Posted 2008-10-15 7:06 AM (#93074) Subject: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Member
Posts: 11
Location: Cleveland, MO
I have a 1992 Ford F150 XLT 4WD with a hitch on the bumper. Just sold my 2 horse bumper pull slant load as I have three horses and want to have the ability to haul 3 if necessary. My normal hauling activity is one horse at a time. So, I'm looking for a three horse and don't want to pull more than I'm able to.
I've got the owner guide for the truck and cannot for the life of me figure out how much weight I can safely pull. Can anybody on this board help me get a clue?
This is what I DO know:
The GAW Front is3275 The GAW Rear is 3777 The GVWR is 6250 The Engine is 5.0 EFI 302 V-8 The combined weight of my horses is just under 3000 pounds I have a bumper hitch
Posted 2008-10-15 10:16 AM (#93083 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Member
Posts: 24
Location: Ohio
We are in the same boat dealing with Fords and towing capacity. I visited a local Ford dealer and they were of limited help. I ended up crawling under my truck and finding the axle ratio tag then looking in the owners manual at the chart provided. It at least gives a ball park figure.
As an asside, while under the truck I discovered an oil leak from the "honey pot" (middle of rear axle). Driving that dry would have been a bummer.
Posted 2008-10-15 1:05 PM (#93096 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by troylynn on 2008-10-15 6:54 AM
I've got the owner guide for the truck and cannot for the life of me figure out how much weight I can safely pull. Can anybody on this board help me get a clue?
Look in your guide for a number labeled Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating... or some such as CGVWR
The key word is COMBINED
This is the max the loaded truck and loaded trailer may weigh.
Posted 2008-10-15 1:10 PM (#93098 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
I can't find anything back beyond 1999. The 4.6 V8 regular cab 4x4 was rated at 5400#. That's with an automatic trans and 3.55 gears, if the truck is an ext. cab, knock that back to 5000#. Your truck with the less powerful 5.0 is probably less, maybe as low as 4000#. Looks like you are maxed out with the two horse. Search this forum, you may just find your answer. http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum28/
So far as a three horse bumper pull with three horses on board.... NOPE, I wouldn't do it.
Posted 2008-10-15 1:29 PM (#93101 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
That is correct... Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. The maximum weight of the truck and trailer fully loaded hitched together ready for the road, full of fuel with all the passengers on board.
Posted 2008-10-15 2:13 PM (#93103 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Regular cab, extended cab, crew cab? tool boxes? extra fuel tank? winch? All this stuff adds up..... Hook up to your trailer and go to a scale at a truck stop or grain elevator. there you can get the numbers you need. I got to guess that your 4x4, F150 weighs somewhere around 5000 to 6200 lbs. That's just the truck. I wouldn't even attempt pulling a gooseneck trailer with three horses behind a F150 with a 302. Is the truck an automatic? What's the rear end ratio?
Don't ask anymore questions until you answer what we've ask..... I'm just shooting in the dark here. Go to the scales and weigh your rig!!!
Posted 2008-10-15 2:20 PM (#93105 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Member
Posts: 29 Location: Okla City, Okla
I am in the horse trailer business. Normally, we do not like to recommend F150 trucks to pull a trailer. Although, the older models were tougher than a lot of the newer models. You could pull a 3 horse bumper pull trailer with your truck, but you might need to install air bags on the rear of your truck to hold the back end of your truck up. A 3 horse bp usually has quite a bit of tongue weight. You could also pull a 3H gooseneck as long as it was a light weight trailer and you would still have to use airbags. None of this is the best way to pull a horse trailer, but if you are careful and set up the right equipment on your truck, you should be able to get it done. Most 3H bumpers weigh from 2800 to 3600 lbs. Most 3H goosenecks weigh from 3500 to 5500 lbs. Your truck is probably rated to haul 6600 lb load as most 1/2 tons were from that era. Also check the tow rating on your truck bumper. It should be on it. Most were rated at 5,000 lbs. and you might want to change to a receiver hitch if not already there. I also agree with earlier post...wouldn't recommend the use of that truck to pull trailer with 3 horses loaded in it. Good luck.
Posted 2008-10-15 2:24 PM (#93106 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Member
Posts: 11
Location: Cleveland, MO
Thanks for all the information. The trailer weighs 4000 lbs. I will never haul more than one horse with it. On the occasions when I need to haul 2 or 3 horses, I will use our business truck which is an F350.
really need to finish before hitting submit. Find the model that matches yours, click on it. On the next page look to the left for Vehicle details click on specs. It seems your truck likely should have a 7500 lb towing capacity even though your engine is the 8, I'd say it won't change it's tow capacity that much.
Can't get stats on my diesel truck through this site, it seems their specs are generic and not a full database.
Posted 2008-10-15 7:37 PM (#93121 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Yvette... I Think that 7500 number is a generic fifthwheel hitch number that Edmonds used on all the 1992 F150's they listed. I found this in another thread... Your F150 may only be rated at 6250#. If you insert the 6250 number below instead of the 7700#, well that really changes things.
GVWR is the total weight your truck can be when you include all your gear and tongue weight.
Example: IF your truck has the following GVWR=7700 Lbs Actual vehicle weight wet =5016 Lbs Usefull load capacity: 7700-5016 = 2684Lbs
Usefull load capacity is reduced by passengers, luggage, trailer tongue weight, etc.
GCWR is the total weight of your truck, all your gear and gross trailer weight.
Example: If your truck has the following GVWR=7700Lbs GCVWR=11,500 Lbs Actual vehicle weight wet=5016 Lbs Usefull vehicle load capacity=2684 Lbs Usefull max trailer load 11,500-5016 = 6484 Lbs
Now here is the kicker, with your current bumper pull trailer of 3955 Lbs, you have a tongue weight of 10-15% or 396-594 Lbs which takes away from your Useful vehicle load capacity of 2684 reducing it to 2090-2288 Lbs. With a new 5th wheel/Goose neck of 6000Lbs the hitch load is 20-25% of Max trailer weight or 1200-1500 Lbs, which takes away from your Useful vehicle load capacity of 2684 reducing it to 1184-1484 Lbs.
In conclusion Yes you can tow a 6000 Lb 5th wheel/Goose neck and not exceed your GCWR but you only have an additional 484 Lbs you can load in your truck without exceeding your GCWR. And you must always be aware not to over load your trucks GVWR.
Posted 2008-10-15 10:30 PM (#93127 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
If your trailer is 4000 lbs, won't your horse add about a 1000 extra lbs, and then gear etc? Good luck with all this, it is good you are trying to be informed and safe.
Posted 2008-10-16 8:15 AM (#93142 - in reply to #93127) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Member
Posts: 11
Location: Cleveland, MO
Originally written by flyinghfarm on 2008-10-15 10:30 PM
If your trailer is 4000 lbs, won't your horse add about a 1000 extra lbs, and then gear etc? Good luck with all this, it is good you are trying to be informed and safe.
(Slaps forhead) Duh! Yes. With the horse in the trailer and other "stuff" it would add up to around 5.5k! Thanks!
Posted 2008-10-16 9:17 AM (#93143 - in reply to #93074) Subject: RE: Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
Veteran
Posts: 274 Location: Memphis, TN
Troylynn, I have a 90 F150 with the 5.0 same as yours. I used it for years to pull a 2 horse BP, loaded with two big QH. That worked OK, but even at that I felt it was marginal in emergency situations such as sudden stops and quick lane changes due to other drivers, etc. It will pull the trailer, but being able to "handle" the trailer is more important. I moved to a F250 with GN for 3 horses. Use your F350 and forget the F150 3H BP.
Need Help Determining Towing Capacity
