pacificnw wrote: I agree, Ford is probably not concerned about this safety margin. But you ask a good question... where will they be when I am on the side of the road scratching my head wondering why that 9,000 pounds I am towing does not allow me to hold the speed limit going up the 8% grade over the mountain without hitting 5000 rpm, getting 14 mpg and smelling boiling transmission fluid?
Why do many think it is important to hold the speed limit up a 8% grade? Especially if it is 55 mph or more. Isn't that what the slow lanes are for? Seriously. The Trailertruck I drove. Which BTW was designed especially for towing, I mean. It had no other reason to be. Any way. It slowed on hills, any hills. Had 13 forward gears, and a 400 Kitty Cat. And it slowed on hills. Had to change gears often. If it does. Why should I expect my little truck to hold 55 towing up a 8% grade? I don't. I expect it to slow. I have the choice of what RPM to run. That is what the pedals are for. I choose 3000. When going up Black mountain. I hold it back to 3000 rpm, second gear, and 45 mph. And I still pass most of the other TTs 5ers, and all the trailertrucks. So I wonder. Why many feel it is so important to hold a high speed on a steep hill? Just extra work for the motor, For no good reason.
I also don't have a problem running 35 on the side mountain roads. Except of course where you have top slow for the curves. But then. The speedlimits on them are 35. Those are the ones that are steep. Interstates, are nothing compared to real mountain roads.
BTW. Any vehicle can break down on the side of the road. The last vehicle I saw broken in the mountains. Was a 2500 towing a 26'TT up 321 into Blowing Rock. I started to stop and tow it on up the hill. But didn't have my brake controler in the Expe at the time.
Why do many think it is important to hold the speed limit up a 8% grade? Especially if it is 55 mph or more. Isn't that what the slow lanes are for? Seriously. The Trailertruck I drove. Which BTW was designed especially for towing, I mean. It had no other reason to be. Any way. It slowed on hills, any hills. Had 13 forward gears, and a 400 Kitty Cat. And it slowed on hills. Had to change gears often. If it does. Why should I expect my little truck to hold 55 towing up a 8% grade? I don't. I expect it to slow. I have the choice of what RPM to run. That is what the pedals are for. I choose 3000. When going up Black mountain. I hold it back to 3000 rpm, second gear, and 45 mph. And I still pass most of the other TTs 5ers, and all the trailertrucks. So I wonder. Why many feel it is so important to hold a high speed on a steep hill? Just extra work for the motor, For no good reason.
I also don't have a problem running 35 on the side mountain roads. Except of course where you have top slow for the curves. But then. The speedlimits on them are 35. Those are the ones that are steep. Interstates, are nothing compared to real mountain roads.
BTW. Any vehicle can break down on the side of the road. The last vehicle I saw broken in the mountains. Was a 2500 towing a 26'TT up 321 into Blowing Rock. I started to stop and tow it on up the hill. But didn't have my brake controler in the Expe at the time.
My TT is 5500# dry 6700# loaded and it does tow really well but you do have more wieght and the 3:55 gears which will make it sluggish going up hills. I don't have a need to climb hills as fast as some on this forum but boys will be boys. In the end it maybe alittle too much for your truck because of the reasons above. I remember my dad towing over some steep grades in the mountains, it was horrible and later we found out it fried the tranny (chevy Belair). The F150 is a great truck but like anything it has its limits even though some people think it can only tow a little red wagon
Why do many think it is important to hold the speed limit up a 8% grade? Especially if it is 55 mph or more. Isn't that what the slow lanes are for? Seriously. The Trailertruck I drove. Which BTW was designed especially for towing, I mean. It had no other reason to be. Any way. It slowed on hills, any hills. Had 13 forward gears, and a 400 Kitty Cat. And it slowed on hills. Had to change gears often. If it does. Why should I expect my little truck to hold 55 towing up a 8% grade? I don't. I expect it to slow. I have the choice of what RPM to run. That is what the pedals are for. I choose 3000. When going up Black mountain. I hold it back to 3000 rpm, second gear, and 45 mph. And I still pass most of the other TTs 5ers, and all the trailertrucks. So I wonder. Why many feel it is so important to hold a high speed on a steep hill? Just extra work for the motor, For no good reason.
I also don't have a problem running 35 on the side mountain roads. Except of course where you have top slow for the curves. But then. The speedlimits on them are 35. Those are the ones that are steep. Interstates, are nothing compared to real mountain roads.
BTW. Any vehicle can break down on the side of the road. The last vehicle I saw broken in the mountains. Was a 2500 towing a 26'TT up 321 into Blowing Rock. I started to stop and tow it on up the hill. But didn't have my brake controler in the Expe at the time.
A wise man,and spoken well.
JL
Exactly right. I'll be 10 minutes behind you at the end of the day.
bobbyg123 wrote: For me, it's either a 1/2 ton or a diesel. In my opinion, the biggest waste of cash is a 3/4 ton gasser.
I must respectfully disagree.
There are many who like to load their truck bed (firewood, motorcycle, atv, golf cart, etc). Even though their TT's tongue weight falls well within the 1/2 ton catagory, the extra weight in the bed pushes the rear axle weight to the area in which a 3/4 ton truck is more desirable.
You can easily exceed your rear axle rating while staying well within your combined vehicle weight rating.
I often take my Honda Rancher with firewood, fuel, and extra water packed around it. I'm sure I have been over my rear axle weight limits on many occasions. This is why I will probably start looking for a 2500 gasser in a year or two. Of course, if the right deal comes along on something with a Cummins under the hood, who knows. If gas is still $.50/gal cheaper than diesel, maybe not
Dodge Ram 1500, 5.2 Magnum, 3.90 gears
Factory towing package
#12500 GCVW
Springdale 189FL, "The Baby Crib"
No worries!
I've got a 2004 F150, 4x4, 3.55 rear end gears (factory tow package with 3.55 gears - go figure). TT is a 27' Fleetwood, weighs about 6,800lbs empty. First out of state trip was from MS to north GA. I thought I was going to smoke the tranny once I got into the mountains (hills) of north GA. Almost had it floored going up about a 7-8% grade for several miles, 2nd gear. Running about 40mph almost floorboarded. Knuckles were white!
Long story short.....I added a MagHytec finned aluminum differential cover, rear differential and transmission temperature guages. The rear differential temp. would average about 170-180 degrees in the flats pulling the trailer (about 140-150 while not towing). Pushed 210-220 in the hills.
About a year ago, re-geared to 4.10 gears (had to do front and rear being a 4x4). HUGE difference in towing ability. Still, not a F250 by any means but I don't do enough towing to justify buying a Superduty. Made a trip to the Smokies last summer, wouldn't hesitate to do it again with this setup.
Offline
