I have a 1980 f-150 Ranger with a 302 2bbl carb and 3-speed auto tranny
was wondering if it could tow my 1977 Dodge B300 camper van from Virginia to California??

If possible, how would i find out the rear gear ration on this truck?
the axle code is 13 and trans code is K
1981 code 13 is a 2.75 axle ratio?!
(it does get great gas mileage)

thanks

 

That is a bad idea. F150's aren't meant tow that much. An F250 or F350 would do a better job & be more stable. I recently learned that in this forum a couple of days ago.

 

It probably could do it but what it could do is ruin your truck doing it. I don't know much about 77 dodge b300 but I do about camper vans and I wouldn't even pull it with a F150. I would recomend a F250 or F350 defenitly. If you don't care about ruining your truck then go for it. I know me and my dad would probably try it just to say we tried it. But that far I really wouldn't.
Trav

 

Redneck... you shouldn't try that anyways. DOT will pull you over, fine you, & put that truck out of service (until you get the proper truck). Ask me how I know this...

 

I know Joe I was just joking. I was just saying that it probably could do it but it wouldn't be recomended. We have been a victim too.
Trav

 

I haven't been a victim of DOT (yet). I know you were joking. I just happen to have that knowledge from my 3 months of commercial truck driver training school.

 

Axle Code 13, in 1980/82 is 2.75:1, 3,750 lb. capacity Ford axle.
Source: FoMoCo 1980/89 Light Truck Parts Catalog
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post11225573


Read THIS POST for a good pulling/hauling summary compiled by 81-F-150-Explorer

 

Virginia to California really isn't an option....

 

If it was for a short trip, I'd say go for it, but ummm, from the East coast to the West..... NO.

 

Ummm... No.

I've got a Ram 1500 that's rated for 7,500lbs. Tomorrow I'm going to look at an 86 F250 Supercab that weighs probably 6,500lbs. On my trailer it's pushing 8,500. I've towed 11k before but that was local and it was a bit of a mess. I probably was running 1k on the tongue and it was bottoming the trucks suspension pretty good at every bump.

Anyway, long story short I'm seriously considering alternatives. I'm not bringing the trailer tomorrow. If I use my trailer I'm going to grab my buddies 03 F350. He needs it this weekend though.

KBJ, will DOT really pull you over? I assume if you look really overloaded and look like a danger but will they just pull you over to see? I was under the assumption that for non-commercial guys unless you stick out like a sore thumb they leave you alone. Now if you crash overweight... That's a whole different ball of wax...

 

Yes DOT will pull you over. Some states are worse than others, CA is among the most strict and a few in between there also.

This sounds like a redneck fifth wheel set up. Just go get a real camp trailer instead of hauling a camper van. That van sounds like the one from Napolean Dynamite.

 

Sounds like the camper should be towing the F150.....

Lmao Bruno

 

ok
thanks for all your responses.

for the record let me state that the last time I towed something was when I took my 1988 Isuzu Pup 2.3L 5-speed from VA to AZ

check this out-

I had at least 1,000lbs in the bed and was towing a trailer that weighed at least 2,500lbs or more.
no issues during the trip at all, except I had to go in 2nd gear going over the Divide through Cloudcroft, NM!!
I know I was seriously over the capacity of the little Isuzu but it soldiered on without a misstep and all this was in 100+ open desert running for 12-15hrs a day driving. I mean the trailer was actually wider and longer than the Isuzu!
And no cops or anyone else never bothered me.

my dad many times used a Chevy Luv truck to tow monstrous campers, etc and the little truck seemed to do it.

However, both of those were manual tranny trucks.
I have never liked auto tranny's and although it does have a C6 in it I suspect the tranny is the weak link in the chain...??
and maybe the 2.75 rear ratio

I have already over-loaded this truck many times hauling firewood and scrap steel
and it doesn't seem to even register that it's loaded down

The van in question has a questionable engine and trans and I doubt would make it to the west coast, which is why I need to tow it.

so I guess my question is what makes a f-250/350 better?
is it the extra capacity springs, a more HD tranny/rear or what?

 

What make them better is a stiffer frame, suspension, & axles (except for the F250LD).

 

Your tranny is not the weak leak, the c6 is strong and will make it. The rear gear is definitely a weak link, and your engine will probably be the weak link also, depending in it's condition. If it's in good condition, and you baby it along(from your previous hauling examples I am confident you know how to be patient and baby something) it may make it.

The problem is it will be a butt puckering ride the whole way. The f250 brakes are larger, the tires that come with them are larger, and usually the engines are larger(we won't talk about Ford putting the 302 in the f250's) and the springs are stiffer(more stable).

I can't recommend you do it either, but you are probably hard-headed like me and want to try it anyway. If so, and you have everything there already, I would load it all up and take a trial trip with it, and see how much of a handful it's going to be. Mandatory will be a brake controller with good trailer brakes, and I would go buy a transmission cooler and plumb that in on front of the radiator. Take spare tranny fluid, engine oil, and water/coolant if you do try it. If you have the time, I would also install some aftermarket gauges, especially a engine temp gauge. You may have to pull over once in awhile and let it cool off on some of the big mountains.

I overloaded my f250 once, trying to carry a full sized backhoe with it. I made it, even over Afton mountain, but I had no room for error, and I felt like the trailer was driving me instead of me and the truck driving the trailer. When I went back to get it, I used the same trailer but took a single axle dump truck with air brakes back to get it, and the larger truck gave so much more confidence when changing lanes and going around curves. I learned my lesson that time.