A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango ,...

49
A Supplement to AB NEW FOR 2008 SELECTING A TOW VEHICLE TOWING-PACKAGE ESSENTIALS HITCHING METHODS TOWING TIPS BRAKE CONTROLLERS OFFICIAL TRAILER TOW RATINGS User Guide Contents AB Go To: .com

Transcript of A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango ,...

Page 1: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

A Supplement to AB

NEW FOR 2008

SELECTING A TOW VEHICLE

TOWING-PACKAGE ESSENTIALS

HITCHING METHODS

TOWING TIPS

BRAKE CONTROLLERS

OFFICIAL TRAILER TOW RATINGS

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IF THIS IS YOUR IDEA OF A WIND TUNNEL

THIS MUST BE YOUR IDEA OF A TRUCK

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If yoursquore the type who knocks the world down to size you need a truck durable

enough to help you do that Ford F-150 Itrsquos got the strongest frame of any half-

ton pickup Maybe thatrsquos why F-Series has more trucks on the road with 250000

miles than any other brand Check it out at fordvehiclescom rsquo08 FORD F-150

Based on vehicle registration data and latest odometer readings available to R L Polk amp Co for 1992 and newer model year full-size pickups still

on the road in the US as of 1107

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ABEDITORIAL

PUBLISHEREDITOR

BOB LIVINGSTON

SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR

KRISTOPHERKK BUNKER

MANAGING EDITOR

MARLEENMM CANNIFFCC

TECHNICAL EDITOR

PRESTONPP GRATIOT

CREATIVEART DIRECTOR

MIRANTEMM ALMAZAN

EDITORIALBUSINESS OFFICE2575 VISTAVV DEL MARMM VRR ENTURAVV CA 93001AA

TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4484

ADVERTISINGVentura California

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

TERRYTT THOMPSONTT

BUSINESS MANAGER

DENIELLE STERNBURG

PO BOX 8510 VENTURAVV CA 93002 A

TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4379

Elkhart Indiana

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

PAULPP GILLERLAIN

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

TACYTT HENDERSHOTHH

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

LOU CICIRELLICC

2300 MIDDLEBURYMM STREET ETT LKHARTEE IN 46516TT

TEL (574) 295-7820 FAX (574) 522-0418

Seattle Washington

NATIONAL SALES

SCOTT OAKESOO JSS OHN MARCIANOMM

1818 WESTLAKEWW AVENUE N 420 SEATTLESS WA 98109EE

TEL (206) 283-9545 FAX (206) 283-9571

Detroit Michigan

TIME amp SPACE INC

SPENCERSS LONGSHORE SEE COTT CROMPTONCCSPENCERTIMEANDSPACEEE NET TT

SCOTTTT TIMEANDSPACEEE NET

TEL (334) 260-7765 FAX (334) 260-7762

TRAILER LIFE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF

AFFINITY GROUP INCII CCC OPYRIGHTCC 2008 BY AFFINITY

GROUP INCII ACC LL RIGHTS RESERVED TRAILERTT LIFE (USPS454-970) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY TL ENTERPRISESEE

INCII SCC UBSCRIPTION PRICE USEE AND POSSESSIONS SS

1 YEAR $1597 2 RR YEARS $2797 ASS LL OTHER

COUNTRIES SS ADD $12 PER YEAR

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFF NN VISIT OUR WEB SITE ATWW

wwwtrailerlifecom

4 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

6Towing 2008 New vehicle lines and improved towing capacities make this yearrsquos models more capable than ever before

11Tow-Vehicle SelectionChoosing the right tow vehicle is easy whenyou understand all of the variables involved

15How to Use This Guide

162008 Tow Ratings Guide

33Hitching Up Selecting the right hitch and hardware isnrsquot as difficult as you may think

38Towing-Package EssentialsFor trouble-free towing itrsquos important topick the right towing package

41Controlling Trailer BrakesSome cool new braking systems are improving safety and reliability

45Be Aware Enjoy a long future in RVing with some simple safety tips

Photos by Rich CoxSlide Action

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6 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing

Bigger vehicles higher ratings morepower and improved fuel economy are

among this yearrsquos highlights

BY CHRIS HEMER

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 7

2008

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8 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

It was probably seven years ago when an en-gineer at a full-size truck introduction told usldquoThese tow ratings canrsquot go much higher

They just canrsquot the drivetrains wonrsquot take itrdquoThat may have been true at the time but whatour friend may not have taken into considera-tion is the sheer determination of the Big Threeto maintain bragging rights Tranny canrsquot takethe torque Re-engineer it Rear end wonrsquothold up Slap a bigger one under there Thatwould explain why todayrsquos trucks are typicallymore capable than ever before

And yoursquove likely noticed another trendHeavy-duty trucks are getting bigger mdash as inldquomassiverdquo Last year Ford introduced its all-newSuper Duty with its 64-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke diesel and a few months later GM de-buted its much-anticipated all-new heavy-dutylineup Now Dodge just introduced the newRam 45005500 series And the heavy-dutytrucksrsquo capability matches their physicalityFordrsquos top dog F-450 has a payload of morethan 6000 pounds and a towing capacity of

16000 pounds with a conventional hitch andup to 24500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch

Not to be outdone GMrsquos HD trucks areavailable in three cab styles three cargo-boxconfigurations and five wheelbase lengths andcan tow up to 13000 pounds with a conven-tional hitch and 16500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch And though this may not matchthe big Fordrsquos number GM still retains horse-power and torque bragging rights its revised66-liter Duramax churns out 365 HP and 660LB-FT of torque (compared to Fordrsquos 350 HP

and 650 LB-FT)Dodge made waves this year with the intro-

duction of its all-new chassis cab trucks whichwill give RVers a new choice in the heavy-dutytowing game Available in 3500 4500 and5500 designations these new chassis cabtrucks have a number of interesting featuresthat should make them popular with RV upfit-ters The 3500 models are available with eitherthe 57-liter Hemi or 67-liter Cummins whilethe 4500 and 5500 trucks come with the

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

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Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 23

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

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bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

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Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 2: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

IF THIS IS YOUR IDEA OF A WIND TUNNEL

THIS MUST BE YOUR IDEA OF A TRUCK

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If yoursquore the type who knocks the world down to size you need a truck durable

enough to help you do that Ford F-150 Itrsquos got the strongest frame of any half-

ton pickup Maybe thatrsquos why F-Series has more trucks on the road with 250000

miles than any other brand Check it out at fordvehiclescom rsquo08 FORD F-150

Based on vehicle registration data and latest odometer readings available to R L Polk amp Co for 1992 and newer model year full-size pickups still

on the road in the US as of 1107

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ABEDITORIAL

PUBLISHEREDITOR

BOB LIVINGSTON

SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR

KRISTOPHERKK BUNKER

MANAGING EDITOR

MARLEENMM CANNIFFCC

TECHNICAL EDITOR

PRESTONPP GRATIOT

CREATIVEART DIRECTOR

MIRANTEMM ALMAZAN

EDITORIALBUSINESS OFFICE2575 VISTAVV DEL MARMM VRR ENTURAVV CA 93001AA

TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4484

ADVERTISINGVentura California

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

TERRYTT THOMPSONTT

BUSINESS MANAGER

DENIELLE STERNBURG

PO BOX 8510 VENTURAVV CA 93002 A

TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4379

Elkhart Indiana

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

PAULPP GILLERLAIN

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

TACYTT HENDERSHOTHH

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

LOU CICIRELLICC

2300 MIDDLEBURYMM STREET ETT LKHARTEE IN 46516TT

TEL (574) 295-7820 FAX (574) 522-0418

Seattle Washington

NATIONAL SALES

SCOTT OAKESOO JSS OHN MARCIANOMM

1818 WESTLAKEWW AVENUE N 420 SEATTLESS WA 98109EE

TEL (206) 283-9545 FAX (206) 283-9571

Detroit Michigan

TIME amp SPACE INC

SPENCERSS LONGSHORE SEE COTT CROMPTONCCSPENCERTIMEANDSPACEEE NET TT

SCOTTTT TIMEANDSPACEEE NET

TEL (334) 260-7765 FAX (334) 260-7762

TRAILER LIFE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF

AFFINITY GROUP INCII CCC OPYRIGHTCC 2008 BY AFFINITY

GROUP INCII ACC LL RIGHTS RESERVED TRAILERTT LIFE (USPS454-970) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY TL ENTERPRISESEE

INCII SCC UBSCRIPTION PRICE USEE AND POSSESSIONS SS

1 YEAR $1597 2 RR YEARS $2797 ASS LL OTHER

COUNTRIES SS ADD $12 PER YEAR

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFF NN VISIT OUR WEB SITE ATWW

wwwtrailerlifecom

4 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

6Towing 2008 New vehicle lines and improved towing capacities make this yearrsquos models more capable than ever before

11Tow-Vehicle SelectionChoosing the right tow vehicle is easy whenyou understand all of the variables involved

15How to Use This Guide

162008 Tow Ratings Guide

33Hitching Up Selecting the right hitch and hardware isnrsquot as difficult as you may think

38Towing-Package EssentialsFor trouble-free towing itrsquos important topick the right towing package

41Controlling Trailer BrakesSome cool new braking systems are improving safety and reliability

45Be Aware Enjoy a long future in RVing with some simple safety tips

Photos by Rich CoxSlide Action

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6 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing

Bigger vehicles higher ratings morepower and improved fuel economy are

among this yearrsquos highlights

BY CHRIS HEMER

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 7

2008

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8 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

It was probably seven years ago when an en-gineer at a full-size truck introduction told usldquoThese tow ratings canrsquot go much higher

They just canrsquot the drivetrains wonrsquot take itrdquoThat may have been true at the time but whatour friend may not have taken into considera-tion is the sheer determination of the Big Threeto maintain bragging rights Tranny canrsquot takethe torque Re-engineer it Rear end wonrsquothold up Slap a bigger one under there Thatwould explain why todayrsquos trucks are typicallymore capable than ever before

And yoursquove likely noticed another trendHeavy-duty trucks are getting bigger mdash as inldquomassiverdquo Last year Ford introduced its all-newSuper Duty with its 64-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke diesel and a few months later GM de-buted its much-anticipated all-new heavy-dutylineup Now Dodge just introduced the newRam 45005500 series And the heavy-dutytrucksrsquo capability matches their physicalityFordrsquos top dog F-450 has a payload of morethan 6000 pounds and a towing capacity of

16000 pounds with a conventional hitch andup to 24500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch

Not to be outdone GMrsquos HD trucks areavailable in three cab styles three cargo-boxconfigurations and five wheelbase lengths andcan tow up to 13000 pounds with a conven-tional hitch and 16500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch And though this may not matchthe big Fordrsquos number GM still retains horse-power and torque bragging rights its revised66-liter Duramax churns out 365 HP and 660LB-FT of torque (compared to Fordrsquos 350 HP

and 650 LB-FT)Dodge made waves this year with the intro-

duction of its all-new chassis cab trucks whichwill give RVers a new choice in the heavy-dutytowing game Available in 3500 4500 and5500 designations these new chassis cabtrucks have a number of interesting featuresthat should make them popular with RV upfit-ters The 3500 models are available with eitherthe 57-liter Hemi or 67-liter Cummins whilethe 4500 and 5500 trucks come with the

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 3: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

If yoursquore the type who knocks the world down to size you need a truck durable

enough to help you do that Ford F-150 Itrsquos got the strongest frame of any half-

ton pickup Maybe thatrsquos why F-Series has more trucks on the road with 250000

miles than any other brand Check it out at fordvehiclescom rsquo08 FORD F-150

Based on vehicle registration data and latest odometer readings available to R L Polk amp Co for 1992 and newer model year full-size pickups still

on the road in the US as of 1107

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ABEDITORIAL

PUBLISHEREDITOR

BOB LIVINGSTON

SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR

KRISTOPHERKK BUNKER

MANAGING EDITOR

MARLEENMM CANNIFFCC

TECHNICAL EDITOR

PRESTONPP GRATIOT

CREATIVEART DIRECTOR

MIRANTEMM ALMAZAN

EDITORIALBUSINESS OFFICE2575 VISTAVV DEL MARMM VRR ENTURAVV CA 93001AA

TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4484

ADVERTISINGVentura California

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

TERRYTT THOMPSONTT

BUSINESS MANAGER

DENIELLE STERNBURG

PO BOX 8510 VENTURAVV CA 93002 A

TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4379

Elkhart Indiana

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

PAULPP GILLERLAIN

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

TACYTT HENDERSHOTHH

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

LOU CICIRELLICC

2300 MIDDLEBURYMM STREET ETT LKHARTEE IN 46516TT

TEL (574) 295-7820 FAX (574) 522-0418

Seattle Washington

NATIONAL SALES

SCOTT OAKESOO JSS OHN MARCIANOMM

1818 WESTLAKEWW AVENUE N 420 SEATTLESS WA 98109EE

TEL (206) 283-9545 FAX (206) 283-9571

Detroit Michigan

TIME amp SPACE INC

SPENCERSS LONGSHORE SEE COTT CROMPTONCCSPENCERTIMEANDSPACEEE NET TT

SCOTTTT TIMEANDSPACEEE NET

TEL (334) 260-7765 FAX (334) 260-7762

TRAILER LIFE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF

AFFINITY GROUP INCII CCC OPYRIGHTCC 2008 BY AFFINITY

GROUP INCII ACC LL RIGHTS RESERVED TRAILERTT LIFE (USPS454-970) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY TL ENTERPRISESEE

