I have an '86 F250, 4 speed manual trans, 2WD, 4.9 L6. The GVWR is 6,300.
The weight of this truck alone must be close to 6,000???
I have already towed a 2 horse steel trailer - don't know the weight of it but estimating 1000 lbs. with 2 approx. 1000 lb horses in it. The truck pulled this fairly well, slow to get rolling but cruzed in 4th gear just fine. I was hoping to upgrade to a 3 horse gooseneck trailer (approx weight 4 - 4,500), but now that I am realizing what the GVWR is, I feel like that idea is out the window with my current F250. If I pull a gooseneck with 2 horses in it, that easily adds up to 7,000 lbs (including gear). I am wondering what this truck can really safely pull, and if anyone who has experience pulling with a L6 can give me advice. I know a lot of people think nothing of exceeding the GVWR, but with horses I need to be safe. This truck does run great, but she is an antique...
***One question I have is how the GVWR actually relates to the load being pulled- this rating by definition seems to exclude trailer weight.
***I see (from reading other forums) that to know more about the truck's towing capacity, I should know the gear ratios- but I have no idea how to find out what the gear ratios are.
Any help/ opinions/ facts on this greatly appreciated.

 

as for the gear ratio..

jack up rear of truck... put a mark on driveshaft and another on 1 tire..

with transmission in neutral , rotate tire for one revolution and count the number of times the mark on the driveshaft appears... 3 times, is 3 to 1.. 3 1/2 times is 3.5 to 1... 4 times is 4 to 1.

 

see post number three of this thread:


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-and-faq.html