I know this might be better off in the towing section. But im just curious, any of you guys tow a car on a flatbed with a 4.2? car weights around 3200 pounds, uhaul flatbed avg's around 1600-1700? .... still looking around at trucks and curious to see if a 4.2 could handle such a thing *it may see some 800 mile round trips to the racetrack*

Thanks

 

the dual axle uhauls weigh 1800 lbs. so 3500 lbs. you will need the auto tranny. but it still will not be a fun ride. it may be a very slow journey. i would use the 4.6 at minimum with the 5.4 preferred. the gear ratio should also be at least 3.55

 

I agree.
You could do it and the 4.2 would fair OK with an Auto and min 3.55 rear end being prefered.
If it is a very occasional need, then you'd likely eek by.

If it is very hilly terrain, I'd scratch the 4.2 idea before going any further and look for a V8 (and still Auto and min 3.55 rear end)

 

I have a 97 F150 with auto transmission with 3.55 rear end with about 165,000miles on it and I pulled my 3500lb tractor and about a 1000lb brush hog on a 18 foot trailer about 100 miles. It did ok but I took it easy and kept my distance since I did not have electric brakes on the trailer. I will say that I would not feel comfortable doing that all the time. I would buy a F250 if I was to be doing very much towing. A very important consideration in towing is making sure your load is balanced and secured properly, which I did.

 

i towed a 2,500 lbs trailer with about 250 lbs on its back on a 1,000 mile holiday around scotland and it was very good with loads of spare power when i needed it.
if any problems at all it would be having to restrict speed to 60 mph which ment this was too slow for top gear (auto) exept on flat ground.
scotland is real hilly but no problem for the 4,2 with 19,000 miles on its speedo.

 

Depends on your driving skills and what kind of terrain you will be traversing. I would not be afraid at all using my '01 4.2 w/manual to pull just about anything under 6000#. That said, I've been in the trucking business much of my life and I understand what kills clutches etc.. I would not try to pull that kind of load from soft ground, pull a large boat (3500# 0r so) up a steep boat ramp or recommend it to people that live in West Virginia, where they are ALWAYS on a hill. That said, mine has pulled several cars on my trailer over considerable distances with no problems, as well as hauling 3 large motorcycles (Gold Wings, BMW etc..) over Monteagle in Tennessee enroute to Daytona. The hp and torque ratings for the 4.2 and 4.6 are NOT that far apart. Some of us old birds remember how the old 300 I-6 would outpull and outwork the 302 V8 when loaded but the 302 would run off and hide from it empty. The 4.2 is a good engine with good lugging ability. I love mine, even with the 3.08 rear end.