I have a 78 F250 that I'm slowly building into a HD tow rig-HD brakes 14 leaf spring on each side 4.30 gears ec......It has no rust as I primed and painted it a while ago and it's a Texas truck(no salt)The frame and spring hanger look real solid and I was wondering if the frame can be used for EXTREMLY fat loads like 3500lbs of concrete bags in the bed & a trailer at 9K total trailer wieght? Will it hold up or will it be a pretzel?Can I "BEEF" the frame up I think the "weakest" part of the frame is where the cab meets the bed?
The frame measurements are width= 2.5" highth= 7"
& frame thickness is about 3/16" according to a junky tape messure
What can I expect? everyone says these trucks are more solid than the newer ones, can the frame take it? What else can I do to beef it up? It with have
12"x 3" drums in the back cross drilled rotors up front and High performance pads with a 79 F350 master cyl. an NP 435 a HD dana 60 with synthetic lube& 4.30's and a power trax, a HD RAM clutch new raditator and a 3640lb front axle /with twin pistion calipers
New bushings in front end
HD F250 460 V8 replacement coils in front
What else is a weaker point besides the frame in my setup?
Any help in my building proccess would be helpful?
thanks
Dustin

 

you don't need to beef the frame up. sometimes you can do more harm than good. I would use a gooseneck, 2nd choice being a real good ball hitch.
we got a 73 F250 Brush truck that carried 350 gal of water (about 3000lbs total) most of its life and the frame is like new.

 

oh ya it has tires rated for 3400lbs each. I will try to get pics up later of the under carrage.I think it is a really tough truck but the frame was my biggest concern as I have seen trucks where the truck is badly bent between the cab and the box, but I never seen a ford so I guess you put my concerns to rest.
Thanks
Dusty

 

anyone else have any thoughts on this issue?Can it take 3500lbs in the bed and a 9K in both goose and BP which will probly throw the payload over 5.5K it my frame strong enough or is beefing reqired?
What is the "limit" that people have found if thier is such a thing
Thanks
Dustin

 

Ive pulled 14x70 mobile home's with my F350 4x4,and you could feel the frame twist when I come out with the clutch but then it went back to normal.I only moved a couple around a park.I also pull a 5 ton backhoe on a 1.5 ton trailer,and never a problem.ive had 5 ton of rubble in the dump box twice for a job I was doing,and that was a little over board on the truck(stopping wise)but other then that my buddy's call me MORON,Put More On(LOL).