Need advice please
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Elder User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Chaparral, NM
Need advice please
Hi ya all, I just got a 94 F-150, 4.9, 300 I6, automatic. It came with a really nice camper on it that is supposed to get me better gas mileage because of the way it's built. It also came with tires that are 31 inches tall, 10 1/2 inches wide (15's) with big nobby treads. My question is this. I will be hauling my two horse trailer with this truck, so will the added weight of the camper (no matter how areo diamically it's built) and the larger tires make it tougher for my truck to pull my trailer? Actually, I don't like the camper on there, nor do I like the noise the tires make, so getting rid of them would be ok with me but I've had two people tell me it would be better to leave them on. Do ya all agree with this?
There is also a guy who wants to trade his newer tires that are 30 inches tall and 9 inches wide with less nobbies for my tires. Would the slight difference in the height and width make THAT much difference in my trucks hauling performance, or should I go with an even smaller hauling tire? . Thanks in advance for ya all's advice.
Michelle's Gottaford.
There is also a guy who wants to trade his newer tires that are 30 inches tall and 9 inches wide with less nobbies for my tires. Would the slight difference in the height and width make THAT much difference in my trucks hauling performance, or should I go with an even smaller hauling tire? . Thanks in advance for ya all's advice.
Michelle's Gottaford.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Hi Michelle, I don't know it has been proven that those things actually get better mpgs, If ya don't like it, take it off.
The 31/10.5s are LT (light truck) tires and usually are not 31" tall. A tape measue will tell for sure. Are the wheels the same on both tire sets. You may like the smaller tire better. A popular size for that truck is P255 70R 15 which is a little smaller than what you now have.
I would be concerned with pulling 2 horses with the little 6. I perfer larger V8 for towing, but that is my O.
John
The 31/10.5s are LT (light truck) tires and usually are not 31" tall. A tape measue will tell for sure. Are the wheels the same on both tire sets. You may like the smaller tire better. A popular size for that truck is P255 70R 15 which is a little smaller than what you now have.
I would be concerned with pulling 2 horses with the little 6. I perfer larger V8 for towing, but that is my O.
John
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Elder User
Joined: May 2005
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From: Chaparral, NM
I used to pull this trailer with an 85, 302 V8 (Carb) Chevy (sorry about cussing on this site) so I figured that a 300 with a 4.9 liter FI would do even better... I hope. Actually it's a small two horse trailer weighing only 2000 pds and I usally only haul a small 900 pd horse in it. I hate to admit it but I did use a standard Inline 6 once that didn't do a very good job but I don't think it was geared right, and probably didn't have as many liters and I don't even know if it was a FI (I only used it for one haul). I just worry about the extra weight of the camper and also the bigger tires.
Yes, the big tires are on both ends. I measured them and they are only about 29.5 or 30 inches tall, but it says M+T 31X10.50R15LT .... MT/R Wrangler Goodyear on the tires. The other guys says 30X9 15's (I can't remember it all). Let me know what ya all think. Should I chuck the camper and bigger tires? Will the 30X9's be better than the 31X10.5's?
Michelle's Gottaford.
Yes, the big tires are on both ends. I measured them and they are only about 29.5 or 30 inches tall, but it says M+T 31X10.50R15LT .... MT/R Wrangler Goodyear on the tires. The other guys says 30X9 15's (I can't remember it all). Let me know what ya all think. Should I chuck the camper and bigger tires? Will the 30X9's be better than the 31X10.5's?
Michelle's Gottaford.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2002
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The tires will be fine, I use to tow with 33 12.50x16.5's on my 79 250, didn't notice much of a difference fuel wise when I dropped back down to 30 9.50x16's. I would ditch the camper, the only problem you will most likely run into powerwise is with the auto tranny. I've seen some that run great w/the auto trans, and excellent with a 4 speed, but the 5 speed didn't impress me at all.
Anyhow, back to the camper, if you don't have over load springs on the 150 you will really be putting alot of weight on the springs once you figure your trailer tounge weight along with the weight of the camper.
Anyhow, back to the camper, if you don't have over load springs on the 150 you will really be putting alot of weight on the springs once you figure your trailer tounge weight along with the weight of the camper.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Michelle, Keep the same size tires on both ends, you will need to rotate them for better wear.
I was asking before if the wheels on both trucks were the same size? You had mentioned a swap.
Why don't ya just give it a try before you spend a lot of money, and not like the results. What you have might meet your needs ok.
Also wondered if you meant 305 chevy, 302 is a Ford engine size?
John
I was asking before if the wheels on both trucks were the same size? You had mentioned a swap.
Why don't ya just give it a try before you spend a lot of money, and not like the results. What you have might meet your needs ok.
Also wondered if you meant 305 chevy, 302 is a Ford engine size?
John
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
The bigger tires will only be an issue for pulling the trailer if your truck doesn't have a low enough axle ratio to overcome the taller tires and weight of the trailer. Typically, F150's have axle ratios from 3.08 to 3.55. 3.55 is a lower ratio than 3.08 and better suited to towing and bigger tires. You can find the axle ratio by looking on the VIN/weight sticker on the driver's door and decoding the code that Ford puts there under 'axle'. If the code is 19, or H9, you have a 3.55 ratio. The H designates a limited slip differential. I forget the other ratio codes, but you can look them up in the tech articles section of this website. The link is in the upper right corner of this page. Look under 'axle decoder'.
