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Goin camping · 07-30-2006, 01:16 PM

Having been bad at math my entire life I am confused.

Can I tow a 25 foot Safari FB with a 2002 Ford F-150 4X4 with a 5.7 engine?

CanoeStream · 07-30-2006, 01:43 PM

Hello -- I saw you over at that other 'Weight' thread earlier. No doubt we made it seem like pretty weighty stuff...

Looking at 2006 Ford specs I'd say your payload capacity would allow you some versatility to handle the tongue weight of a 25' FB Safari. Since it's just the two of you there seems to be enough capacity to handle a truck cap and modest amount of gear inside the bed. Of course I am going to refer you to the manual for your 2002 truck to find your specific payload. Do you find that number? Do you know if you have a transmission cooler installed? Do you know what your rear differential ratio is? (4.10 or 3.73?)

Airstream's specs say the empty trailer w/o options (eg, LS package & spare tire) has a tongue weight of 720#. The LS package has too many good items to pass up, so I'd believe your true tongue weight could be upwards of 900# by the time you have weight distribution gear installed and propane in the tanks. It pays to be conservative.

Steve Heywood · 07-30-2006, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goin camping

Having been bad at math my entire life I am confused.

Can I tow a 25 foot Safari FB with a 2002 Ford F-150 4X4 with a 5.7 engine?

http://www.trailerlife.com/downloads/02towingguide.pdf

Trailer Life still has the 2002 tow vehicle ratings on thier website. Click on the above link.

Speaking of confused, an 02 with the 5.7 (351)?? Are you sure it's not the 5.4 Triton V8?

Goin camping · 07-30-2006, 02:30 PM

O.K. I took the GVWR off the door (6500) and the unladen wieght off the registration (4620) and after subtracting one from the other I got a payload of 1,880 lbs. I do not know what my gear ratio is and I do have a trans cooler.

CORRECTION: 5.4 Triton V8.

Did you see me scratching my head on the other thread?

2airishuman · 07-30-2006, 03:55 PM

hi goin camping.....

no you absolutely cannot tow that trailer with that truck......end of discussion.

confused?

look, not to be harsh, but owning and towing require some effort...
from you.
bad at math?
how about reading?

the 'can i tow a blah blah with a blah blah' has been answered here...
over and over...

a simple search with ANY term combo.....
like f 150, towing, gcwr, towing capacity,
gvwr, tow vehicle, tow rating, tow vehicle selection...and so on,
will yield plent of threads to read and learn from....
with links to issues related to towing and tv selection...

many people have put lots of time into looking up info, or offering first hand towing experience. same people have typed elaborate answers over and over....

a simple search of roadkingmoe and gcwr or 'towing' will give you plenty to read....
why him...only because he was patient enough to answer this question for many....

there are others here with good experience and good answers....
who have simply fatigued from answering this question...
the good answers are already written.

often now only a few are willing to even start an answer on this question...unless the member has searched, read, thought about it, has a unique issue (there aren't many left) or a tow vehicle/trailer combo that was just invented...

someone has given you the link to trailer life's complied data on 02 ratings...
airsteam has the data or your new trailer selection...

so do your home work.
at least know what facts apply to your own rig.
search. read. think.
then when asking about some aspect of your situation that isn't obvious, reference the material you HAVE read. those with the skill and experience to help you will appreciate the effort and will know you at least tried before asking...'can i tow...'

the answers will the be many and focused and more helpful...

so stop scratching your head and start searching, reading , thinking.

and if you aren't using the advanced search function yet...try it!

or just start reading threads in the 'towing section'...
try march/april/may of any year....lots of good seasonal answers...

and btw...the simple subtraction that you did do is a start......
it's one of the basic mistakes many make in figuring payload...
but it IS a start...

now what was your question?

cheers
2air'

Alumaholic · 07-30-2006, 04:50 PM

Trying to pull an Airstream with a marginal tow vehicle is worse than aluminitis, but at least it's curable.

I was marginalized for years. Then I took the cure. This is my story:

http://www.airforums.com/forum...ban-20834.html

Pat370 · 07-30-2006, 05:58 PM

2 Air, how heavy do you think a Safari 25 foot is. Go ahead
and tow all you want. You will have more than enough safety margin.

Good luck
Pat370

Goin camping · 07-30-2006, 06:02 PM

Thank you all for your answers and suggestions.

05ModPod · 07-30-2006, 06:20 PM

2-air-is-human........

Ouch Man - talk about taking a slice out of someone who may not have the time (or patience to read) the stupendous amount of opinion mountains in this forum!!! to get a quick answer.

Yes the answers to the same questions have been stated many many times and WILL continue to be.

Take a step back and just look at the new names taking a "risk" at times to surface from lurking and members that have signed up and jumped right in over the past 3 years.

Don't you know it feels great to start as a green horn...work your way through all the questions you have, then learn from the die hards here, then apply the learning and follow up with the self experience to the point where one day a question comes up on the forum that low and behold - you can stick your hand up and offer assistance or at least your own experience. Giving you that heart felt community member feeling of being able to finally contribute something

....or are you just having a bad day reading some threads that may be a bit repetative for you.....