INCII SCC UBSCRIPTION PRICE USEE AND POSSESSIONS SS

1 YEAR $1597 2 RR YEARS $2797 ASS LL OTHER

COUNTRIES SS ADD $12 PER YEAR

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFF NN VISIT OUR WEB SITE ATWW

wwwtrailerlifecom

4 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

6Towing 2008 New vehicle lines and improved towing capacities make this yearrsquos models more capable than ever before

11Tow-Vehicle SelectionChoosing the right tow vehicle is easy whenyou understand all of the variables involved

15How to Use This Guide

162008 Tow Ratings Guide

33Hitching Up Selecting the right hitch and hardware isnrsquot as difficult as you may think

38Towing-Package EssentialsFor trouble-free towing itrsquos important topick the right towing package

41Controlling Trailer BrakesSome cool new braking systems are improving safety and reliability

45Be Aware Enjoy a long future in RVing with some simple safety tips

Photos by Rich CoxSlide Action

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6 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing

Bigger vehicles higher ratings morepower and improved fuel economy are

among this yearrsquos highlights

BY CHRIS HEMER

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 7

2008

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8 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

It was probably seven years ago when an en-gineer at a full-size truck introduction told usldquoThese tow ratings canrsquot go much higher

They just canrsquot the drivetrains wonrsquot take itrdquoThat may have been true at the time but whatour friend may not have taken into considera-tion is the sheer determination of the Big Threeto maintain bragging rights Tranny canrsquot takethe torque Re-engineer it Rear end wonrsquothold up Slap a bigger one under there Thatwould explain why todayrsquos trucks are typicallymore capable than ever before

And yoursquove likely noticed another trendHeavy-duty trucks are getting bigger mdash as inldquomassiverdquo Last year Ford introduced its all-newSuper Duty with its 64-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke diesel and a few months later GM de-buted its much-anticipated all-new heavy-dutylineup Now Dodge just introduced the newRam 45005500 series And the heavy-dutytrucksrsquo capability matches their physicalityFordrsquos top dog F-450 has a payload of morethan 6000 pounds and a towing capacity of

16000 pounds with a conventional hitch andup to 24500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch

Not to be outdone GMrsquos HD trucks areavailable in three cab styles three cargo-boxconfigurations and five wheelbase lengths andcan tow up to 13000 pounds with a conven-tional hitch and 16500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch And though this may not matchthe big Fordrsquos number GM still retains horse-power and torque bragging rights its revised66-liter Duramax churns out 365 HP and 660LB-FT of torque (compared to Fordrsquos 350 HP

and 650 LB-FT)Dodge made waves this year with the intro-

duction of its all-new chassis cab trucks whichwill give RVers a new choice in the heavy-dutytowing game Available in 3500 4500 and5500 designations these new chassis cabtrucks have a number of interesting featuresthat should make them popular with RV upfit-ters The 3500 models are available with eitherthe 57-liter Hemi or 67-liter Cummins whilethe 4500 and 5500 trucks come with the

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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20 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 21

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 4: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

ABEDITORIAL

PUBLISHEREDITOR

BOB LIVINGSTON

SENIOR MANAGING EDITOR

KRISTOPHERKK BUNKER

MANAGING EDITOR

MARLEENMM CANNIFFCC

TECHNICAL EDITOR

PRESTONPP GRATIOT

CREATIVEART DIRECTOR

MIRANTEMM ALMAZAN

EDITORIALBUSINESS OFFICE2575 VISTAVV DEL MARMM VRR ENTURAVV CA 93001AA

TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4484

ADVERTISINGVentura California

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES

TERRYTT THOMPSONTT

BUSINESS MANAGER

DENIELLE STERNBURG

PO BOX 8510 VENTURAVV CA 93002 A

TEL (805) 667-4100 FAX (805) 667-4379

Elkhart Indiana

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

PAULPP GILLERLAIN

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

TACYTT HENDERSHOTHH

NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES

LOU CICIRELLICC

2300 MIDDLEBURYMM STREET ETT LKHARTEE IN 46516TT

TEL (574) 295-7820 FAX (574) 522-0418

Seattle Washington

NATIONAL SALES

SCOTT OAKESOO JSS OHN MARCIANOMM

1818 WESTLAKEWW AVENUE N 420 SEATTLESS WA 98109EE

TEL (206) 283-9545 FAX (206) 283-9571

Detroit Michigan

TIME amp SPACE INC

SPENCERSS LONGSHORE SEE COTT CROMPTONCCSPENCERTIMEANDSPACEEE NET TT

SCOTTTT TIMEANDSPACEEE NET

TEL (334) 260-7765 FAX (334) 260-7762

TRAILER LIFE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF

AFFINITY GROUP INCII CCC OPYRIGHTCC 2008 BY AFFINITY

GROUP INCII ACC LL RIGHTS RESERVED TRAILERTT LIFE (USPS454-970) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY TL ENTERPRISESEE

INCII SCC UBSCRIPTION PRICE USEE AND POSSESSIONS SS

1 YEAR $1597 2 RR YEARS $2797 ASS LL OTHER

COUNTRIES SS ADD $12 PER YEAR

FOR MORE INFORMATIONFF NN VISIT OUR WEB SITE ATWW

wwwtrailerlifecom

4 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

6Towing 2008 New vehicle lines and improved towing capacities make this yearrsquos models more capable than ever before

11Tow-Vehicle SelectionChoosing the right tow vehicle is easy whenyou understand all of the variables involved

15How to Use This Guide

162008 Tow Ratings Guide

33Hitching Up Selecting the right hitch and hardware isnrsquot as difficult as you may think

38Towing-Package EssentialsFor trouble-free towing itrsquos important topick the right towing package

41Controlling Trailer BrakesSome cool new braking systems are improving safety and reliability

45Be Aware Enjoy a long future in RVing with some simple safety tips

Photos by Rich CoxSlide Action

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6 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing

Bigger vehicles higher ratings morepower and improved fuel economy are

among this yearrsquos highlights

BY CHRIS HEMER

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 7

2008

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8 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

It was probably seven years ago when an en-gineer at a full-size truck introduction told usldquoThese tow ratings canrsquot go much higher

They just canrsquot the drivetrains wonrsquot take itrdquoThat may have been true at the time but whatour friend may not have taken into considera-tion is the sheer determination of the Big Threeto maintain bragging rights Tranny canrsquot takethe torque Re-engineer it Rear end wonrsquothold up Slap a bigger one under there Thatwould explain why todayrsquos trucks are typicallymore capable than ever before

And yoursquove likely noticed another trendHeavy-duty trucks are getting bigger mdash as inldquomassiverdquo Last year Ford introduced its all-newSuper Duty with its 64-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke diesel and a few months later GM de-buted its much-anticipated all-new heavy-dutylineup Now Dodge just introduced the newRam 45005500 series And the heavy-dutytrucksrsquo capability matches their physicalityFordrsquos top dog F-450 has a payload of morethan 6000 pounds and a towing capacity of

16000 pounds with a conventional hitch andup to 24500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch

Not to be outdone GMrsquos HD trucks areavailable in three cab styles three cargo-boxconfigurations and five wheelbase lengths andcan tow up to 13000 pounds with a conven-tional hitch and 16500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch And though this may not matchthe big Fordrsquos number GM still retains horse-power and torque bragging rights its revised66-liter Duramax churns out 365 HP and 660LB-FT of torque (compared to Fordrsquos 350 HP

and 650 LB-FT)Dodge made waves this year with the intro-

duction of its all-new chassis cab trucks whichwill give RVers a new choice in the heavy-dutytowing game Available in 3500 4500 and5500 designations these new chassis cabtrucks have a number of interesting featuresthat should make them popular with RV upfit-ters The 3500 models are available with eitherthe 57-liter Hemi or 67-liter Cummins whilethe 4500 and 5500 trucks come with the

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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20 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 5: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

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6 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing

Bigger vehicles higher ratings morepower and improved fuel economy are

among this yearrsquos highlights

BY CHRIS HEMER

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 7

2008

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8 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

It was probably seven years ago when an en-gineer at a full-size truck introduction told usldquoThese tow ratings canrsquot go much higher

They just canrsquot the drivetrains wonrsquot take itrdquoThat may have been true at the time but whatour friend may not have taken into considera-tion is the sheer determination of the Big Threeto maintain bragging rights Tranny canrsquot takethe torque Re-engineer it Rear end wonrsquothold up Slap a bigger one under there Thatwould explain why todayrsquos trucks are typicallymore capable than ever before

And yoursquove likely noticed another trendHeavy-duty trucks are getting bigger mdash as inldquomassiverdquo Last year Ford introduced its all-newSuper Duty with its 64-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke diesel and a few months later GM de-buted its much-anticipated all-new heavy-dutylineup Now Dodge just introduced the newRam 45005500 series And the heavy-dutytrucksrsquo capability matches their physicalityFordrsquos top dog F-450 has a payload of morethan 6000 pounds and a towing capacity of

16000 pounds with a conventional hitch andup to 24500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch

Not to be outdone GMrsquos HD trucks areavailable in three cab styles three cargo-boxconfigurations and five wheelbase lengths andcan tow up to 13000 pounds with a conven-tional hitch and 16500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch And though this may not matchthe big Fordrsquos number GM still retains horse-power and torque bragging rights its revised66-liter Duramax churns out 365 HP and 660LB-FT of torque (compared to Fordrsquos 350 HP

and 650 LB-FT)Dodge made waves this year with the intro-

duction of its all-new chassis cab trucks whichwill give RVers a new choice in the heavy-dutytowing game Available in 3500 4500 and5500 designations these new chassis cabtrucks have a number of interesting featuresthat should make them popular with RV upfit-ters The 3500 models are available with eitherthe 57-liter Hemi or 67-liter Cummins whilethe 4500 and 5500 trucks come with the

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 6: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

6 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing

Bigger vehicles higher ratings morepower and improved fuel economy are

among this yearrsquos highlights

BY CHRIS HEMER

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 7

2008

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8 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

It was probably seven years ago when an en-gineer at a full-size truck introduction told usldquoThese tow ratings canrsquot go much higher

They just canrsquot the drivetrains wonrsquot take itrdquoThat may have been true at the time but whatour friend may not have taken into considera-tion is the sheer determination of the Big Threeto maintain bragging rights Tranny canrsquot takethe torque Re-engineer it Rear end wonrsquothold up Slap a bigger one under there Thatwould explain why todayrsquos trucks are typicallymore capable than ever before

And yoursquove likely noticed another trendHeavy-duty trucks are getting bigger mdash as inldquomassiverdquo Last year Ford introduced its all-newSuper Duty with its 64-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke diesel and a few months later GM de-buted its much-anticipated all-new heavy-dutylineup Now Dodge just introduced the newRam 45005500 series And the heavy-dutytrucksrsquo capability matches their physicalityFordrsquos top dog F-450 has a payload of morethan 6000 pounds and a towing capacity of

16000 pounds with a conventional hitch andup to 24500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch

Not to be outdone GMrsquos HD trucks areavailable in three cab styles three cargo-boxconfigurations and five wheelbase lengths andcan tow up to 13000 pounds with a conven-tional hitch and 16500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch And though this may not matchthe big Fordrsquos number GM still retains horse-power and torque bragging rights its revised66-liter Duramax churns out 365 HP and 660LB-FT of torque (compared to Fordrsquos 350 HP

and 650 LB-FT)Dodge made waves this year with the intro-

duction of its all-new chassis cab trucks whichwill give RVers a new choice in the heavy-dutytowing game Available in 3500 4500 and5500 designations these new chassis cabtrucks have a number of interesting featuresthat should make them popular with RV upfit-ters The 3500 models are available with eitherthe 57-liter Hemi or 67-liter Cummins whilethe 4500 and 5500 trucks come with the

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 7: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 7

2008

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8 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

It was probably seven years ago when an en-gineer at a full-size truck introduction told usldquoThese tow ratings canrsquot go much higher

They just canrsquot the drivetrains wonrsquot take itrdquoThat may have been true at the time but whatour friend may not have taken into considera-tion is the sheer determination of the Big Threeto maintain bragging rights Tranny canrsquot takethe torque Re-engineer it Rear end wonrsquothold up Slap a bigger one under there Thatwould explain why todayrsquos trucks are typicallymore capable than ever before

And yoursquove likely noticed another trendHeavy-duty trucks are getting bigger mdash as inldquomassiverdquo Last year Ford introduced its all-newSuper Duty with its 64-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke diesel and a few months later GM de-buted its much-anticipated all-new heavy-dutylineup Now Dodge just introduced the newRam 45005500 series And the heavy-dutytrucksrsquo capability matches their physicalityFordrsquos top dog F-450 has a payload of morethan 6000 pounds and a towing capacity of

16000 pounds with a conventional hitch andup to 24500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch

Not to be outdone GMrsquos HD trucks areavailable in three cab styles three cargo-boxconfigurations and five wheelbase lengths andcan tow up to 13000 pounds with a conven-tional hitch and 16500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch And though this may not matchthe big Fordrsquos number GM still retains horse-power and torque bragging rights its revised66-liter Duramax churns out 365 HP and 660LB-FT of torque (compared to Fordrsquos 350 HP

and 650 LB-FT)Dodge made waves this year with the intro-

duction of its all-new chassis cab trucks whichwill give RVers a new choice in the heavy-dutytowing game Available in 3500 4500 and5500 designations these new chassis cabtrucks have a number of interesting featuresthat should make them popular with RV upfit-ters The 3500 models are available with eitherthe 57-liter Hemi or 67-liter Cummins whilethe 4500 and 5500 trucks come with the

