towing
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Elder User
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From: AL
towing
I've looked all over the internet to come up with a good max. tow capacity for my truck but can't seem to nail it down. I've found anywhere from 5500lbs to 9000lbs. I have a '70 2wd F250 crew cab. The truck has a GVW of 7500lbs. The truck weighs about 5000lbs. It has a stock 390, C6, dana 60 with limited slip 3.73 rear gears, front disc brakes, HD rear brakes, aux. tranny cooler & a trailer brake controller. I currently have a receiver hitch rated for 500lb tongue weight but I plan to install a Class IV hitch with a tongue rating of 1000lbs. I've been towing a 3000lbs camper with no problems. We want to upgrade to a larger camper and I just can't find what weight range I should be looking for. We will be taking a at least one 6 hour trip a year and several 2-3 hour trips.
What do you guys tow regularly with your F250?
What do you guys tow regularly with your F250?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
My '70 F100 pulled a 4400# car on a 1200# open trailer, and that was with a 302 and a toploader 4spd(4.10 gears). Did a fine job, especially since that was all I had.
Friend fabbed up a nice hitch for it, nothing off the shelf. I did use weight distributing bars. I don't know how heavy you plan to go, but I would not sweat it too much.
Friend fabbed up a nice hitch for it, nothing off the shelf. I did use weight distributing bars. I don't know how heavy you plan to go, but I would not sweat it too much.
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From: AL
I was planning to stay under 6000# but my family keeps finiding the 7500# units they really like. Of course those are fully loaded weights. That could be less depending on how much we packed.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
So your truck GVW is 7500#, the truck is 5000#, so that leaves 2500# you can put on the chassis. The remaining weight needs to be supported by the trailer axles.
So, if you get a 7000# trailer, find out what the advertised tongue weight is. You will likely need weight bars, and/or sway control also. I can't see it being too much for the truck overall. You might not run up hills like a new truck, but I can't see it being any kind of issue running down the road.
So, if you get a 7000# trailer, find out what the advertised tongue weight is. You will likely need weight bars, and/or sway control also. I can't see it being too much for the truck overall. You might not run up hills like a new truck, but I can't see it being any kind of issue running down the road.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
Well, back in the day many tow trucks had 390's and towed cars and trucks all the time. I think the wind resistance will be a bigger factor in your road speed then the weight of the trailer. Try to pick a trailer with a more aerodynamic front end on it. Your truck is pretty tall, but evey little bit helps.
I think the only thing that will hurt you in the hills is the 3.73 gears(especially if you have tall tires). Most that wanted to pull got 4.10 gears. Though that would really put a hurting on fuel mileage these days. Just might mean you downshift a bit more.
I think the only thing that will hurt you in the hills is the 3.73 gears(especially if you have tall tires). Most that wanted to pull got 4.10 gears. Though that would really put a hurting on fuel mileage these days. Just might mean you downshift a bit more.
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From: AL
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
Well, that calculator looks like a lot of hub bub and nonsense. Like I stated above, you are allowed 7500# on the chassis, the basic truck is 5000#, so you have 2500# available to add to the truck frame/axles. I dont know if there is a true factory COMBINED weight rated back then? Meaning the 7500# of truck and what kind of weight it is rated to pull.
That calculator breaks it all down to each axle and such, which is fine, but doesn't tell you anything pertinent to how heavy the trailer can be. A weight distributing hitch will help move the weight around if it came to that. The hitch will determine your tongue weight allowed.
Back in the 70's the family wagon pulled a big air stream on vacation. As long as it had a big enough motor, it pulled it.
That calculator breaks it all down to each axle and such, which is fine, but doesn't tell you anything pertinent to how heavy the trailer can be. A weight distributing hitch will help move the weight around if it came to that. The hitch will determine your tongue weight allowed.
Back in the 70's the family wagon pulled a big air stream on vacation. As long as it had a big enough motor, it pulled it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
I've looked all over the internet to come up with a good max. tow capacity for my truck but can't seem to nail it down. I've found anywhere from 5500lbs to 9000lbs. I have a '70 2wd F250 crew cab. The truck has a GVW of 7500lbs. The truck weighs about 5000lbs. It has a stock 390, C6, dana 60 with limited slip 3.73 rear gears, front disc brakes, HD rear brakes, aux. tranny cooler & a trailer brake controller. I currently have a receiver hitch rated for 500lb tongue weight but I plan to install a Class IV hitch with a tongue rating of 1000lbs. I've been towing a 3000lbs camper with no problems. We want to upgrade to a larger camper and I just can't find what weight range I should be looking for. We will be taking a at least one 6 hour trip a year and several 2-3 hour trips.
What do you guys tow regularly with your F250?
What do you guys tow regularly with your F250?
John
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
That is what I mentioned above. Back in the days, not everyone had a big superduty pickup to pull their camper. Just the family truckster with big ad-on mirrors!!! 
Like the Ford Torino wagon and Olds Vista cruisers!
Like the Ford Torino wagon and Olds Vista cruisers!
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: The Big, Oregon
I towed 9500lbs with my F250 and a built 360, along with about 1500lbs in the bed. It has been converted to power steering and disc brakes, with the big c/s rear brakes. It also had 3.73s and 32" rear tires. I added a trailer brake controller, and it did pretty well at around 65 for 700miles. The only downside was the single digit fuel economy. I did also build my own hitch that fit inside the frame rails and secured with six 1/2" bolts, with the receiver hidden behind the plate.
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From: AL
Thanks for the help. Most of the campers we like have a GVW between 6900-7500lbs. Of course actual towing weight could be much less depending on how much we pack! The dry weight of most of these campers is 5500-6000lbs.
I just wondered what people had actually towed for long distances.
I just wondered what people had actually towed for long distances.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
I think waaay to much time is spent on GVW and what it means or doesn't. I had a chance to weigh the tow below, I believe it was 10,520 total. The 66 weighs about 3800. I loaded the 88 on the trailer until it dropped the bumper just under 2", so all the weight is on the trailer and it is tongue heavy. I don't care if it had been 12,520 or 14,520, I would have handled it the same.
A big ol grin comes on bossman's grill when he gets a chance to hook up like that, run in the lead pack with the big dogs.
John
A big ol grin comes on bossman's grill when he gets a chance to hook up like that, run in the lead pack with the big dogs.
John