2airishuman · 07-30-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat370

2 Air, how heavy do you think a Safari 25 foot is. Go ahead
and tow all you want. You will have more than enough safety margin.Good luckPat370

hi pat370...
according to the tow guide a ford f150 has a towing capacity range of 2000-8200lbs...

that's without knowing what model, engine, rear end, tranny and so on...

also the guide doesn't include the gcwr or gvwr. both must be known to calculate a realistic towing capacity...for this ford.

do you know these things? i don't. i'm suggesting the owner learn them...

a 25 safari front bed model is listed at 5400lbs empty and without options...
it has a carrying capacity of 1900lbs approximately.
so the gwr for that trailer is approx 72-7400lbs....

how close is that to the limits of a 1/2 ton ford...
and specifically to this ford?
what model is it exactly? i sure don't know...

so are you really so sure, it's safe to advise...
"go ahead and tow all you want. you will have more than enough safety margin"

that's really my point.
unless we know more about the truck how can any answer be useful?

cheers
2air'

68 Overlander · 07-30-2006, 06:23 PM

Going Camping,
The 02 1/2 ton Ford with the 5.4L will tow a 25 Ft Airstream adequately as long as its stock, not overloaded and you have good brakes and an adequate hitch. Now, move to a 28-31 footers and it's time to recalculate and start practicing that math.

wheel interested · 07-30-2006, 06:25 PM

I towed our 25' FB to Salem Oregon for the International from Lapeer Michigan with my 2001 Expedition, 4wd, 5.4 liter, 3.42 (?) GVCW 12,500# and back again (9.7 mpg) with the 27' Classic so 5500 miles this trip only. I was pleased with what a good performer it has always been en route to Maine, Florida, Arizona and points in between pulling a 25' Classic.

Now that we have the 27' Classic, we have a Suburban 6 liter 4.10 on order. I am looking forward to a more stable ride, with more power, traveling with the spare and full water.

2airishuman · 07-30-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT6921

or are you just having a bad day reading some threads that may be a bit repetative for you.....

hi gt6921...
no, i'm just having a hot day!
i think it's great when new folks join and post...
i love it in fact...
but 80+ is hardly new...
and no answer is intended for just one reader or thread...
so my point is for others too...

try the search function and the treasures will be yours!

many of the really really good, complete answers are already written.
they may not be repeated.
so the poster misses the good stuff...it is there!
and for this truck too!
i looked...great stuff!

does he/she want a quick answer...or an informed answer?

so why settle for less than the best info...
go back and read 03 or 04 threads...
it is useful and helpful and informative!

and hot!
cheers
2air'

ticki2 · 07-30-2006, 06:57 PM

Try this thread "How's this for a tow vehicle?" , it's a very similar question , lots of good info .

Skip Mac · 08-28-2006, 09:37 PM

Anyone with experience on towing a Bambi 16" with a Hummer H3?

**moosetags** · 08-28-2006, 09:42 PM

We tow Lucy (25' FB) primarily with Olivia (2500 Suburban).: that works great. We also tow Lucy with Matilda ('04 Tahoe). This works OK, but we would not want to go a great distance with Matilda in the lead.

Goin camping · 08-28-2006, 09:48 PM

Here's an answer that is no answer. First I don't know cause you'd have to dig out your manuel find what your vehicle wieghs. How much the trailer wieghs and what the CGVW (combined gross vehicle wieght) is and your rear end gear ratio. Also engine size. Or There a thread from today or yesterday titled somthing like 16 or 19 foot Bambi Which to get. That addresses this question.

I must say though that there are so many variables to a truck that you really need to know the above info so that people that are able (Not me) to can then give you a definitive answer. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

2airishuman · 08-29-2006, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Mac

Anyone with experience on towing a Bambi 16" with a Hummer H3?

hello again and welcome again skip mac....

a quick tour of the search function upper right...

60+ threads with hummer involved...none but yours with the h3.

so if anyone here is towing with one...they haven't posted about it.

most folks here towing with smaller suvs don't post much...

because they get beat up for having such tiny tow vehicles...

i'd suggest trying one of the hummer forums.

the early users are gonna be there and the creative ones will report towing.

h3 is based on the chevy colorado...

5 cylinder engine...i like these as audi used 'em with great success in rally cars.

yours is not an audi. 220hp/225ftlbs torque...those numbers are fine...but

the h3 curb weight is 4700lbs! before options or cargo or towing gear.

gvwr is 5800lbs approx so nearly 3 tons on a 5 cylinder....

not much grunt left for towing....

auto or manual...a first for hummers of any number....1,2 or 3!
towing capacity varies with tranny choice..

axle ratio is 4.5 or so with lots of low gears....
great for 4 wheeling and off roading...

275/75 tires on 16in wheels again great for off roading....

but at 32-33 inches these are big heavy tires which steal power...

112inch wheel base and 10 inches ground clearance...short and tall

again great for jeeping but not highway or towing ideals...

max hitch is 400lbs so the 19 is out and most 16s will be over this figure too...

so again check the hummer forums or be the first and tell us how it goes...

but don't tow up hill and don't go fast and be very very careful...

maybe a t@B or basecamp would be a better trailer choice...

as goin camping suggests do your homework on these issues...

cheers
2air'

*minor edits on behalf of 2airishuman by GenD*

Denis4x4 · 08-29-2006, 05:25 AM

I recently purchased an '06 GMC 2500 crew cab to tow my 25' Safari LE. Tow package, 4:10 rear, etc.

The GVWR is 16,000 according to the book. Hooked up the rig and ran it across the scales with a full tank of gas, no water and the weight slip read 12,440.

The point of this post is to suggest that people use public scales to weigh their TV and then do the math. BTW, I weighed my Navigator and came to the conclusion that there was not enough safety margin, especially towing through the mountains of SW Colorado.

SafeHarbor · 08-29-2006, 08:32 AM

Hi, Goin Camping,

If you're on friendly terms with the parts department at your local Ford dealer, ask them pretty please to print out the build sheet on your truck. That will list everything that's installed on it, when it was built (my truck had its third birthday July 1st), and how it got there. Neat stuff to know.

Lamar