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 8: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

8 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

It was probably seven years ago when an en-gineer at a full-size truck introduction told usldquoThese tow ratings canrsquot go much higher

They just canrsquot the drivetrains wonrsquot take itrdquoThat may have been true at the time but whatour friend may not have taken into considera-tion is the sheer determination of the Big Threeto maintain bragging rights Tranny canrsquot takethe torque Re-engineer it Rear end wonrsquothold up Slap a bigger one under there Thatwould explain why todayrsquos trucks are typicallymore capable than ever before

And yoursquove likely noticed another trendHeavy-duty trucks are getting bigger mdash as inldquomassiverdquo Last year Ford introduced its all-newSuper Duty with its 64-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke diesel and a few months later GM de-buted its much-anticipated all-new heavy-dutylineup Now Dodge just introduced the newRam 45005500 series And the heavy-dutytrucksrsquo capability matches their physicalityFordrsquos top dog F-450 has a payload of morethan 6000 pounds and a towing capacity of

16000 pounds with a conventional hitch andup to 24500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch

Not to be outdone GMrsquos HD trucks areavailable in three cab styles three cargo-boxconfigurations and five wheelbase lengths andcan tow up to 13000 pounds with a conven-tional hitch and 16500 pounds with a fifth-wheel hitch And though this may not matchthe big Fordrsquos number GM still retains horse-power and torque bragging rights its revised66-liter Duramax churns out 365 HP and 660LB-FT of torque (compared to Fordrsquos 350 HP

and 650 LB-FT)Dodge made waves this year with the intro-

duction of its all-new chassis cab trucks whichwill give RVers a new choice in the heavy-dutytowing game Available in 3500 4500 and5500 designations these new chassis cabtrucks have a number of interesting featuresthat should make them popular with RV upfit-ters The 3500 models are available with eitherthe 57-liter Hemi or 67-liter Cummins whilethe 4500 and 5500 trucks come with the

Ford F-250

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 9: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 9

Cummins exclusively Transmission choices in-clude a six-speed manual (standard) five-speed automatic (optional with Hemi) and six-speed automatic (optional with Cummins) Thehighest frame strength in the segment (ac-cording to Dodge) bestows the 3500 truckswith a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of upto 12500 pounds while 4500 and 5500 mod-els boast GVWRs of up to 16500 and 19500pounds respectively These attributes com-bined with a ldquocleanrdquo frame top (all chassis com-ponents are below the top of the frame sur-face) a number of different wheelbase andcab-to-axle lengths power take-off capabilityand a standard exhaust brake are sure to makeDodge a contender for rsquo08 and the future

Half-ton trucks see a number of improve-ments this year as well GMCrsquos Sierra andChevyrsquos Silverado while essentially unchangednow have the availability of an integrated trailer-brake control mdash a welcome addition And half-ton Dodge Ram trucks benefit from a new 47-liter V-8 (standard on 4WD models) that pro-

duces 310 HP and 330 LB-FT of torque a 30-percent and 10-percent boost respectively Theincreased output is attributed to a new cylinder-head design with dual plugs per cylinder and re-vised ports as well as a higher compressionratio The new engine also runs on Ethanol E85and reportedly is more fuel-efficient as well Thepopular Ford F-150 meanwhile is due for acomplete revision next year mdash but in the mean-time Ford has added a new F-150 XL Super-Crew with either a 51frasl1

2fraslfrasl - or 61frasl12fraslfrasl -foot Styleside box

Of course trucks arenrsquot the only things thatcan tow and therersquos a lot happening with SUVsand crossovers for rsquo08 as well Buickrsquos new En-clave is the latest crossover built on GMrsquos Lamb-da architecture (the GMC Acadia and SaturnOutlook preceded it and Chevyrsquos version is com-ing soon) and it is positioned to competeagainst the likes of Acura and Lexus with a 275-HP V-6 six-speed automatic transmission andseven-passenger seating Standard features in-clude StabiliTrak stability control Xenon head-lamps tri-zone climate control and six air bags

Chevrolet Silverado GMC Sierra

Hummer H3 Alpha Nissan Titan

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10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 10: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

10 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

GM is introducing Chevy Tahoe and GMCYukon models with its ldquo2-Moderdquo hybrid systemwhich is reputed to deliver a 25-percent in-crease in fuel economy over a comparablenon-hybrid model Created in a partnership be-tween GM BMW and Chrysler the 2-Modesystem allows the vehicle to be powered by ei-ther electric motor the 60-liter V-8 (with Ac-tive Fuel Management cylinder-deactivationtechnology) or both power plants mdash and it canstill tow 6000 pounds

Chrysler is using the same hybrid technolo-gy in its Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durangoclaiming a whopping 40-percent increase infuel economy in the city and 25 percent on thehighway And yeah both have a Hemi

Also all new at the Chrysler camp is theJeep Liberty which sheds some of its cutesyappeal in favor of a more masculine look sharedby the Commander Power comes from a 37-liter V-6 and standard six-speed manual or op-tional four-speed automatic transmission Newfront and rear suspension as well as two 4WDsystems are offered along with features suchas hill-descent control and hill-start assist

Right on the heels of its new Tundra full-size pickup Toyota is introducing an all-newHighlander and Highlander Hybrid for rsquo08along with (drumroll please) an all-new eight-passenger Land Cruiser The Highlander isldquosignificantly larger roomier and more power-ful than the vehicle it replacesrdquo according toToyota and even though itrsquos also heavier thecompany claims an improvement in fuel econ-omy The Land Cruiser rides on an extra-heavy-duty frame shared with its luxury coun-terpart the Lexus LX570 There is an overalllength and width increase and not surprisingly

Toyotarsquos flagship SUV is powered by the same381-HP 57-liter V-8 found in last yearrsquos Tun-dra A new Sequoia SUV also available with57-liter power is expected to bow soon al-though details were not available at presstime

Nissan has flushed out its popular Titanpickup line with longbed versions of its KingCab and Crew Cab models as well as a newPro-4X off-road package featuring Ranchoshock absorbers a lower final-drive ratio addi-tional skid plates on the oil pan and transfercase and an electronic locking rear differentialVisual cues include 18-inch alloy wheels andP27570R18 all-terrain tires body-coloredgrille and bumpers unique instruments ldquoPRO-4Xrdquo embroidered seats and other details

Clearly no matter what you plan to tow andwhere you plan to tow it therersquos a vehicle thatwill do the job in comfort and style And withfuel-saving technologies becoming more com-monplace your tow rig can also serve as thefamily vehicle mdash whether yoursquore going to themountains or the mall TG

Acura MDX

2008 Guide toTowing Sponsors

Ford Motor Company (800) 392-3673 wwwfordcom

Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc (800) 634-0855

wwwwarriormfgcom

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 11: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 11

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Tow-VehicleSelection

Paying close attention to the tow ratings is necessaryto make appropriate model and option choices

BY DUNCAN OrsquoNEAL

Ah decisions decisions With so manychoices available in tow vehiclesselecting the one that works best for

your application may seem like a monu-mental task After all there are many vari-ables to consider including budget brandand towing capacity itrsquos important to exam-ine them all carefully before making a pur-chase Going through the effort to better un-derstand each variable and to account for allof them up front will lead to a more pleasanttrailering experience later

Words of WisdomThe tow-ratings guide in this section lists

the maximum tow ratings for vehicles withspecific equipment but for many vehiclesthe maximum tow rating is optimistic Al-ways check with the manufacturer beforemaking a purchase What follows is a lay-manrsquos explanation of the terms you need toknow which when combined with readingsfrom a public scale and your own calculatorshould help you determine the correct towrating for the tow vehicle you plan to buy

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12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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20 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 12: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

12 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Gross Combi-

nation Weight

Rating (GCWR)

The total allowableweight of the truckthe trailer thecargo in each flu-ids and occupants

Gross Vehicle

Weight Rating

(GVWR) The totalallowable weight for the vehicle including flu-ids options occupants hitch cargo and trailerhitch weight The trailerrsquos GVWR sometimes re-ferred to as Gross Trailer Weight Rating is thetotal allowable weight of the trailer fluids oc-cupants options and cargo

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) Thetotal allowable weight on any given individualaxle Note that this includes the weight of thetires wheels brakes and axle itself

Maximum Tow Rating The manufac-turerrsquos weight limit for towed loads For con-ventional trailers this normally includes a hitch-weight limit as well for fifth-wheels the pinweight is applied to the truckrsquos GVWR and itsrear-axle GAWR

The GVWR and GAWR for all motor vehiclesare listed on the data plate typically affixed tothe driverrsquos door frame fuel door glove boxend of the dashboard or other easy-to-accesslocation Brochures and window stickers maybe inaccurate All trailers should have aweight sticker mdash normally found in an interiorcabinet mdash that lists the trailerrsquos Unloaded Ve-hicle Weight (UVW) GVWR weight added byfreshwater and LP-gas and the resulting pay-load capability

In many cases optional equipment mdash suchas air-conditioning units generators and thefuel they run on mdash sneaks onboard after weigh-ing and may not be reflected on the sticker

And donrsquot forget the fuel-fill tanks that someSURVs offer for campground refueling of mo-torcycles and ATVs

The GVWR figures are neither guidelines norestimates they are limits and there are numer-ous valid reasons the manufacturer arrived atthe figures given If you think these figures areldquoclose enoughrdquo or have a fudge-factor percent-age built in think again Your warranty cover-age mdash and your safety mdash may be at risk

There is one sure way to find out what yourtrailer weighs and that is to fill it with every-thing you normally travel with right down tothe soap and soda and weigh it at a publictruck scale Without forming a long queue getthe hitch weight axle weight and total weightAssuming that the axle weight is below theGAWR the total is below the GVWR and the hitchweight is below the maximum given for yourtow vehicle you can then move on to tow-vehi-cle selection

For a new trailer consult the weight stickeron the unit of your choice on a dealerrsquos lot andrefer to the UVW and Cargo Carrying Capacity(CCC)

Estimate how much cargo you will addbeing mindful of the GVWR and use that num-ber while selecting a tow vehicle

To a lesser extent tow-vehicle weight isvariable as well Brochures and tow guides fre-quently list how much a truck weighs but this

Selecting theproper axle ratiois important toperformance andfuel economyThe ratio indicatesthe proportionbetween the pinion-shaftand ring-gearrevolutions

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

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Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 21

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

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Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 13: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 13

number generally applies to the most basicmodel in that configuration without any op-tions In some cases distinctions are made byengine transmission drive system (2WD or4WDAWD) and in other cases by cab or bedstyles If the dealer does not have a vehicleequipped as you want that is available to weighor cannot provide option weights you can formrough estimates

Bigger engines add weight diesels more sobecause they come with additional acces-sories 700 pounds more than the standardgas engine is common Add up to 175 poundsfor an optional transmission about 400pounds for 4WD and a bit less than 300pounds for longer beds Then add other op-tions such as luxury-trim levels as all thoseelectric motors add up The towing packageand hitch could go another 100 pounds andeven larger wheels two-tone paint and exteriortrim can also have an effect

The following is how to calculate the real-istic towing capacity of the vehicle that inter-ests you

For example Consider a fictional one-tonlongbed diesel extended cab 2WD single-rear-wheel pickup set up for towing Wersquoll arbi-trarily assign it a GVWR of 9900 pounds a frontgawr of 5000 pounds a rear GAWR of 6824pounds a GCWR of 23000 pounds and a quot-ed maximum tow rating of 17000 pounds

As is often the case in single-rear-wheeltrucks the rear axlersquos GAWR on this truck is de-rived from each tirersquos maximum load of 3412pounds Pickups such as this normally start atmore than 6000 pounds and with a diesel au-tomatic and nice trim figure that with a full tankof fuel and hitch this unit weighs 7000pounds If we add two ldquostandard-sizerdquo people(154 pounds each) a few tools and somecargo it weighs 7500 pounds That is split to4000 pounds on the front axle and 3500pounds on the rear axle

The first thing you should have noticed isthat the maximum tow rating cannot apply withthe truck fully loaded because GCWR (23000)minus GVWR (9900) leaves 13100 pounds mdashabout two tons less than quoted towing abilityAfter adding options and people to the exam-ple truck and subtracting that value (7500)from GCWR (23000) the effective working tow

rating of the truck becomes 15500 poundsabout 1500 pounds less than the truckrsquos quot-ed maximum towing rating

However you have yet to check all the num-bers and verify that a 15500-pound trailer willwork If that trailer is a fifth-wheel and has 20percent of its weight on the pin that adds3100 pounds to the back of the truck Thiswould make the truck overweight mdash its 7500-pound ready-to-roll weight plus the 3100pounds on the pin equals 10600 pounds mdash700 pounds more than the truckrsquos GVWR andjust 224 pounds shy of the rear-axle limit of6824 pounds

SUVs cannot always escape either The ve-hiclersquos loaded weight must be subtracted fromthe GCWR to determine the realistic tow rating

Consider ThisThe tow-ratings chart lists vehicle-towing

maximums segregated by engine cab styledrive and single- or dual-rear wheels as appro-priate In general assume the maximum towrating always requires a towing package mdashspecial towing equipment (see ldquoTowing-Pack-age Essentialsrdquo on page 38) mdash and the highestnumerical axle ratio offered and as the exam-ple shows maximums can be confusing Youcan do your own estimates by starting with theinformation given and keeping the followinggeneralizations in mind

