Is 390 enough for towing?
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Is 390 enough for towing?
Hi
This seams like a stuiped question but is a 390 suffient to tow a 5000lb trailer?
If not what are the best modifications to due to the engine. The truck is a 1968 Merc.
Thanks
Terry M
This seams like a stuiped question but is a 390 suffient to tow a 5000lb trailer?
If not what are the best modifications to due to the engine. The truck is a 1968 Merc.
Thanks
Terry M
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 849
Likes: 14
From: Fayetteville, NC
Is 390 enough for towing?
The 390 should definately be fine. I towed 6000lbs. with my 351 without any problems what so ever. Getting a dual exhaust always helps in the towing department too.
Please don't pull out in front of me! I can't afford to play "What's this?" with you or your car.
Please don't pull out in front of me! I can't afford to play "What's this?" with you or your car.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Tennesee
Is 390 enough for towing?
You shouldn't have any problems with the 390. I've got a 390 in my 72 and I use it to haul my horses to the local saddle club shows. I pull a 2 horse Bison trailer that is heavy for a 2 horse trailer, and each horse is over 1000 lbs so I figure I'm pulling 5000-6000 pounds. I've pulled up some pretty steep hills with no problems at all. I also pulled a 16' flatbed trailer with my tractor (which weighs about 5500 lbs) on it with no problems. I could run 65-70 mph on level ground all day long and only the steepest hills caused me to slow.
The limiting factor on towing with your truck is the truck itself. The suspension and brakes must be up to the task. The main thing I would suggest is that if you are planning on towing with your truck is to do the disk brake conversion on the front and use a receiver hitch. You might need to add some helper springs as well if the tongue weight of the trailer is high. If your trailer has brakes definitely use them too. I pulled my horse trailer home without the electric brakes the day I bought it and even empty it was much harder to stop.
The limiting factor on towing with your truck is the truck itself. The suspension and brakes must be up to the task. The main thing I would suggest is that if you are planning on towing with your truck is to do the disk brake conversion on the front and use a receiver hitch. You might need to add some helper springs as well if the tongue weight of the trailer is high. If your trailer has brakes definitely use them too. I pulled my horse trailer home without the electric brakes the day I bought it and even empty it was much harder to stop.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Is 390 enough for towing?
A 390 should have no problem pulling 5000lbs. As for modifications a cam always helps. A 260 or 268 comp cam is what I would use, but if you don't want to tear into the engine, headers and dual exhaust will increase your pulling power enough you can definatly tell it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 1,415
Likes: 0
From: Lower 48
Is 390 enough for towing?
Grossing around 10,000 on a '73 F100 with a 390/4 speed
I pulled from southern Mo to southern Cal. Never dropped
below 60 and never had a problem. (Anyone know where the
Needles, Cal. hill on I -40 is, or how about Albequerque,
or just the run between Flagstaff and Kingman?)That engine
will pull a freight train, and do it as fast as you want to
go.
Trail Rider
I pulled from southern Mo to southern Cal. Never dropped
below 60 and never had a problem. (Anyone know where the
Needles, Cal. hill on I -40 is, or how about Albequerque,
or just the run between Flagstaff and Kingman?)That engine
will pull a freight train, and do it as fast as you want to
go.
Trail Rider
Elder User
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 733
Likes: 0
Is 390 enough for towing?
Have a '76 350 dually.390 auto.Works great!
Before we towed with a '90 F-150 300/4spd.Everything but 4x4's were good.But towed a '73 F100 4x/FE.That was a little to much over the 40 miles we pulled it.4th gear was for downhill only!
Before we towed with a '90 F-150 300/4spd.Everything but 4x4's were good.But towed a '73 F100 4x/FE.That was a little to much over the 40 miles we pulled it.4th gear was for downhill only!
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Is 390 enough for towing?
My grandpa had a 1973 F250 Camper Special with the 390 4V stock.. He pulled a 35 foot fifth wheel all over the USA with it.. Never had a problem.. Only thing he did to handel the weight of the trailer was put 4.56's in the rear...
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Morgantown USA
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