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Old May 5, 2022 | 09:41 PM
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Towing

Can my 1992 ford f150 4.9 inline 6 5 speed manual handle towing a 20 foot fifth wheel camper
 
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Old May 5, 2022 | 10:52 PM
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Depends on how heavy, how much frontal area, terrain, how fast you want to go, and condition of the truck.
 
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Old May 6, 2022 | 08:21 AM
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@Cutter21 , welcome to the FTE!

I had that exact same year and truck in a single cab long bed configuration. It was good at towing a Jon Boat and a motorcycle on a small trailer, but other than that I didn't trust it much for towing. You could give it a shot, but getting going or maintaining speed is not the only consideration, you have to remember that adequate stopping power is just as important if not more important.

Another consideration is distances you will be towing? Are you going 15 miles to the lake or are you going 1,500 miles to Wyoming?

I remember I hauled two pallets of Tennessee flagstone on a double axle flatbed trailer with it one time and I thought it was going to blow up.

About 9 years ago we sold the 1992 F-150 4.9L and bought a 2000 F-250 7.3L and have never looked back. We were looking to get into RV'ing and the first camper we bought was a 32' travel trailer, then a 38' 5th wheel and now we have a 28' 5th wheel. We travel the country and go long distance and I could not see myself doing any of that with the F-150 we had.

I hope this helps.
 
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Old May 6, 2022 | 09:12 AM
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Had one of those trucks. I would say no way.
 
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Old May 6, 2022 | 09:26 AM
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I've driven a '94 and a '95 F150 with the 4.9 and 5 speed. The good thing about those 4.9's is they run and lug forever and I believe it's because they don't make enough power to hurt themselves or anything else.

If your fiver is under 4500 lbs or so, then I don't think it would be too bad. The one thing that stands out in my mind about that era of F150's is they were made more for riding around empty and would feel squirrelly when loaded compared to any age F250 or above. They just didn't have the springs or tires feel to more planted.

Check your axle ratings (on your door) and your tow ratings (using google). Also be honest about your suspension, brakes, and overall truck condition.
 
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Old May 6, 2022 | 09:33 AM
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With fifth wheels, it's not a question of whether or not the truck can tow the trailer, but a question of the truck having enough payload for the pin weight of the trailer. Use 20 - 25% of the trailers GVWR (from the trailers sticker) to estimate the loaded pin weight. If the truck doesn't have enough payload for that, the weight of a fifth wheel hitch, passengers and "stuff," the answer is, "No."

Rob
 
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Old May 6, 2022 | 03:10 PM
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I can't see a 20' rv weighing that much. I'd verify the weight and I'd pull it. I had an '87 that pulled a 16' gooseneck stock trailer with 4,000 lbs of cattle and it did okay.
 
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Old May 6, 2022 | 06:01 PM
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Truck is old and not enough suspension for any real towing; either 5th wheel or bumper pull and the payload likely isn't there. A 92 won't have a payload placard in the door frame so who knows what it would be. Likely less than 1000 pounds and even more likely less with a tired truck. The 4.9 is not a towing motor but it does like gas with that single barrel carb. I would stay away from towing anything with that truck.
 
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Old May 6, 2022 | 07:32 PM
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The 1992 brochure doesn't give tow specs but compared to today trucks it's amazing the things we did with them when there wasn't an internet telling us we can't.


 
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Old May 10, 2022 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by wiredgeorge
The 4.9 is not a towing motor but it does like gas with that single barrel carb. I would stay away from towing anything with that truck.
Dont post that over in the 300 six motor area you will be run out LOL
The 4.9 is a towing motor and was used in larger trucks up to at least the F350's.
It was also used in a lot of delivery vans like UPS and equipment like wood chippers.
It has a lot of TQ down low because of the long stroke.

Now one thing that will always be said it will tow it but not vary fast. so dont be in a rush when loaded heavy.
My 81 F100 flare side is a back up to pull my 20 ft open deck car trailer and would say loaded to be around 5k to 6k max.
Thing is I have a NP435 4sp with the granny first gear so can get the load moving from a stop.
I also have a Advance Adapter Range Spliter over drive making my 4sp a 8sp transmission and can split every gear if need be.
Yep not fast but it will get the job done.
Dave ----
 
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Old May 11, 2022 | 05:56 PM
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Had an 81 F150 300 six. It towed the pop up nicely but when we got a very small 5W it was a dog so I swapped in a 351W, rv cam, headers and 4.11 rear to make it work. Kept at 3000 rpm and it could not be stopped.
YMMV
 
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