Transmission For the majority of vehiclesautomatic transmissions offer the higher towratings when they vary by transmission Onheavy-duty (HD) models the difference maybe 1000 pounds or less and on lighter-dutyvehicles a manual might rate a 2000-poundlower tow rating Exceptions include high-out-put engines that are available only with manualgearboxes vehicles where the manual weighsmore than the automatic and transmissions invehicles designed for high performance andnot towing

Axle Ratio Lower gearing (the numeri-cally higher ratios eg 4101 4561 as op-posed to 3551 3731) typically produces thehighest tow ratings because of greater torquemultiplication There is wide variance in theaxle ratiorsquos effect on tow rating with somediesel-powered rigs varying only a few hundredpounds On others changing from a 3731 to a

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14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 25

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 14: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

14 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

4301 sometimes increases the tow rating by3500 pounds In the past some ratings haveincreased by a factor greater than three (from2000 to 7100 pounds) simply by using a dif-ferent axle ratio Lower gearing will also makeyour vehicle accelerate quicker up to 50-55MPH In general a one-step drop in axle ratio(4101 to 3731) on an HD pickup will droptow rating and GCWR by a ton

Lower gearing has an adverse effect on fueleconomy but itrsquos usually not proportional to thegain in towing ability Under the best circum-stances the difference between the highestand lowest gear ratios offered (say 3421 and4101) results in a 15-MPG decrease in non-towing steady state-highway cruising In mostconditions that change is less than 1 MPG and ifyou tow a relatively heavy trailer a lot therersquos noquestion that the lowest gearing is best

Drive System Vehicles that drive only twowheels be they front or rear generally havehigher tow ratings (all other things beingequal) Even though modern 4WD and AWDsystems are quite efficient a small amount ofparasitic loss uses up energy More importantly4WD systems add weight mdash easily up to 400pounds on some HD pickups mdash and thatweight frequently comes off the tow rating Un-less the GCWR and GVWR are higher a 4WD ver-sion will probably tow a few hundred poundsless than its 2WD counterpart

Towing Package If you can order a tow-ing package do so Not only is it usually re-quired to get the top tow rating the contentsrarely can be duplicated for the original costmdash and it will add to resale value Frequentlyyou can see the hitch or tow plug but thereare often changes to the wiring system (in-cluding up-rated wire and fuses) alternatorbattery cooling system power steering andlubricants

Bed LengthStyle If therersquos a differencea longbed truck may rate slightly lower in towcapacity mdash 150-250 pounds mdash because thelonger bed adds weight On other cases thereis no change because the longer wheelbase isbeneficial Note that the more ldquostyledrdquo bedsmarketed under a variety of names typically areheavier than conventional slab-sided beds andthat cab-and-chassis figures do not reflect anybed unless otherwise noted A steel bed for a

medium-duty cab-and-chassis could quicklyeat up an entire ton of its GCWR

Single or Dual Rear Wheels Most peo-ple assume that a dually pickup will have ahigher tow rating than a single-rear wheel unitbut this is not correct In many cases the GCWR

is limited by factors other than the number ofrear wheels and does not change and in thosecases the weight of the wider axle biggerbrakes and two more tires and wheels is sub-tracted from the GCWR The dually no doubt pro-vides a more stable towing platform for theheavier trailers although not always with thehighest tow rating

Tires Wheel sizes continue to grow com-mensurate with their popularity with some towvehicles offering 20-inch-diameter wheels asfactory options However using a larger wheeland lower-profile tire means a smaller air cush-ion and lower tire sidewall to the extent thattow ratings generally drop whenever the wheelsize increases Be sure to read the fine print onthe packaging carefully

The Hardware StoreBefore purchasing any vehicle for towing

ensure that the equipment required is availablefor your vehicle You may find that the new-kid-on-the-block is a very capable tow vehicle butno one makes a fifth-wheel hitch for it Also be-ware of hitch-ball and receiver ratings as sometrucks are rated for heavier loads than any eas-ily found hardware can handle and thereforemay require special-order parts

Before making a purchase of a new vehiclewe also suggest that you acquire the manufac-turerrsquos comprehensive towing guide availableonline or at dealerships Be sure to read thefine print in the guide because in many casesthe maximum rating may apply only to one par-ticular version and be for a fifth-wheel trailermany larger pickups may have their actual towrating limited by the hitch and hardware

Remember that the powertrains used insome vehicles may not be available in each ofthe 50 states or Canada Also keep in mindthat manufacturers provide tow ratings basedon a fully loaded vehicle one with two or fourpassengers or a vehicle with just a driver onboard and in some cases tow ratings includefrontal area of the trailer as a consideration TG

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AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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20 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 15: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

AB

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

AB

OR

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16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 25

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 16: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

16 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D Ersquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Trailer Life 2008 Tow Ratin

Key To Charts

a = Automatic Transmissiona4 = Automatic Transmission four speedsa5 = Automatic Transmission five speedsa6 = Automatic Transmission six speedsm = Manual Transmission

AcuraVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

MDX 37L V-6 5000

AudiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Q7 36L V-6 5500

Q7 36L V-6 6600 (t)

Q7 43L V-8 5500

Q7 43L V-8 6600 (t)

BMW Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

X3 30si 30L I-6 3500

X5 30si 30L I-6 6000

X5 48Li 48L V-8 6000

BuickVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Enclave 36L V-6 4500 (t)

CadillacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Escalade 2WD 62L V-8 8000

Escalade AWD 62L V-8 7900

Escalade ESV 62L V-8 7400

Escalade EXT 62L V-8 7400

SRX 36L V-6 4250 (t)

SRX 46L V-8 4250 (t)

ChevroletGMCVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Acadia 36L V-6 4500 (t)

Chevy ColoradoGMC CanyonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ManAuto

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2400 (g)3400 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (g)3200 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 2WD 53L V-8 NA4000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 29L I-4 2100 (g)3000 (g)

b = 3081 axle ratioc = 3211 axle ratiod = 3231 axle ratioe = 3421 axle ratiof = 3551 axle ratiog = 3731 axle ratioh = 3921 axle ratio

i = 4101 axle ratioj = 4301 axle ratiok = 4441 axle ratiol = 4561 axle ration = 4881 axle ratioo = 5381 axle ratio

AWD = All-Wheel DriveCC = Crew CabKC = King CabQC = Quad CabSWB = Short WheelbaseLWB = Long WheelbaseDRW = Dual Rear WheelsCV = Cargo VanPV = Passenger VanRCC = Regular Chassis CabSCC = Super Chassis CabCCC = Crew Chassis Cab

TD = TurbodieselTC = TurbochargedSC = SuperchargedNA = Not applicable or not available

t = Towing package requiredx = Trailer brakes required

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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20 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 21

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 17: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 17

ings Guide

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 2WD 53L V-8 NA3800 (e)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 29L I-4 2100 (g or i)

3000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Reg Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA4000 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 29L I-4 1900 (g or i)

2900 (g or i)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon Ext Cab 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 37L I-5 NA5500 (g)

ColoradoCanyon CC 4WD 53L V-8 NA6000 (e)

With the ZQ8 Suspension Package

Chevy Equinox UplanderVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Chevy Equinox All 3500

Chevy Uplander 39L V-6 3500 (t)

Chevy ExpressGMC Savana Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB CV AWD 53L V-8 6500 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 1500 SWB PV AWD 53L V-8 6000 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 2500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 2500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7700 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6300 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7300 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 6100 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 8200 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB CV 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (i)

ExpressSavana 3500 SWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7600 (g)

ExpressSavana 3500 LWB PV 2WD 60L V-8 7300 (g)

NOTE Availability of certain enginechassis combinations varies betweenChevyGMC models See your dealer for details

Chevy AvalancheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Avalanche 1500 2WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

Avalanche 1500 4WD 60L V-8 7700 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (d)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 5300 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 5200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 7200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7200 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 8200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 43L V-6 5100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Regular Cab Longbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 4700 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 43L V-6 5200 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 5100 (d)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 48L V-8 7100 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7000 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 8000 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 5900 (e)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 48L V-8 7900 (i)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7900 (g)

1500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8900 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 1500 LB maximum

COMPILED BY CHRIS HEMER

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18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 18: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

18 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4400 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 43L V-6 4900 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4800 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheel trailers

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Standard Bed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4300 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 43L V-6 4800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-8 4700 (d)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 48L V-6 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 6700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 53L V-8 7700 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 8800 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 5500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 48L V-8 7500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 8500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package requiredrr

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Extended Cab Long Box

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (e)

1500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 7300 (g)

1500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 53L V-8 8300 (i)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent oftrailer weight up to 1500 LB maximum

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra Light Duty Crew Cab Shortbed

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 4600 (d)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 48L V-8 6600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 6600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 53L V-8 7600 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 8700 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 2WD 62L V-8 8600 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 5400 (e)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 48L V-8 7400 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 53L V-8 8500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 8400 (g)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 60L V-8 10500 (i)

1500 CC Shortbed 4WD 62L V-8 8400 (e)

Manufacturerrsquos note Shortbed models are not designed or intended to tow fifth-wheeltrailers Denali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 2500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10400 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15800 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Reg Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 15500 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10200 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12700 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15400 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 Ext Cab Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 14300 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 60L V-8 12500 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 15000 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

2500 Ext Cab LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 13400 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 10000 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 60L V-8 12900 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 2WD 66L TD V-8 15200 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

2500 CC Std Bed 4WD 66L TD V-8 13600 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

2500 CC LB 2WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

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2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 25

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 19: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 19

2500 CC LB 2WD 66L TD V-8 14400 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

2500 CC LB 4WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

2500 CC LB 4WD 66L TD V-8 12500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos note Fifth-wheel kingpin weight should be 15-25 percent of trailerweight up to 3000 LB Travel-trailer rating limited to 13000 BB LB with weight-distributing hitch

Chevy SilveradoGMC Sierra 3500 SeriesVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 10100 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12600 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9900 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12400 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 15300 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 9700 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 60L V-8 12200 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD 66L TD V-8 15100 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16300 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 9500 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 60L V-8 12000 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9200 (g)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11700 (i)

3500 Ext Cab 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16000 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 9600 (g)

3500 CC 2WD 60L V-8 12100 (i)

3500 CC 2WD 66L TD V-8 14900 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 2WD DRW 66L TD V-8 16200 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 9300 (g)

3500 CC 4WD 60L V-8 11800 (i)

3500 CC 4WD 66L TD V-8 14600 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 9100 (g)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 60L V-8 11600 (i)

3500 CC 4WD DRW 66L TD V-8 15900 (g)

Shortbed = 693 inches Standard Bed = 787 inches Longbed = 976 inchesDenali model NHT Enhanced Trailering Performance Package required

Chevy Tahoe and Suburban GMC Yukon Yukon XL Yukon Denali and Yukon XL Denali

1500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 4500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 48L V-8 6500 (g)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 6500 (d)

TahoeYukon 2WD 53L V-8 7500 (g)

Yukon 2WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6200

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 7200 (g)

TahoeYukon 4WD 53L V-8 8200 (i)

Yukon 4WD Hybrid 60L V-8 6000

Yukon Denali AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 7100 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 53L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 8100 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 7000 (g)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 53L V-8 8000 (i)

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 8000 (i)

Yukon Denali XL AWD 62L V-8 7900 (e)

Yukon Denali XL 2WD 62L V-8 8000 (e)

Chevy Suburban GMC Yukon XL 2500 Series Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

SuburbanYukon XL 2WD 60L V-8 9700

SuburbanYukon XL 4WD 60L V-8 9300

Chevy TrailBlazer GMC Envoy Envoy DenaliEnvoy Denali XL

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5400 (e)5300 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 5900 (g)5800 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 42L I-6 6400 (i)6300 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6300 (e)6100 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 2WD 53L V-8 6800 (g)6600 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 42L I-6 6200 (i)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6100 (e)6000 (e)

TrailBlazerEnvoy 4WD 53L V-8 6600 (g)6500 (g)

TrailBlazer SS 2WD 60L V-8 6800 (i)

TrailBlazer SS AWD 60L V-8 6600 (i)

Chrysler DodgeVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

300 35L V-6 2000

300 57L V-8 2000

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Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 20: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

20 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Aspen Limited 2WD 47L V-8 5950 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (f)

Aspen Limited 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (h)

Aspen Limited 4WD 47L V-8 5750 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (f)

Aspen Limited 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (h)

Caliber 24L I-4 2000 (t)

Charger 35L V-6 2000

Charger 57L V-8 2000

Grand Caravan 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Grand Caravan 40L V-6 3600 (t)

Pacifica 2WDAWD 40L V-6 2600

Town and Country 38L V-6 3600 (t)

Town and Country 40L V-6 3600 (t)

DakotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3250 (mc)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4550 (a4f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4850 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5850 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7050 (a5h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (mf)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4650 (a4h)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5600 (a5f)

Dakota Ext Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (a5h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3150 (mc)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4f)

Dakota CC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 4750 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 3800 (mf)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 37L V-6 4600 (a4h)

Dakota CC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5550 (a5f)

Note Dakota ST model tow ratings shown for V-6 models SLT model tow ratingsshown for V-8 models Towing capacity of other models may vary (usually by 100LB or less depending on equipment)

DurangoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Durango 2WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4h)

Durango 2WD 47L V-8 6050 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (a5f)

Durango 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (a5h)

