I have a 2001 TJ 4.0. I’m estimating with gear, fuel, myself (170lbs) and the Jeep will be around 5500lbs. A 2025 ford f150 Tremor weighs 5300lbs and has a towing capacity of 12,900lbs. A trailer is estimated to be 1750lbs. So the jeep and trailer will be about 7250lbs. I am only planning to tow 1-2 times a year with an estimated round trip max of 300 miles. Is this doable and safe? Or do I need a F250 super duty? My main concern is safety. I’m looking into purchasing the F150 in the next couple months.
Newbie With Towing Questions
- Thread starter SD2001TJ
- Start date
I put my 97 on the scales at the dump. Half tank of gas, no doors, hard top, and no gear came out to 3800 lbs, almost on the nose. Includes steel bumpers, rock rails, winch, steel 15" rims. 5500 seems like a pretty big over-estimate, based on my lone data point.
When I tow I use the uhaul car hauler which is like 2500lbs. My Land Cruiser is raterd for 7500lbs, and it handles it with no issue, although I've never been through anything more severe than the rolling hills of southern MO. I would think the F150 wouldn't even be aware it was towing something.
When I tow I use the uhaul car hauler which is like 2500lbs. My Land Cruiser is raterd for 7500lbs, and it handles it with no issue, although I've never been through anything more severe than the rolling hills of southern MO. I would think the F150 wouldn't even be aware it was towing something.
You will be fine, especially for under 300 miles 1-2 times a year and well within the tow rating. Sure an F250 can tow more, but it will also ride like a school bus in comparison to a half ton truck.
Payload will be your limiting factor on the Tremor, so pay attention to tongue weight. Make sure the trailer has brakes and your truck comes with the brake controller. These newer half tons are beasts compared to 20 years ago. I drug a 25’ 8,000lb camper with my 2017 F150 Ecoboost for years before I went to a 5th wheel and a Super Duty. It did just fine and campers pull harder than car haulers unless it’s enclosed.
Never had any issue towing w/ a 1/2 ton chevy, my trailer was 3k dry, didnt matter if i was towing the TJ or JKU. We did intall airbags and trailer brakes. If you dont have trailer brakes, I highly recommend redarc
https://www.redarcelectronics.com/us/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller
https://www.redarcelectronics.com/us/tow-pro-elite-electric-brake-controller
My 2 door tj sahara with 33x12.5, stock bumpers, winch plate and winch full of gas weighed 3840 on CAT scales my trailer weighs 1500 so 5340 together. Figure 15% tongue weight on a bumper pull thats 801 lbs tongue weight. Now look at your door sticker on tow vehicle that shows tire pressure. At the top of that sticker it will say passengers and cargo must never exceed xxxxlbs.
Just because your tow vehicle might be rated to tow 10,000lbs. it's the payload number that counts more.
Thats your payload. If my payload is 1215lbs then I subtract 800 Tongue weight I have 415 lbs leftover for passengers and cargo.
Just because your tow vehicle might be rated to tow 10,000lbs. it's the payload number that counts more.
Thats your payload. If my payload is 1215lbs then I subtract 800 Tongue weight I have 415 lbs leftover for passengers and cargo.
I would quadruple check any truck you are looking at purchasing to know exactly the payload and towing capacity. The half ton trucks are really annoying to figure out the options to get to the exact number. The 12,900 you quoted before is the max towing with every possible option and upgrade to get to that number. That can vary wildly to the actual trucks on the lot (I would guestimate 80% of the trucks on the lot tow the lower numbers). I was interested in the Silverado with the 3.0 Duramax that advertised a number close to 12k but while I was searching on Chevrolet's website I realized they didn't even have a single truck available in the US loaded out to tow that max number.
Airbags are nice to keep the rear end from sagging or you could use a weight distribution hitch.
My buddy has been looking at half tons for towing and like you said payload varies wildly. This is the payload sticker for a 2025 Silverado 1500 4wd CC short bed RST with the duramax 3.0 and max trailering package with the 3.73 gears.
I looked at Dodge with hurricane 6 and Ford with ecoboost 3.5 half ton stickers for him and even though they all will tow the Silverado had more payload by over 300lbs
I looked at Dodge with hurricane 6 and Ford with ecoboost 3.5 half ton stickers for him and even though they all will tow the Silverado had more payload by over 300lbs
If all I needed to tow was my jeep on my trailer I would buy the Silverado 1500 with the duramax 3.0. Even without the max trailering package it will still have the payload for that kind of towing.
That sticker above at 1783 payload minus the 800lb tongue weight still leaves 983lbs for 4 people and gear
That sticker above at 1783 payload minus the 800lb tongue weight still leaves 983lbs for 4 people and gear
I tow my TJ on a tilt deck double-axle trailer (1750lbs). With trailer brakes it's no problem for my '14 Ram 1500. The 5.7, 8-speed, and 3.92s work great. Of course you know it's back there, but I don't feel any need for a 3/4 ton.
I also agree with @hear that I think your 5500 might be off. Even @Wildman came in around 5000 with Hemi swap, steel everything, welder, and 38s (plus whatever else he had in it).
I also agree with @hear that I think your 5500 might be off. Even @Wildman came in around 5000 with Hemi swap, steel everything, welder, and 38s (plus whatever else he had in it).
If all I needed to tow was my jeep on my trailer I would buy the Silverado 1500 with the duramax 3.0. Even without the max trailering package it will still have the payload for that kind of towing.
That sticker above at 1783 payload minus the 800lb tongue weight still leaves 983lbs for 4 people and gear
I would think long and hard before buying any modern diesel, especially for occasional towing.
