1990 ford xlt lariet

[Mike C.]

Does anyone know how much weight a 1990 xlt lariet, 4.3 engine, 1/2 ton truck will pull safely. I have a 23 foot trailer with electric brakes and a brake controller, and stablizer bar, I have pulled this trailer but I am a little leary about weight restraints. I know my trailer fully loaded is 4800 to 5200 pounds.

 

[SuperCab]

I don't know, but someone here will have all the documentation and be able to tell you the GCWR for your truck. Also, I'm assuming you have a 4.9 engine, not a 4.3. What transmission do you have? That makes a difference in GCWR...

 

[tomtoc]

and is it a 4x4 or 4x2?

welcome to FTF too!

 

[blackhat620]

Does anyone know how much weight a 1990 xlt lariet, 4.3 engine, 1/2 ton truck will pull safely. I have a 23 foot trailer with electric brakes and a brake controller, and stablizer bar, I have pulled this trailer but I am a little leary about weight restraints. I know my trailer fully loaded is 4800 to 5200 pounds.

Mike, welcome to FTF.

It looks like you are over GCWR quite a bit but give us more information as stated in previous posts. We need engine, transmission, 2 or 4WD, cab configuration and is it a TT or 5th wheel.

BTW, a 4.3L was not an option in 1990. If you have a 6 cylinder it is going to be a 4.9L

 

[Skandocious]

Here's the trailer/towing ratings in 1995. Should be ROUGHLY the same for 1990:

 

[Raptor22]

It will be fine, especially if you have a TBC, and the I6 has low (mumerically high) enough gearing. I have towed a 7000lb trailer before, it was scary, but I did it. 5200 should be a walk in the park.

 

[Skandocious]

and the I6 has low (mumerically high) enough gearing.

I'm a little confused by this statement... Which gearing are you talking about? The engine has nothing to do with gearing.

 

[Raptor22]

I'm a little confused by this statement... Which gearing are you talking about? The engine has nothing to do with gearing.

Im really tired and the statement was awkward. I was referring to what ratio the rear axle differential uses to transfer power from the engine/transmission/driveshaft to the axle...

I need to go to bed....

 

[blackhat620]

It will be fine, I have towed a 7000lb trailer before, it was scary, but I did it. 5200 should be a walk in the park.

This is a Bold statement considering the ratings weight ratings for the truck. He could easily be over the GVWR, GAWR and GCWR depending on his configuration. Per FMC there was only one package (and that requires an automatic transmission) that would allow him to potentially pull his trailer within specifications and then without weighing his fully loaded truck and trailer at the local CAT scale he will not know if he has exceeded one or more of the weight ratings (GVWR, GAWR, GCWR). The first weight rating limit you reach is the deciding factor on what can be pulled within specifications.

Just because you got away with pulling a 7K trailer with your truck does not mean it was safe and did not prematurely wear parts. If you look at the FMC specifications for your truck, the max GCWR is 7800 lbs with a max trailer weight of 3500 lbs and that is only pulling a TT. You easily exceeded all ratings for your truck GVWR, GAWR and GCWR. Just because you changed your axle gears this did not change the brakes, axles, suspension, tire load rating, any other weight carring component or increase the GVWR, GAWR or GCWR.. It is easy to get any load rolling the difficult part is stopping and safely moving the load without endangering others on the road.

 

[tomtoc]

if it heps at all...
1993 f150 supercab
4x4 300-6 m50d with 10 gallons of gas weighed 5,200

take away about 400lbs of people and gas and i'd guess around 4,800 empty

a few more weights here http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=353

 

[Mike C.]

I rechecked my truck. I am the original owner. It has a 4.9 EFI I-6 engine, electronic 4 speed auto trans, 4 wheel drive, 89,000 original miles, 18 gal fuel tank, auto locking front hubs, 2 speed transfer case, rear anti lock brakes. Standard pickup. I have the original window sticker and this is where I got the above info.