Ford F-150 - 1997-2003 :: 1998 - Slow Towing - Specific Trailer?
May 14, 2015
I bought my truck a couple months back for my custom furniture business. It's a '98 F-150, XLT, 5.4, supercab, 4x4, 3.73, 4R70W, 176k miles, with tow package. Today I picked up a single axle 6x12 trailer enclosed with metal mesh, weighs about 2000 lb. This was my first time towing with this truck and I figured it would run a little slow but this was ridiculous.
Highest speed I could get to was 64 going slightly downhill with OD locked off. Most of the smaller inclines and flat areas were max 55, then the worst was a two mile 7% incline at 35 mph. That last one just wouldn't downshift. This was all between 5000 and 6000 elevation in the Rockies. It's a little embarrassing getting passed by loaded semis
Am I doing anything wrong? Could it just be this specific trailer has issues?
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I have a 1997 F150. I installed a trailer towing kit round 7 pin. I followed the instruction and replaced three different fuses after installation. The passenger side turn signal will not work. I replaced the bulb. The brake light works and the bulb is on when the lights are on it just will not blink. When the turnsignal is on it clicks very quickly.
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I have a 1998 f150 xlt, supercab, 4x4, 4.6 Romeo (truck production date is 12/97). And I have a oil leak.
Its on the drivers side of the engine. There is a nipple on the head, next to the firewall, directly above where the exhaust pipe and exhaust manifold meet. It looks to have some sort of bolt/flush stud inside the nipple. I have oil seeping by the bolt/stud and leaking onto my exhaust pipe. its a constant but slow drip.
What this is or how to fix it? Is this a common problem? I can take a pic but cant find my camera at the moment.
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New truck to me. Truck was advertised with a slow coolant leak. Figured I would trace the leak down and get it repaired no issues. Anyway, working on it this evening I take a close look around the oil filler area and notice the dreaded milkshake color.
I drained the oil out of the truck and the oil actually came out nice and black. Is the headgasket the only area that would cause the oil/coolant mixture? Supposedly the truck has never been overheated.
At any rate, on to find articles on how to pull apart a 4.6L Triton head. I'll see if I'm up to this challenge.
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I recently purchased a 2006, 4x4, low mileage and when towing a trailer the truck develops vibration right at 52 mph. Dealer has not found the problem.
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Today while towing a 10ft trailer with a golf cart my truck seemed kind of under powered.It has the 5.0 with 3.73 rear end.When I got to where I was going I looked under my truck and there were spots all over the rear end and axle and frame that looked like oil or transmission fluid. I cannot find any noticeable leaks. The air temp today was 100 and the transmission gauge stayed around 200.
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My wife's brother has a '97 F150 w/4.6L/automatic trans/4x4-OFF ROAD package. It's a standard cab, short bed (fleetside) truck.
It has 126k miles and he is METICULOUS about routine/periodic maintenance. He's owned it since new, has changed the plugs twice.
Is this a common issue with the '97 4.6L? He says he has tried using premium fuel to determine if it makes a difference. He said it worked but it still pings, just not as bad.
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My 03 f150 lariat 4x4 (5.4 L, 60,000 mi, 6500 g.v.w.r.) cuts out when towing (3,000 - 7,000 lb trailer wt.s) mostly highway but also in town. Usually restarts easily and when I drop trailer , problem disappears. Same problem with different trailers/weights - no error codes on my OBD reader.
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2013 CCLB, 33,500 miles, stock emissions
While towing a 9000 pound trailer at interstate speeds (75 to 80 in Wyoming), when pulling a hill, the truck downshifts to 4th gear, boost is about 18psi, eng and transmission temps in the 230F range, EGTs around 500C or 935F. RPM increases normally to 3000 then the turbo gets very loud and boost drops to about 10psi. The truck shifts to 5th gear, noise decreases but is still present, shifts to 6th and noise goes to normal after a couple seconds and boost builds normally.
This just started today. I have about 8000 miles towing this trailer and never had this before. I have about 350 miles until I'm home so I'm headed back out. Will play around with manual mode and see what it does. I also took a video of the gauges while this happens. Audio is difficult to discern. I will try to get better audio and post when I get home.
