I'm looking at a 1985 F250 Diesel...I want to pull a 26 ft. travel trailer weighing approx. 6500 loaded. I can't find specs on this truck anywhere...any help would be appreciated. I will be looking at the truck today. It has 146,000 miles on it. I am also looking at a 1986 F250 gas dually....any specs or info on that? The owner said he towed combined weigh (trailer and truck) of approx. 20,000 lbs. I just want to make sure I have enough truck for my trailer....thanks!

 

I don't know ratings for this model or year but a general guess based upon reading and my experience with my 94 F250 460gas is that if your trailer weighs only 6-7K pounds, don't sweat it. The gas 250 is rated for something like 12k pounds tow, so anything under about 8K is a cinch. So unless you have a tiny 4 or 6 banger diesel(unlikely in the F250), I wouldn't worry unless the drivetrain is worn out.

Make sure the cooling system and tranny are up to snuff and be sure to get a good weight distributing hitch.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

All the info I've seen on these says they're 6.9L International engines...did they make another kind in '85? Kelley lists the 6.9 as the only diesel for 85...I've heard they are good for pulling, but lack power...nobody has been specific, so I don't know what that means...does it mean I will do 35 up a steep hill, or can I hold 60? Speed and power can sometimes be relative...

 

LAS,

My dad has an 84 F-250 with the 6.9 diesel and a four speed granny tranny. I have not been impressed with the power. Going to the lake with his 16' boat, probably 2500 lb at most we hit a pretty steep hill about 3/4 mile long. He would always have to downshift to 3rd. My 89 granny tranny with the 300 gasser "appeared" to power up the hill at the same pace with my 19' boat at the time.

He has pulled 7-8k lb's on a car trailer with it and as long as you don't want to win any races you will be fine.

Personally my 95, 351 with the auto tranny can hold speed going up the same hill with my 5000 lb boat.

Joey

 

 

We have a 680G Constructing King backhoe/loader (BIG baby and it's on a BIG flatbed trailer) and pull it just fine with our 1985 F250 6.7 diesel. Ours has a lot more miles than 146,000, I would venture to say. Hope this helps.

 

Our truck has a manual transmission with no granny.

 

Go here for discussion forum:

Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L) - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

Also current diesel world I think it is has a good writeup on the pre PSD engines. Pretty well written and I think said the engine has around 170 HP or so. Read the article the opther day and just dont remember. I had a F250 with the 351 with 5 speed and yes we would pass these things regularly on hills not a whole lot of power in them but good mileage I guess. My BIL had one and was fairly happy, got a 89 I think it was and it had a turbo but no intercooler was a little better but he had probs with the firewall and the brake booster breaking loose. Get the mag and read up on it.

 

I have an '88 e250 with the 7.3 IDI version in it. It is just a bored out 6.9. It will do fine towing for you, just don't be in a hurry. Used turbo kits for the trucks are pretty easy to find and usually pretty cheap. They will greatly increase the performance.

Mine is N/A. I have used it to trailer my car to the track. Total weight of the load was about 4500-5500lbs. I just set the cruise for 65mph. Cruise held the speed on everything except the steepest/longest hills. Then it just required me to give it a little more throttle than criuse could.

The N/A don't do that well with higher altitudes. A turbo kit can cure that.

I guess I am saying is that it should tow fine, just don't expect it to be a modern powerhouse diesel. Check out the IDI diesel part of the forum. IT will provide a lot of info.

 

Woah,

Holy Necro'd Thread Batman!

Didn't see that the OP was 13 years ago!

 

Oppps!?!?!

No I didn't see it. Kinda funny.