'97 PSD Towing Capacity

[overniter]

Can anyone tell me the exact towing capacity for a '97 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 4x4 PSD?
The figures I am seeing for the same '99 model show it to be 13,100 lbs-I figure the '97 should be close.
Can anyone elaborate on this?
Thanks,
Jim

[GOPDiesel]

I'll look tonight when I get home. I have the whole chart. What axel ratio? 3.55/3.73/4.10???

Pat

[Tankota]

Boy, if you needed the info for the crewcab 4x4 longbed one ton auto 4.10 geared truck I'd have your info. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Only thing I've got for ya on that is that the '99 would be a superduty and they generally have higher GCWRs.

[Sparkydm]

My memory tells me that the capacity on my truck,
check signature, was 12,500'. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]

[bukithed]

Got a newbie question for you guys as long as you are on the subject...What is the "wet weight" of a '01 PSD CC 4x4 Dually? I am also trying to find out what the maximum trailer weight Ford says I can tow with it is [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]. It has the factory tow package and I believe it has a 4:88 rear end in it. Thanks alot- bukithed

[SmokeyWren]

[ QUOTE ]
What is the "wet weight" of a '01 PSD CC 4x4 Dually?

[/ QUOTE ]

Around 7,700 to 7,800 without driver, passengers, tools, anything except a full tank of fuel. Figure over 8,500 and probably closer to 9,000 including toolbox full of tools, jacks, coolers, spray-in bedliner, one driver and one passenger.

[ QUOTE ]
I am also trying to find out what the maximum trailer weight Ford says I can tow with it is [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img].

[/ QUOTE ]

Ford says your GCWR is 20,000 pounds. So subtract the wet and loaded weight of the truck from that and the result is the max trailer weight you can tow without exceeding the GCWR.

So if your wet and loaded truck weighs 9,000, that leaves 11,000 pounds for max gross trailer weight.

If you leave out the tools and stuff and get the wet and loaded weight of the truck down to 8,500, that leaves 11,500 for the max gross trailer weight.

And if you have absolutely nothing in the truck but one skinny driver so the wet and loaded truck weighs only 8,000 pounds, then the max gross trailer weight you can tow without exceeding the GCWR of the tow vehicle is 12,000 pounds.

[ QUOTE ]
It has the factory tow package and I believe it has a 4:88 rear end in it.

[/ QUOTE ]

The factory towing pkg was standard, but it was nothing but some wiring and relays for hooking up the trailer plug. The receiver hitch and the trailer towing mirrors were separate options. And all PSDs have the "heavy duty" oil cooler, tranny coolers, cooling system, suspension, etc., that are part of a towing pkg on some other vehicles.

Your F-350 DRW came with either the standard 3.73 rear axle, or the optional 4.10 limited slip. 4.88 was standard in the F-450, but not available in the F-350 DRW PSD.

[bukithed]

Then what does the "Tow Boss" package have in it that is different than stock?

[SmokeyWren]

[ QUOTE ]
Then what does the "Tow Boss" package have in it that is different than stock?

[/ QUOTE ]

TowBoss was not available in 2001. It wasn't available until a couple of weeks ago in 2005 F-350 DRW PSD.

Compared to your 2001, the 2005 TowBoss has a lot of stuff added. More-powerful 6.0L engine, better automatic tranny with tow-haul mode, TowCommand integrated trailer brake controller, stronger frame, and 4.30 limited slip rear axle.

The 2005 TowBoss pkg requires a 2005 F-350 DRW with PSD engine, automatic transmission, and TowCommand system. The TowCommand system includes trailer towing mirrors and the TowCommand integrated trailer brake system - along with the tow/haul mode in the automagic tranny. If you have all that, then the GCWR is 23,000 pounds without the TowBoss pkg. (Compared to 20,000 pounds GCWR in your 2001). If you then add the TowBoss pkg, all you get extra is the 4.30 limited slip rear axle, and the GCWR is increased to 26,000 pounds.

[overniter]

pat-
just realized they moved my post! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]
not sure of the rear end-but i can find out-
if you have the chart, please post the tow capacity for all rear end ratios-
thanks,
jim

[SmokeyWren]

[ QUOTE ]
if you have the chart, please post the tow capacity for all rear end ratios-


[/ QUOTE ]

'97 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 4x4 PSD has a GVWR of 8,800 pounds.

With 3.55 axle ratio, GCWR is 16,000 pounds

With 4.10 axle ratio, GCWR is 20,000 pounds.

Subtract the weight of the wet and loaded tow vehicle from the GCWR and the answer is your max towing capacity for a fifth-wheel trailer - PROVIDED that much trailer doesn't have a pin weight that will cause you to exceed the GVWR of 8,800 pounds.

The max tag trailer weight is 10,000 pounds with a weight-distributing hitch, provided the trailer and hitch weights don't cause you to exceed either the GVWR or GCWR of the tow vehicle.

Example 1:

You have a 4.10 rear end, and the wet and loaded tow vehicle weighs 7,500 pounds.

That leaves 12,500 pounds of max 5er trailer weight, or 1,300 pounds of max 5er kingpin weight, whichever is less trailer weight. We know that 5ers have a minimum pin weight of around 15 percent, so 1,300 pounds of pin weight translates into a max trailer weight of about 8,700 pounds.

But 1,300 pounds of hitch weight with a tag trailer should be plenty for a 10,000 pound trailer. So the max tag trailer weight with a weight-distributing hitch is 10,000 pounds.

Example 2:

You have a 3.55 rear end, and the wet and loaded tow vehicle weighs 7,500 pounds.

That leaves 8,500 pounds of max 5er trailer weight, or 1,300 pounds of max 5er kingpin weight, whichever is less. We know that 5ers have a minimum pin weight of around 15 percent, so 1,300 pounds of pin weight translates into a max trailer weight of more than 8,500 pounds. So you should be able to tow a 5er grossing 8,500 pounds without exceeding either the GCWR or the GVWR of your tow vehicle.

16,000 minus 7,500 leaves 8,500 pounds for the max trailer weight of a tag trailer. Tag trailer hitch weight should be about 10 to 12 percent of gross trailer weight, so no problem with hitch weight exceeding 1,300 pounds on a tag trailer that grosses 8,500 pounds. So the max tag trailer weight you can tow with a weight-distributing hitch is 8,500 pounds.

Those are the real-world numbers. The numbers Ford published back in '97 were much higher than that because they assumed a tow vehicle with no options and a payload of nothing but one skinny driver. So the tow vehicle weighed only 6,600 pounds.

20,000 minus 6,600 - 13,400 pounds max 5er weight. 8,800 minus 6,600 = 2,200 max pin weight. And 2,200 pounds pin weight is 16.4 percent of 13,400, and you might be able to find a 5er with a GVWR of 13,400 pounds but with a pin weight of only 16.4 percent. (Most 5ers in that weight class are going to have a pin weight of 17 to 20 percent of gross trailer weight).

So the Ford published numbers are nonsense. You don't have a tow vehicle with no options, and you're going to haul more than one skinny driver. So your wet and loaded tow vehicle is going to weigh a lot more than 6,600 pounds. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]