Let&amp;#39;s talk about Half-Ton Trucks

!±8± Let's talk about Half-Ton Trucks

What is driving your vehicle stacks up in the real world

I was watching TV the other night, when a Ford commercial came. They had two competing vehicles fitted with a £ 11 000 trailers and the guy says something along the lines of, it would take two trucks to tow a trailer, £ 11,000, when a Ford F-150 with a fully boxed frame have. Now, since what I do for a living these commercial advertising has been my focus.

My first thought was that aFully boxed frame might be a nice feature, but I found it hard to believe that this was why the trucks could tow more weight than any other half-ton trucks on the planet. The last time I checked, were strong reasons for evaluations towing due to factors such as engine, gearbox and rear axle ratio to name a few. This sparked my curiosity and I decided I would do the next day without my daily work plan and investigate the claim that a half-ton Ford F-150 could in fact tow 11,000 poundssafe.

The first task was to revise some of Ford towing guide published to confirm the accusation. I started with the 2007 Ford Fleet Towing Guide. When I read the section on half-ton truck was discovered me, which was published the highest rating for a half-ton towing F-150 listings total of £ 10,500. Upon further investigation I discovered that there is only one F-150 trucks, 56 configurations are available, £ 10,500 with this assessment. It 'been a regular cab 4X2, with a wheelbase and a 144.5 cm4.10 axle ratio. Wait, there's a note, it says that this truck and a heavy payload package is needed, and said brackets (late availability). I do not know if this guide was published towing, heavy load or if this package was at the time of this writing.

We are looking for, we look so far. Configurations of 56 between Ford F-150 half ton regular cab, supercab and Supercrew trucks, two wheel drive, four wheel drive, read the short and long bedRelationship models were 3.55, 3.73 or 4.10 axle is only rated an F-150 half-ton trucks to transport 10,500 pounds. The last time I checked regular cab, long wheel base two-wheel drive truck was not the preferred choice among the masses to buy in the truck category.

But wait, there's another problem, the TV spot, said Ford had a half-ton F-150, which could tow 11,000 pounds, not 10,500. Before wasting a lot of time, for no reason, I decided I had a couple of other 2007 towing guide to verifyto see if one of them could explain part of this mess around. The 2007 RV towing companies listed Guide 49, F-150 trucks in different configurations, which was the highest bribe of £ 9900. Again it was a regular cab, two wheel drive with an 8-foot bed and a 5.4-liter V-8 engine. There were two notes, which called for an automatic transmission and a 4.10:1 final drive ratio. The 2007 Trailer Life Towing Guide lists the same year 49, F-150 configurations using the same modelRated to tow 9,900 GBP. Now I was totally confused. Can a F-150 Tow 9900, 10,500 or £ 11,000? I decided I better contact someone at the Ford commercials, and find out what's going on. Who was right, or pull a TV ad of the results published?

I searched and searched for any information contact your local Ford, who may soon clear on this, but soon discovered it was a challenge to reach the top. The next thing I found wasa Ford public relations phone number, I came across on the Internet. I spoke with a young woman of my dilemma, she said, she was not allowed my name. I explained the problem between Spike TV and the towing guide published and they told me that the tow rating of how the trucks are based was provided. I tried to explain that I understand it, but that this does not answer my question. Their final answer was for me to put a Ford dealer and have beenable to answer all my questions. I now have this RV towing, it has been for some time, but for the benefit of the doubt and meeting with the leadership, I contacted a Ford dealer. I'm glad I did not pay for the call, because that's what I suspected already proven to be correct. I spoke with the sales and service, and no one could tell me what the highest rating for a 2007 F150 towing, was based on any configuration.

I let thingsRest for a few days so I have a job I had to stay back. And here I saw the same commercial television. Well, instead I was just curious to start looking at this same large public commercial advertising may be affected. The next morning I did some research on the Internet. I soon discovered, this spot was part of the Ford Challenge campaign. They also have a website for them. Taking up the challenge. Find out why Ford is the bestChoice. I'm sure that probably some of the other challenge Ford commercials with the Ford Fusion and Ford Expedition seen. More fundamentally, the challenge some of Ford's advertising vehicle characteristics and capabilities than its competitors. The F-150's best-in-class loading and towing.

In an attempt to be honest, and non-executive, I tried a second time for someone to Ford, which could clarify the issue at contact. This time I had to pay to sendE-mail to our customer service department at the listing of pricing and marketing. Ten days later I received a response from Ford Motor Report Center customers regarding maximum towing capacity of 2007 Ford F-150. He said: "In an effort to help you, we have researched your request As per our resources, the maximum towing pounds for a properly equipped F-150 at no cost is £ 10,500 .." There was no trace of the advertised £ 11,000 in Reviewe-mail response.