Durango 4WD 47L V-8 5900 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (a5f)

Durango 4WD 57L V-8 8700 (a5h)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 100 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

MagnumVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Magnum 35L V-6 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 2000

Magnum 57L V-8 3800 (t)

Magnum SRT8 61L V-8 3800

Ram 1500 Regular Cab ShortbedVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3300 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3800 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4250 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5750 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5650 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6650 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7650 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8100 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9100 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6400 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7900 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3050 (mcf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 37L V-6 3550 (afh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 3950 (mc)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 4950 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 5450 (ac)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7450 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7850 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8850 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mf)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 4250 (mh)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (af)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 7200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (ah)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aft)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (aht)

1500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 7650 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mcf)

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1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 21: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 21

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 37L V-6 3450 (afh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 3850 (mc)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 4450 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 5300 (ac)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 6300 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 47L V-8 7300 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 7750 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 8750 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mf)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 4100 (mh)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (af)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 7050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 47L V-8 6050 (ah)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aft)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8500 (aht)

1500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 7500 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 6100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 47L V-8 7100 (af)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 7550 (aft)

1500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 8550 (aht)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 47L V-8 6800 (ah)

1500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8300 (aht)

Note ST ratings shown SLT and Laramie models have lower ratings depending onequipment See dealer for details

Ram 25003500 Regular and Quad CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11450 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9500 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11500 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12450 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13450 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13500 (agi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8950 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10950 (mi)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 9000 (ag)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 11000 (ai)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13050 (mg)

2500 Reg Cab Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13100 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11250 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 9300 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 57L V-8 11300 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13300 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 13350 (agi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8800 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10800 (mi)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 8850 (ag)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (ai)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10550 (ml)

2500 QC Shortbed PW 4WD 57L V-8 10600 (al)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12850 (mg)

2500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 12900 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9150 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11150 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 9200 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 57L V-8 11200 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12200 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13200 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 13250 (agi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8650 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10650 (mi)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 8750 (ag)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12700 (mg)

2500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 12800 (agi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11050 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 12050 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 14150 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 16150 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10450 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10500 (ai)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11700 (me)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (ag)

3500 Reg Cab Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16750 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 12300 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 14350 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 2WD 67L TD 16350 (ai)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 11850 (me)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13850 (mg)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 QC Shortbed 4WD 67L TD 16900 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 12150 (me)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14150 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 14200 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed 2WD 67L TD 16200 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13700 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 13800 (ag)

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22 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 23

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 22: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

22 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

3500 QC Longbed 4WD 67L TD 16800 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10700 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 11750 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 13850 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 2WD 67L TD 15850 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10300 (mi)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 11350 (me)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13350 (mg)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 13450 (ag)

3500 QC Longbed DRW 4WD 67L TD 16450 (ai)

PW=Power Wagon Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB orless depending on equipment and trim level)

Ram 150025003500 Mega CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 7900 (ag)

1500 2WD 57L V-8 8900 (ai)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 7450 (ag)

1500 4WD 57L V-8 8450 (ai)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 8800 (ag)

2500 2WD 57L V-8 10800 (ai)

2500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12800 (mg)

2500 2WD 67L TD 12850 (agi)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 8400 (ag)

2500 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (ai)

2500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12400 (mg)

2500 4WD 67L TD 12450 (agi)

3500 2WD 67L TD 11800 (me)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13800 (mg)

3500 2WD 67L TD 13900 (ag)

3500 2WD 67L TD 15900 (ai)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 11450 (me)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13450 (mg)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 13550 (ag)

3500 2WD DRW 67L TD 15550 (ai)

3500 4WD 67L TD 11400 (me)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13400 (mg)

3500 4WD 67L TD 13500 (ag)

3500 4WD 67L TD 16500 (ai)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 11050 (me)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13050 (mg)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 13100 (ag)

3500 4WD DRW 67L TD 16100 (ai)

Note Actual towing capacity may vary (usually by 150 LB or less depending onequipment and trim level)

Dodge Ram 3500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 14600 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 2WD 67L TD 16600 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 13000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 57L V-8 11000 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 14300 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6I)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 14250 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab 4WD 67L TD 16250 (a6i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12700 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10850 (a5i)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 14000 (mg)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (mi)

3500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 14350 (mg)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16350 (mi)

3500 QC 2WD 67L TD 16300 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 12800 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 57L V-8 10750 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 16000 (a6I)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 14050 (mg)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16050 (mi)

3500 QC 4WD 67L TD 16000 (a6i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 12400 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 57L V-8 10400 (a5i)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 13750 (mg)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15750 (mi)

3500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 15700 (a6i)

Dodge Ram 45005500 Chassis CabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18350 (a6kn)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (mIk)

4500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18000 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 17950 (a6kn)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mIk)

4500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17550 (a6kn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18450 (mkn)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 23

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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24 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 25

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 23: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 23

5500 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 67L TD 18400 (a6n)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18100 (mkn)

5500 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 67L TD 18050 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18050 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 2WD 67L TD 18000 (a6n)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17650 (mkn)

5500 QC DRW 4WD 67L TD 17600 (a6n)

Note 60-inch cab-to-axle ratings shown for ST model Greater cab-to-axlelengths may reduce rating by as much as 300 LB SLT and Laramie trim levels mayBB

reduce rating further See dealer for detailsManufacturerrsquos Note Maximum trailer weight must be reduced by the weight of theapplied body and optional equipment Ratings based on 150 LB for driver

SprinterVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sprinter All 5000

Ford

E-Series VanWagonVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-150 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 6500 (f)

E-150 Van 54L V-8 7500 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6000 (g)

E-250 Van 46L V-8 6500 (i)

E-250 Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 5900 (g)

E-250 Ext Van 46L V-8 6400 (i)

E-250 Ext Van 54L V-8 7400 (g)

E-350 54L V-8 7400 (g or i)

E-350 68L V-10 9200 (g)

E-350 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 60L TD 9600 (rf)

E-350 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 54L V-8 7200 (g or i)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 9000 (g)

E-350 Ext 68L V-10 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 9400 (f)

E-350 Ext 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-150 Wagon 46L V-8 6100 (i)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 6000 (f)

E-150 Wagon 54L V-8 7000 (g)

E-350 Wagon 54L V-8 6700 (g)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 9000 (f)

E-350 Wagon 60L TD 10000 (i)

E-350 Ext Wagon 54L V-8 6500 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note For maximum trailer weights with Crew Van deduct 200 LB

(except with 18500 and 20000-LB GCWR- )R

Edge Escape Explorer ExpeditionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Edge 35L V-6 2000

Edge 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Escape 2WD4WD 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 40L V-6 5395 (st)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 2WD 46L V-8 7310 (rt)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 40L V-6 5225 (st)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 3500 (r)

Explorer 4WD 46L V-8 7130 (rt)

Sport Trac 2WD 40L V-6 5260 (s)

Sport Trac 2WD 46L V-8 7160 (r)

Sport Trac 4WD 40L V-6 5090 (s)

Sport Trac 4WD 46L V-8 7000 (r)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (p)

Expedition 2WD 54L V-8 9200 (t)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (st)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 6000 (s)

Expedition EL 4WD 54L V-8 8750 (st)

Deduct 500 LB with auxiliary climate control

RangerVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2240 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2640 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2520 (ai) (1)

Reg Cab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2580 (mi) (1)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2320 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2360 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5740 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3280 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 23L I-4 2220 (ai)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2560 (ag)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2600 (mg)

Reg Cab 2WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 6000 (af)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2260 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 30L V-6 2300 (mg or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 5680 (ag or i)

Reg Cab 4WD 7 Bed 40L V-6 3240 (mg or i)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 23L I-4 2080 (ai)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2420 (ag)

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24 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

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F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 24: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

24 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2460 (mg)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 30L V-6 2280 (mi) (1)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5860 (af)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3400 (mf)

SuperCab 2WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3220 (mf) (1)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 5600 (ag or i)

SuperCab 4WD 6 Bed 40L V-6 3140 (mg or i)

(1) Ranger Sport only

F-150 Conventional TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 2400 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 3700 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 2300 (m)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 3600 (mf)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (ai) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (ai) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (agi)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ai)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6100 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 7900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (af)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (ag)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ai)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 8300 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 55 Bed 54L V-8 5100 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (ag)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (af)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (ag)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Reduce maximum trailer weight by 500 LB on models with 18or 20-inch wheels Harley Davidson model (4) = Available with XLT Trim andLT24575R17E AT BSW tires only (5) = Available with XL Trim andLT24570R17E AT BSW tires only

F-150 Fifth-Wheel Towing Automatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5200 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 42L V-6 5700 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7100 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8000 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5100 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 42L V-6 5600 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 7200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8900 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 10400 (i) (4)

F-150 Reg Cab 2WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 11000 (i) (5)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 7700 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (g)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6400 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 6900 (g)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 25

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 25: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 25

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 8600 (f)

F-150 Reg Cab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (gI)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6500 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 7000 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8700 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500

F-150 SuperCab 2WD 8 Bed 46L V-8 9500 (i)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6200 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6700 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8400 (f)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-150 SuperCab 4WD 8 Bed 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6300 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6800 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8500 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 2WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 46L V-8 6600 (g)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 8200 (f)

F-150 SuperCrew 4WD 65 Bed 54L V-8 9200 (g)

Manufacturerrsquos Note While F-150 SuperCrew (1385 wheelbase) and SuperCab(1325 wheelbase) 55 box will accept a fifth-wheel hitch current fifth-wheel-trailer designs are not compatible with these models without special hitch Anyquestions should be referred to the trailer dealermanufacturer

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (ij)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (gIj)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Conventional TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ig)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 12000 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (ij)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (g or i)

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26 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

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F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 26: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

26 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 60L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingAutomatic Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10100 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 68L V-10 16400 (j)

16800 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 9800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 11800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 14700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 16200 (j)

16600 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16400 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

16300 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab SRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 14200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

16100 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

15900 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 12100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18700 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (gi)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18300 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14600 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16100 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 18200 (jt)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17800 (jt)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 17700 (jt)

Available with F-350 single-rear-wheel (SRW) model only

F-250F-350 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingManual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

28 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 27: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 27

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15900 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 2WD 64L TD 16100 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 8800 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 54L V-8 10800 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 68L V-10 15700 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 2WD 64L TD 15900 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 8700 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-250350 Reg Cab 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 68L V-10 15200 (j)

F-250350 SuperCab 4WD 64L TD 15400 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-250350 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 2WD 64L TD 16200 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15800 (g or i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 CrewCab DRW 2WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10700 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 Reg Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15700 (g or i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SuperCab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13000 (i)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 Crew Cab DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Conventional TowingAutomatic and Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 64L TD 16000 (all)

Ford F-450 Super Duty Fifth-Wheel TowingVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 20500 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 24500 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 20000 (aj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 24000 (an)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 18500 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 2WD 64L TD 19500 (mn)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 18000 (mj)

F-450 Crew Cab 4WD 64L TD 19000 (mn)

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Automatic TransmissionVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9400 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11400 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

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F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 28: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

28 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (g)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-450 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-550 (all chassis-cab models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Super Duty Chassis CabConventional Towing Manual Transmission

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8400 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10400 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 7900 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 9900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12500 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 SCC 4WD 54L V-8 9600 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 SCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 7300 (g)

F-350 CCC 4WD 54L V-8 9300 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 68L V-10 12200 (i)

F-350 CCC 4WD 64L TD 12500 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15000 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15000 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 7600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 10100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15000 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 12400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 (all models) All 16000

F-550 (all models) All 16000

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Automatic Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 9500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 11500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 14300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 SCC 2WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 SCC 2WD 64L TD 15200 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 8900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 54L V-8 10900 (g)

F-350 CCC 2WD 68L V-10 13700 (i)

F-350 CCC 2WD 64L TD 14900 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 9000 (g)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 11000 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 RCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8600 (g)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 SCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14700 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 8300 (g)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 54L V-8 10300 (i)

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 68L V-10 13200 (i)

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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User Guide ContentsABGo To

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

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Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 29: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 29

F-350 CCC SRW 4WD 64L TD 14400 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 9600 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 54L V-8 11600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 16000 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 14100 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15600 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15300 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 13900 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 15400 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 15100 (g or i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 9100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 54L V-8 11100 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14000 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 15200 (gi)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13600 (i)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 15100 (j)

F-350 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14800 (g or i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 13400 (i)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 14900 (j)

F-350 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 14600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18300 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

Manufacturerrsquos Note Weights shown above are for 141-inch wheelbase modelsFor 165 189 and 201-inch wheelbase models weights may be somewhat less(usually 200 LB less with 165 and 189-inch wheelbase 400 LB with 201-inchwheelbase)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 21100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 24000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 20900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 20500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 23900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 23500 (nt)

F-350F-450F-550 Chassis Cab Fifth-WheelTowing Manual Transmission

(Weights below assume 1000-LB second-unit body weight)

Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 8500 (g)

F-350 RCC 2WD 54L V-8 10500 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 68L V-10 13300 (i)

F-350 RCC 2WD 64L TD 15500 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 8000 (g)

F-350 RCC 4WD 54L V-8 10000 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 68L V-10 12900 (i)

F-350 RCC 4WD 64L TD 15100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 8100 (g)

F-350 RCC DRW 54L V-8 10600 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 13500 (i)

F-350 RCC DRW 68L V-10 15500 (j)

F-350 RCC DRW 64L TD 15600 (g or i)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17500 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19500 (nt)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

