hey everyone.. i'm about to aquire a 1977 f-100 1/2 ton trailer special to pull about a 9000lb boat i'll only be doing this trip twice a year (about 150 miles).. truck has a 460 automatic and postitive traction .. don't know about tranny or rear end.. hitch is 10000 lbs.. the trailer is brand new with electric brakes on both axles... do i need to just forget about this one and look for more truck?? any help here would be much appreciated.. i've pulled many trailers but never anything this weight.. thanks...volker

 

First of all Welcome to FTE.

When Ford came out with that setup it was for towing TT with a equalizer hitch, lot better ride than the F250 with the same power. The 460, C6 trany and probably 4.10 rear end are up to the job but the suspension would be a little suspect. Back then TT trailers didn't weigh as much as they do now.

If I remember right the Trailer Special upgraded the running gear (460 C6 4.10 rear) and it had front and rear anti sway bars, heaver springs and bigger brakes than the standard F100 but IMO 9K is way more than what they had in mind.

Now a F250 of that era would be up to the task if it was in good shape, also if you go with a truck that old find a old hydraulic brake control it will be just as good as the new Tow Command and Brakesmart controllers

Denny

 

That ol truck will handle it just fine two times a year. You might find that it does well enough that you will want to pull it more often.

John

 

the brakes are the same sixe as a f-150 i would watch out going down the hills the max load for that truck in my old catalog is 5,500 lbs+