Pull a 2h trailer with a SVT Lightning?

[msrobin]

Has or does anyone pull a 2 horse trailer with a ford svt lightning? Did you have to do anything to it before towing?

Thanks

[Evalee Hunter]

Do a search. There is thread after thread telling you how to judge whether a vehicle is tow-worthy. In particular measure wheelbase (distance from center of front wheel to center of back wheel on the same side). You also need to consider such things as the weight it is rated to tow, weight of your trailer loaded, & so on. I am not familiar with the vehicle in question.

[Simkie]

Well, it looks to be a "sport" version of the F-150, so you could probably get away with towing a 2 horse.

It would be better to buy a F-150 that's set up for towing, though. Modification for a "sport" truck are likely to be exactly what you DON'T want hauling a trailer.

[flypony74]

I'd check the wheelbase. If it is a regular cab, short bed 150, then you may be lacking the wheelbase necessary for stability. My friend originally pulled her 2H with a reg cab short bed Chev 1500, and with two horses on board (never one of mine!), there were some scary moments with that rig. Just not enough wheelbase to stabilize it. She sold that truck asap for something more appropriate and hauling is a non-event now.

[Curb Appeal]

For those not in the know, the SVT Lightning is a supercharged F-150 with a flare side short bed. It's very fast and very light.

My husband has owned 2 Lightnings ('02 and '04) I would not have used the to haul my horse trailer. Sure, the Lightning has the horsepower and torque to tow, but it is very light and it's got a pretty short wheelbase.

For very short hauls, it's probably okay temporarily, but I would not get in the habit of using it. Besides, the die hard Lightning owners might disapprove if they see you treating your Lightning like a "truck". :)

[2bee]

Well, it looks to be a "sport" version of the F-150, so you could probably get away with towing a 2 horse.

It would be better to buy a F-150 that's set up for towing, though. Modification for a "sport" truck are likely to be exactly what you DON'T want hauling a trailer.

Like what? Tighter steering, a lower center of gravity, bigger brakes, stiffer suspension, and a more powerful engine? Sounds like exactly what you would want to tow with.

IIRC the Lightning has a generic 5000# tow rating, probably due to the high performance/low profile tires. I would guess it will easily tow whatever it is rated for, what does the owners manual say?

[TwoDreamRides]

Check your WHEELS. I'm pretty sure they aren't rated for towing. Something about alloy as opposed to steel... [edited to add/correct: Alloy apparently isn't the right modifier there...I just remember when we were getting our truck I couldn't get the wheels I wanted because they weren't right for the weight of the load...]

2bee is correct that the sport modifications will improve its towing, however I'm pretty sure the wheelbase with the regular cab and short bed will be shorter than advised.

[Simkie]

Like what? Tighter steering, a lower center of gravity, bigger brakes, stiffer suspension, and a more powerful engine? Sounds like exactly what you would want to tow with.

Gears and such set up for acceleration, rather than pulling power, lighter vehicle, shorter wheelbase, lowered (how are you going to get in and out of that muddy field?) and no 4WD.

I'd much rather have a truck that's designed for pulling things rather than going fast ;)

[LessonLearned]

Having read any number of these threads in recent months, my best guess is(even knowing nothing about the vehicle or type of trailer), if you have to ask, probably not ;)

Perhaps I have read too many trailering with non-trailer worthy vehicles threads. . .

[TwoDreamRides]

Lowered has nothing to do with going in/out of a muddy field. That would be your 4WD or dually options that would help. Some of us just don't encounter that in our everyday trailering episodes [although I did, once, with a NON-lowered, NON-4WD truck]. Lowered gives you better traction/grunt for pulling. Notice how the Ironmen "get low" when pulling the big truck.

As for gears set up for acceleration, this can sometimes help. We put a shift kit [meant for acceleration] in our HEMI Dodge for cleaner shifts and increased horsepower. Driving through Fancy Gap in North Carolina, or wherever, it helps to have shifts geared towards acceleration because if you don't get your speed up quickly, you're gonna be doing 25mph by the time you reach the top!

[2bee]

"Towing gears", say 3.73 or 4.10, equal acceleration and "pulling power".

A short bed, reg cab F150 still weighs ~5000#.

Wheelbase is frequently misunderstood. Besides I suspect it meets the minimum 120" so often quoted.

Lowered and 4wd? I know many people who haul horses that have never got their tires dirty.

Gears and such set up for acceleration, rather than pulling power, lighter vehicle, shorter wheelbase, lowered (how are you going to get in and out of that muddy field?) and no 4WD.

I'd much rather have a truck that's designed for pulling things rather than going fast ;)


So would I, but we are not making msrobin's truck payment.

[grandprixjump]

Something about a truck being built like a sports car. I would be more worried about the transmission in these trucks being more built to show off than actually work... Think car transmission instead of truck.

[tangledweb]

... I'm pretty sure the wheelbase with the regular cab and short bed will be shorter than advised.

Advised by who?

Who calculated or made up that magic number? What assumptions was it based on?

Oh no! It is only has a 119.8" wheelbase. You are a terrible person! We are all going to die!

I don't doubt that the SVT version is at the low end of F150 capacities. Low profile tires will limit how much weight you could put in the bed and the tongue weight you could allow while towing. The idea of a 5000 lb, 17 foot long vehicle being small and light amuses me a great deal however.

[msrobin]

Thanks to everyone for your answers. I thought the same thing about the Lightning since it is simply a sports car in a trucks body. My hubby wanted one and I thought if it can't pull a trailer safely what good is it :)

Thanks again you all answered my question.

[greysandbays]

The idea of a 5000 lb, 17 foot long vehicle being small and light amuses me a great deal however.

Compared to a 3/4 ton Dodge 4x4 with extended cab and regular bed, I'd guess it would come off as "small and light". My dad's is only a 1/2-ton, but he says it's like driving a boxcar.