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Found a guy selling a 1985 F150 Explorer, 4x4, AC, 300 inline and 3spd w OD manual trans. How much can that truck tow ? I have a 12ft car trailer that I need to tow some older vehicles with. Same cargo as another guy on here an old scout lol there is a guy in PA buying up rollers for good money. It is a 116mi drive on way could this F150 do it. The engine is freshly rebuilt with 2,300 miles on it and a rebuilt trans same mileage so its broken in. Anybody see an error in my judgment ? I cant find tow specs online ? It has a frame mounted reciever too I hope this helps.
It will pull it, but I would not tow with it on the regular basis. You are going to be shifting gears a lot and that transmission does not have a good gear spread. And it's known to be weak. But all that about the transmission is just what I have picked up here, I have never had one. And I have never had a 300 six. But I do know the 300 six was available in the f250/350 so it's probably up to the task, though it might take awhile to get there, like the diesels with no turbo.
A 12 ft trailer is a little short. You might get the old scout on there, but most cars are going to take it all. I have a 16ft trailer and it's just big enough to haul a full size pickup.
You also may want to lift the hood and see what the engine looks like. That model engine had a carb with computer control. Most need to be converted over to a conventional system. There are a lot of them running around with the computer system still on them, and half the vacuum lines and other things unplugged. They will run like that, but not as good as they could if everything was working.
It will pull it, but I would not tow with it on the regular basis. You are going to be shifting gears a lot and that transmission does not have a good gear spread. And it's known to be weak. But all that about the transmission is just what I have picked up here, I have never had one. And I have never had a 300 six. But I do know the 300 six was available in the f250/350 so it's probably up to the task, though it might take awhile to get there, like the diesels with no turbo.
A 12 ft trailer is a little short. You might get the old scout on there, but most cars are going to take it all. I have a 16ft trailer and it's just big enough to haul a full size pickup.
You also may want to lift the hood and see what the engine looks like. That model engine had a carb with computer control. Most need to be converted over to a conventional system. There are a lot of them running around with the computer system still on them, and half the vacuum lines and other things unplugged. They will run like that, but not as good as they could if everything was working.
The Scout is already on the trailer I just need a truck lol... I took my F250 apart to do badly needed rust repair and have been driving my old 71 f100 and I know it aint gonna do it. We have a 87 F150 with the same engine and trans but the 300 is efi I have never towed a car trailer only hay and a tractor in the bed.... Masey Harris Pony lol for a buddy of mine.
I'm asking if the hitch female opening will take the 2" square slide in piece that will hold most any size ball. I believe mine is a 2" opening, my trailer took a 2 5/16" Ball.
Sorry for the crappy pictures, it's cold in the shed.
I'm asking if the hitch female opening will take the 2" square slide in piece that will hold most any size ball. I believe mine is a 2" opening, my trailer took a 2 5/16" Ball.
Sorry for the crappy pictures, it's cold in the shed.
Oh lol... my trailer takes a 2 5/16 ball but the reciever on the truck is 2" i worded that all wrong lol
Like DaveF said the only thing I would worry about is the transmission, I have not driven that transmission bit have heard the same about the gear spread.
A better trans would be any of the granny first gear ones, T18 / T19 / NP435. The T18 & NP435 were the most common, none had over drive.
The granny gear is great for getting heavy loads moving from a stop.
You did not say what gear ratio the truck has as that has a lot to do with how well it can handle loads.
A lower ratio (higher number) is better for loads / towing but the motor will have a higher RPM running down the high way.
A higher ratio (lower number) is the other way, not good for loads / towing but lower RPM running down the high way.
Being the truck is a 150 you may need a weight distributing setup as the truck may squat some.
It will also stable the setup when towing. You will need electric trailer brakes too.
I have pulled many different trailers from 18', 20' 1 car trailers, to 35' 2 car bumper pull and many camp trailers with a just as many things to pull them with.
I built my 81 F100 4x2 flare side, 300 six, NP435 and Advance Adapter Range Spliter over drive and 2.75 rrear gear to pull my open deck 20' car trailer. Truck is set up with a trailer brake controller and the trailer setup for weight distributing setup as my 02 Durango (bought new to pull trailer) needs it as it sags.
I have not pulled the trailer with my truck yet. I know it will do the job, slow but gets it done.
The over drive I can split every gear if need be as the gear spread between 3rd & 4th is pretty large on the NP435 and the T18 I had in the truck and it will help with the 2.75 non-towing rear gear, the granny first gets the load moving.
BTW the 300 six was used in larger trucks than the F350's
They had 5 speed transmissions and maybe 2 speed rears so the motor is up to the job.
Dave ----
The 1995 F150 w/4.9 engine and standard transmission has CVWR of 5400 to 10,000 lbs* depending, as mentioned, on rear end gearing. Post your axle code.
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