Thinking of buying the truck mentioned in the subject, it's dirt cheap, drives great, and just needs glass and interior work. AC even works! Truck has a nice solid frame and good brakes, will need a back bumper and a tailgate (previous owner removed them for an '86 he bought), maybe some tires.

I would like to know what it can tow and what it can haul in the bed and also what it can do with a 5th wheel. I have been looking for specs and haven't found any yet, so if anyone has one of these and knows, I'd love to find out before I pick it up this coming weekend. The courier service I now work for has much more work available for a truck driver than for my little Saturn sedan. They will even provide a flatbed trailer for me to haul larger items, but I'd need a gooseneck hitch installed to do that. They tell me I can double my income with a 3/4 or 1-ton truck. I would think the extra $500 a week would at least cover my gas expense going from 35mpg to what, 7mpg? Hopefully not quite that bad.

 

My book says, an 81 351 was rated at
136HP @ 3000rpm
262lb.-ft @ 1600rpm
GVW 6700

Other helpful things to know would be rear axle type, gear ratio.

I imagine your mileage woud be around 10-15, maybe better. My 85 460 got 7mpg when I forst got it, after ditching the mufflers and putting on a K&N and a good tuneup, I get 10-12mpg.

 

Thanks! Anyone know what I can tow? Will a better bumper allow me to tow more than a stock bumper?

 

Hi I'm a newbie on this site but I've always had F'n 250's these late 70's early 80's trucks are friggen animals with a stick instead of an auto. Mine have always done just about anything I ask em to. They'll Idle in 1'st gear low range against a tree just as happy as a clam! i've overloaded and broken a few springs over the years but still giter home. I tow a 6000# boat and trailer and practically idle up the ramp in first gear. check your door plate to see if you have a heavy or lite 250 the heavy 250 has a 1 ton rear axle with 3/4 ton springs, easy upgrade from a boneyard to 1 ton springs.

 

If you are going to do this get proper hitches, do not tow from your bumper. Good trailer hitch is a good investment. Don't forget a brake controler

 

The '81 has a 351m, not 351W. They suck a lot of gas and don't have much power. You want to make sure that it doesn't have the swiss cheese frame. that isn't good for any real heavy use. Also, if you are doing serious tow work, you need to make sure it has a rear full-floating axle.