Now I think really need to contact someone at Ford for an explanation. The third attempt I went to media.ford.com. This is where all types of media can not access information easily accessible to the public. I registered, listed my credentials and gained access. After examining the local media have called the place to go for a press release that refers to the F-150 £ 11 000 review, but never received a response. Then I contacted the director of FordNorth American Marketing Sales and Communication by e-mail. I have not received a reply about a week, so I called and left a message on the answering machine. I have not heard anything at the time of this writing. Personally, I wish someone at Ford would like to clarify the issue.

After further research, it was my opinion and my opinion only when the winds of the 2007 Toyota Tundra Ford an offer of a 5.7-liter V-8 with 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque was, they felta little 'threatened. Earlier this year, Toyota said it would be a half-ton trucks towing of £ 10,000 + reviews have. Edmunds.com, a Toyota Tundra 2007 review found that a properly equipped Regular Cab 4X2 drawn can be up to £ 10,800 tundra. This would be the highest tow rating in its class for 2007. According to Autodata, saw his Ford F-Series slip of 14 percent in the first quarter of 2007. Ford was not overcome the claim of 11,000 pounds of profit? Do not miss its revenueCompetition? After all, Ford trucks are the king of the hill for some time.

I found it interesting that in 2004, 2005 and 2006, the highest rating for towing an F-150 was £ 9,900. In August 2006, Ford announced in 2007, F-150 was capable of towing 10,500, and in January 2007 has increased to £ 11,000. The only difference between these trucks in order to justify this increase, fully boxed frame is?

Vehicles to tow rigorous testing to determine the rating. SinceMany factors such as size of engine, transmission, wheelbase, axle ratio, brakes, cooling systems, towing packages, and much more involved. The problem I see with a hitch that has reviews, although there are many factors involved, and there are strict tests are involved, there are no established standards to measure against these things, at least not that I know.

Let's take a look at some of the specific technical data including the Ford F-150 and the Toyota Tundra and we'll do the math. The Ford F-150in question has a 5.4L V-8 engine with 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 365 Nm @ 3750 RPM. The Toyota Tundra has a 5.7 L engine with 381 hp V-8 @ 5600 rpm and 401 Nm @ 3600 rpm. Both have a 4.10:1 ratio rear axle. Ford touts hitch a rating of £ 11,000 and Toyota advertises a score of 10,800 tow rope. The F-150 has a combined gross weight rating (GCWR) of 15,800 pounds, and the Tundra has a GCWR of 16,000 pounds. And 'interesting to note that Toyota has the highest performance,Torque and GCWR, but a lower rating tow!

Let's look at a simple formula used to try to determine the towing vehicle evaluations. The GCWR is the maximum permissible weight of the laden vehicle and trailer combination at full load. So if GCWR less weight of the vehicle (the actual weight of the truck, a smaller number of passengers and cargo), are supposed to know how much weight your vehicle can tow. In our example we will use the weight of the vehicle indicated by the vehicle manufacturer.

The Toyota Tundra has aGCWR of 16,000 empty weight less than 5,200 = £ 10,800, which is advertised tow rating of the tundra in our example.

The Ford F-150 is a new 15,800 GCWR of less curb weight of 5125 = £ 10,675, £ 325 to £ 11,000 less than the advertised tow rating. Things do not come back here! And I do not understand how the truck increases GCWR of 15,300 to 15,800 pounds, with little or no change in the truck. Even with the higher GCWR not tow this truck 11 000Pounds, at least not mathematically.

This simple formula works for any towing application. I said that I was contacted by Ford on five different occasions to explain this difference in the calculations attempted. The only response I got was the date of this press release from Ford Motor Centre Customer Relations, maximum towing capacity of 2007 Ford F-150. He said: "In an effort to help you, we have researched your request As per our resources to the maximum.Trailer load of pounds for a properly equipped F-150 at no cost is £ 10,500. Without a further response from Ford I assume that this basic formula that works in all other scenarios, this scenario is correct.

Perhaps an even bigger problem is that consumers do not understand, trailers, reviews, and no one is on the side of vehicles of the house is really trying to educate consumers about this issue. I mean really, advertising a towing rating of 11,000 poundsthe masses, when in fact only one version of F-150, available from 56 is able to pull close to the advertised weight. And unfortunately in the real world can not tow it. Let me explain.

If a manufacturer of towing rating is usually given an empty vehicle, without many options, and the weight of the driver. The weights for most of the drivers used are listed at 150 pounds. I think I was the last time I weighed 150 pounds at one point in middle school. Here's how this couplingwhat really works. You want to buy an F-150 to tow a vehicle off. For starters, a supercab is no room for the family. And of course he would not die without four-wheel drive will be caught, and must be a short wheelbase model. Next on the list, you want something that is decent fuel economy, because we used to go to work, if you are not towing the trailer. So compromise and go with a 4.6 liter V-8 with a 3.55:1 final drive ratio. Of these 56The formations of F-150 truck, you now have a choice. That's right, a model meets your towing and evaluation of new F-150 is 6,000 pounds or not, 11,000.

