Towing
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 164
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From: yuba city, ca
Towing
So my truck is a 1996 f250 with a 460 auto. It's 4wd and has the 9500?# tow rating. I bought it already set up with airbags and trailer brake. It also has an aftermarket tranny cooler. I'm looking for a toy hauler/camp trailer. Has anyone towed anything that heavy with a similar set up? Just wondering how it does. I know gas mileage will suck but that's expected. More interested in weather or not I need to look for one of those feather light trailers instead.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
No, the 4.10 gears will just make it easier on the hills.
Look at the door tag, it should have a code for the rearend.
Found this online:
35- 4.11 open
39- 3.55 open
c5- 4.11 limited slip
c9- 3.55 limited slip
I thought they came with 3.73, but maybe it was 3.55's??
Look at the door tag, it should have a code for the rearend.
Found this online:
35- 4.11 open
39- 3.55 open
c5- 4.11 limited slip
c9- 3.55 limited slip
I thought they came with 3.73, but maybe it was 3.55's??
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: yuba city, ca
I'm not even sure I have 3.55's yet.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Washington
4.10 to be precise. Your max gross combined weight rating (truck and trailer) of 18500, max trailer weight of 12500 pounds.
All of this info is in the owner manual, if you still have it. The manual can be found on the Ford owners website.
All of this info is in the owner manual, if you still have it. The manual can be found on the Ford owners website.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: yuba city, ca
Nah. All I have is a Haynes manual. Appreciate the info though. I think I'll be ok. Well except for the fuel lol.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: yuba city, ca
You think the 460 will do alright?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
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I tow a 7500# trailer with mine, fully loaded I'm carrying/towing about 10k. It won't climb long steep hills at 70 like a lot of the diesel trucks will, but it'll do fine as long as I don't hurry to much. I've got 4.10s with 33s so I'm a little better off than you for towing but if you are really only towing 7k you'll probably be fine. I'd find a scale and weigh your setup fully loaded, its amazing how inaccurate advertised trailer weight can be. You'll be surprised at how much weight you add when your rig is ready for a trip.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 908
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He asked if it'd tow ok, not if he'd get a good 1/4mi time doing it 
There's plenty of people her who tow 7k with 300s and 302s geared 3.55 and 3.73. OP will be fine. It's a 20yo truck. It's not gonna be fast.
There's plenty of people her who tow 7k with 300s and 302s geared 3.55 and 3.73. OP will be fine. It's a 20yo truck. It's not gonna be fast.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 226
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From: Glendale, AZ
My other truck is a Hemi Ram, with a 3.92 gear, on 33" tires, and I routinely have put 10K behind it without issues, it rolls down the freeway with traffic just fine, and will pull the bigger hills around here (Phoenix metro area) at 70mph without issue. Sure, I'm spinning 5 grand doing it (and watching the fuel gauge take a dive, lol), but the truck handles it.
Given that my motor makes 345hp/375tq, compared to a 460 of that era making 245/405, I think you'd be fine at a 7K trailer weight. As oldracerguy said, you may not be pulling mountains at 70, but I doubt you'd be down to a semi crawl either.
Given that my motor makes 345hp/375tq, compared to a 460 of that era making 245/405, I think you'd be fine at a 7K trailer weight. As oldracerguy said, you may not be pulling mountains at 70, but I doubt you'd be down to a semi crawl either.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Ohio
Agreed, what is the 7500#? Dry weight of trailer? You'll throw a couple thousand pounds of junk in it easy. Toy hauler? How many 4wheelers you plan on taking? Side by side?
Anyhow, you'll be fine. My trailer was 14K lbs and it went up down the highway just fine. Yes, your taller tires will hurt you, but you will get there just the same.
Don't worry, you won't be spinning the 460 to 5000 rpm to go up a hill. This was the reason my buddy got rid of his "hemi" and got a '95 F250/460 truck. Better power. He's a Ford guy, but got the Dodge on a cheap lease program. Pulling an open car trailer was brutal and was glad to find a clean western '95 to replace it with.
Anyhow, you'll be fine. My trailer was 14K lbs and it went up down the highway just fine. Yes, your taller tires will hurt you, but you will get there just the same.
My other truck is a Hemi Ram, with a 3.92 gear, on 33" tires, and I routinely have put 10K behind it without issues, it rolls down the freeway with traffic just fine, and will pull the bigger hills around here (Phoenix metro area) at 70mph without issue. Sure, I'm spinning 5 grand doing it (and watching the fuel gauge take a dive, lol), but the truck handles it.