So I am thinking about getting my travel trailer that I have been wanting. I have a 03 Super crew with a 5.4. I am looking to get a 20' to 24' travel trailer. I am planning to keep it around 4500lb dry weight and 6k GVW. Do you think the stock towing package tranny cooler and 3.55 rear end will be enough? Has 17" wheels on it. I haven't towed a travel trailer before so it's a new experience for me. Anything you guys think I should do before getting it. My truck has 98k miles and all fluids have been changed out since I got it last June.

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

My trailer is 19' but it is a big 19 and is 5500lbs loaded. I tow it with my truck OK. I definitely feel it and next time will get a lighter (smaller) trailer. We spend all our time outside when we are camping anyway. The one thing you should do is upgrade your trans cooler. The one on our gen of trucks is small and hidden behind the front bumper. While you are at plumb in a gauge so you can see your trans temps.

 

None of these trucks will tow it "well." Will you get by? Probably. If your going 200 miles every weekend you will find it lacking.

I have 19 that weighs 4500 dry, and 3.73 gears. I tow mine minimally, it spends life at hunting camp mostly.

The wind resistance is as big of factor as weight, maybe bigger, when towing trailer.

Surest way to shorten your trucks life...guaranteed.

 

I agree, I only tow mine 4 or 5 times a year and I have been looking at trailers around 17' and under 3000lbs dry. If you plan to tow a lot get a smaller trailer or a bigger truck.


Also don't believe anything the trailer sales guys tell you. They will tell your truck can tow a 30 footer to make a sale.

 

Heat is your enemy.

Do you really have the stock towing package or just a Hitch someone put on at the dealership or aftermarket? Also, even if you do have the factory tow package, check to make sure you have a Dual core Radiator. Chances are you don't. For some reason, Ford got away with not supplying Dual core radiators on the towing package and from what I've been able to find, almost all of the cheated trucks were Supercrews.

3.55 is a bit light especially if you ever leave Vegas. Combining the Heat, Mountains, a load with a single core radiator and 3.55's is just asking for trouble.

The truck can do it and the gears do need to be changed but the Radiator and Trans cooler are paramount.

I upgraded to a Superduty trans cooler with a remote filter but a Chain store kit would work fine as well.

Dual core radiators run anywhere from $150-210 for Autostore brands and Ford replacements. Any parts store will have a Dual core radiator as an option in their catalog online.

A couple pictures for reference.
Stock Radiator, my truck supposedly did have the Tow package, which is how I learned of all of this. It couldn't keep up just going through the Mohave with a full bed.


Also this is the superduty trans cooler for about $100.

 

I remember well first time I towed my TT with 5.7L Z71. I had towed 6000 lb boat/trailer thousands of miles like it wasnt even behind me. Was expecting same. Rude awakening..towing that big flat front down highway at 55mph with its wind resistance...much different.

I wouldnt tow a TT routinely except with superduty personally. Once in a while a short distance is Ok. Do it often and the gas savings will pay for a diesel

 

Thanks for the tips, I just checked I do have the single core radiator. I do have the towing package because I have the trailer brake plug behind the dash and the 7 way plug has the ford emblem on it.