F-450 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 18200 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17400 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19400 (nt)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 RCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17900 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17100 (j or n)

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30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 30: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

30 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

F-450 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19100 (nt)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (j or n)

F-450 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17800 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 17000 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 19000 (nt)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17500 (n or o)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16700 (n)

F-550 SCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18700 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17400 (n or o)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (j or n)

F-450 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 68L V-10 17700 (no)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 16900 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 2WD 64L TD 18900 (nt)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 68L V-10 17300 (n or o)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 16500 (n)

F-550 CCC DRW 4WD 64L TD 18500 (nt)

HondaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Odyssey 35L V-6 3500

Pilot 35L V-6 4500 (t)

Ridgeline 35L V-6 5000

Hummer H1 H2 H2 SUT H3Vehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

H2 62L V-8 8200

H2 SUT 62L V-8 8200

H3 37L I-5 4500 (a)

H3 37L I-5 3000 (a)

H3 Alpha 53L V-8 6000

HyundaiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Entourage 38L V-6 3500

Santa Fe 2WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 2WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Santa Fe 4WD 35L V-6 2000 (x)

Tucson 27L V-6 2000 (x)

Veracruz (all) 38L V-6 3500 (t)

InfinitiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

QX56 2WD 56L V-8 9000

QX56 AWD 56L V-8 8900

FX All 3500

IsuzuVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5300 (e)

Ascender 2WD 42L I-6 5800 (g)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5200 (e)

Ascender 4WD 42L I-6 5700 (g)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 3200 (ag)

i290 Ext Cab 2WD 29L I-4 2200 (mg)

i370 Ext Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (ag)

i370 Crew Cab 2WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

i370 Crew Cab 4WD 37L I-5 5500 (g)

JeepVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Commander 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Commander 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Commander 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Commander 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 30L TD V-6 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 30L TD V-6 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 4WD 37L V-6 3500

Grand Cherokee 2WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 47L V-8 6500 (s)

Grand Cherokee 2WD 57L V-8 7400 (s)

Grand Cherokee 4WD 57L V-8 7200 (s)

Grand Cherokee SRT8 61L V-8 3500 (s)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 2WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 3500 (r)

Liberty 4WD 37L V-6 5000 (s)

Wrangler 40L I-6 2000

Wrangler Unlimited 38L V-6 3500 (g)

Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 38L V-6 3500 (i)

KiaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Sorento 33L V-6 3500

Sorento 38L V-6 5000

Sportage 27L V-6 2000

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 31: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 31

Land RoverVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Land Rover LR2 32L I-6 3500 (x)

Land Rover LR3 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover 44L V-8 7716 (x)

Range Rover Sport 42L V-8 SC 7716 (x)

LexusVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

RX 350 35L V-6 3500

RX 400h (Hybrid) 33L V-6 3500

GX 470 47L V-8 6500

LX 570 57L V-8 8500

Lincoln-MercuryVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Mark LT 2WD Shortbed 54L V-8 9000

Mark LT 2WD Longbed 54L V-8 8900

Mark LT 4WD Shortbed 54L V-8 8700

Mark LT 4WD Longbed 54L V-8 8600

Mariner 30L V-6 3500 (t)

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5295

Mountaineer 2WD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7220

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 5 passenger 46L V-8 7055

Mountaineer 2WD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5205

Mountaineer 2WD 7passenger 46L V-8 7135

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 40L V-6 5000

Mountaineer AWD 7 passenger 46L V-8 6970

Navigator 2WD 54L V-8 8950

Navigator L 2WD 54L V-8 8850

Navigator 4WD 54L V-8 8750

Navigator L 4WD 54L V-8 8475

MazdaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B-2300 Reg Cab 2WD 23L I-4 2260 (au)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 3120 (mu)

B-4000 4WD 40L V-6 5580 (au)

CX7 (all) 23L TC 3500 (a)

CX9 (all) 37L V-6 3500 (at)

Tribute 30L V-6 3500 (at)

Mercedes-BenzVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

G500 50L V-8 7000

G55 AMG 54L V-8 7000

GL320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7500

GL450 46L V-8 7500

GL550 55L V-8 7500

ML320 CDI 30L TD V-6 7200

ML350 35L V-6 7200

ML550 55L V-8 7200

ML63 AMG 63L V-8 7200

MitsubishiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlander 2WD 30L V-6 2000

Outlander 4WD 30L V-6 3500

Endeavor 38L V-6 3500

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 2950 (mc)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 3650 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4c)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4450 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5350 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6450 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4050 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 37L V-6 4350 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 5150 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 2WD 47L V-8 6350 (a5h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3450 (mf)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3950 (a4f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4250 (a4h)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5250 (a5f)

Raider Ext Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6200 (a5h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 3850 (a4f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 37L V-6 4150 (a4h)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 5100 (a5f)

Raider Dbl Cab 4WD 47L V-8 6100 (a5f)

NissanVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Armada 2WD 56L V-8 9100

Armada 4WD 56L V-8 9000

Frontier KC XE 2WD 25L I-4 3500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6500

Frontier KC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 2WD 40L V-6 6300

Frontier CC SE LE Nismo 4WD 40L V-6 6100

Murano 35L V-6 3500

Pathfinder 40L V-6 6000

Pathfinder 56L V-8 7000

Quest 35L V-6 3500

Titan KC 2WD 56L V-8 9500

Titan KC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 2WD 56L V-8 9400

Titan CC 4WD 56L V-8 9400

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32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 32: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

32 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Titan Longbed CC 2WD 56L V-8 9300

Titan Longbed CC 4WD 56L V-8 9100

Xterra 40L V-6 5000

PontiacVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Torrent 34L V-6 3500

PorscheVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Cayenne All 7716

SaabVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

9-3 (all) All 3500

9-5 (all) All 3500

9-7X 42L I-6 5600

9-7X 53L V-8 6500

SaturnVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Outlook 36L V-6 4500

Vue XE 35L V-6 3500

Vue XRRed Line 36L V-6 3500

SubaruVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

B9 Tribeca 36L H-6 3500 (t)

Forester 25L H-4 2400 (x)

Outback 25L H-4 2700

Outback 30L H-6 3000

SuzukiVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Grand Vitara 27L V-6 3000

XL7 36L V-6 3500

ToyotaVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

4Runner 2WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 4WD 40L V-6 5000

4Runner 2WD 47L V-8 7300

4Runner 4WD 47L V-8 7000

FJ Cruiser 40L V-6 5000

Highlander 35L V-6 2000

Highlander 35L V-6 3500 (t)

Highlander Hybrid 33L V-6 3500

Land Cruiser 57L V-8 8500

RAV4 35L V-6 2000

Sienna 35L V-6 3500

Sequoia 2WD 47L V-8 6500

Sequoia 4WD 47L V-8 6200

Tacoma Reg Cab 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access CabX-Runner 27L I-4 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Access Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 3500

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 5000

Tacoma Double Cab 2WD4WD 40L V-6 6500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Reg Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Double Cab SB 40L V-6 5100

Tundra Double Cab LB 40L V-6 5000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Reg Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8400

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Reg Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Reg Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 7000

Tundra Double Cab SB 2WD 47L V-8 8500 (t)

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 6700

Tundra Double Cab SB 4WD 47L V-8 8200 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 6900

Tundra Double Cab LB 2WD 47L V-8 8400 (t)

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 6600

Tundra Double Cab LB 4WD 47L V-8 8100

Tundra Reg Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10800

Tundra Reg Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10500

Tundra Double Cab 2WD 57L V-8 10600

Tundra Double Cab 4WD 57L V-8 10300

Tundra CrewMax 2WD 57L V-8 10400

Tundra CrewMax 4WD 57L V-8 10100

Rating with bumper hitch

VolkswagenVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

Touareg All 7716

VolvoVehicle Engine Tow Limit (LB)

S60 25L I-5 3300

S80 All 3300

V70 32L I-6 3300

XC70 32L I-6 3970

XC90 AWD 44L V-8 4960

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 33: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 33

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Hitching UpChoosing and maintaining the proper hardware

are key to a pleasant towing experience

BY JOEL DONALDSON

The process of buying a new travel traileror fifth-wheel is teeming with choicesWhat is supposed to be an enjoyable ex-

perience is filled with such tasks as negotiatinga price arranging financing settling on a fairtrade-in value for your old rig and choosing in-surance floorplans deacutecor schemes and op-tional equipment mdash the list goes on and onHowever one of the most important choicesmay be considered an afterthought mdash namelyselecting the proper trailer hitch

Fortunately selecting the right hitch isnrsquotdifficult nor is its installation mdash after locating acompetent hitch shop Maintaining proper ad-justment of the hitch on an ongoing basis is thereal challenge and it has a large bearing on thesafety and enjoyment of trailer towing

Trailers are available in two distinctly differ-ent designs mdash one that is coupled to the rear ofthe tow vehicle by a conventional hitch ball andanother that utilizes a fifth-wheel hitch mount-ed in the truck bed centered over the rear axleThe hitching methods are as different as thetrailers and require specific knowledge by theinstaller and trailer owner

Conventional HitchesAll hitches are rated by their respective

manufacturers to safely handle up to a specificgross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) which is theweight of the trailer with full water and LP-gascylinders mdash and with all supplies aboard Sever-al weight classes exist for hitches designed fortowing conventional travel trailers

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34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

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bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 34: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

34 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

range upward to 15 percent mdash providing it doesnot violate the rating of the hitch

Except for the lightest folding trailers hitchesrated Class II and higher are used for recre-ational towing and they utilize a receiver boltedto the tow vehiclersquos frame The hitch receiver mdashwhich may have box dimensions of 11frasl1

4fraslfrasl inchessquare 2 inches square or 21frasl1

2fraslfrasl inches squarewith larger boxes designed for higher load rat-ings mdash accepts a slide-in ball mount (or drawbar) which is then secured with a pin

Besides serving as the trailerreceiver at-tachment point the ball mount also is used invarying heights (known as ldquodroprdquo) to couple thetrailer in a level fashion (frame parallel to theroad surface) which is desirable for best stabil-ity and trailer-brake performance Some ballmounts are fixed while others are adjustable

Ball mounts used for weight-carrying hitch-es are quite different than those used for loaddistributing Need for weight-distributing hitch-es varies with tow-vehicle type and trailerweight A trailer with 350 pounds of hitchweight may present no challenge for a stifflysprung long-wheelbase 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton pickup while itmay destabilize a softly sprung compact SUV Ingeneral a weight-distributing hitch will improve

Weight CarryingClass I 200-LB HW 2000-LB GVWR

Class II 350-LB HW 3500-LB GVWR

Class III 500-LB HW 5000-LB GVWR

Class IV 750-LB HW 7500-LB GVWR

Class V 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Weight DistributingClass IV 1200-LB HW 12000-LB GVWR

Class V 1400-LB HW 14000-LB GVWR

HW=Hitch Weight

Weight-carrying hitches are intended forlighter trailers because the entire trailerrsquos hitchweight is carried on the ball and transferred tothe rear axle of the tow vehicle whereas load-distributing hitches are designed to distributethe trailerrsquos hitch weight to all axles of the towvehicle and trailer making larger heavier trail-ers with considerably higher hitch weights tow-able without destabilizing the tow vehicle

A trailer with ideal weight distribution willhave a minimum hitch weight of about 10 per-cent of the gross weight and the maximum can

To determine hitch weight first get a reading on axle weight (above) then unhitch the trailer for a total weight reading and then subtract the axle weight from the total

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 35: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 35

Because many receivers are usable in ei-ther weight-carrying or weight-distributingconfigurations mdash depending on the ball mountmdash the receiverrsquos manufacturer may list bothratings

Weight-distributing hitches should be usedin many weight situations of Class II and inmost situations of Class III and above Unliketheir weight-carrying counterparts these hitch-es typically use a much heavier ball mount (ad-justable in height) plus a pair of spring barsthat provide the leverage needed to distributeweight fore and aft

Hitch AdjustmentAfter having a load-distributing hitch of

proper weight rating installed owners may takethe rest for granted which can be a costly errorbecause an improperly adjusted load-distribut-ing hitch can contribute to trailer sway which isa very undesirable handling trait

The keys to happy towing are proper ballheight and proper load (tension) on the springbars When all aspects are correct the tow ve-hicle and the trailer are at proper ride heightwhich in most cases is level (One exceptionwill be described later) Proper hitch adjust-ment helps prevent rear-axle overloading andimproves braking and steering response

Evaluating the proper adjustment of a load-distributing hitch is relatively simple The towvehicle should maintain the same attitude be-fore hitching that it does after hitching meas-ured at reference points at the front and rearbumpers If itrsquos level before hitching it shouldbe level afterward although slightly lower dueto the addition of hitch weight Level attitudemeans adequate load is placed on the springbars to distribute portions of the hitch weightequally to the front and rear axles If the rear ofthe tow vehicle sags after hitching then thespring-bar loading is not adequate

The exception to level attitude If the towvehicle is a stiffly sprung pickup and the rear ofthe truck is higher than the front that attitudeshould be maintained after hitching Suchtrucks often will carry heavy loads without theneed for weight-distributing hitches and with-out sagging But care must be exercised hereAlthough the truck may not look like itrsquos sag-ging visually the hitch weight carried by the

Equal-i-zer hitch

Hensley Arrow hitch

Blue Ox hitch

PullRite 70 Degree hitch

Ford Super Duty receiver

stability in most situations because weightresting on a hitch ball (when a weight-carryinghitch is used) loads the rear axle excessively byplacing all of the hitch weight on that axle inaddition to weight that is transferred from thefront axle to the rear in a see-saw action

