towing 5th wheel camper
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towing 5th wheel camper
I have a 79 f250, 351M-C6-3.07 dana 61. It's only got 59k miles on it. The tires are 245/75/16. I want to pull a 27' fifth wheel camper that weighs 5k lbs. What would you suggest I change to help get some more power for pulling? I think I'll have to do something with the gear ratio.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Marengo, Iowa
gears first, definitely. somewhere between 3.54 to 4.10, depending on how hard you want it to pull, and what kind of fuel mileage you can accept when running without the trailer. The higher the number ratio, the more the engine has to spin, and the more fuel you can expect to use.To pull best the 4.10 would be best for highway use, the 3.54 will not have as much pulling power, but a little better fuel mileage running by itself.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
3.73 is a descent compromise between mileage/freeway speed and towing power, provided that you stay with stock height tires. With a Dana 61 not being all that common an axle these days, I don't know what your ratio choices will be.
I wouldn't suggest 3.54 for towing.
4.10 would be the best but since you dont have overdrive, if you like to drive fast on the freeway you will be using more gas. I had 4.10's in my old dually with 454 engine and TH400 auto (no OD). I didn't make a habit of driving fast with it.
I wouldn't suggest 3.54 for towing.
4.10 would be the best but since you dont have overdrive, if you like to drive fast on the freeway you will be using more gas. I had 4.10's in my old dually with 454 engine and TH400 auto (no OD). I didn't make a habit of driving fast with it.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Marengo, Iowa
I agree, 3.73 would be best, just wasn't sure if it is available. 3.54's work, but it dogs it pretty good on the steeper hills. My father's diesel has them, and it does the job, but works it on the bigger hills, wouldn't want to try any mountains though. 4.10's give the best pull and retain some highway useabilty, but the rpm's come up above 3000 trying to run 60 or more.
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From: Wichita KS
i have a c-6 in my 79 f-150 and my brother swaped 1st and 2nd planetarys out of an e4od (i think) and i got about 11% underdrive in first and second while keepind my final ratio the same so it didn't effect my milage. It made a BIG difference pulling my car hauler from a stop, and with 3.73's it still ran well at highway speeds.
Just my 2 cents
Just my 2 cents
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Just wondering... I went from a 97 F150 5.4 Auto reg cab to a 04 F250 same specs. The 97 w/373 rears pulled my 27' fiver just fine. A tad slow on hills. I aint hooked on yet but I'm thinking that the 5.4 in a 250 might be enough mill to haul as good as with the 150 . GVW of the 97 was 5373 the 04 is GVW 6575 these are certified weights taken on the same scales. Any thoughts??
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From: USA
If the '04 5.4 is equally powerful as the '97, and the new truck weighs more, it would be similar to pulling a trailer that weighs 1200 lbs more with the old truck... So basicallly, no, the new truck will not pull as well as the old one (engine output, transmission, axle gearing, and tire size being equal). Tire size is another thing, your new 3/4 ton may have taller tires than the 1/2 ton. For pulling with a 3/4 ton and stock tires with an overdrive trans, 4.10's are best.
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Thanks SoCal; You reaffirmed what I imagined. I do have the 4.10 tires but not much more. I have been told the '04 5.4 has a tad more berries that the '97 but me thinks that will be lost in the 250. I'll just have to give it a try and see what adjustments I can make. Thanxs for the input
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