Looking for advice
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Mi'kma'ki
I bought a '96 F150 supercab 4wd back in '99 and worked it for 10 years as if it was an F350, relatively issue free. If it was an oddball one year only truck, with parts just for the that year truck and something strange about it's computer, I guess ignorance was bliss because it didn't effect me working the truck (far, far beyond it's intended built use) for a decade.
Last edited by FORDF250HDXLT; Apr 14, 2026 at 01:43 PM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,554
Likes: 2,034
From: North Texas
What keeps one from swapping in a 94-95MY harness (or OBD1 96MY harn) and PCM on the OBDII trucks? Perhaps the bulkhead connector is different?
I would be more curious about dragging 5000lb with a 4.9 or 5.0 how is the terrain? Often or once annually?
My 88MY 5.0/AOD did so so with a car and Umove trailer, just kept in third and rocked out in flat Texas. This is when it was fairly stock, I think I had 4.10:1 gears at the time and catback.
Gasser 3/4 ton is what I would try to find in this era. Hell, a 10th Gen tows decent or a late first gen Expedition 5.4
I would be more curious about dragging 5000lb with a 4.9 or 5.0 how is the terrain? Often or once annually?
My 88MY 5.0/AOD did so so with a car and Umove trailer, just kept in third and rocked out in flat Texas. This is when it was fairly stock, I think I had 4.10:1 gears at the time and catback.
Gasser 3/4 ton is what I would try to find in this era. Hell, a 10th Gen tows decent or a late first gen Expedition 5.4
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2017
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From: Northern Ontario
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Last edited by JJF20; Apr 16, 2026 at 06:04 AM.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Polk County Florida
I am mechanically inclined. I am not a professional mechanic but I have no problem getting my hands dirty and figuring things out. Cab size doesn't really bother me. Its more for towing a camper thats maybe 5000-ish lbs. like a forest river viking 26.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 17,500
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From: Northern Ontario
Edited:
Forest River Viking 26 - Bumper pull, 30’ over all length, 11’ tall, 7,000+ lbs all kitted out and loaded up on the road. Plus what ever you load in the truck.
Forest River Viking 26 - Bumper pull, 30’ over all length, 11’ tall, 7,000+ lbs all kitted out and loaded up on the road. Plus what ever you load in the truck.
Last edited by JJF20; Apr 18, 2026 at 07:47 AM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Mi'kma'ki
As a former 300-6 owner in the '96 F150 I had (and one in a '85 F150 years before that), I can assure you, a 7th - 9th gen F150 w/ 300-6 will tow 5k lbs, anywhere in Florida (unless you know of some hills down there, that I never managed to find over the years) at the same (lawful) speed an F350 w/ 460 can tow the same 5k lbs. There's a reason Ford rated the truck (w/ 3.55 gears) for it. Some folks have never owned one, just the V8's. A lot of people back in the day claimed they preferred towing with the 300-6 over the 302 v8.
I can very easily assure you, you don't need a v8 to tow 5k lbs in Florida. The v8's will use a lot more fuel too. Personally, I wouldn't want any other engine in an F150 of the 7th-9th gen era. It's the best (longest lasting, fuel efficient) engine Ford ever offered in them.
They have a legendary reputation for very good reason. Those of us who've owned them know they can tow, work and last a very long time doing it..... Not fast. Much like the old school N/A IDI diesels, but they can tow and consider this with today's crazy fuel prices, they can get high teens (possibly flirt with 20mpg on flat lands of Florida) when empty...351w trucks (and certainly not f250/350) can't do that.
I can very easily assure you, you don't need a v8 to tow 5k lbs in Florida. The v8's will use a lot more fuel too. Personally, I wouldn't want any other engine in an F150 of the 7th-9th gen era. It's the best (longest lasting, fuel efficient) engine Ford ever offered in them.
They have a legendary reputation for very good reason. Those of us who've owned them know they can tow, work and last a very long time doing it..... Not fast. Much like the old school N/A IDI diesels, but they can tow and consider this with today's crazy fuel prices, they can get high teens (possibly flirt with 20mpg on flat lands of Florida) when empty...351w trucks (and certainly not f250/350) can't do that.
Last edited by FORDF250HDXLT; Apr 14, 2026 at 07:29 PM.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2026
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From: Polk County Florida
yeh florida is mostly flat other than the few hills in polk and lake county. but I have also had friends that have highly praised their 300 inline 6's and thats what I was looking at, not for speed, but for reliability and ease of maintenance
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Polk County Florida
so are you saying the '96 f150 with 300 i6 is ok for towing with 3.55 gears and e4od on florida roads?
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Fleet Owner
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From: Mi'kma'ki
Keep that far away form your mind. You don't want anything to do with lifts nor larger tires. Both will hurt you in fuel economy and towing, even if you re-geared to try and compensate. Just don't ruin the setup in the first place.
If you can't help yourself 31" tires will go right on, no lift required, but ideally keep a set of 215's (or LT 235's) to toss on it when you go to tow.
Last edited by FORDF250HDXLT; Apr 15, 2026 at 08:35 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: North Texas
This.
My 96MY dually is only rated to pull a 10k trailer. Why? Decent brakes stock, it will drag way more of course. I think it is 20k combined including the truck with load and trailer.
Needs a 3/4 ton or a newer truck for the trips. I think my Expedition rated about 7500lb tow weight, unsure on the Screw. Out of town so cannot flip through the books to look.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2026
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Polk County Florida
my next question is, doesnt anyone recommend upgrading the stock efi to a holley sniper 2300 and if so how expensive is the holley efi and is there other alternatives say from summit or jegs