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36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

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EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

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Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

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  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 36: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

36 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

rear axle may still create an unstable situationIf the trailer is not level after spring bars have

been adjusted to create the proper tow-vehicleattitude the ball height should be corrected

Trailer sway can be a problem if trailer bal-ance or hitch adjustment are not correct be-cause the trailer has steering leverage on thetow vehicle by virtue of being connected to thetow vehicle 3 or 4 feet behind the rear axleWith correct hitching trailer balance may be aproblem if the hitch weight is less than 10 per-cent of gross weight It should be more than 10percent for best stability

Even with a well-balanced trailer and aproperly adjusted hitch use of a sway-controldevice is highly recommended Often calledsway bars (not to be confused with anti-rollbars fitted to axles of tow vehicles) sway-con-trol devices are designed to damp rotation ofthe coupler on the hitch ball They improve thehandling characteristics of the trailertow vehi-cle combination whether the hitch method isweight-carrying or weight-distributing

Sway-control devices are available in twodifferent configurations the most popular ofwhich is one that employs a steel bar attachedto the ball mount that is encased in a rail ortube attached to the trailer A-frame Inside therail or tube is friction material that is clampedagainst the steel bar (adjustable) Any pivotingof the trailer coupler on the bar causes the barto slide within the rail creating drag and damp-ing sway On larger trailers itrsquos often possible touse a pair of friction-type units for additionalsway control

One popular hitch (the Equal-i-zer) in-cludes a friction feature in the hitch design(tips of spring bars create friction on trailer-frame brackets)

Cam-type sway units work by modifying theoperation of the spring bars on a weight-dis-tributing hitch As the trailer turns a cam in-creases the tension on one of the bars creat-ing a force that tends to pull the trailer backinto a straight line The harder the trailer turnsthe stronger this self-centering force becomesSince this scheme relies on spring-bar tensionitrsquos generally most effective on trailers with rel-atively high hitch weights (eg trailers requiringconsiderable spring-bar tension)

The Hensley Arrow and Pulliam Enterprisesrsquo

PullRite hitch systems offer different ap-proaches to controlling sway

The Hensley unit prevents sway through useof trapezoidal hitch linkages that make the towvehicle and trailer act as a single unit with nopivoting of the coupler on the ball unless thetow vehicle turns Thus during typical highwaytravel the tow vehicle and trailer are connectedas non-articulated vehicles and tend to func-tion as a single unit Even so there is no restric-tion on the tow vehiclersquos capability for turns

The PullRite in effect moves the hitch pivotpoint to a location immediately aft of the tow ve-hiclersquos rear axle dramatically reducing the lever-age the trailer can exert on the tow vehicle

Fifth-Wheel HitchesFifth-wheel towing is quite a different story

The trailerrsquos kingpin serves as the pivot pointfor the fifth-wheel hitch which is centeredslightly ahead or above the truckrsquos rear axleThe trailerrsquos kingpin slides into the hitch headwhere it is secured between latching jaws Thishead is attached to a support base whichtransfers the towing forces to the truck frame

The design prevents the trailer from havingany steering effect on the tow vehicle and iswhat gives fifth-wheel trailers such good roadmanners Wind gusts and road irregularitieshave little or no effect on tow-vehicle stability

Most hitches are secured to the bed with apair of mounting rails while other designs (un-derbed systems) leave the truck bed flat afterthe hitch is removed Most removable systemsuse permanently mounted rails with pins to se-cure the hitch head The underbed style offifth-wheel hitch mount is completely differentin that the entire hitch mechanism is removedby simply pulling a lever in the wheel well

Draw-Tite W-D hitch

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

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40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 37: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 37

Some systems where the hitch saddle andsupport base can be removed separately makeit easier on the back when lifting the hardware

Many fifth-wheel heads are mounted so theytilt fore and aft however having only the fore-and-aft pivot restricts side-to-side movement

Some hitches have heads that pivot in mul-tiple directions allowing the pinbox to move inany direction with respect to the pickup whilestill maintaining a tight mechanical connectionThis also makes it easier to hitch or unhitch thetrailer on uneven ground

Another strategy for improving trailer-truckflexibility involves the use of air springs as partof the hitch design Typically the hitch is sus-pended on multiple bladder-type air bagswhich support most of the trailerrsquos kingpinweight Aside from providing considerable ar-ticulation these bags are also capable ofsmoothing out much of the road shocks and vi-bration that would otherwise be transmittedfrom the trailer to the tow vehicle Adjustmentsto the system can be accomplished by varyingthe amount of air pressure in the bags

Shortbed pickups are now more popularthan ever particularly among extended-cabmodels However a short bed often causescomplications when using the truck for towinga fifth-wheel because the proper hitch-mount-ing location is far enough forward to causetrailer-to-cab collisions during sharp turns In-stalling an extended pinbox provides a work-able solution with smaller trailers with modestpin weights However owners should firstcheck with the pinbox manufacturer beforeadding any extension

For larger units one solution is a conven-tional hitch that can be manually unlocked andmoved aft on a special set of rails before

making tight turns PullRite offers a hitch thatperforms this motion automatically returning tothe forward-towing position after the turn iscompleted Rearward travel can be as much as22 inches for some models which is generallyadequate for accommodating 102-inch-widetrailers Turns as tight as 90 degrees are possi-ble in some cases

Maximum weight ratings for fifth-wheelhitches range up to 25500 pounds grossweight with as much as 25 percent of it on thehitch (most fivers have 20 percent hitch weightor less) and itrsquos best to choose a unit that notonly will handle the trailer it will be used to towbut also any possibility of a larger trailer al-though a higher-rated hitch will cost more andwill be slightly heavier

In either case mdash be it conventional or fifth-wheel towing mdash the use of a properly ratedhitch adjusted correctly will ensure a safe andpleasurable towing experience TG

SourcesAutomatic Equipment

Manufacturing (888) 425-5382wwwaemfgcom

BampW Truck Beds Inc (800) 248-6564 wwwturnoverballcom

Draw-Tite Hitches (866) 308-9054wwwdrawtite-hitchescom

Equal-i-zer Hitch (800) 478-5578wwwequalizerhitchcom

Hensley Manufacturing Inc (800)410-6580 wwwhensleymfgcom

MORryde International (574) 293-1581 wwwmorrydecom

Pulliam Enterprises (877) 785-5748wwwpullritecom

RBW Industries Inc (800) 451-7821wwwrbwindustriescom

Reese Division Cequent Towing

Products (800) 326-1090wwwreeseproductscom

Trailair (800) 998-4238wwwtrailaircom

TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches (800)410-6580 wwwtrailersavercom

Reese Plus fifth-wheel hitch

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

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Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 38: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

38 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Towing-PackagBY JEFF JOHNSTON

Anew tow-vehicle buyer is presented witha dizzying array of options when choos-ing a tow vehicle but therersquos one option

that is essential The towing packageThere are several good reasons for choos-

ing factory-installed towing hardware You havefull warranty coverage on the equipment It wasdesigned by the best engineering minds at amajor auto manufacturer which is reassuringwhen considering the hardware is tying yourtruck and trailer safely together Yoursquoll probablysave money over the cost of aftermarket hard-ware And perhaps best of all use of the factoryoptions means being ready for the road is aturnkey operation that calls for few or no tripsto specialty shops after leaving the dealership

In many cases you donrsquot have a choice Ifthe vehicle is to be rated for its highest towingcapacity the towing-package option is manda-tory to give the tow vehicle its optimum per-formance potential For less-strenuous dutythe towing package is optional

Check the dealer literature to determine thecontent of the towing-package option The fol-lowing are some of the items you will likely en-counter

Towing Axle Ratio Most packages in-clude a lower (numerically higher) axle ratio forexample a 3731 or 4101 instead of the3551 that comes with the stock vehicle Alower ratio results in greater torque multiplica-tion at the rear wheels which means morepower for towing It also means the engineturns somewhat faster for a given road speedbut thatrsquos the tradeoff for improved towing per-formance

Hitch Receiver If the tow vehicle alreadyhas a receiver all you need to select is theproper ball mount and the associated hard-ware such as a load-distributing hitch The re-ceiver will be properly matched to the tow vehi-clersquos trailer-towing rating so you neednrsquot worryabout any hitch-overloading situations mdash aslong as you pay attention to the numbers Yoursquoll

Whatrsquos in a Towing PackageOverall packages vary by model buthere are some components that maybe included

Hitch receiver

4- andor 7-pin connector

Larger alternator

Larger battery

Larger radiator

Additional electric fan(s)

Transmission-fluid cooler

Engine-oil cooler

Rear anti-sway bar

Extendible mirrors

Vehicle Dynamic Control

Integrated brake controller

Brake controller pre-wire

Synthetic lubricants

Lower axle ratio

Re-valved shock absorbers

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

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46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 39: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 39

age Essentials

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 40: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

40 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

also avoid interference problems with the ex-haust pipe(s) the fuel tank and the spare tire

Wiring Package The wiring package atits simplest is a group of color-coded pigtailsnear the back bumper thatrsquos ready for installa-tion of the trailer-plug receptacle It can also beas complete as a plug or two installed out backa pre-wired pigtail for brake-control installationunder the dash and full integration with the towtow vehiclersquos electric system

Alternator It takes extra charging currentto keep a trailerrsquos battery(ies) charged in addition to handling the electrical-powerneeds of the tow vehicle The battery itselfmay also be larger

Heavy-Duty Suspension The trailer andits hitch weight add load on the tow-vehiclesuspension so the normal reaction amongdealership sales staff and buyers alike is toorder the optional heavy-duty (HD) suspen-sion particularly when fifth-wheel towing is in-volved In fact when the trailer is a convention-al ball-type trailer itrsquos often best not to order aheavy-spring option if there is a choice (if thetowing package does not include HD suspen-sion) for trucks rated 8600 pounds and abovebecause stiff ride and the tendency of the rearsprings to do some or most of the work of theload-distributing hitch can be the result A stiffride is a very common complaint among own-ers of 3frasl3

4fraslfrasl -ton and one-ton pickups not towingfifth-wheels

A case can be made for not ordering an HDsuspension even for fifth-wheel towing mdash ex-cept in very high pin-weight situations mdash optinginstead to install auxiliary springs or air bagsafter delivery to support the pin weight (if nec-essary) which allows a more civilized ride onstandard rear springs while not towing Itrsquos nec-essary to compare the standard and optionalrear-axle-weight ratings relative to the antici-pated trailer pin weight Itrsquos easy to upgraderear suspensions after a truck is built but near-ly impossible to soften the ride of an over-sprung truck without replacing the suspensionSUVs have enough of their body weight on therear axle so that itrsquos not an issue

Brake Control Fordrsquos Super Duty was theoriginal tow rig to offer a factory-installedbrake controller This unit works amazingly wellGM is offering the same for 2008 on select

vehicles Otherwise towing packages usuallyinclude a trailer-wiring harness with a circuit foran aftermarket brake-control unit mdash a veryworthwhile component of the package

Stability Control More manufacturersare now offering electronic stability control

Mirrors Many towing packages offer mir-rors designed to be extended outward whiletowing trailers

Extra Cooling The largest possible radia-tor a larger transmission-oil cooler and often apower-steering-fluid cooler are essential partsof the usual HD cooling component of a tow-ing package and we advise that no tow vehicleshould be ordered without them

These components will not only help thetow vehicle avoid overheating any vital func-tional parts but they will also lead to longertrouble-free component service life TG

Fordrsquos electricfoldingmirrorsrequire lessspace thanconventionalmirrors whenfolded andoffer a clearview of theside of thetrailer whentheyrsquoreextended fortowing

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 41: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

Electric-brake systems have been em-ployed for several decades on mosttrailers that have any significant weight

Each trailer with electric brakes in turn also re-quires that the tow vehicle be fitted with abrake controller

For a number of years brake-controllerchoices have been extensive mdash all aftermar-ket and all electronic mdash but Ford changed thegame in 2005 with the first trailer-brake-control system included as an integral part ofthe tow vehiclersquos design The trailer-brake con-troller is part of Fordrsquos TowCommand SystemToday GM also offers a built-in control on se-lect vehicles

Until the advent of anti-lock brake systems(ABS) most brake controllers were tapped di-rectly into the hydraulic lines of the tow vehiclersquos

on-board hydraulic-braking system They wereoften described as hydraulicelectric brakecontrollers as they converted hydraulic pres-sure in the tow vehiclersquos brake system to anelectric signal used to activate the trailerrsquosbrakes directly proportional to hydraulic pres-sure in the vehiclersquos braking system

A significant factor in elimination of thissystem was the advent of ABS because vehi-cle manufacturersrsquo cautioned against tappinginto the hydraulic system The controllers dis-placed a small amount of brake fluid and withABS systems brake-cylinder volume was morelimited so manufacturers warned not to addcontrollers that displaced more than 002 cubicinches The tap-in could not occur downstreamof the ABS mechanism so the pressure wason to devise alternate systems

2008 AB Towing Guide | 41

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

ControllingTrailer Brakes

Advances in technology help smooth out the process and improve safety and reliability

BY CHUCK HAMMOCK

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 42: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

42 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Electronics were the answer and many dif-ferent types of aftermarket brake controllerswere developed mdash none tied in with the tow ve-hiclersquos hydraulic system however Even in theold days of hydraulicelectric controllers allwere sold in the aftermarket until Ford becamethe first to offer a trailer-brake actuation sys-tem installed at the factory

