Hello All!

I need some opinions regarding our 1997 Ford 1 ton diesel powerstroke.  We have just purchased an 04 Sundowner, 38 foot on the floor, 4 horse trailer. Empty weight of the trailer is 12,600.  Everyone we've talked to says we won't have any problems with our truck pulling it.  But I am a little nervous because it is an older truck.  It runs great and we do regular maintenance on the truck.  What do you all think?  Most of the time we stay in our state of Iowa, but a couple times a year we go to KY and MO.  On the way to our destination in MO, we encounter some large hills.  What is your opinion on how the truck will pull on these hills?  Thanks for any advice you have!!!

I've got a 97 sundowner that is 34 on the floor.  Here is my advice to you.  Your truck will pull the trailer just fine.  Now the question is will it stop the trialer just fine.  I would go to a truck stop and find out what the trialer really weighs.  My trialer says it is 11600 but the truck stop certified scales say it weighs 15K.  Not to mention my biggest problem was not the total weight of the trialer but the "pin" weight of #5,000.  I was pulling it with a 2500 Hd Duramax.  I could pull it really nice with that truck but stopping was a little to exciting for me.  I recently bought a 99 F550 to pull the trailer.  It stops much better and I feel a ton more comfortable in the truck when pulling. 

I really wouldn't get caught up in all of the going up hills fast crap.  It really doesn't matter.  If you get up the hill an extra minute or two who really cares.  I'm more worried about getting there safely than getting there fast. 

I would be really surprised if your trailer weighed 12,600 empty.  I would think that is a bit light for that size of a trialer.  Go to a truck stop and you will know exactly where you are at with your weight and more importantly you pin weight. 

Later,

Chad

Oh gosh, now you're scaring me!  It is the crewcab 4x4 longbed and I bet you are right that the weight is 12,600 before living quarters.  I didn't think of that.  I should be able to ask hubby what the rearend ratio is.  And, so you are saying that it may only be rated to pull 10,000-12,000 lbs?  Yikes!

P.S.  It does stop wonderfully though!

From 1995 to 1997 there were only minor changes made, and the PSD was pretty much the same. They may have put the bigger turbo on in 97, but it makes little difference. The maximum any Ford "SuperDuty" truck could tow was listed as 12,500 pounds. Here is the link to the 1995 towing guide listing all possible configurations. If it's any consolation I have towed over 20K with my old 97, but not very far and with elec/hydraulic brakes on the trailer.

http://www.thedieselstop.com/faq/9497faq/geninfo/95ttg/16.php3

I pull a trails west 3 horse with slide and angled mid tack.10x 15 LQ it is supposed to weigh 10600 empty.

I put everything I thought I needed and then some in it plus two horses.Weight loaded was 15500 total with One ton Ford crew cab 4X4 dually 23,850 pulled pretty good and stoped good. Towed it with my F250 and could tell the brakes werent quite up to task empty.Ok here goes , 2006 F350 LONG bed crewcab Lariat. 2006 Trails west sierra 3 horse with LQ and slide AMT EXTRA LENGTH ALL THE UPGRADES.
truck=4850 front
3550 rear with full tank and two people (and Dog)

TAG ON TRUCK FRONT 5600
13000 GVWR, REAR 9000
Trailer
10,600 empty

whole thing
FRONT 5150
REAR 8100
BOTH TRAILER 10600
= 23850
I PUT EVERYTHING IN HERE I THOUGHT I COULD POSSABLY WANT,GENERATOR,88 GALLONS WATER,FEED, 3 HORSES, ALL TACK PLU,GUNS,TWO YEARS WORTH OF FOOD AND CLOTHES,BEDDING,15 GALLONS OF EXTRA DIESEL AND 5 GALLONS OF GAS ETC.

PULLED THIS COMBO OVER THE OREGON COAST RANGE AND CASCADES,6 LITER POWER,GREAT!!!!TRANSMISSION,GREAT !!!HELD BACK ALL THIS CRAP GOING DOWN 6 O/O GRADE AT 40 MILES AN HOUR NO BRAKES!! RIPPED UP THE OTHER SIDE 50 MILES AN HOUR NEVER BROKE A SWEAT.AVERAGE FUEL MILAGE 13.

TRAILER DROPPED TRUCK DOWN ABOUT 5 INCHES, WILL PROBABLY PUT AIR SPRINGS ON JUST BECAUSE I HAVE THEM FROM MY OLD TRUCK I TRADED IN.SITS LEVEL.

RIDES GREAT,CANT EVEN TELL THE TRILS WEST TRAILER IS THERE.FORDS INTEGRATED BRAKES ? WORKED FLAWLESS.

GOT NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PACKAGE.

Well, the short hauls aren't what's scaring me.  It's the longer hauls.  So, are they any upgrades we could do to help the truck out with pulling that much weight?  My husband wants to put airbags on it.  I just want to make it safe.

The trailer weight of my sundowner says 11600.  That is only off by about #3,000.  After they put in the LQ I have a funny feeling that the trailer weighs about 3k more.  So I would guess that your trailer is about 3K more which would put it around 15,600 empty.  Add some horses and gear and your trailer will be quite a bit heavier.  Either way your truck isn't supposed to be used to pull your trailer.  Even if the 12,600 is correct and you add gear and horses your truck is a bit light as far as specifications are concerned. 

Personally, I feel a ton better knowing that I have an F550 pulling my horse, wife, kids and dogs. 

There really isn't anything that is going to get your current truck to where it needs to be to pull the trailer and keep it within the ratings.  Airbags will help a ton.  making sure your trailer brakes are adjusted properly will help.  But you are asking quite a bit out of your truck. 

Your truck will do it but I'm not sure you will be comfortable driving with the trailer behind it.  I was always wondering if I was going to have a tire blow or something break and end up sideways in the highway. 

Good luck,

Chad