I just purchased a 1983 F250 4x4 and would like to see if someone can help me decode the VIN. It is:

2FTEF26G0DCA90219

All I know so far is the truck has the 351W engine, automatic tranny (C6?) and the TTB front axle with leaf springs (not sure if it's the D44 or D50) and I think it has the D60 rear axle. Any help would be greatly appreciated! TIA~!

 

World Manufacturer Identifier - 1st, 2nd, 3rd Positions
VIN Code: 2FT
Assembly Country: Canada
Make: FORD
Body Style: PICKUP

Restraint System Type (Passenger Cars) or Brake Type and GVWR Class (Trucks and Vans) - 4th Position
VIN Code: E
Brake System: HYDRAULIC
GVWR Class: Class E:
GVWR Range: 6,001 - 7,000 POUNDS

Line,Series Body Type - 5th, 6th, 7th Positions
VIN Code: F26
Vehicle Line: F-250
Chassis Type: 4 x 4
Body Type: REGULAR cab

Engine Type - 8th Position
VIN Code: G
Engine: 5.8 LITERS
Cylinders: 8
Fuel: GASOLINE

Model Year - 10th Position
VIN Code: D
Model Year: 1983

Assembly Plant - 11th Position
VIN Code: C
Assembly Plant: ONTARIO TRUCK: OAKVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA

Production Sequence Number - 12th - 17th
VIN Code: A90219
Prod Sequence Number A90219

 

Super info! Thanks a bunch for taking the time to help me out with that. I really appreciate it!

Does the GVWR range indicate how much it's capable of towing or is that the total weight that the truck and trailer combined are allowed to be? I never really knew what those meant...

I noticed on the door sticker there is an axle code (26). Does that reference the rear or the front axle and does anyone know what it means?

Also the trans code is K and I'm pretty sure that means it has the C6?

Thanks again for the great info!!

 

According to my 1981 vin decoder in the light truck service spec manual, the axle code is for the rear axle, and the front axle matches the rear, except that if it has a code 2 with the other code, it is limited slip front axle. It does not list the axle code 26 so it is probably a later option axle than the one for 1981.

Trans code K: Automatic C6

The GVWR is the maximum alowable weight the truck is allowed to carry, and includes the truck's body weight, accessories, passengers, and cargo. There are both GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) and GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) limits. The front GAWR is usualy lower than the rear GAWR, and the maximum Front and Rear GAWR's combined exceed the GVWR. So you cannot max out both axles otherwise you will exceed the GVWR limit. You can however max out one axle, and have room to spare on the other axle, and still be in an allowable GVWR limit.

The weight of the trailer isn't really counted in the GVWR of the truck, except for tounge load and weight, because the trailer has it's own axles, and usually brakes etc, to handle the load on the trailer. The Trailer has it's own GTWR (Gross Trailer Weight Rating) and (GAWR). You can haul a load of hay, on both the trailer and the truck at the same time, without any problems, as long as the Gvwr's of the truck and trailer are not exceeded, as an example.

The combination of the trucks GVWR, GAWR, and the trailers GTWR, and GAWR, all have to be considered however, due to tounge load and along with the tounge weight, class of hitch, and accessories the truck and/or trailer has, to see how big a trailer you can actually tow. You do need the right equipment installed on the truck and/or trailer to be able to tow a big trailer safely. Brake controller, the right hitch, engine, axles, transmission etc... You can't tow a class iv trailer with a fifth wheel using a F-100, let's say, cause the tounge load and weight would be excessive or exceeded etc... and could max out the trucks GVWR or GAWR etc...

Always follow the manufacturers recomended limits on towing located in the owners manual.

Hope this helps, and is not too confusing.

 

It definitely helps, but I must be a little thick All I really need to know is whether or not my new to me truck can pull my trailer with my Jeep Cherokee loaded on it. The details are as follows:


I have a tandem axle trailer (it weighs 1200 lbs I think) that I'm told is rated to carry 7000lbs (3500 per axle). I have a Jeep Cherokee that I load onto this trailer to pull to offroad events and it probably weighs around 5000 lbs or so the way it sits now. So, the weight of the trailer + the weight of the Jeep = approx. 6200 lbs (all of which is on the trailer except the tongue weight). The truck has a class IV hitch on it (beefed up with additional support bars welded to the frame of the custom steel flat bed currently on it) and the trailer has electric brakes on one axle controlled by an electronic brake controller in the cab.

Is this truck in it's current configuration (stock) rated to pull this much weight?? I thought every truck had some sort of tow rating that says you can pull XXXX lbs with it. I'm just trying to figure out if my truck can handle the load Thanks again for helping out with a newbie Ford truck guy!!

