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'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773

Your hitch is a typical class3/4, which means it will take 500/5000# with a regular hitch,and 750/6500{?}# with a weight distributing hitch.A w/d hitch has 2bars from it which extend forward about 3 feet,under the truck. It puts some of the downforce from the tongue further up the truck's frame. You should be able to pull a trailer with a small car easily.

The payload is the weight left when you subtract the curb weight from the GVWR. The curb on your truck is close to 5000#,so the payload would be 1250#. It would be listed on the origional window sticker,if you have it,as a payload package #1 or 2.{most likely #1}

The GVWR{gross vehicle weight rating} is the total weight the truck can be,loaded,passengers,fuel,etc.

The GAWR{gross axle weight rating} is the limit for that axle. Your front axle would carry a light duty plow,such as a Fisher LD 7 or 7.5,but not a rugular duty{RD} plow.

The rear is a little more complicated. When towing, you have to factor in the payload in the bed. The tongue# also is part of the GAWR. So,say you have a dirt bike,about 500#,a trailer with 300# TW,you would have 450# of payload OR tongue weight left.

Did it say a GCWR anywhere? That's your magic number. That would be your GVWR,plus the total weight of your trailer. This is the limit your truck can haul/tow safely.

State laws vary,but here in Me. we are required to have trailer brakes when the trailer exceeds 2000#. Also lights and fenders{I run neither }

As for a wiring harness,Go to a U-haul dealer and get a good one. Stay away from the stuff at discount stores. There are pulg-in harnesses,and the only wiring to be done is a plug in connection and a ground wire to the frame.

Always remember the safety chains.
Always pin the coupling.
NEVER tow in O/D.

As 68 says,when you shift,you are building heat. As one of my rules I use,if I tow under 1000#,I will use OD,If the trans won't hunt.

Around here,I know people who have blown trannys by just carrying a plow in OD.

When we went to Nebraska to buy Kid's Mustang, we decided that since it was to be a one day trip (350 miles each way)and time was an issue that we would take the flatbed trailer and tow with my 98 F150 ext. cab. This made more sense than taking the 28 foot enclosed trailer and towing with the E350 we had at the time.

The flatbed trailer with the 2700 lb. car was no problem although I did put the lift bars on the hitch. I didn't have the traler brakes hooked up and that wasn't a problem either, although I would have preferred to have them working.

The other end is when I wanted to move the big trailer a couple of years ago, just from one spot in the yard to another, it was handier to use my 150 than the van so I hooked it up and even put the lift bars on. The big trailer practically lifted the front wheels off the ground! I would not ever even think of trying to actually tow the enclosed with my 150. The suspension just isn't designed for that much load.

I watch with horrified amusement on the Interstates when I see half ton pickups being used to tow 5th wheel campers or even fair size tag campers. In a wind, they are downright dangerous. Pulling power is one thing, enough suspension is completely another.

Anything in the way of a trailer thats less than 5000 lbs. and 500 lbs. of tongue weight should be no problem for an F150.