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Jan 30, 2006 | 06:58 AM

dieselmec

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From: Starkville,Ms.

towing

hi all i have several questions hope you can help i have a 1991 f250 7.3 idi 3.55 e40d has 91532 miles on it non turbo has a towing package would like to know what size 5th wheel i can safely tow to az. and what is the tow rating of my truck? thanks

Jan 30, 2006 | 08:06 AM

The SnoMan

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Originally Posted by dieselmec

That year engine is rated at 180HP. While you will not hurt the engine, you will lack power to haul a lot of wwight with it and your 3.55 gear. I would say about 8000 lbs or so depending on terrain should give pretty fair performance with the added wind drag of a 5th wheel. You could go higher but performance will suffer, especailly on hills. If you regeared truck to a 4.10, you would add about 3 or 4000lbs to this figure.

Jan 30, 2006 | 08:30 AM

dieselmec

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From: Starkville,Ms.

SnoMan how much trouble to change to a 4.10?

Jan 30, 2006 | 08:48 AM

The SnoMan

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Originally Posted by dieselmec

SnoMan how much trouble to change to a 4.10?

If you are mechanically inclined and you are patient and can follow instruction and maybe pick a few tools, it is not that hard to do. AAlso a side benifit would be that the 4.10 gear would light the load on your tranny while towing and extend its life too. You also have the option of a 4.30 axle ratio which has long been a option on ford HD P/U's for serious towing. Begin that you have a E4OD tranny the impact on your MPG when not towing would be minimal with either a 4.10 or a 4.30. You have a good sturdy motor and if you take the time to regear it, it will handle the task without much fuss.

Jan 30, 2006 | 02:35 PM

DaveBowman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselmec

SnoMan how much trouble to change to a 4.10?

Do you do a lot of towing in the mountains? If not I think you would be better off to put a turbo on the truck. It will cost a little more than a gear change though

Jan 30, 2006 | 09:09 PM

rvpuller

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From: Home Base Nebraska

Quote:

Originally Posted by The SnoMan

dieselmec before you take to much advice from some on this forum take a look at their profile.

The old pre PSD was a good motor I'm not a diesel fan but they where a good puller. I'm sure that a 10K to 12k 5ver would not be out of line.

Denny

Jan 30, 2006 | 09:27 PM

The SnoMan

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Originally Posted by rvpuller

I suggest you do the numbers before you start slamming someone because you are not doing the math here. BTW, I am a engineer and I studied engine and automotive design in college in the 70's and did not get my back ground from reading a few posts. Also while attending college I worked in construction a few summers and drove 30 ton dump trucks, hauled a few loaded floats around and became skilled with heavy equipment too. I also drove a few tractor trailers back then too (I am still a very skilled dozer and backhoe operator and could get in a large truck and still drive it if need be) 12k with 3.55 gears would suck with that none turbo motor. Sure the motor would stay together but it would be SLOW in head winds or on a grade. Also the other posters suggestion of a turbo would shorten the life of the tranny while not providing the fix he really needs. Some seem to think that trannies are immune to engine hop ups and there was a guy that posted here today that blew the tranny out of his turbo 7.3 hauling a load up a long grade which I want to prevent him from doing too.

Last edited by The SnoMan; Jan 30, 2006 at 09:30 PM.

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Jan 30, 2006 | 10:20 PM

The SnoMan

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rvpuller

Guess what SnoMan when you were in school I was out RVing and pulling. I only post when I've been there and done that.

Denny

Guess what, I bet that you have not towed a 235 ton airplane like I did a few times with a 30 ton yuke because we were short handed. (I was in avionics but on late shift we were trained to do several tasks if need be) I have towed and driven things that you could only dream about. Heck I even used to assist on engine runs on B52's and KC135's on grave shift sometimes. (you want to feel some power set the brakes and firewall all 8 engines and they hit the water (D models) and time how long it takes to run out and then do it all over again. Talk about a ruff ride sitting still! About 40,000 HP on "D" models and about 60,000 HP on the "H" models (they REALLY bounced around firewalled) that are still flying today. We were also buring about 400 gallons of fuel a minute while doing it. I have even seen few crash, not a pretty site.

Jan 30, 2006 | 10:34 PM

#10

001-F DORF

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From: Dixie

I had a 1990 F-350 w/7.3 Idi/na which I used to pull a 11,000 Lb fifth wheel across country. The truck's GCWR was 16K if I remember correctly. It had a 5sp and was pretty gutless with 185hp. Killed a lot of bugs with the black smoke that thing put out. In higher elevations it got less than 5mpg and got passed by everything on the road. Doing the same trip with a 6.0L PSD and a 14,000lb 5ver is a world of difference.

Dorf

Jan 30, 2006 | 11:25 PM

#11

DaveBowman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rvpuller

Shows what you know..............NA 7.3's don't make much power.
345 ft lbs if remember right

Jan 31, 2006 | 07:43 AM

#12

rvpuller

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From: Home Base Nebraska

Quote:

Originally Posted by 001-F DORF

I never said it would be fast but the pre PSD was never that fast even without a load, and they where bad in the mountians.

Denny

Jan 31, 2006 | 08:15 AM

#13

The SnoMan

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rvpuller

I never said it would be fast but the pre PSD was never that fast even without a load, and they where bad in the mountians.

Denny

I believe that is what I said earlier when you decided to attack me personally. BTW, you can find the engine specs here

Mar 5, 2006 | 02:01 PM

#14

dslmn

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Your rig is very similar to my 87 6.9. I added a turbo and even then it was a weak puller on any kind of grade with any kind of load. The problem is the 3.55 axle gearing. You just can't get the power to the wheels and maintain engine RPMs without gearing down. The rig will tow anything, just not very fast and you really have to watch your exhaust temps on long grades. I towed loads exceeding 15,000 lbs often with the 87 and had no troubles. The tranny was a C6 and I would shift to second gear on any grade when the speed dropped to 45 mph. You could then maintain that speed forever. I would just watch the pyrometer and if the temps started climbing dangerously high, just throttle back.