By the way his truck is a 2005 4.6

 

hi,
i have 2004 f150 supercab XLT 4.6 EFI v8 4-spd auto. i bought this car for towing. everybody was telling me to get f250 or 350. but i dont like way they look. last to month i have towed 21 car. (Ford Crown Vics, Lincoln Town cars) every trip was 300 miles. she did this job perfect. didnt put me in any trouble, thanks god for it. plus this truck is great for my family.
You will be good for towing.

 

shoulda got the 5.4 3valve my truck with my trailer empty weighs in at 11500lbs pulls it just fine and dandy without working hard at all.

 

you have a 11,500 LB trailer and it pulls just fine? If you are talking combined weight then I would agree.