Urgent - towing question
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Charleston, SC
Urgent - towing question
I have a '70 F-100 and I'm trying to find out if it'll handle towing a car for about 60 miles. The car doesn't run ('87 Porsche 924S - weighs about 2,800lbs) and will be on a trailer of some sort... not sure if it'll be a small flatbed or a car dolly.
My truck has a trailer ball mounted on the back bumper and it is a tough looking bumper, but I'm not sure if it's enough to do what I need it to do. Any thoughts on this? I'm trying to find out if I can tow (trailer from uhaul or somewhere) as/is or if I need to rent a truck from somewhere. Thanks!
My truck has a trailer ball mounted on the back bumper and it is a tough looking bumper, but I'm not sure if it's enough to do what I need it to do. Any thoughts on this? I'm trying to find out if I can tow (trailer from uhaul or somewhere) as/is or if I need to rent a truck from somewhere. Thanks!
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Joined: Apr 2003
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if the bumper looked strong enough to me I would pull it.
hook up a dolly and put the back wheels on the dolly, lock the streering straight and you should be good to go.
It's a good idea to use a saftey chain though.
I don't recomend driving to fast.
hook up a dolly and put the back wheels on the dolly, lock the streering straight and you should be good to go.
It's a good idea to use a saftey chain though.
I don't recomend driving to fast.
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I agree, i'm not big on pulling anything off a bumper ball. Frame hitches, even good hitches, arn't really that expensive. You've got drum brakes all round right? Happen to be power or manual? 2800 lbs doesn't sound like much but if you get up around 50-60 mph and have to stop your gonna have your hands full. If your gonna use a car trailer spend the extra 60 bucks and put in a brake controler. Just to be safe....
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From: Charleston, SC
Thaks for the quick response. The bumper is 1/2 inch thick where the ball mounts and 3/8 of an inch thick where it bolts to the frame (4 bolts). What all would be involved with setting up a frame hitch?
My brakes are drum all the way around, non-power. I haden't planned on taking it up above 50. What's the brake controller? I don't know much about towing with this truck - in the past I used my dad's which was pretty new and came with a hitch welded to the frame. No problems there.
The more I think about it, the more paying however much to rent something for the day seems worth the peace of mind... no worries about the brakes, wondering if the bumper/bolts are still strong enough, questioning the ancient trailer wiring, ...
My brakes are drum all the way around, non-power. I haden't planned on taking it up above 50. What's the brake controller? I don't know much about towing with this truck - in the past I used my dad's which was pretty new and came with a hitch welded to the frame. No problems there.
The more I think about it, the more paying however much to rent something for the day seems worth the peace of mind... no worries about the brakes, wondering if the bumper/bolts are still strong enough, questioning the ancient trailer wiring, ...
Last edited by The Fife; Aug 4, 2004 at 06:13 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Montana Territory
don't waste your money...
I tow all the time with my bumper mounted ball...you'll be fine. the drum brakes are fine too... Thats all they used for years, and OTR truck only have drum brakes...
I tow all the time with my bumper mounted ball...you'll be fine. the drum brakes are fine too... Thats all they used for years, and OTR truck only have drum brakes...
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Post Fiend
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brakes, pulling power, etc are a consideration...
but the up and down motion of a normal road can put 1000 lbs of down force on the bumper...
How many trucks have you seen with the rear bumper pointed straight down ?
check your owners manual or on line before you do it or else you could lose the bumper, the trailer, and the car
be careful !
but the up and down motion of a normal road can put 1000 lbs of down force on the bumper...
How many trucks have you seen with the rear bumper pointed straight down ?
check your owners manual or on line before you do it or else you could lose the bumper, the trailer, and the car
be careful !
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From: Lamesa,Texas
that truck and bumper were built to tow with that bumper. things were built stronger then. i use a reciever on my PSD but I have a 92 f-150 that i use the bumper to tow with. I tow multiple times a week and light duty to fertilizer tanks up to about 12,000. that truck is at nearly 200,000 with no problems yet. just hook on and take your time and you will be fine
Last edited by gotdiesel; Aug 4, 2004 at 06:43 PM. Reason: change
Senior User
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From: Lamesa,Texas
the main thing is take your time. i tow that load short distances from town to the pivot and dont get in a hurry. everything else i tow at 70 but fertilizer at maybe 35-40. and you must start slowing EARLY. but no more, that is why i bought my PSD now i can drag it 90 if i wanted to
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From: Atlanta GA
You know, 1/2" of steel for where the ball mounts sounds pretty hefty to me. I would check just to make sure the four bolts holding it on where grade 8 and tight. Then I would rig shackles in the truck frame (not bumper) for the safety chains and then go for it.
As long as you remember what you are using for towing (manual drums) and keep the speed reasonable, I see no problems, especially with a tow dolly. If you have the time and money, I would install a brake controller for the trailer, if it has brakes.
As long as you remember what you are using for towing (manual drums) and keep the speed reasonable, I see no problems, especially with a tow dolly. If you have the time and money, I would install a brake controller for the trailer, if it has brakes.
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From: Charleston, SC
Looks like the truck is out - something is going on with the timing and since the car has to be moved on Friday I don't have much choice except to have someone haul it over. It's been hard enough finding a day where both me and my friend I'm getting the car from are both off, so Friday really has to be the day. But I did find someone that'd do the 60 miles on a flatbed for $125 which isn't too bad.
I'll still have to have a look at the bolts. The bumper is an aftermarket one that was added long ago (back when dealerships still engraved onto the bumper). How do I tell if they're grade 8?
I'll still have to have a look at the bolts. The bumper is an aftermarket one that was added long ago (back when dealerships still engraved onto the bumper). How do I tell if they're grade 8?
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Grade 8 bolts have six little dashes on the head, Grade 5 has three. Anything less wont have any marks. I dont know if this would apply to your truck since the bumper was installed over 30 years ago. Anyways, if you ever tow with a flat bed trailer, make sure you balance the load over the trailer's axles. The load should never exceed 500 lbs on the tounge.
