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.

 

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 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

so are you saying the '96 f150 with 300 i6 is ok for towing with 3.55 gears and e4od on florida roads?

 

I would change gears if it were me. I would go to 3.73s with stock tires, 4.10s if you have oversized tires.

 

Gents, The problem isn’t getting the weight the moving, it’s controlling and stopping it safely.

 

oversize tires would require a lift though correct

 

More than enough truck, yes. Both my grandfather and father both towed 5th wheels (weighing much more than your 5k lbs haha) for many years with their 300/302 trucks, in places where there are far more hills than Florida.

There's absolutely no need for anymore gear for his intended use. Anymore is unnecessarily hurting fuel economy. You have to remember, Florida is flat, flat, flat. I'm talking, besides take off, the truck wont even be working. If you've never been there, driving over a bubble gum rapper would likely be the highest elevation gain you'll see all day, and that exaggeration isn't by much.


This is why trailer brakes are vital. Whenever you're towing, you want what you're towing helping not just slow it's own weight down, but even some of your truck too. Trailer brakes and controller are part of the cost of towing.

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

the tires on the truck i am looking at are tire size 295/50 r15