Guys .... have a few questions here as I`m finally getting around to doing some towing with the truck . Load will be a 17 foot Featherlite dual axle , open aluminum trailer with electric brakes .... weight is about 1300 lbs and the car being trailered weighs around 2500 lbs .... total is about 4,000 lbs .
I just checked and it appears that the "towing package " the truck came with has the boat trailer wiring connector , but does have a load distributing 5000 lb hitch . Questions I have : is the wiring already there for a 7 pin connector or do I have to buy a harness and connector ? I understand that I need a brake controller and wonder if there is one that is "better " than most .
Truck has the 5.4 engine , 3.54 LS rear , duals with a Dr Gas crossover , CAI and custom tunes from Troyer . Also , KYB gas shocks and Hotchkiss sway bars front and rear along with Hawk pads .
Any other suggestions welcomed !!
Getting ready to semi get back into racing and/or HSDE and am taking the Cobra replica to VIR this May ..... and will tow it up and back in case I do something stupid .

Thanks ,
Bob

 

3.55 rear gear is NOT a towing gear especially with the anemic 5.4 found in our trucks... If you plan to tow alot I'd seriously consider a gear swap to at least 3.73's.

We tow a 2-horse bumper pull with our 01 Screw and with the 3.55 rear its marginal at best, once you get on some of these WV mountains you better get your right foot planted! I'm going with 4.10's in mine here shortly in hopes that it performs better in the towing department...

 

The wiring is not there. You have to install the brake controller, and install the 7 pin connector with the brake controller. The 3.55:1 is the standard towing gear. I pull more than that weight with my 02' F150 with that gear ratio no problem. I have a 5 speed though, but it's a V6. The tow package does not include a hitch at all. If you have a hitch, it's not part of the original tow package. I put air adjustable shocks in the back, and that made a huge difference.

Kurt

 

IF ford considers the 3.55 a towing gear, it better only be in a diesel! My 05 with towing had the 3.73 which was much better suited for regular towing. I find it real hard to believe you are towing much more than that with a V6 and only a 3.55 rear... you must plant the accelerator to the floor and leave it there!

 

Tow package can have either gear, but if its actually a towing pack it should also have a factory installed hitch and 7 pin harness. if not, you don't have the tow pack. I have the tow pack on mine with 3.55 with the hitch and 7 pin, only added Tekonsha brake controller. Also, I don't see why people are so worried towing such small trailers. You have a 5.4 V8 in a full size pickup. You can tow way more than that little trailer. Other threads where people are worried about pulling a damn boat i have to just shake my head and move away before i post something too offensive. Mine pulled a 29' travel trailer every weekend up big hills even without a problem when my dad still owned it, stock.

 

Mine has towing pack. Came with 7pin, hitch, and was wired for break controls. Is all I have to do is plug it in. Not sure on the gears I forgot. I wanna say 3.73 though. Pulled a 29ft trailer as well (not every weekend) but truck did well