I blame a lot of the e40d rep on lack of service. My brothers 96 stroker had close to 200000 miles on it and all original but the fluid, it hauled construction equipment on a gooseneck trailer for years and a large camper too. We live in western Co, there isn't a flat road in sight, everything is a hill, just some bigger than others. It had a fluid change every 20k miles. His is an f350 with 410 gears, but I feel that your gears are just telling you to pull in 2nd instead of D and let that engine spin and pull air and pump oil. I think you would be OK. We used to haul a backhoe with an old 7.3 non turbo and a 5 spd and 355 gears, It topped the mountain passes at about 15-20 mph in 2nd gear. I wouldn't get scared yet, unless your tranny is weak then you better buy one new. Don't get in a hurry from a dead stop, that is where you will need that low gear most.

 

Well after much debate and thought here's the conclusion I came to:
1. I will not exceed GCVWR
2. 460 is much less power than I thought - I gave it too much cre4dit - thanks Brad for lookin up the specs
3. 3:55 gears aren't ideal, but like WARHORSE stated above, I won't be in any hurry and run in 2nd most of the time probably....99% of the towing will be on backcountry roads
4. Given the above, I went through with the deal and truck is now at my house

Diesel Brad,
Sorry if I came off rude before - I was a bit taken back by your response at first to be honest. I am certainly no rocket scientist nor ever claimed to be super smart. Reason I was asking was b/c I didn't know about the AT mainly and I thought my buddy's truck had 4:10's, but he informed me after I started this thread it indeed had 3:55's.

Thank you to everyone for your replies, I genuinely appreciate the input, advice, cautions and wealth of experience. I often just lurk around on here and rarely post so thank you for taking the time.

If I (or anyone else) ever had a question I always turn to this site first...or I direct them here. This is simply one of the best resources of knhowledge I know of.

 

So where's the pics?

 

I just wanted to let you know what you are in for . I have had several 460 trucks and none of them were anything to write home about.

EVEN with my current 460 truck that is Supercharged, It is nothing special. Ford should of made them with AT LEAST this much HP from the factory if not more

 

you've just been spoiled with those diesels Brad.
this is why they say; once you've gone diesel,you'll always go diesel boys.

 

Dont get me wrong. My 460 truck will school my diesel truck all day long EMPTY. But in the towing department the diesel has it beat every which way from sunday

 

I'd love to sell my 460 F250 and get an OBS powerstroke but that's $$$ compared to what my truck is worth. What it really needs is more gears and a lower diff ratio. The C6/3.55 combo licks sweaty man-crack as soon as you hit a grade. A PSD/ZF5/4.10 would be where it's at. At least I don't have a 302 anymore.

 

I remember one time I was at a stop light in my '84 blazer 350/700r4/3.08 next to my buddy with a duramax/allison. I left him at the line but I didn't stay ahead very long.

 

I got a 97 with a 460 not to long ago but I have not towed with it yet and I'm coming from a 2006 powerstroke I guess I'm going to be pretty disappointed. The heavest I should be towing is around 6500 so a little less then discussed but I guess this is what people made do with before the turbo diesels

 

I agree there's no comparison to a diesel, but the budget just can't take a diesel cost. I had a 97 F350 XL 4x4 RCLB 7.3 ZF with 4:10's at one time...with 33k original miles on her. I should have never sold it.

 

EDIT: See below

 

Here are the only 2 pics I have during the trip home:

This is stopped at Bass Pro on the way back - I'd never been there before! :0




At my SIL's place (her husband went with me) taking a well deserved rest after 7.5 hrs on the road

 

I hear ya man, no worries. thanks!!

 

To add a comment about GCWR...I recently bought a Class 8 diesel truck simply because I didn't want to open myself up to legal liability when towing horse trailers. My 03 F-350 diesel comfortably pulled and stopped 20k lbs but I felt that if I got into an accident I would be legally in potential trouble. Pulling the same load with the Class 8 truck is easier. It took an investment in the truck and learning to shift an Eaton tranny but it's worth it.