Well i would first like to say, that my name is Mike and i am new to the site. I wish i would have found it earlier it looks awesome. I own a 98 ranger 2wd with 75,000 miles...just hit it today. My dad has 03' F 350 diesel...the 7.3L 4x4...my dream truck.

My question arrives because i am looking to buy a mid 90's (94-96) F - 150. I am looking to make it a work truck. I am a college student at Sonoma State Univ. in Northern CA....i do tree services to pay for school...and looking for a truck that can pull my chipper. It weighs roughly 4600lb. Plus chips another 1,000 LBS or so.

How much will the 4.9 v6, how much will the 5.0 v8 pull.

Do i need the bigger engine?

What is your opinion on it all?

Looking for some advice on this so open to all suggestions.

 

the 4.9 is not an v6 but an l6 i think the 4.9 would do just fine.. they call it around here a tow pig

 

Really.

Thanks for the correction on that. I was unaware on that.

I like the nick name.

Do you or anyone else...have an idea to what those truck set up where set up to tow as???

Thanks Canyon

 

if your going to be pulling a chipper and chips in the bed, id suggest you get a F250 or F350. As I also do tree work and my F350 squats with the bed full of wood. If you put 2 much weight on the 150 springs they could break. Have seen it.

 

Well, the best work setup would be an F350 with a 7.3 diesel...but since when were those cheap to buy and repair?

An F250 with a 4.9 Inline Six would probably be your best bet. Being a 3/4-ton, you know it would have low gears in the rear axle and a heavy duty suspension. It wouldn't be very nice to drive on the highway, but with a setup like that, a man can work all day.

Don't get me wrong, the 5.0 V8 is a good engine, but I find that it's more of an all-around truck engine, it can do a good job at everything a truck owner could want from a 1/2-ton. The 4.9 I6, on the other hand, can work, work, work...and then work some more. But it isn't that great if you don't use it for what it's made for.

 

Wow...to see them break..wow.

Most jobs (98%) i can chip on site....so i was def. thinking that when i do chip into it...that i would take the chips dump them then come back for the chipper. Granted it is more time...but dont want to bust the springs.

Do you think the 4.9 has enough power to pull a 4600lb chipper with comfort??? or should i go with the 5.0???

Thanks
Canyon

 

I have been using my dad 03 diesel with 7.3. As i said can chip 98% on the job...i want to get a f 150 for just a work truck....carry my tools in the back and move my chipper from job to job.

I just want to make sure that 4.9 has the power to pull it.

Thanks again for the response.

Canyon

 

the 300(4.9) will pull more than the 302 (5.0) due to the fact the 300 has more torque.

 

The 4.9 will handle your chipper better than the 5.0 will, the 300 has a 3.98" stroke, vs the 302's 3" stroke, this means the 300 has lots of low end torque, and isn't so hot on the top end, where as the 302 is not exactly a torque monster, and likes it's rpm's.

Your Chipper/projected payload are within the rated capacity for either engine, but, does your chipper have trailer brakes? If it doesn't, I'd definitely want to go to a F250, preferably a HD(this means 1 ton size brakes.)
Also, with a trailer that heavy, what's your tongue weight like? If it's more than a couple hundred pounds, add your 1500 lb payload, and that's about all the weight I'd really like to see on the back end of a half ton, I'd personally like a full floating axle(Again F250 HD) in that application if this is going to be a full time work truck and spend most of it's time working/loaded.
Also, I think a bed full of chips, especially if they are wet, is going to be more than 1500 lbs, and, a bed full of chips alone is going to be a heck of a load for a half ton.

A 4.9/5.8 powered F250HD will easily get the job done, a diesel would be nice, but, not really necessary, as you are still pretty light there, only around 10.5-11K Lbs or so combined, entirely doable with a half ton on an irregular basis, but, for a dedicated work truck that's going to be doing it all the time, I'd want the 3/4 ton, just for the bigger brakes, and full floating rear axle. A F250LD with a semi float rear would probably be fine, but, I like having a full floating axle in situations with constant loading, and the rear brakes are a bit bigger.

That said, the usual trailer weight I pull with my diesel is about what your combined weight will be with a loaded truck and chipper in tow; add in the tools/supplies/spare parts required to support a weekend of mud racing and the tow rig, and I usually gross around 17K when I'm pulling the race truck... Towing the bobcat on the same trailer, it's right about 21K...

 

I have a 92 f150 with the i6 and have hauled firewood with it. It does squat the bed a bit with a full load of firewood so I added timbrins. Also it's a little sluggish with that much weight in the back. With what I would consider a normal pickup bed full it does fine and even more than fine. I have a 1990 e150 van with the 302 which doesn't feel like it has nearly the power my i6 has but I'm guessing a lot of that is in the gearing. It's conversion van and designed for road trips, not hauling. But I know it's not all in the gearing. I can't tell you exactly WHY but it just FEELS very different. That said, the difference between hauling a load of firewood in my 90 f350 (351) vs in my f150 is like night and day. I woulden't hesitate to take a big/heavy load with my f150 if I NEEDED to but given a choice, I would pick the 1 ton each and every time. Now I am by no means and expert and can't tell you all the ins and outs and the whys and why nots. All I can do is relate my personal experiences with hauling/towing and driving each of my vehicle. BTW, I spent a lot of time in the Sonoma area as a kid - nice region of the country and I have some fond memories of being there.