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From: Chaparral, NM
Sorry about the confusion, John. Both sets of wheels are 15 inches. Is that what you mean? I'm glad you reminded me about rotating the tires. That little, but very important, detail slipped my mind. I'm thinking about too many things at once here, but I want to take the truck in to have some things done on it by the same person that wants to switch tires with me, and I'm trying to get my list in order. I'm also in several other forums asking questions to help with this task, so I hope everyone doesn't get sick of me. Oh, and that was a finger bungle on the 302 mistake, although I must admit that I do get them confused at times.
Thanks for axle ratio info Desert Rider. I just hope that the neighbors didn't see me out there tonight looking for the info on my Ford door in my jammies. It's a 19, but I still don't like the sound of the big treads on the tires that are on there. So with smaller tires and chucking the camper shell will give me better pulling power and gas mileage? And adding a K @ N filter too? I mean, do they really work? I think I'm supposed to go to another forum for that question. Ooops.
Michelle's Gottaford.
Thanks for axle ratio info Desert Rider. I just hope that the neighbors didn't see me out there tonight looking for the info on my Ford door in my jammies. It's a 19, but I still don't like the sound of the big treads on the tires that are on there. So with smaller tires and chucking the camper shell will give me better pulling power and gas mileage? And adding a K @ N filter too? I mean, do they really work? I think I'm supposed to go to another forum for that question. Ooops.
Michelle's Gottaford.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Southern California
Go with the smaller diameter tires and wheels. If you now have tires and wheels larger than listed inside the doorsill, it has the same effect as lowering the axle ratio. You are marginal all around, so every advantage you give yourself will make towing easier. But at the same time don't go spending a lot of money trying to make this truck tow worthy. As jowilker suggested, do some towing with it first. You may very well see the light and decide on another tow vehicle.
A K&N filter will make a measurable difference... BUT... you really need a dinomometer to measure it. Most of the perceived performance gain is just 'seat of the pants' from the increased noise level. The trade off in decreased filtration is certainly not worth it. A good paper filter offers much better protection for the dusty places a pickup takes horses to.
A K&N filter will make a measurable difference... BUT... you really need a dinomometer to measure it. Most of the perceived performance gain is just 'seat of the pants' from the increased noise level. The trade off in decreased filtration is certainly not worth it. A good paper filter offers much better protection for the dusty places a pickup takes horses to.
The Pacifier
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,245
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From: Cloverdale, BC
A 94 F150 should have LT235/75R15 sized tires on it. And get rid of that camper.
Smaller tires will make your truck feel more powerful, while using less fuel in the process. And having that canopy on there is just adding weight that you don't need. Unless you need it for security, take it off, but keep it for future use.
Smaller tires will make your truck feel more powerful, while using less fuel in the process. And having that canopy on there is just adding weight that you don't need. Unless you need it for security, take it off, but keep it for future use.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: USA
I also caution against using K&N filters. They do flow more air than a paper filter, but, like Horsepuller said, they do let in ALOT more dirt. I found this out myself on my dirtbikes and ATC's. I used to run K&N filters with the Outterwears protector over them. I was religous about cleaning and re-oiling them, and followed all the maintenance directions. I thought they were doing a good job of filtering the air, untill one day when I took the air box boot off the carb on the ATC and saw all the dirt inside the carb. Upon checking the others, I found the same thing. I freaked, pulled off the K&N's, and replaced them with UNI oiled foam filters, similar to what comes stock on the bikes. Since then, after doing inspections, I find no dirt in the carbs and haven't noticed a bit of loss of performance either. That really turned me off to K&N filters....
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Elder User
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From: Chaparral, NM
Thanks guys for all the input.
It's not a camper that you have to use a hoist on or that you can stand up in. It's one of those that is made of fiber glass, has 5 windows including the one on the back that locks, and a boot. It's higher in the back which, I'm told is supposed to make it more aerodynamic ... but the added weight would seem to cancel that theory out in my opinion. I also read in my manual that leaving the tailgate down causes drag, which totally amazed me. I was always under the impression that you'd get better gas mileage with it down.
I'm trying to avoid spending money on tires at the moment that's why I was considering trading with the guy that has the newer ones that are 30 inches tall and 9 inches wide with smaller tread, then the 31 x 10.5's with larger tread that are on there now. I was just wondering if the size difference between the two would be worth the trade.
Thanks for the info on the filter. I will be canceling my plans to get one and will now concentrate on fixing the front end. The ty rod bushing is going out... dog gone it. Can the bushing be changed without doing the whole ty rod dealy bob?
Michelle's Gottaford.
It's not a camper that you have to use a hoist on or that you can stand up in. It's one of those that is made of fiber glass, has 5 windows including the one on the back that locks, and a boot. It's higher in the back which, I'm told is supposed to make it more aerodynamic ... but the added weight would seem to cancel that theory out in my opinion. I also read in my manual that leaving the tailgate down causes drag, which totally amazed me. I was always under the impression that you'd get better gas mileage with it down.
I'm trying to avoid spending money on tires at the moment that's why I was considering trading with the guy that has the newer ones that are 30 inches tall and 9 inches wide with smaller tread, then the 31 x 10.5's with larger tread that are on there now. I was just wondering if the size difference between the two would be worth the trade.
Thanks for the info on the filter. I will be canceling my plans to get one and will now concentrate on fixing the front end. The ty rod bushing is going out... dog gone it. Can the bushing be changed without doing the whole ty rod dealy bob?
Michelle's Gottaford.