OK, so I want to tow next weekend to Roebling. I have access to my uncles F150 which should be up to the task. He tells me it has a class 2 hitch which is rated up to 7,000 lbs. I then find out on the U-haul website that the class 2 hitch is really 3,500 lbs. Anyone know for sure?

Anyone have good luck renting a U-haul trailer?

 

Hmmm. Looks like class 2 is only 3500 lbs. Guess I'm calling my uncle tomorrow to confirm it's a 2.

Might be driving to GA after all.

 

Matt... i havent really located a tow vehicle for RR either, so it looks like i'll be driving as well. I'd like to meet up with the NC gang near raleigh and caravan down...

RJ

 

You need a Class III hitch to tow a car. Class III are rated at 5,000lbs. The F150 *should* have a 10,000lb capacity. A Class II is up to 3500lbs but you will be well over that with the car and trailer. I can guarantee you that a U-Haul car trailer weighs close to if not over 2000#. Add another 2500 or so lbs for your car and you are tearing that 4-bolt hitch off the frame of the truck.

A Class III hitch for that truck can be had for under $200 however. U-Haul uses a sliding tongue/hydraulic brake system for the trailer so you wouldn't need to worry about any wiring for it either.

FYI - Class IV is the 7,500lb rated series (12,000lb with a weight distribution system)

 

The F150 is a 1/2 ton truck. It is not rated to tow 10k even with a weight distrib. hitch. It will, depending on engine, tranny & rear end gears tow up to 8800 with a wd hitch. As Drew mentioned, you should be able to pick up a bolt on class III or class IV hitch fairly cheaply.

The following info was taken from the Draw-tite website.
Class II = Up to 300 lbs. TW, Up to 3,500 lbs. GTW
Class III = Weight-Carrying 500/5000 (usually - some are 600/6000)
Class IV = Weight-Carrying 1k/10k




[Modified by civicrr, 11:19 PM 9/14/2002]

 

Sure it will - I can go grab my 1988 Bronco owner's manual and scan the page that says it has a maximum GVW of 10,000lbs. A Bronco is just a short wheelbase F-150. Yes I know that the GVW includes the weight of the truck but that is still part of the towing capacity since it has to "tow" itself along with the trailer.

 

Look for the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) of the tow vehicle. This will give you the maximum weight of the vehicle and the maximum weight the tow vehicle can haul combined.

 

Damn that's what I meant - GCWR. Thanks Starnes!

 

OK, if you want to use the GCWR, but that is cheating.

Out of curiostiy, I went to Ford's site. For 2002, I found GCWR from 6500-13500 & trailer weights from 2000-8800. These numbers varied according to engine, tranny & rear end gears. Just FYI.


[Modified by civicrr, 8:08 AM 9/15/2002]

 

*Most* F150s were shipped with the towing package so it is a safe bet his F150 has it.

Combined weight is cheating? How?


Drew - Whose Bronco is right at its 10,000lb combined limit when it is towing to a race but with the weight distribution system can still cruise comfortably at 80MPH.

 

I read it to mean that the truck could tow 10k. OK, it isn't really cheating as long as you let people know that it includes the weight of the tow vehical.

BTW, what WD system are you using? Sway control? Trying to get ideas for when I can actually afford a enclosed trailer. Thanks.

 

OK, found out a little more.

The truck in question is a '92 F150 in outstanding low mileage condition. It has "only" the 5.0 V8 and a trans cooler (so I assume that means towing package). The hitch was installed in '92 after it was purchased. My unlce is 100% sure they told him it was a class 2 and rated to tow 7,000 lbs.

So, any chance that in '92 the rating system was different and a class 2 could handle that much back then?

I suppose I could get a tow dolly, but I'd REALLY like to rent a trailer instead.

 

Yes, if it has a V8 and an OEM tranny cooler, then it most likely has the "Tow Package". BUT, the tow package would most likely include a tow hitch...then again back in '92 maybe they had a different theory....

If the hitch is rated at 7,000 lbs, then I don't think you'll have a problem towing you car on a trailer.

 

I use the Draw-Tite system.

http://www.drawtite-hitches.com/WD/sway_control.htm

The one we have is the older one that does not have the second cams running from the spring to the trailer (no pictures of it on the site). We also have the friction sway control. It is noisy but damn it works. I towed at 80MPH through NC and SC on the way to CMP and the truck never swayed. Keep in mind that a Bronco is a short wheelbase and it sways when it doesn't have a trailer attached.

Matt:
My guess is they were talking combined weight and there was a misunderstanding. That truck probably weighs about 4000lbs. Add the 3500lb capacity of the Class II and you have your 7500lbs.

 

Matt - Were is the hitch ball? On the bumper, or attached to the frame (like the one on the Jeep)?

D

 

OK, I just went and looked on both the Jeep and the Tahoe and there is a fancy little sticker on both hitches saying the weight limits. Can your uncle see if there is one of those on there? Also, if it's not the 2 inch receiver, that might be a clue too.

r2x ~ who'd loan you the Jeep, but it doesn't have a tag on it.

 

Matt,

If it turns out to be a class II hitch, consider using a dolly instead of a trailer. Your car on a dolly should be well under 3500lbs. Another thing to consider is triangle to RR is about the flattest tow you could do so lack of power will not be a problem.

Joel

 

I have some zip ties you can borrow.

 

Never believe the sticker on the hitch. Without checking the owner's manual first. It's really the lesser of the two numbers. My class III hitch says "5000 w/o WD, 10000 w/ WD", yet the manual says "8000 w/o, 12000 w/". I'm less than 5000#, w/o WD, so I don't really care. "Trailer? What trailer?"

Matt - rent a 2-car carrier and I'll tow both of us down there. And yes, my truck could do it

(edit - clarification)


[Modified by whitney, 10:23 AM 9/16/2002]