Anyone know if a 1981 F100 4.9 6 can safely tow 1800 lbs?

How about towing 1000 lbs, with 800 in the bed? Feasible?

Thanks!

 

As long as you have the load balanced and secured in the bed of the truck and or trailer, it should be a walk in the park for the ol "Tower of Power". What trans and rear end gears are you running? If it's an auto it may be a bit sluggish, with a manual you can better harness the engines power by selecting whichever gear handles the load best. I have towed in excess of 10k lbs with my 84 F150 with the 300 six/ 4 speed. Getting the load rolling is no problem... it's getting it to stop in an emergency situation that fills my under pants. I wouldn't be afraid to tow 1800 lbs with the truck you have, just take it slow and easy... don't be in a rush.

 

I agree with Pkupman82...as long as you have that load balanced I see no reason why you should have any trouble at all.

 

Thanks for the answers. I havent bought the truck yet. I'm in the process of finding a cheap truck I can tow my track bikes with. 1800 is actually a little on the highside.

It's an auto, not sure what rear end it has.

Off-topic question, but how hard would it be to swap in a v8?

 

Not hard at all. Most people will steer you away from a 302, as there isn't much difference and the 300 makes a bit more torque. The 351W is the better way to go for the V8 swap, makes the task more worthwhile.

 

Thanks for the help.

Back to my original question, would you guys have any worries of towing 1800 lbs for a 6 hour trip each way, driving at 60-70 mph?

Obviously, it depends on the condition of the truck/motor, but assuming it's in decent shape...

Also, anything else I should look at? I might be buying a guy's truck tonight.

 

I see no problem what so ever especially if you decide to change over to the 351W. Thats what I have and I have pulled way more than that for way longer than that with no problems.

 

What if I stuck with the stock 4.9 6?

I'm starting to have too many "project" vehicles

 

You won't even feel that with anything over 3.50 gears.

Back in the day before the PSD, would drag 15k+ with a 300, M5OD, 1356, 4.10s in a dana 80 dually axle, 88 F-350 frame, '91 cab and a whole lotta love.

Thing was a mutt, and never won a speed race on the hills, needed low range to back the trailer on a grade, and wasn't purdy, but never failed to start and tug whatever strapped to it.

Adrianspeeder

 

You can get performance out of the 300 just as easily as anything else. If your looking to pick up a few more ponies and ft lbs, it can be done relatively inexpensive. You can get an adapter plate and install a 2bbl Motorcraft carb from a 302. Install a set of EFI exhaust manifolds with a Walker downpipe, 2.5" pipe with no cats and decent flowing muffler. Also maybe go to an open element air cleaner, and a hotter ignition coil. If you are running an automatic, 3.55 or 3.73 gears would be ideal with around a 29-30" tall tire.

 

Lots of good info, fellas. I'm going to go look at the truck in an hour.

Thanks.

 

i had an 81f100 short bed with 3 on the tree and 2.47 highway gears in the rearend. i put a clifford 4 bbl intake with carter 650, efi exhaust manifolds into a 3 inch banks muffler exiting before the rear wheel. it sounded great and pulled ok for the tranny and rear i had. i hauled a 16 ft. lowboy trailer with 2 big rolls of hay on it at 75 mph. wasn't that bad taking off either.