Tossing around a new toy hauler(not too seriously).
What do you think it would take to make a 78 f-250 able to tow a 12-14,000lb 5er?

 

i would not go past 9k if that,

 

I think that would be pretty risky as it was never designed for that kinda weight. A good example is the driveshaft-very thin and would probably wrap like a dishtowel with that weight even if you had enough power to pull itl Look at the diameter of the driveshaft in the new Duramax-I was really surprised when I saw how big it is. Looks to be about 6 inches across maybe?? Even if you were to attempt it I think you would need no less than a Camper Special with it's extra beefy frame and longer wheelbase, but I would be scared ----less going down hills. Yikes!!! Are my brakes fading?? Where's the runaway truck ramp!!! Another issue-what tranny could deal with that weight? Could you put an Allison in?? Fun to think about but the go and whao issues are big.

 

I agree that's to much weight. I'm sure some of us have over loaded our trucks before, but not by thousands of pounds. Like ford390gashog, said 9k is pushing it.

Check out the new Superdutys, they can pull somewhere around 17k, and they have a trailer system too.

 

I have an hour and a half ride to work now so I have time to think. Sometimes it gets kind of dangerous for my wallet. I don't think I would ever buy a trailer that big and if I did I couldn't afford the gas to pull it around with in this truck.

 

If you do get a big trailer around 7-9k then you would probabally need to regear your rear end, maybe put a shift kit in the tranny if auto, and get a bigger engine if you don't have a 400 or 460 then build it for more power.

 

Rebuilt the 400 already and the tranny is next in line. I've pulled 8500lbs on an open car trailer before and it didn't do bad. I'd have to see about the 3:54s before I would change them. Drove a truck with 4:10s and it didn't like the highway at all.

 

Depending on how fast you travle 4.10s might be too high. If you have about 31" tires then at least go with 3.73 gears. If you have room to go up to 32 or 33" tires you might want the 4.10s for towing and with a 33" tire the RPMs wouldn't be to bad.

 

If youve got the cash for the cummins, allison tranny ide have the frame FULLY boxed by a professional for extra strength. Where i work we have 2 brand new Oshkosh Concrete Mixers w/ the 6 spd allison tranny and that sucker is BIG, i personally dont think the allison will fit in a 70's pickup.

 

I have done several heavy hauler conversions and not that i recommend it but it can be done cheaply. the last 79 ford f-150 we did it to we added overload springs and airbags in the rear, an adustable electronic braking system, oil/tranny cooler to engine, and made sure to balance the combine on the trailer right so that it didn't have too much toungue wieght.

 

I had a 74 one ton supercab with only a 390 V8. Holly 4bbl, 4-10 rear end. Added an RV cam etc., etc., etc.,, did everything I thought would help. I was young and dumb and pulled a 12k fiver w/LR slide. VERY slow and stopping was really scary. Went up the grade to Williams AZ at 11mph! Finally gave up. Glad I did. In short, I would not do what you are proposing.
Dak

 

I was asking what it would take to make it work.

Built engine, ZF?, one ton discs at all four, lower gears, 205?, bigger drive shafts, 60 up front, 70 or dually 80 out back, boxed frame?, of course trailer brakes.
Anything else?
What makes todays trucks so much more capable?

 

It is just my opinion but most of that weight will be on the trailer. By Law the trailer should have brakes enough to stop its own weight & a trailer that size should have brakes on every axle. People do this all the time and have forever. Have a good hitch and good brake control, proper running V-8 351 or larger, good tires buy high quality brakes any c-6 (trans. cooler equipped ) or 4-speed will handle the task. Use common sense. In short your F-250 will handle it !

 

A quick example we have a 86 F-250 with a 300 6 cylinder 4-speed on our ranch with a 2000lb Deweze hydraulic flatbed, we usually load two bales on truck (round bales vary in weight but from 1000-1500lbs) then have a hydraulic bale picking trailer we pull behind it that will hold 5 round bales. So varying on bale weight the truck can be hauling (with flatbed wieght included) a total of 9,000 to 12,000lbs and seems to pull down the road just fine and the only thing special the truck has is a big set of overload springs.

 

Got it. Some of us were just offering our advice and opinion. That's what we are here for. Yes, you can do it. I still think the bigger question is should you do it and why though. If you do, then as noted, you would need to upgrade virtually all the main drivetrain componenets for the pulling and torque addition. On fivers, approx. 20% of the weight of the trailer is considered normal for the hitch weight in the bed of the truck. So a 12k fiver would be +/- 2,400 lbs plus the hitch and any other cargo. Probably not a problem for the axels, suspension, wheels, tires or frame of the truck. Yes, the trailer will have it's own brakes and your main concern should be the power to move it and good brakes on the truck is always a wise move. Better safe than sorry. Sorry my first response was not what you were looking for.