Fordrsquos Braking SystemAs Ford was first to offer a factory-installed

brake controller into the tow vehicle letrsquos look atthe system Fordrsquos integrated controller elec-tronically tracks hydraulic pressure inside thevehiclersquos master cylinder and uses the pres-sure along with vehicle speed to modulate theamount of current produced for trailer brakesThus the system accurately follows tow-vehiclebraking mdash more at high speeds than low mdash evento the point of utilizing ABS If the tow-vehiclewheels are slipping ABS goes into action forthe tow vehicle as well as the trailer The Fordsystem doesnrsquot give the trailer the same func-tions and characteristics of true ABS but whenthe truckrsquos ABS is activated the trailer-brakeapplication is reduced to avoid wheel lockup mdashjust as with true ABS A dash monitor indicatesthe level of trailer braking and a manual over-ride is provided so the trailer brakes can be ap-plied independently of tow-vehicle brakes

The system cannot be retrofitted to earli-er Ford models and aftermarket controllersstill must be used for most other vehicles sothe demand for aftermarket controllers re-mains quite large Accordingly itrsquos helpful to

understand whatrsquos out there and how to makea good choice

In essence all electronic brake controllersfall into two general categories timer-basedbrake controllers and inertia-based proportion-al brake controllers All brake controllers gen-erate an output signal to a trailer-brake systemwhen a user first touches the tow vehiclersquosbrake pedal or activates the brake controllerrsquosmanual control mdash if so equipped What happensnext varies greatly depending on whetheryoursquore using a timer-based or proportionalbrake controller

While most manufacturers will identify theirproportional brake controllers as such you usu-ally wonrsquot see the words ldquotimer-basedrdquo in the lit-erature for a nonproportional brake controllerInstead marketers will sometimes advertisetimer-based controllers as having the advan-tage of requiring no leveling but even that ideais confusing Several proportional brake con-trollers do not require leveling Timer-basedcontrollers are also touted as being micro-processor-operated but all brake controllerscontain a processor of some kind Even themost sophisticated timer-based microprocessordoesnrsquot determine how hard you are brakingonly how long yoursquove been braking A good ruleof thumb is that if it doesnrsquot say the word ldquopro-portionalrdquo somewhere in the literature itrsquos prob-ably a timer-based brake controller

Timer-Based vs ProportionalA timer-based brake controller has a timer

that generates an output signal for your RVrsquos

Hensley TruControl brake controller

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 43: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 43

brakes that increases with the amount of timeyou keep your foot on the brake pedal It doesnrsquotknow whether yoursquore braking gently on agradual downhill grade or if yoursquore in a panicstop The rate of increase in output (the slopeof the voltage ramp) has no bearing on pedaleffort but can usually be adjusted for brakingaggressiveness

An inertia-based proportional controllergenerates an output that is as the name sug-gests directly proportional to your brakingneeds Most proportional brake controllersmeasure the tow vehiclersquos rate of decelerationby means of a pendulum The quicker you slowthe further the pendulum is displaced via iner-tia from its at-rest position This creates anelectric signal to your trailerrsquos brakes that isproportional to your deceleration rate

Tekonsha and its sister companies use aseries of LEDs and photoelectric detectors intheir proportional controllers to determine theposition of the displaced pendulum and there-fore determine the deceleration rate Hayes-Lemmerz uses the Hall effect a well-knownphysics principal involving moving magnets todetermine the pendulumrsquos position

All pendulum controllers are subject tosome inaccuracies as the pendulum can tiltslightly forward or backward on steep gradesMost such controllers employ a damping de-vice to stabilize the sensor against vibrationsand the damper helps reduce the effect of thefore-or-aft-tilt problem

The pendulumrsquos position is adjustedthrough the level-control knob This allows the

pendulum to be oriented to a true vertical rest-ing position to compensate for the angle of thebrake-controller body (the ldquolevelingrdquo referred toin some timer-based-controller advertising)The level adjustment also allows the driver topitch the pendulum slightly forward or aft of itsnormal resting position to set up the trailer soits braking is aggressive or delayed

Most drivers prefer some braking effectfrom the trailerrsquos brakes on the initial touch ofthe brake pedal and adjust the brake controlleraccordingly to provide this so-called thresholdvoltage This adjustment produces some out-put (typically 2 volts) without the initial timeperiod having passed or deceleration havingoccurred in the two electric brake-controllertypes This time period or deceleration event isnormally needed to activate the timer-basedcontroller or the proportional pendulum-basedcontroller respectively

Which is WhichWith dozens of different models of brake

controllers on the market many RVers may findthe selection of the right controller difficultwithout some form of guidance While budget-ary considerations may force a user into onecategory of controller this is a critical systemwhere pinching pennies may not be advisable

When faced with the need for a panic stopmost drivers want a controller that will respondin proportion to their braking needs at that mo-ment Keep in mind that a timer-based con-troller canrsquot respond in this manner as its out-put is fixed for a certain timed duration

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 44: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

44 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Wire AwayCritical to every successful brake-controller

installation is the proper tow-vehicle wiringWhile you should carefully follow the manufac-turerrsquos recommendations there are certaincommon elements to almost every controller

Among priorities is a reliable power sourcewhich may include a vehicle manufacturerrsquosbuilt-in circuitry for an aftermarket brake con-troller The main power line should be at least a10 AWG wire from a circuit breaker at the fusebox or the battery to the brake controllerrsquospower-input connection (follow specific instruc-tions for your controller) The circuit should con-tinue from the controller without any splicesand terminate at the seven-pin connector foundat the rear of your tow vehicle Most manufac-turers advise against grounding the controllerto the vehiclersquos firewall but recommend routinga 10 AWG (or larger) separate ground wire di-rectly to the battery the controller may notfunction properly if the ground connection isnot made directly to the battery terminal

The other wiring connection is made to thebrakelight circuit downstream of the brakelightswitch mounted to the brake-pedal assemblyso the controller senses when yoursquove activatedthe brakes

Later-model vehicles with tow packageshave brake-control wiring bundled under thedash with a plug-in connector attached A pig-tail with the mating part of the connector issupplied with the vehicle and is ready for con-nection to the brake control wiring This setupavoids most of the complexity and possiblemistakes with locating the correct wiringamong that maze under the dash

Among more recent developments ac-celerometers are being used to measure brak-ing force Tekonsha has embraced this tech-nology in its Prodigy brake controller and USGear uses it in the companyrsquos system intendedfor vehicles towed behind motorhomes (dinghyvehicles) Likewise Hensley Manufacturinguses accelerometers in its new high-tech Tru-Control trailer brake control

Todayrsquos RVer has many choices in brakecontrollers from many manufacturers Itrsquos im-portant to be careful in choosing the controllerthat is right for your needs and thatrsquos capableof handling the weight and number of axles onyour trailer

Be sure to follow your manufacturerrsquos writ-ten instructions about every aspect of the brakecontrollerrsquos installation operation adjustmentand maintenance for optimal performance TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 45: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

2008 AB Towing Guide | 45

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

Be AwarePlenty of practice and defensive driving skills

lead to safe and enjoyable towing

BY BRAD CLAYTON

Towing a trailer is certainly not difficult butit does represent a step up in complexityfrom driving a solo vehicle requiring new

awareness of combined vehicle length trailerwidth braking distance turning characteristicsand several other vital factors that must beconsidered while towing a trailer

Most of us drive trucks SUVs or passengercars daily and graduate to RVs only occasionallyThus itrsquos always necessary to make a mentaltransition and try to keep the size and handling

characteristics of the larger rig in mindAllowing solo-vehicle habits to take over

may result in a tendency to make turns tootightly run over curbs hit stationary objectssuch as overhanging tree limbs or to follow tooclosely

Eyes on the RoadThe first towing precautions are those that

precede towing mdash matching the tow vehicleand trailer correctly adhering to weight limits

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 46: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

46 | 2008 AB Towing Guide

rsquo08 T O W I N G G U I D E

and making sure hitch selection and adjust-ment are correct as described elsewhere inthis guide And itrsquos also important to refresh de-fensive driving skills From there the real funbegins

The combined length of tow vehicle andtrailer as well as the combined weight must bein the forefront of your mind right from thestart Maintaining extended following distancesis one of the most important towing-relateddriving habits that initially is difficult to adhereto because we tend to fall into our typical driv-ing habits

Even though trailer brakes may be func-tional braking distances almost always areextended Itrsquos also important to make lanechanges carefully and slowly and to allowextended distances for passing Good solidlymounted extendible mirrors with large reflec-tive areas mdash adjusted properly mdash are alsoessential

Speedy traffic seems more tolerant of slow18-wheelers than of slow RVs which makescourtesy an important safety factor for RVowners because an irate driver trying to passcan be a serious safety threat courtesy is notonly the consideration of others itrsquos a safetyissue Frequent monitoring of rearview mirrorsis necessary when a vehicle is tailgating andtrying to pass we should help by driving slightlyto the right to give the other driver a better viewof the road ahead even if a passing opportunitydoes not exist at the time We should useturnouts whenever possible and avoid follow-ing another vehicle so closely that a vehicleovertaking from the rear cannot return to theproper lane

Time for a BrakeWhile RV brakes are adequate for most sit-

uations care is necessary to avoid overheatingwhich can lead to brake fade If brake fade oc-curs it will likely be on steep downgrades Ifthis happens friction will raise the temperatureof brake pads and linings to extremely high lev-els resulting in temporary loss of braking

The cure is prevention mdash downshifting to agear range that is low enough to retard speedsufficiently that brakes need not be used morethan occasionally This way enough brakingperformance is reserved to make an emer-

gency stop should it become necessaryWhen braking on a grade is necessary

apply the brakes intermittently with moderatepressure and release the pedal to allow thebrakes to cool

The action of electric trailer brakes shouldbe apparent to the driver and sufficient enoughto handle the trailerrsquos weight The controllershould be adjusted so that maximum brakingaction does not cause trailer-wheel lockup Im-proper controller adjustment is a major cause ofinadequate braking so itrsquos wise to study themanufacturerrsquos instructions Travel-trailer insta-bility (fishtailing) should not occur in a well-bal-anced well-hitched combination but if it doesindependent actuation of trailer brakes usuallywill bring the trailer back into line

Back-Up PlansAll trailers require more space for turns and

travel trailers follow the tow-vehicle track moreclosely than do fifth-wheels which track fartherto the inside of a turn There is need for contin-ual awareness which should eventually be-come second-nature after a modest amount ofon-the-road experience

Fifth-wheel trailers are different to backthan conventional trailers and require morepractice for someone accustomed to backing aconventional trailer A well-used technique in-volves placing onersquos hand at the bottom of thesteering wheel and moving it in the same direc-tion the trailer is intended to go Itrsquos more effec-tive with travel trailers than with fifth-wheelswhich often require more turning of the steer-ing wheel Hand-held two-way radios can allowan assistant to more effectively relay backinginstructions to the driver

Before each trip itrsquos essential to check thetires to assure that inflation pressures matchthose molded on tire sidewalls (cold) or thatthey are appropriate for your load (consultloadinflation tables) Also be sure to inspectall vehicle fluids and make sure trailer-wheellug nuts are tightened to factory specifications

Trailering is a great way to explore the newhorizons and a great way to check out the won-derful camping destinations that are availableto owners of recreational trailers But alwayskeep in mind that defensive driving will pay offin safe travel TG

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 47: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 48: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

EVEN THE TURBOCHARGER HAS A TURBOCHARGER

Available F-450 pickup properly equipped

fordvehiclescom

THE NEW 2008 F-SERIES SUPER DUTYreg WITH DUAL TURBOSOnly on the all-new 64L Power Strokereg Diesel engine The first turbo gets

things moving off the line The second keeps things moving at higher speeds Together they mean power Anytime All the time Like the power to tow up

to 24500 pounds Thatrsquos more than any other pickup in America

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing
Page 49: A B...Chrysler is usin g the same hybrid technolo - gy in its Chrysler As pen and Dodge Durango , claiming a whopping 4 0 -percent increase in fuel economy in the city, and 2 5 percent

Welcome to our digital edition of Trailer Life Magazine This formatmakes it easy for you to navigate the magazine andprovides direct links to Internet sites of our advertisers ourTrailerLifecom Web site and many Web sites to supplement oureditorial features

We recommend a Page Layout view of Two-Up (or Facing depend-ing on the version of Reader) Showing Cover Page howeverAdobe Reader provides several options you may prefer

We hope you enjoy reading our Digital Trailer Life magazine andwe encourage your comments and suggestions to our editor at

kbunkeraffinitygroupcom

bull Click on the TrailerLifecom button to go directly to our Web site

bull Click on the User Guide button on any page to bring you back to this page

bull Click on the Contents button to take you to the Table of Contents page from anywhere in the magazine

bull When the hand icon changes to a pointing fin-ger it indicates a link to a Web site or to another page inthe magazine

bull Use the Zoom tool to zoom in on the page Use

the Zoom-out tool and hold down the option(Macintosh) or Windows key to toggle back and forth

bull Click and drag using the Dynamic Zoom tool toinfinitely control the zoom

AB

Here are some tips on how to use Digital Trailer Life

User Guide ContentsABGo To

com

  • Contents
  • Towing 2008
  • Tow Vehicle Selection
  • How to Use This Guide
  • 2008 Tow Ratings Guide
  • Hitching Up
  • Towing Package Essentials
  • Controlling Trailer Brakes
  • Be Aware Safe Towing