2002 4.6L with 3.73ls towing question.

[scubabri]

I've read through the posts regarding towing and I have just a few questions.

I have 71K miles on mine with no real problems. I have the class 3/4 with the 7pin connector.

Will towing a 6000lb travel trailer for 500-600 miles be ok?
What brakes pads and rotors should I upgrade to.
How often should I have the transmission fluid checked?
Is there anything that I should do to beef up the towing ability?

thanks

b

 

[thepotroast]

Is this a trailer you are going to be towing around all the time? If it's just a one-time thing, why upgrade your brake system?

Ford recommends replacing your transmission fluid every 30k miles.

 

[sportrac03]

I tow a trailer that weighs about 3800lbs and about another 700 lbs in the truck and I have all stock stuff and it works grreat. Since I tow I do change my trans fluid every 30k. and oil every 3k. I have an 05 and i can tow up to 7100lbs. If you want to help the brakes I would make sure you have some kind of trailer brakes.

 

[EasyRhino]

I've read through the posts regarding towing and I have just a few questions.

I have 71K miles on mine with no real problems. I have the class 3/4 with the 7pin connector.

Will towing a 6000lb travel trailer for 500-600 miles be ok?
What brakes pads and rotors should I upgrade to.
How often should I have the transmission fluid checked?
Is there anything that I should do to beef up the towing ability?

thanks

b

If you have the factory installed class 3/4 with the 7 pin and the 3.73s you probably have the factory towing package option. Did you buy it new? If not, there are ways to determine if you have this option.

You should not need to upgrade the brakes for this alone.

If you have the owner's manual it gives the towing capacities for your setup. If you don't have it, I can check my manual, but I seem to recall that the GCVW (sp?) is more than 6K.

My biggest concern would be for the tranny. Do not tow in OD, take it easy on hills (what does the towing terrain look like where you are going?), and make sure that the tranny maintenance is up to date.

You might want to consider an aftermarket cooler and temp. gage for this type of use.

 

[sportrac03]

If you have a class 3 hitch from the factory you will have a oil cooler. I have not any problems with going up hills or heavy use. I change my trans fluid every 30k. If you want get me your vin# and I can run all the info on your truck and email it to you. I work for a Ford dealer in parts.

 

[scubabri]

I fly for the forest service during the fire season. So I'll either be sitting in Redding, or someplace else in california. I may move it 2 or 3 times during the summer, hauls of 300-400 miles at a time, and there is an opportunity for some big hills and such.

I do have the 3.73 limited slip (checked the door jam label) and the tow package. So I'll change the oils. I'd still like to change the brakes and rotors for something that has better cooling. I did the brakes a few months ago and just put something very basic from autozone for driving around town.

I bough this used when it had about 20K miles on it, I've got 71K on it now and its been good to me. I am just a bit worried about the tranny going out soon.