Max Towing w/ the 55 F-100?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, So Carolina
Max Towing w/ the 55 F-100?
To those of you that USE your effies like the very fine trucks they are, and not scraping front bumpers down the road with eye watering amounts of chrome on the bedstrips, I ask the following
Santa found us a nice boat that works for the growing family better than the aluminum bass job we had. Total boat motor, trailer weight is just under 2000 lbs. Single axle, no trailer brakes. Mom's Expy with the 4.6 handles this like a dream.
Plenty of times I used the Midnite Cruiser to tow the old 800 lb boat 30 miles and back (country 2 lane, no interstate) and she did loved it. It has all new , but stock brake hardware, shocks. Stock steeering box and beam axle in front -actually tracked better with this load.
My 55 Specifications manual seems to indicate a 2000 lb trailer is no problem but about the max.
Opinions on towng this new boat -"as- is"?
3.92 rear, 3sp, 312 4bbl. I
I sense no problen with the "go" but maybe the 'whoa"?
Santa found us a nice boat that works for the growing family better than the aluminum bass job we had. Total boat motor, trailer weight is just under 2000 lbs. Single axle, no trailer brakes. Mom's Expy with the 4.6 handles this like a dream.
Plenty of times I used the Midnite Cruiser to tow the old 800 lb boat 30 miles and back (country 2 lane, no interstate) and she did loved it. It has all new , but stock brake hardware, shocks. Stock steeering box and beam axle in front -actually tracked better with this load.
My 55 Specifications manual seems to indicate a 2000 lb trailer is no problem but about the max.
Opinions on towng this new boat -"as- is"?
3.92 rear, 3sp, 312 4bbl. I
I sense no problen with the "go" but maybe the 'whoa"?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,776
Likes: 553
From: Kalispell, MT
Midnight, congrats on the new tub. I'd try it as is, but cautiously. Stay off the interstate and keep your speed down. I've been burned a couple of times towing trailers and here's my experience summed up.
Weight in the box of the truck will keep your rear wheels where they should be IF/WHEN the trailer decides to whipsaw from wind, rough roads, speed, downhills, driver fatigue, etc.
I get really nervous anymore unless I have electric trailer brakes functioning. Overly cautious, I know. You don't know 'helpless' until you've been shoved around on the road by the load behind you. Pucker factor X 10!
Really good to see you enjoying family activities - keep up the good work! Nice '55 too.........
Weight in the box of the truck will keep your rear wheels where they should be IF/WHEN the trailer decides to whipsaw from wind, rough roads, speed, downhills, driver fatigue, etc.
I get really nervous anymore unless I have electric trailer brakes functioning. Overly cautious, I know. You don't know 'helpless' until you've been shoved around on the road by the load behind you. Pucker factor X 10!
Really good to see you enjoying family activities - keep up the good work! Nice '55 too.........
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 2
From: Northwest Fl
I towed a boat on a regular basis with my first '53 with the flathead. I had no problems even in the mountains between Dale Hollow and Cumberland Lake in the Kentucky/Tn. mountains where I was living at the time. I always gave myself plenty of room to stop, but never had any problems. If your too concerned, upgrade the trailer hubs to electric.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
"To those of you that USE your effies like the very fine trucks they are, and not scraping front bumpers down the road with eye watering amounts of chrome on the bedstrips, I ask the following"
4speed
Are we implying I can't pull a boat with my truck? Because I intend to prove you wrong with my Alumacraft 17' someday soon.
I think you can tow 2K with prudence, provided your suspension and especially brakes are in good repair. You're right, the whoa is gonna be the issue. Old boats weren't particulary light so I bet it's been done a million time. If there is any doubt once you try it, I'd opt for electric brakes. You need only experience "OMG my brakes are on fire" once and you'll remember it for life.
I lit up brand new brakes on my 95F150 with a 2K load on a long hill a few years ago. Apparently I was illiterate that day because the caution signs were many.
Be safe.
4speed
Are we implying I can't pull a boat with my truck? Because I intend to prove you wrong with my Alumacraft 17' someday soon.
I think you can tow 2K with prudence, provided your suspension and especially brakes are in good repair. You're right, the whoa is gonna be the issue. Old boats weren't particulary light so I bet it's been done a million time. If there is any doubt once you try it, I'd opt for electric brakes. You need only experience "OMG my brakes are on fire" once and you'll remember it for life.
I lit up brand new brakes on my 95F150 with a 2K load on a long hill a few years ago. Apparently I was illiterate that day because the caution signs were many.
Be safe.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 2
From: Southern New Hampshire
Ive towed a loaded 2 axle car trailer around 5K lbs with my 54 F350. No trailer brakes but the beast of burden had no problem. This was on and off the interstates but I never went over 50-55. GVW rating is a bit more than a F100 tho.
My buddy and his 460/C6 55 F100 tows a heavy boat or camper on a regular basis. He also had to load the bed just to keep traction.
Stock suspension & brakes but he does run some tall & fat rubber. Does 75 with ease and stops better than expected but he rebuilt everything in the brake, steering and suspension department.
My buddy and his 460/C6 55 F100 tows a heavy boat or camper on a regular basis. He also had to load the bed just to keep traction.
Stock suspension & brakes but he does run some tall & fat rubber. Does 75 with ease and stops better than expected but he rebuilt everything in the brake, steering and suspension department.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Joyce, WA
I can't say enough about trailer brakes. Working trailer brakes. My f600 hauls my racecar all summer, car is 3300lbs and trailer is 3000lbs, The truck is 8000. All summer long had no problems, borrowing the trailer and hadn't yet put in brake controller. Plan stops watch traffic lights and all is well. At the end of season I acquired a parts car for next year, went to fetch it. Long uphill 3rd gear empty uphill. Loaded car ame back down same hill in 3rd gear. Pumping brakes the whole time, trying not to overheat them. Didn't work. At the bottom of hill is a treaffic light and I intended to make left turn. I literally smoked the brakes and the red light, straight thru and coasted to a stop about 5 blocks after teh light. Stopped by the parts store on way home and bought brake controller and installed it that night. All else is secondary, pulling it, swaying, windage, If you can't get the %&$# thing to stop! Please, it is a very terrifying feeling being along for the ride. Install some sort of trailer brakes.
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