I have an 86 F250 with a 460, 4x4, Automatic. Will my stock transmission pull an 8000lb fifth wheel?

 

The answer to the question is yes, assuming you have an adequate transmission cooler.

However, the question you should have asked is if the truck, overall, can handle that load. The answer to that somewhat depends on the axle ratio. The '85 owners manual I have says that a 7.5L w/a C6 has a combined gross vehicle weight rating of:

• 12,000 with a 3.07 ratio
• 15,000 with a 3.54
• 18,500 w/a 4.10

If you assume the truck weighs 6,000 then you'd be at 14,000 with the trailer, giving you 1,000 for passengers, luggage, etc if you have a 3.54 axle, and gobs of room w/a 4.10 axle.

To find out what axle ratio you have post a picture of the cert label on the door jamb and we can tell what it came out of the factory with. But, that might have been changed somewhere in the last quarter century. Do you have a tach on the truck? If so, what R's do you turn at 60 and what tires do you have on it?

 

Just to add to Gary's excelent posting...

If the transmission is a Automatic overdrive, it is highly recommended to lock the transmission out of overdrive. Towing trailers with an Automatic overdrive, with the transmission IN overdrive tends to "fry" them.

We can tell you what transmission you have by the certification lable and if you have a C6 or AOD.

 

Would an F250 have an AOD? Or, did they put an AOD behind the 460?

 

No, it would be a C6, and yes it will pull it. Just make sure you have a cooler and the trans is in good shape. I think our 5ver was i the range of 10.5k.

 

Yes a F-250 could have a AOD, however you are right, they didn't put an AOD behind the 460.

So it's a C6.

 

Learn something every day. I didn't realize they put the AOD in the 250.

 

They also put the 3 speed column and, the Clark/Tremec 4-speed OD manuals in the F-250 as well, but not with the 460.

 

Just trying to think what a gutless pig a F-250, 302 AOD would be... Mine is bad enough in a 150.

 

4x4 with 3.00 gears? Even Ford knew that one wouldn't ...... go, so they probably didn't offer that. Let's see, OD would be 2:1. Boy, that would be good for economy!

 

I'd be willing to bet my 1981 4.9L with T-18 with 2.75 gears would walk all over it.

Ford was doing a lot of experimenting at this time, if I recall correctly, the 255 V8 and 232 V6 instantly springs to mind.

 

Gary, my F250 was originally a 302/AOD combo, although by the time it got to me a 351w had been swapped in.
But the AOD was still there, & was out of it's league.

 

I'm positive the six would walk all over the 302.

And Ken, surely yours didn't have 3.00 gears?

 

No, it's a 3.54 axle

 

Archion got it close, our 5er is a 30ft long, gross weight 10,000 lbs. I pulled it quite a ways with Darth. Original setup was carbureted 460, C6 and 3.55 gears. I weighed the combination on a truck scale in Millersville, MD at 16,100 lbs with me in the truck and full fuel tanks.

Most recent weight on it with tanks pretty well empty came out to 5750 for the truck. FWIW, I could go up 7 mountains grade on PA 322W aproaching Centre Hall at 37 mph in 2nd. That was with 2 adults and 2 small kids and 1 large dog and trailer loaded for an extended stay (5 days).