I just got a 17' boat and am pulling it with my 93 F-150 300 I6, 5spdOD. I am not very happy with the way the truck starts from a dead stop and the fact that on a windy day 65mph feels like it is all the truck has to give. I don't pull in OD unless it is flat and not windy. I am seriously thinking about getting a different truck but have heard so many good things about the torque and power that a I-6 has, I just don't want to jump up to a V-8 and be disappointed. I know that a lot of how a truck pulls something depends upon the rearend, and I haven't looked to see what gear ratio I have in mine. Any suggestions are apreciated. If I get a different truck, I would be looking at 97 or newer to get the new body style.

 

I have a '95 supercab F150 300 I6 and Mazda 5spd OD tranny. My rear end is 3.08. I tow a 2000 lb (loaded) trailer and can go 75 on relatively flat ground, but hills or a head wind will knock it down to about 65 max. First time out I had a severe headwind and got 65 MPH with it floored. Some post on the 80-96 F150 board above has folks towint 7 - 8 thousand lb trailers with the 300 I6, probably with different rear gear. I don't want to change my gear and so plan to get a performance computer chip and flowmaster muffler and see how that helps. Check your owner's manual and door jam label and you will see what rear end you have. If you don't tow that far, you may be able to live with the 300 and it may be improved some with a tune-up and cleaning of the throttle body. If you decide to get a late 90's truck, I would suggest an F250 to get what I believe is a much nicer looking truck.

 

I would check in to gears and make sure your engine is tuned. Those 300s will pull with the right gears. 3:55 to 3:73 would probally be best.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 23-Aug-00 AT 10:10 PM (EST)[/font][p]Check your exhaust system. My 88 had the same problem unloaded. I never could get it over 65 (with a tailwind and the tailgate down!)

Found out the catalytic convertors were plugged up. Changed them out & put in a single High flow unit. Man, what a difference. After that te truck would hit 75 & never look back. It would even run 65 uphill over the ship channel bridge in Houston Texas!

And mine has the Mazda M5OD 5-speed.

 

The only problem with the M5 is it has no bottom end. One possibilty might be with a Gear Vendors under drive.

Trail Rider

 

I would look at a ZF 5 speed before I'd change rear end gearing. It has the lower 1st gear you need to get your load moving.

Trail Rider

 

Hey, Hot Rod 88, what make and model hi-flow cat are you using? I, too, live here our nation's new #1 EPA non-attainment city, and I'd like to do a hi-flow cat--but it has to pass the smog test!
Eddie

 

Hey just to let you know the truck that you own has one of the best motors that ford ever made. I have the same kind of truck as you do but my boat is 18ft and one of the heavest boats ever made. I admit it chugs a bit going up hills and such but I live in Minnesota and that truck sits out side in -30 dagree wither and I go out there every morning to start it and it hasn't fald me yet. That truck has been past down from my grandpa to my dad and to me. My dad has a 97 now but it isn't much different. But I can tell you this I will stand behing my truck anyday. oh and just to let you know is you are wondering how I know my cousin has been working on ford trucks ever sence he was out of high school and still is working on them.

 

The 300 is an excellent motor, you've just got to gear them right. Before mt current rig, I used a company truck that was an '86 F350 4X2, 300 6, c6, 4.10 posi. It had an enclosed utility body, was loaded to the hilt, and was commonly pulling trailers. The truck was around 8000lbs, and I pulled a BIG multi attachment ditch witch through the hills around Parkersburg, WV. I didn't set any land speed records, but I made it. I still like my PSD better.


'96F350XL,137"WB,4x4,PSD,SRW,5speed,4.10LS,aluminu m Pierce enclosed service body,Code 3 amber lightbar, SHO-ME wig-wags front and rear(hi-beam, brake and back-up sequencers), Cobra 148 CB, enough tools and material to wire a small Office LAN system on board at all times.