F150 towing

[ScubaSteve]

Where do I find the towing capacity of my truck? The door sticker gives the GVWR and GAWR but not the GCWR.

[ScubaSteve]

Well I found the info listed on this forum for the tow capacities but was wondering if its not listed somewhere on the truck.

[85lebaront2]

Steve, the towing capacity is listed in the owners manual and is a combination of engine, transmission and axle ratio. I have mine and can scan the pages for you. Just not today, I have a memorial service to go to and will be gone most of the day as it is a 1.5 hour drive each way.

[Gary Lewis]

I assume what Steve found is here: Specification/Towing.  The simple info is from an '85 owner's manual, but I doubt it changed for '86.  But I'd be curious if it did, Bill.  Perhaps I need to update that page?

[85lebaront2]

Gary, I can scan it for you later, after I get back from Newport News. It would probably be a good addition to the site for those who do not have an owners manual.

[Gary Lewis]

Bill - Thanks.  But before you go to the trouble to scan it you might want to compare it to what I have on that page from the '85 manual.  If there's no change then there's no need to scan.

[Steve83]

ScubaSteve wrote

Where do I find the towing capacity of my truck?

You have to calculate it using your truck's VC label info and a formula in the owner's guide.

Gary Lewis wrote

...I doubt it changed for '86.  But I'd be curious if it did...

This has some '86 specs, including GCWR, and the caption links to a camper loading guide:



P.6 of this brochure (which I think I still have) says an '86 Bronco could be equipped to tow 7900 lbs (which I think is VERY optimistic):



BTW
My Bronco originally looked like P.5, but with a tan camper & black bumpers.

[Gary Lewis]

Comparing your '86 manual with my '85 manual that is on the Specifications/Towing page I find these differences:

Auto Tranny:
- The '85 manual shows an optional 3.73 axle for the 4.9L that the '86 doesn't include
- The '85 manual shows a 5.0L 2V that the '86 manual doesn't
- The '85 manual shows a 3.50 axle for the EFI 5.0L that the '86 doesn't 'cause the 9" had been phased out
- The '85 manual shows a GCWR of 12000 lbs and 6443 kg for the 3.73 gear, but the '86 shows 12000 lbs and 5443.  Clearly the '85 is wrong as 12000 lbs is 5443 kg.
- The '85 manual has a 351-2V section which the '86 doesn't
- The '86 manual shows that a 351HO with 4.10's has a GCWR of 13,500 lbs and 5670 kg's.  But 5670 kg's is actually 12,500 lbs, which is what the '85 manual shows
- Both manuals show that a 460/7.5L with 3.54/3.55's has a GCWR of 15,000 lbs and 5443 kg's.  But 5443 kg's is 12,000 lbs!

Ok, I quit.  Both of the manuals are fraught with errors.  And I didn't even get to the manual transmission section.  However, since the '85 manual has more gear ratios and engines than the '86 manual does I'll stick with it.

[ScubaSteve]

Thanks for the info guys. NC requires the truck to be licensed for its max combined weight.  You dont need to license for the max capacity but if you use the standard tags I think its only good for 5,000lbs gross and if you get caught towing more you can get a ticket. My tags expire next month so I am planning to up the registration to the max capacity for when I do any towing. The truck does not have a tow package but it has an automatic transmission with 3.55 gears, front and rear sway bars and I added a hitch and transmission cooler.  Not sure if they offered any brake upgrades for towing or not but I it tows pretty well the way its set up.

[Gary Lewis]

I don't know what documentation they use, but they probably have some of their own.  If not, you can point them to either my page on towing or Steve's, both of which show that your truck's GCWR is 11,500 lbs.

As for brakes, at least in 1985 (I don't have an '86 brochure) there were no optional larger brakes.  You can see that on Page 16 of the late 1985 brochure, as they aren't listed in the items you get with the trailer/towing package.

[ScubaSteve]

What's strange is that I just tell the DMV what tag I want and they issue it. You would think they would want some documents but I dont think they do. My concern was if it was written on the truck somewhere and I tag it incorrectly I may have problems later on. I plan to cange the license to 11,500 next time I renew, right now im just at 5,000 and towing my sxs or motorcycles im over loaded by my tags.

[85lebaront2]

Sounds like VADMV, they had no information on the weight when I first bought Darth (previous owner had it tagged in Maine). Wife called Hall Ford in Newport News, they told her 5415 lbs, only off by 985 lbs. So Darth is registered EW 5415, GW 7500 based on 5415 + 2000 lbs. 7500 being the highest I can go without going to T- plates. I actually asked the lady at DMV was "what if I have to cross a truck scale towing my 5th wheel?" She told me they never require a pickup to cross the scales. Damn good thing as I weighed truck and trailer and the total was 16,120 lbs.

[ScubaSteve]

With NC your tags are the standard tag or they say weighted on the bottom. If your pulling a trailer of any size its easy for any cop thats paying attention to check your tag and write a ticket.

[Gary Lewis]

I suppose they'll let you tag it for whatever weight you want as you are paying more in taxes the higher you go.  But, I would have thought they'd want to confirm that your truck is safe at whatever weight you pay for.  

[85lebaront2]

In VA the truck GVW is the determining factor, not the GCWR, interesting.

Here are the trailer towing pages from my 1986 F-Series 150-350 owner guide:

[Gary Lewis]

Bill - How about emailing me the files for those pages?  I might as well put them on.

[85lebaront2]

You want them as pictures or pdf?

[Gary Lewis]

PDF would be best.  That way I can OCR them.  Thanks.

[85lebaront2]

Sorry, already sent them. I did them as jpg so they would post easier.

[Gary Lewis]

No prob.  I'll use them.  Thanks.