I don't tow heavy or long distances, but have been impressed how my 2019 WK2 with the 5.7 Hemi and 8-speed tows my 16 foot trailer and Kubota. Even loaded down with the Kubota, loader, tiller or brush hog, and gear you can tell it is back there, but plenty of power and braking. Plus the Grand Cherokee makes a comfy daily driver. The half ton trucks (especially the Ram with coil springs) ride so nice in comparison to the heavy duty trucks when unloaded, you really need to justify it to make that next step up.
The only issue with the coil springs is that they're a bit soft for heavier loads. I replaced mine with dual rate TuffTruck coils a few years ago and they've been great. Lighter rate rides about like stock but then the heavier rate handles the loads.
IMO towing over 6K pounds with a 1/2 ton anything is asking for issues... Yep the manufacturers CLAIM these trucks can now tow 12K or more but that is also properly setup. That means a weight distribution hitch and trailer brakes on both axles. But the frame/brakes on a 1/2 ton just aren't the same as on a 3/4 ton or larger truck. Since you're looking at buying soon but don't already have the truck I'd buy a 3/4 ton instead. All it takes is ONE TIME when you have to make an emergency maneuver for you to wish you'd had that bigger truck. And yep I'm sure there's many folks out there that tow with a 1/2 ton and haven't ever had a problem.
Yep I need to actually go and scale it to verify those numbers because some of the other guys I'd talked to at the Trail Jamboree said they thought the scales were off (reading heavier) so I'd like to know where I really am at.
I have a 5.7 Hemi & 545RFE auto trans & STaK's 3 speed Monster t-case. Then a Ford HP44 front & TeraLow CRD60 rear both w/ARB lockers. Then SpyderLock rims & 38x13.5x17 M/T Baja Pro XS tires. Steel corner armor & steel fenders & steel belly skids & engine skid. I was in the rig & weigh about 190 lbs. Had 3/4 tank of fuel and I carry a few spare parts plus some basic fluids too.
Yep I need to actually go and scale it to verify those numbers because some of the other guys I'd talked to at the Trail Jamboree said they thought the scales were off (reading heavier) so I'd like to know where I really am at.
I have a 5.7 Hemi & 545RFE auto trans & STaK's 3 speed Monster t-case. Then a Ford HP44 front & TeraLow CRD60 rear both w/ARB lockers. Then SpyderLock rims & 38x13.5x17 M/T Baja Pro XS tires. Steel corner armor & steel fenders & steel belly skids & engine skid. I was in the rig & weigh about 190 lbs. Had 3/4 tank of fuel and I carry a few spare parts plus some basic fluids too.
Fuel system replacement on F250 powerstroke is about 17k and that's just the fuel system.
As the owner of an F150 5.0L and a Super Duty F250 6.7L, here are some thoughts.
- Tow ratings are maximum. While the F150 will tow the weight if properly outfitted, I would not want to tow that much weight up and down the hills into the Sierra's, Big Bear, or Northern Arizona. Engine and trans cooling, brakes, and power output are much better to handle the weight in hills.
- At the risk of pissing off some 1/2 ton owners, they will do it but I wouldn't tow more than 5,000lbs with it.
- Don't get in a hurry when towing, it will get you in trouble no matter the size of the tow rig.
- Towing is just easier when using the larger truck with a longer wheelbase but the F150 gets 20mpg on the highway and 17 in town with the 5.0 engine(not towing).
- Folks complain about the ride of the super duty but it is my favorite for 8+ hour drives. If I had to have just one, the F150 would be the one to go. Both are crew cabs but the 8' bed makes the truck more usable.
- If I bought another Super Duty, I would consider the 7.3L gas, love the bottom end torque but all the emissions garbage has been a pain plus the upgrade cost on the diesel is staggering.
- If you buy a used super duty, stay away from the diesel 6.0 or 6.4L engines.
- I wouldn't trade my 140,000 mile 5.0L gas for any turbo'd gas engine. Still running strong without any engine or emission issues.
- As mentioned earlier in this thread, the newer F150s are much more capable than the older ones. I had a 1986 5.0L that was beefed up with overload springs, 4:56 gearing, ported heads, and RV cam but, it wouldn't out pull or stop as good as my 2011 with the coyote engine.
Location is the important thing. In the Midwest you can push towards the higher end of those F150 ratings without much concern.
The Rockies you’ll want to dial that back considerably so you aren’t white knuckling.
Out east somewhere in between.
I prefer my F350 with 6.7 though and am happy I moved on from the F150. It’s just easier care free towing at Jeep loads.
Definitely agree.
Like anything else though, it is circumstance dependent. I have a family member that owns an F350 6.7L. Beautiful truck, but he tows a 3500 lb boat with it maybe 4 times a year, then complains about the rough ride and poor fuel mileage of the truck the rest of the time he owns it. To be fair, I live in New England where the roads are complete garbage, so riding around in an empty heavy duty truck is very noticeable. My V8 Grand Cherokee works for me because I tow ~5000 lbs a few times a year, and mostly very short distances. If I towed more frequently, much heavier, or over longer distances a bigger truck would be a better option, obviously.
With that said I have a friend from Poland who laughs at all the Americans who need a super duty to tow their pop-up camper, when he towed the same size camper or larger easily with a BMW station wagon. The driving mindset is very different here versus there though. Over there towing is treated differently, which is probably why the tow ratings on the same vehicles is higher over there. People drive slower when towing, where here they want to do 85-90mph in the fast lane with a trailer.
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