Towing with a 1/2 ton pickup

[needabronco]

Just because your trailer is rated for 12K pounds, doesn't mean the truck is. Just because the truck can actually haul it doesn't mean it's rated for that much weight. And Yes, I've hauled more weight than my truck is rated for also, but it was in an extenuating circumstance.

Keep this in mind. If your truck is rated for 7K pounds and your hauling 7500 and you are in an accident, if the officer investigating figures out that your load was overweight YOU will be found liable for the accident regardless of who's at fault. AND your insurance company will most likely NOT cover you because your load was overweight....

I did a quick search, assuming your truck is an extended cab;

To have the 3.42 gears you must have a 4.6 liter V8, if so you can tow 5500#

If you have the 5.3 liter and 4.10's you can haul 8500#, 3.73's would tow 7500#

According to the list I was referring to if you have a 2wd and a 5.3 you can have the 3.42 gears, and that combo can tow 6700#

 

[iwlbcnu]

The biggest thing here other than truck options, is how you load. My '05 F150 has the FX4 package, rated for 10k, I have a Brimar 18' which is heavy, think 2200lbs, I load the Bronco so the truck sags about an inch, no dist hitch and I have no problems.
If you load tongue light is will sway, tongue heavy will kill the truck. Alot more to it than hitching and go.

 

[Flash69]

Ok so lets say I have a 18' 12,000# trailer with a Bronco on the back (4600#centered over the axels) and an ATV or two on the front (1200#.) The bed of the truck will have all my gear in it for a weekend camping trip.
Thanks,
Greg

I really wouldnt want to be riding in the truck with you. I might be wrong but i think that would be a little too much for a 1/2 ton. You dont want it to start pushing you.

 

[rob wilson]

I really wouldnt want to be riding in the truck with you. I might be wrong but i think that would be a little too much for a 1/2 ton. You dont want it to start pushing you.

I would even less want to be stopping quickly in front of you! You can use all the load equalizer you want but with that much weight behind you hold on for a scary ride in a hard/panic stop. As previously mentioned, this is precious cargo you're talking about, better safe than sorry.

 

[Cooter_76]

Hitches

My neighbor tows a 20+ foot Airstream regularly, first with an '05 F-150 and now with a newer Tundra. He swears by this Hensley hitch he had installed after being fed-up with a traditional load-leveling hitch.

 

[grs44310]

The owners manual states that the truck is able to tow 7700# pounds as it's equiped. The 18' trailer 12k# trailer weighs about 2500# by itself. So that leaves me with 5200 for the Bronco, ATVs and gear. It looks like I will be talking my wife into a 2500HD before to long.

The dealer wants $4500 for a new Tillman 18' 12k# trailer with wood deck, 7" channel frame, adjustable ramps and HD jack. It seems like a pretty good deal not to get it.

Just because the trailer can take it doesn't mean I'm going to load it on.

 

[broncotime]

The biggest thing here other than truck options, is how you load. My '05 F150 has the FX4 package, rated for 10k, I have a Brimar 18' which is heavy, think 2200lbs, I load the Bronco so the truck sags about an inch, no dist hitch and I have no problems.
If you load tongue light is will sway, tongue heavy will kill the truck. Alot more to it than hitching and go.

I use the 1 inch drop rule also and it works fine for me. The 1 inch drop insures just enough toungue load to prevent any trailer swaying, but still keeps my headlights pointed the right direction since I'm usually towing late at night to get there or get home. I have an expedition (without the air bags or load leveling hitch), but do have the rest of the tow package stuff with the larger engine as well. No complaints at all other than the 9 mpg it gets pulling the bronco+trailer and the high RPMs at 60-65 because everyone tells me not to use the overdrive when towing.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I tow with an F250 diesel. The trailer I borrow is huge overkill for a bronco (HEAVY) , it's a light equipment hauler trailer.
I pulls it pretty well.
I recently borrowed a normal car hauler trailer for a bronco , 9 hour round trip , by myself. That is an ideal setup , the truck was real happy with that set up. As a side note , even without a trailer brake set up on my truck , it still stopped that load with no problem. I intend to get a trailer brake controller and my own trailer here soon.

Moral of the story , you are on the right track looking at a 3/4 ton truck in the future.
By the way , my diesel gets better mileage loaded or unloaded against equally loaded 1/2 tons. Keep that in mind also.

 

[Russ]

A much bigger question is how is the truck optioned? Check the owners manual for trailering limitations based on how it is optioned.

I know 6-cylinder half tons that have no business pulling a 3,000# trailer and other half tons that can pull upwards of 10,000# just fine. Engine, gearing, suspension, etc. have a lot more influence then the length of the bed.

I happen to like my 6cyl for towing 6000#s.

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But it's a 300. It's an 87 F150 reg cab, long bed.

I used to trailer my Juggy 250mi round trip to go wheeling. I will admit I wish I had a diesel on some of the long hills but the 300 was adaquate. Trailer and Jeep were about 6k#s plus tools, spare parts, and camping gear was in the bed of the truck. If it felt squirmy, the rear tire pressure was low. I ran an electric brake controler to one axle.

Oh, and my truck has a np435. Not sure how an AOD would hold up.