Towing Question
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Towing Question
I'm new to this forum and new to the IDI engines as well. I recently purchased a 91 F-350 crew cab with a 7.3 and the E4OD trans. The motor and transmission have been replaced by the PO and only have around 80k miles on them.
My question is about the towing capacity of this truck. I am planning on towing a 80 F-150 and a Kawasaki Mule on a 24 foot gooseneck trailor about 100 miles when we go on vacation for the holidays. I have some concerns about overloading the truck. I have figured the weight of the trailor with the mule and truck to be around 9000 lbs and have read the GCVWR for this truck is 17000 lbs. Im just wanting a second opinion on wether or not I should try this journey with this much of a load.
Thanks in advance.
My question is about the towing capacity of this truck. I am planning on towing a 80 F-150 and a Kawasaki Mule on a 24 foot gooseneck trailor about 100 miles when we go on vacation for the holidays. I have some concerns about overloading the truck. I have figured the weight of the trailor with the mule and truck to be around 9000 lbs and have read the GCVWR for this truck is 17000 lbs. Im just wanting a second opinion on wether or not I should try this journey with this much of a load.
Thanks in advance.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
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From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
bro i have pulled 20K without any issues at all. Itll pull it but make sure the cooling and fuel systems are solid. coolant being more important. how is the rad? easiest way to tell is looking at the bottom of the fins and see if they are clogged up with junk, if you touch them and they fall off or feel like paper its shot. Looking inside the rad, if the thing is all junked up with sediment or clogged tubes etc, be careful.
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Thanks for the replies. Getting feedback from people with the same kind of trucks eases the worries. No I'm not really in a montainous area but there are afew good hills here and there. The radiator and fuel system are in good shape. My neighbor used to own the truck and that's how I knew about the engine mileage. He kept the truck in tip top shape. The inside of the radiator is pretty clean and I have never seen the temp guage get above half way. I use it regularly towing a tractor and whatever else I have to tow but have never towed this much with this truck.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,055
Likes: 1
From: Surrey, BC, Canada
I'm kinda new to the IDI's myself, but I've come to find, as long as your hitch is rated to pull it, it's like the little engine who thought he could, you'll get there, not the first one granted, but it'll surprise you, and you'll be left grinning ear-to-ear when it does something that surprises the hell outa you.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,501
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From: Faibanks Ak.
If the tires hold it up you are good to go. lol
They will pull much more than they will stop, so make sure your brakes are in good working order, on the truck and trailer. And just drive accordingly.
They will pull much more than they will stop, so make sure your brakes are in good working order, on the truck and trailer. And just drive accordingly.
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Postmaster
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From: Elk City, OK
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,005
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I pulled a car behind my motorhome for the first time in my ownership of it (10 years) last weekend and wow, you really feel it back there....when comes time to slow down/stop. lol
11,000 pounds for the camper it's self.
+ 1500 pounds of people (8 guys)
+ car and dolly ~ 4000 pounds
= 16,500k
Only thing stoping this pig was the front disks, and rear drums.... lol
Brake pedal felt like my old '78 Ford Van I had, no power brake, stiff pedal, and you almost had to stand up on the brake pedal to stop that shed on wheels!
But these IDI's will pull pretty much anything you can put behind them, just make sure you ain't in a big hurry....
11,000 pounds for the camper it's self.
+ 1500 pounds of people (8 guys)
+ car and dolly ~ 4000 pounds
= 16,500k
Only thing stoping this pig was the front disks, and rear drums.... lol
Brake pedal felt like my old '78 Ford Van I had, no power brake, stiff pedal, and you almost had to stand up on the brake pedal to stop that shed on wheels!
But these IDI's will pull pretty much anything you can put behind them, just make sure you ain't in a big hurry....
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Yes the tires are new 10 ply as are the rear brakes. The trailer has brakes on both axles and the work pretty good to. Thanks again for all the input guys. I am leaving a week early to visit family so I should have plenty of time to get there lol.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 149
From: Higginsville, MO
take a look at the profile pic..... it'll pull it with no problems and i have no turbo. i would recommend installing mechanical coolant and oil pressure gauges though just to be on the safe side i got the coolant, oil, and voltmeter for 40 bucks at orielly
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 1
From: Malahat/Cowichan Valley
x's two on that!! itll save your *** one day.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 950
Likes: 2
From: West Bend
....or scare the heck out of you on another day!
This summer my nearly new gauge started climbing...and climbing....and climbing.. over 265* or so. I was towing the 7k lb flat fronted 30ft travel trailer. Yet the factory gauge stayed solid in the R in "NORMAL" I pulled off at the first way station I could (about 5 miles up the freeway) and let it cool down. Turned out my gauge decided to recalibrate itself so cold was 210*!!! That was one of them 30.00 sets. From now on I'm going to buy better ones!!
But X3 for more accurate gauges still.
This summer my nearly new gauge started climbing...and climbing....and climbing.. over 265* or so. I was towing the 7k lb flat fronted 30ft travel trailer. Yet the factory gauge stayed solid in the R in "NORMAL" I pulled off at the first way station I could (about 5 miles up the freeway) and let it cool down. Turned out my gauge decided to recalibrate itself so cold was 210*!!! That was one of them 30.00 sets. From now on I'm going to buy better ones!!
But X3 for more accurate gauges still.