BTW: I was using a 1988 4X4 Dodge Ramcharger (AW100) with 3.21 gears, 318ci V-8, and 31" tires on it to pull this same setup before getting this truck. It was definitely too much load for the rear springs and the motor had to work extremely hard to keep everything moving (the poor thing had to be floored most of the way and I only got about 4.5 mpg when pulling). I got this truck in the hopes that it would pull my Jeep better than the Dodge did without working it to death in the process. Hopefully the Ford will do better no matter what it's rated for...

 

your f-250 will pull & ride much better then the ram did
you just went from a lightduty 1/4 ton truck to a light duty 3/4 ton truck
if your f-250 had 8000 + gvwr then it would be a heavyduty 3/4 ton truck
but thats still a great upgrade & you should be much happier
with it

 

Thanks for the reply! I figured this F250 HAD to do a better job than the ole' Ram did cause that poor thing just wasn't up to the task. I wheeled that Dodge off road for 3 1/2 years extremely hard (rocks, hills, mud, you name it) and the truth be told I beat her relentlessly without any mercy at all and she never once let me down. Matter of fact I drove that Ram to every single trail ride and drove her home again after every event without so much as a hiccup. The entire time I've had the truck I've only replaced one front brake line, one rear u-joint and one front axle joint). Can you tell I'm having "issues" with retiring her? When I bought the Cherokee to replace her as my trail rig I figured she might as well start doing pull duty since I couldn't bare to get rid of her. The combination of steep gears, a welded rear axle (yes I pulled that Cherokee all over the state of Ohio last year like that and never replaced a single driveline component and the axle still hasn't broken) 31" BFG's and a small V-8 didn't really add up to a tow vehicle, but she did alright considering!! Oh, and no I still can't bring myself to sell her . Next year the body will come off and the roll cage will be fabricated so I can get her back out on the trail once again

Anyway, I'm surprised at how well this truck drives and handles down the road. It rides a little stiff empty (I've never had a 3/4 ton truck before), but I'm sure once I get the trailer behind her with a little weight on it, she will do a much better job than the Ram did. I just might have to load up the trailer this weekend to test her out a little and see how she does

 

Ok, According to my owners manual, tounge load is about 15% of the trailer weight for a conventional hitch, and 25% of the trailer weight for a fifth wheel.

So now it's time to do a little math.

This is with a class iv fifth wheel.

Maximum alowable trailer weight is 7000 pounds.

25% of 7000 is 1750 pounds.

Take your rear GAWR and subtract 1750 from the total allowable rear GAWR on the truck. (let's say it's 3500 for ease of math. Your truck may vary) So now you are down to 1750 max allowed on the rear axle of the truck.

Now subtract the tounge weight from the Rear GAWR of the truck. (Lets Say it's 500 pounds.) Now you are down to 1250 pounds allowed.

So now your load, including passengers, cargo, accessories, including the weight of the fifth wheel, cannot exceed 1250 pounds on the rear axle, while maxing out your trailer weight. You should never max out your GVWR's anyway for a saftey buffer IMO, leave about 500 pounds due to age of equipment etc... All my opinion etc...

According to these figures, you should be able to pull a trailer of this weight fairly easily, with this truck, at the figures given above. With the proper equipment installed.

 

Axle code 26 is a 3.73 open axle built by Dana, don't know the weight rating though.

Justin

 

Justin, thanks for the gear info! I was wondering how to tell what ratio it is. Does this tell you that the rear axle is a Dana 60 or does that code 26 only tell you the gear ratio and not the model? Also how do I tell which front axle I have (Dana 44 or Dana 50 I'm guessing)?

81-F-150-Explorer, thanks for the great info as well! I'm sure this truck will do a much better job than my old Ram did, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to be stressing it too much for what it was intended to pull or worse yet have it be unsafe to drive . You guys have been great helping me determine that I made the right choice getting this truck instead of trying to use the Dodge again this year...

 

The code tells you ratio, open or LS, axle manufacturer, and weight rating, not the model. I have weight ratings for almost every other code, just not 26. The easiest way to tell a 44 from a 50 is by the hubs. a 50 uses a 60 hub which is about 4 1/2" across IIRC, a 44 is smaller.

If you want to crawl under the truck you can look at the axle joint nearest the centersection that goes to the passengers side hub. a 50 has external snap rings retaining the joint (like a driveshaft) and a 44 uses internal clips.

Justin

 

Thanks for the info Justin! I'll crawl under there tonight to take a look

 

Here is what I have on it.On my list it shows Axel code 26 as a ford tranny. hummm
Conventional rearend non limited slip
Axle codes:
F-150/250/350 non ls:
Code Man Size GVW Gear Ratio*
26 Ford 4050 3.55

Automatic trans for
Engine-Rear end ratio-GCWR**
5.8-2 BBL Engine
3.50 10000
3.54 10000
3.73 11000
4.10 11000

5.8-4 BBL Engine
3.50 10000
3.54 11500
3.73 11500
4.10 12500
*gvw (Gross Vehicle Weight)
**gcwr (Gross Combination Weight Rating )