This brings us back to the empty truck with a driver who weighs 150 pounds. Let us look back to the real world. You have a wife and two children, whose total weight is 330 kg for being conservative. The additional options that you want to add to your truck, as the coating bed, brush guard and side steps £ 150, againconservative. Now you want something in the back of the truck shipped, if you go camping? Well, it's a good place for bicycles and garden furniture, and do not forget your toolbox. Since we have carefully at this point we are simply an additional £ 130 for freight. And the difference between the actual weight of 150 pounds and the pilots, say 40 pounds, which in my case is still on the conservative side. Now do the math. A £ 6,000 tow rating of less than £ 650weight corresponds to an additional £ 5,350 tow rating. You see, everything you add, or load them onto the truck takes the same amount of rating tow vehicles.

Oh, and do not forget the weight of the tongue of the trailer is stopped. Additional weight as the weight of the tongue and other weight added to the vehicle may not exceed any voting weight of the vehicle as large axle load (axle load) and total weight (GVWR). While they were on weights, I quoted a different weightPrevious assessment that does not speak very often, the combined gross weight rating (GCWR). In the real world, the GCWR is very important when it comes to towing, because it is the total weight of the truck at full load and trailer loads. If you go to a scale and a laden weight of the truck and trailer full load can not exceed the GCWR of the tractor. We can go one step further and say that regardless of the advertised towingAssessment, if the empty weight of the vehicle (plus any additional weight) subtracted from the towing vehicle GCWR is that will give you the weight, the vehicle is actually towed. In our last example, the GCWR of the truck in our sample was 11,500. The empty weight was about 5360 plus our additional weight of 650 pounds. But do not forget to subtract the £ 150 pilots. So, our trucks can pull 5340 pounds before the GCWR. The GCWR takes into consideration all factors, in addition to the towing vehicleEvaluation. Head up the ladder to see how things stack up in the real world of towing capacity.

It does not end here, there are many other things to note. For example, the receiver of the clutch on the back of the motor vehicle has a gross weight. The truck can transport at £ 5340, but if the receiver is rated for 5000 pounds, which is the maximum amount you can draw. He sees everything in the resistance system is based on the weakest link in the system.
As you can see there are many more complicatedTowing with assessments as television advertising is a fully boxed frame. I have a whole book on the subject. Well, actually I did. Much more information can be found in my book, The book and DVD titled RV Towing, Weights, Hitch Work & Backing, available at http://www.rveducation101.com

All I know is really the trailer had last year I weighed about 7,300 pounds, when he was invited to go camping. ¾ ton truck I had a rope tow for the evaluation of the time £ 8,800and I was under the GCWR. Towing the trailer was not always a pleasant experience. I get upset when I hear a ton and a half trucks able to tow away £ 11,000, is not it?

Here's my challenge to Ford Ford, let me check that ½ ton F-150, which can attract £ 11,000. I love him up to £ 11,000 supporters, a test drive and write a review. If I have my doubts wrong that can tow a trailer safely and effortlessly £ 11,000 are the first to admit that he would do.Will I always wanted my e-mail, but not my hopes.

I leave you some thoughts to ponder:

1) Do not advertise a commercial seed that attracts all F-150 trucks is 11,000 pounds, when in fact only a model for 10 500 scored at least this is what the Ford towing guide says. And then do the math and see what a truck can pull in the real world.

2) manufacturers of trucks crossing a fine line with the tow rating of advertising? I attended a couple ofLegal cases as an expert, where people were paralyzed and killed. The common factor in these cases involved false tuned tractors and trailers. Do not rely on car dealerships and RV dealerships, is always 100% accurate. Do your homework before buying a tractor and trailer.

3) Manufacturers RV trailer building too heavy for the truck today? This is the reason for the higher-rated towing? If a trailer with a gross vehicle weight that is higherthe rating of the towing vehicle is a mismatch. If the towing capacity for its total weight, we will examine the towing vehicle.

4) At this rate, what happened to the tow rating of up to 2010?

UPDATE: 1 JUNE 2007
After numerous attempts to contact representatives from Ford, and after writing this article, I finally contacted by the Public Relations Group, Ford, Ford Truck Sales. I think that was his title. He said that the combined gross weight rating for the half-tonTruck in question is from £ 15,800 to £ 16,400 raised from 31 May 2007. Originally it was £ 15,300, yesterday and today 15 800 16 400. I asked, consider what has changed on the vehicle, the last increase in the GCWR and they told me that chains and bumper attachments have been improved and the tires had something unique to the truck. He also informed that the trucks pass through the same rigorous durability testing cycle trucks that all Ford vehicles are made with the determinationSkills. If more than one occasion pointed out that Ford is not only the manipulation of numbers. One problem I still see is that there are no standardized tests to determine the ability to tow the vehicle, so basically it is up to the manufacturer to determine the rating. I still have my doubts about every half tons can safely tow 11,000 pounds, but for the record, and finally said first Ford truck can do. I'll let you be, the consumer, the judge.

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Happy Camping

Mark Polk