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I have a 1999 f150 super-cab flareside, 5.4L, automatic, 4x4, with 175k miles on it, its runs perfect, i believe it has 3:55 gears. what can i do to maximize its towing ability like gear up to 4:10? I dont wana sell it to buy a f250 diesel or whatever and its paid off, what possible options do i have to keep the truck and maximize its towing rate.
(how do they rate a truck for towing? is it like how much torque the engine got? or is the frame or suspension built strong?)
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Is there a recommended suspension setting when towing a trailer or caravan or is it automatic?, I seem to recall that the A8 has automatic settings when a trailer is attached! If not what are the advantages between the settings as far as comfort and wear and tear are concerned.:
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My 99 f250 ran hot while towing my travel trailer when the fan clutch gave up. ever since iv been noticing coolant loss and pressure in the day tank.ive changed the water pump,radiator. day tank and cap plus the thermostat.
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I have a 2006 f250 superduty crew cab longbed with the v10 gas motor. it has 201000 miles on it and towed great up until last month. I was towing a 5000lb trailer down the interstate at around 68mph,suddenly it was like the drive train disengaged and the motor had nothing left, check engine light on but no overheat condition or lack of oil pressure. we put a new fuel filter and pump on and maf, took trailer out again and same problem, pulled to the side and turned off, immediately restarted and ran fine. It has a cat not cleaning code in it now!
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I drive a Supercrew F150 5.4L XLT 02 since 9 years, I put a Fuelflex module since 8 years, since some months I Misfire on cylinder #3 (P0303) but only during towing with Ethanol (over 2000/2500 rpm), when I drive on gas all is fine, I changed Flexfuel modul, plugs, coils, header gasket, without any positive results, it's very curious to have the problem only with ethanol (E85), I can drive very hard and at high speed with just the truck, but with a trailer as soon as I ask more power i lose one cylinder, with misfire...but like I said only on ethanol? I know engine needs more ethanol than gas, so I go check fuel pressure and maybe try to change fuel injector...
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When towing the brake lights on the trailer do not work? I trouble shooted it back to the Toureg? Factory Hitch and Light plug. 2006 Toureg V8.
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1999 5.4 auto
I have no trailer lights. I have checked all of the fuses. I cecked for voltage and am reading 0v what am I missing?
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i have a 1997 f150 2wd and it has a 4.6 litre v8, it runs good but it seems to have no power when pulling a trailer anymore, it has 321,465 miles on it, original motor and transmission, it uses about a half a quart of oil every 2500 to 2800 miles between oil changes, the trailer i pull is just a small car trailer i have always pulled it with the truck, what could be causing it to lose power?
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I've been getting ready to take a camping trip with the, new to me, Superduty and going to rent a trailer. When I bought the truck it had no brake controller and the aux relay box was pretty dusty so don't think it's towed in a while. I got my self a controller and the jumper harness to go form the factory connector to the controller, then went to local parts supply and got two standard auto relays and a 30 amp maxi fuse. I noticed after installing the system the reverse lights stay on after putting the truck in reverse, they don't even go out with the key off.
Did some further testing and found pulling fuse 28 (central Elec) the circuit stay powered up, but only after shifting to reverse the first time. Can only turn off lights so far by pulling the trailer relay at the back of the aux. relay box where the two "towing" relays go, I fairly certain it's the "Trailer back up lamps relay". The power mirrors stay powered up too so the relay control circuit is staying powered but only after the relay is energized. What the issue maybe or where to look for a short? I guess there is the a less obvious possibility too - did ford use some funky special wiring for the relays meaning my standard automotive relays from the parts store are incorrect?
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I've got a 2001 f150 supercrew 4x4 with the 4.6. I plugged in trailer lights and now I have no brake, turn signal, or hazard lights. I've checked fuses and none are blown.
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I have a 98 f150 that I don't drive often. I had it out tonight and realized the my brake lights wouldn't come on unless I pressed the peddle down hard. Does the switch work off of pressure? They used to come on as soon as I would touch the peddle.
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My windshield wipers on my 97 f150 go very slow. Not sure if it's bad motors or what but I find it weird for them both to go at the same time. Is there a relay that could be causing this?
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