Can I tow 6,000 lbs. with a 1967 F100 3 speed 2wd no a/c, p/b or p/s

Stock 352 v-8? If I can not, What do I need to do to be able to tow 6,000 lbs?

I would like to tow my show car (3,500 lbs.) + trailer.

J.O.S.

 

You sure can, but two things will give you problems. First is the brakes - the old drums will have a hard time stopping that load. They will, but you need to be careful and allow yourself lots of room. also watch the downgrades - easy to get drums hot and burn out your brakes.

The second problem is your 3 speed - it will be hard to start the load, and backing it up will be tough. You will need to slip the clutch a bit to get things moving.

If I was to do what you are thinking of I would put power disk brakes on the front, and swap the 3 speed for a 4 speed tranny.

But I have towed with your setup and it will work.

Clint

 

i would say no a half ton truck with no power brakes can not stop a 6,000 lb load and is it a auto or manual tranny

 

Jeez, hog, you must have grown up with all power assists - drum brakes were used by everyone, even 18 wheelers, up to a few years ago. You need power to squeeze disk brakes together, but drum brakes are sort of self applying - you need springs to keep them from locking up.

It has all to do with brake sweep area, and how fast you can cool your drums between applications. As I remember the stock 1/2 ton came with 1 3/4 inch wide shoes, and we used to change them out for 2" or even 2 1/4" wide ones.

We were all mad at ford when they went to disks - thought they had caved in to the town drivers and had left those of us who worked our trucks out in the cold.

I suggested he go with a power disk brake modifcation only because most people today have forgoten or never knew how to drive with drums. But never say someone can not use a ford truck to do anything - there is always someone who has already done it.

When I was a boy I remember hauling yearlings out of the Colo mountains - 6 or 8 thousand pound cows in a home-built stock trailer with no brakes. Used a inline six with a 4 speed - in the gears the entire way, but who cared if it took 6 hours or 4?

And the old timers would tell us how easy we had it - they had done the same thing using Model A's with 4 cylinders and steel rods pushing levers to operate their brakes - no hydrolics back then.

In this application his trailer will have brakes - so very little extra load on the truck.

 

Thank you WillyB on telling others on your well written answer. I also have pulled a trailer with vehicles (great finds, not by the wife) without brakes on a 69 F-250 Flairside, 4-speed manual brakes 2" shoes. Use the trans and brains and you'll be safe. Now stopping after a 120 mph top speed test run is another story, fade city by the time you hit 50 mph.

Carl....=o&o....

 

that was the only reason i said that if someone has never driven a truck with manual brakes and can't cool them off enough between stops they will glaze i did grow up with manual brakes and steering it also depends on how good the driver is towing it.

 

I'm around Sonora Pass, 9,600" alot and I have seen mini trucks empty going down the pass 6 to 11% grade smoking brakes and they are light. "Flatlander Idiots"? Next might be a 3/4 ton with 4,000 pounds of trailer and no brake smell or smoke. NUFF SAID.

Carl....=o&o>....

 

ensure the trailer has functioning electric brakes(definatly not hydrolic), get a good controler, and have at it.
352 3 speed, I assume it's a C6, ensure your tranny cooler is in good order.

I've towed over 5000lbs with a little I6 5spd Cherokee. Light truck, small brakes.
Stopping was not the problem, tail wagging the dog was, electric brakes would have been nice to help brake the trailer while accelerating the truck to straighten things out.

I would not think twice about towing 6000lbs with your truck.