I have a 1988 Ford F150 with 5 speed manual and 300 ci 6 cyl. I have the factory tow package with step bumper. I would be using a 2 inch ball also. I want to tow a car on a dolly or a flat bed trailer. It is a full size car. Will my truck be able to handle it? Thanks for the help.

 

The truck should do OK.
Does the trailer or tow dolly have brakes on them?
I would be more worried about stopping.

 

Yes the trailer does but not sure about the dolly. And can anyone tell me what is more stable and better for towing a car a dolly of trailer? Thanks.

 

I think the dolly is more stable as if you get too much weight behind the trailer wheel (car on backwards) you can start fishtailing and lose it.
The dolly will also not load the hitch where the trailer can put a lot of weight on the hitch.

With a bigger truck and the car on frontwards the trailer would be better. It is almost impossable to back up with a dolly.

I use both with my F150 and have had no problem at all, but both have brakes on them.

 

i have pulled a 1-ton diesel with my old f-150 e4od 2wd 302w. no brakes on the trailer, and i did fine. just drive safe and stop early and you should be juust fiiine.

 

Thanks for the help all. I really appreciate it.

 

You won't have any issues at all if you think ahead and drive safely. Don't stop suddenly and try not to hit anything.

I towed an older BMW on a dolly about 400 miles with a 300/5-speed in an F-150. No problems.

 

use the dolly which gets rid of 500+ lbs.

the 6+stick has to be rated near 2000-2500 tow rating assuing a decent rear axle.

the weak part? clutch, then the tranny itself in that order.

 

If you know how to drive a manual correctly, the clutch is not the weak point.

 

I towed alot with my 88 302 5speed with 3.08 gears. The important part is to have brakes on the towed trailer. My first experience was towing a 24 foot pontoon boat on a trailer that did not have brakes. It would slide the truck if there was anything loose on the road. I towed an 88 Lincoln Towncar on a trailer -- only problem was starting on a steep hill near Pittsburgh. The original clutch went 147,000 miles with lots of towing experience. Just be safe -- check hitch, tie downs etc. regularly.

 

I am reading that you have a step bumper???? are you planning on towing either the trailer or dolly with a ball on THAT?????
VERY DANGEROUS!!!! PLEASE PLEASE get yourself at least a class 3 bolt on frame hitch and use that!!
The step bumpers today are not what they used to be 25 years ago, they are not strong at all.
I had an 18' oper car transport trailer built about 40 miles from me and didn't have my hitch on my '94 F150 yet so I put a ball on the step bumper and picked up my trailer empty, and in backing it into my yard the bumper bent!!
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!!!!

 

The bumper (step) is aftermarket. I don't know how old it is but it is a diamond pattern chrome bumper and like new. it has the covered plug in it for the lights and brakes also. I know the truck was used to tow but what and what the weight was I do not know. Like I said it has the factory tow package with 4 front shocks,front and rear stabilizer bars and oversize radiator. Not sure what else came with the towing package from the factory? I do know it has 3.08 gearing, it is also a 4wd.

 

My 1992 Ford trailering brochure states that a F150 4x4 300/4.9 manual with 3.08 axle ratio is rated for only a 2000 pound trailer.

Ford probably rated this combination this low to insure normal clutch life. One trip wouldnt hurt the clutch that much-but starting on hills with the 3.08 would be difficult ,I bet!! And maintaining highway speed in head winds on hills may be difficult.


How much weight is involved in this car and dolly??

 

I have never considered towing with my 302/auto F150. I don't see why it couldn't handle a tow dolly though, since there wouldn't be a lot of earthward pressure on the truck, just starting and stopping with the load. I imagine the 300/5sp combo would be as good if not better for towing especially with the towing pkg. But these guys are right; DO NOT HITCH IT TO THE STEP BUMPER. That's a seriously bad idea. Go buy yourself a class III setup from a parts house for less than $150.

 

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