New to Towing
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New to Towing
I've got a 1995 Ford F150 (300/Mazda 5/3.55s) with ~98K miles and I just bought a boat I'll be towing. I'll be towing it once or twice a a week - up to 50 miles.
Since I'm new to towing, I'm wondering what I need to maintain. I plan on checking the brakes (and tracking down that odd coolant smell...), and possibly upgrading to a MSD 6A. Is there anything else I should upgrade to /maintain more often?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Since I'm new to towing, I'm wondering what I need to maintain. I plan on checking the brakes (and tracking down that odd coolant smell...), and possibly upgrading to a MSD 6A. Is there anything else I should upgrade to /maintain more often?
Any advice would be appreciated.
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New to Towing
To get better pulling power you should let the motor breath better, for example a K&N filter at least and a nice cat-back exhaust, nothing expensive but something thats not restrictive.
1995 F-150XL SC/SB
http://members.sounddomain.com/blind
5-Star Rated F-150 (Big Stereo)
1995 F-150XL SC/SB
http://members.sounddomain.com/blind
5-Star Rated F-150 (Big Stereo)
Thread Starter
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New to Towing
It's a 18' welded aluminum hull. With trailer, it probably weighs 2500 pounds - give or take a couple hundred. It pulls fine around town. So well that I forget it's back there - until I look back to see who tailgating me so closely 
The coolant smell is a mystery to me. I only smell it outside the cab after I've driven it some. I replaced the hoses and radiator cap, but no help. I haven't really noticed a significant coolant loss or increased temp - even towing on the highway at 60+. I'm thinking it may be a tiny pinhole leak in the radiator that I need to check out.
I've already installed a K&N and 3" exhaust. Unfortunately, I've never noticed much difference in upper RPM performance. I probably should replace the 1st cat as it has a 2.5" inlet restriction.
Thanks for the help!
The coolant smell is a mystery to me. I only smell it outside the cab after I've driven it some. I replaced the hoses and radiator cap, but no help. I haven't really noticed a significant coolant loss or increased temp - even towing on the highway at 60+. I'm thinking it may be a tiny pinhole leak in the radiator that I need to check out.
I've already installed a K&N and 3" exhaust. Unfortunately, I've never noticed much difference in upper RPM performance. I probably should replace the 1st cat as it has a 2.5" inlet restriction.
Thanks for the help!
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Joined: Mar 2000
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New to Towing
You have 3" pipe on a 300/6? Who was the insane person who recommended that to you? Even my 302/V8 lost some lower end torque when I had my 3" exhaust put on! I'd say to not go any bigger than 2.5" on a 6..even a "big block" 6 like the 300.
1995 F-150XL SC/SB
http://members.sounddomain.com/blind
5-Star Rated F-150 (Big Stereo)
1995 F-150XL SC/SB
http://members.sounddomain.com/blind
5-Star Rated F-150 (Big Stereo)
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 369
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New to Towing
I didn't lose any noticable low end torque, nor is that really my concern for towing at highway speeds. Now a 302...while its a great engine, its really a mid to high rpm engine, and not designed for low end torque.
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