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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / April 2005

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1985 F150 4.9L 6 cyl with manual 4 sp transmission

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Brigitte - 03 Apr 2005 16:36 GMT
I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
camping trailer.

How much weight can this truck pull?  Before I start looking at trailers, I
thought it would be best to find out, before I got my heart set on a trailer
that might be too big for my truck.

I don't have the owner's manual for this truck, or I'd look there for the
answer to my question.

Any advice/help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Brigitte
noddy@telus.net - 03 Apr 2005 17:04 GMT
First of all , can you post a pic of yourself nekid ?

Noddy

> I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
> camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Thanks,
> Brigitte
Brigitte - 03 Apr 2005 18:51 GMT
> First of all , can you post a pic of yourself nekid ?

Here is my website
Hope you like me
http://www.bigandslutty.com/?hitID=2037702611&ccID=840&bean=1-0-3-12608-32-1-10&
front=1


> Noddy
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>> Thanks,
>> Brigitte
noddy@telus.net - 03 Apr 2005 18:59 GMT
Touché , Love you already !

I can't help with the specs on the truck diff. but make sure you get a
transmission cooler installed before you haul anything .
noddy@telus.net - 03 Apr 2005 19:04 GMT
Manual , don't need cooler , duh !

> Touché , Love you already !
>
> I can't help with the specs on the truck diff. but make sure you get a
> transmission cooler installed before you haul anything .
Michelle P - 04 Apr 2005 14:43 GMT
My 2004 F-250 6 speed manual has a transmission cooler from the factory.
Michelle

> Manual , don't need cooler , duh !
>
>> Touché , Love you already !
>>
>> I can't help with the specs on the truck diff. but make sure you get
>> a transmission cooler installed before you haul anything .
Marlin Singer - 03 Apr 2005 20:11 GMT
> I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
> camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Thanks,
> Brigitte

Because it is a manual, Ford rates these lower than an F150
with an automatic. I am not sure of the exact number, but
usually Ford rates the manuals at 2000-2500lbs.
Roy Brown - 04 Apr 2005 04:53 GMT
Is the info not on the door frame somewhere?

Signature

Roy
rem NADA to reply

| > I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
| > camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
| with an automatic. I am not sure of the exact number, but
| usually Ford rates the manuals at 2000-2500lbs.
Brigitte - 04 Apr 2005 05:15 GMT
> Is the info not on the door frame somewhere?
>
> --
> Roy
> rem NADA to reply

hmmm, I'll have to take a look and see if that information is on the door
fram.

Thanks,
Brigitte

> | > I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
> | > camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> | with an automatic. I am not sure of the exact number, but
> | usually Ford rates the manuals at 2000-2500lbs.
Michelle P - 04 Apr 2005 14:54 GMT
Have a look at myford.fordvehicles.com.
There is a wealth of information on the capabilities of vehicles
including the towing info under articles.
You can also download a copy of your owners manual.
You could always go to your local dealer and ask. My is usually quite
helpful.
Michelle

>  
>
[quoted text clipped - 49 lines]
>
>  
Brigitte - 04 Apr 2005 16:13 GMT
> Have a look at myford.fordvehicles.com.
> There is a wealth of information on the capabilities of vehicles
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> helpful.
> Michelle

I'll try to download the manual, since the nearest Ford dealer is a 2 hour
drive.  :)

Thanks,
Brigitte
Brigitte - 04 Apr 2005 16:15 GMT
> Have a look at myford.fordvehicles.com.
> There is a wealth of information on the capabilities of vehicles
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> helpful.
> Michelle

Just tried the website you mentioned, but it only goes back as far as 1990.

Thanks,
Brigitte
Brigitte - 04 Apr 2005 05:14 GMT
> > I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
> > camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> with an automatic. I am not sure of the exact number, but
> usually Ford rates the manuals at 2000-2500lbs.

Thanks,
Brigitte
Big Al - 04 Apr 2005 16:43 GMT
>> > I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
>> > camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> Thanks,
> Brigitte

Brigitte,

I had an 87 four speed F150. It was not what you would call a stout truck.
Mine had a low GVW, but I thought it would serve my purpose. I also expected
to get decent mileage with the straight six. I was wrong. My suggestion
would be to look for a small V8. If you can correctly handle a stick, I feel
it's a better choice than the auto. I replaced mine with a 90 D-150 Dodge
318 V8, automatic, only because it was inexpensive. It was a much better
truck for occasional hauling, and got better mileage to boot. My first Ford
pickup was a 53, and I've owned a lot of them. The 87 was my first bad one.
All the others were great trucks.

Al
Brigitte - 04 Apr 2005 16:52 GMT
> >> > I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
> >> > camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
>
> Al

Thanks for your comments.  I have to agree with you on the mileage, it sucks
on this thing.

Currently it is a 3rd extra vehicle for me.  I only use it when I need to
haul something, which hasn't been very often.  It runs great, but the low
mpg issue keeps me from driving it much.

I let it sit for a Nebraska winter, without starting it, but come spring it
started right up.  Not sure I could say that about any of my other vehicles.
If nothing else, it is reliable.

Brigitte
Derrick Hudson - 04 Apr 2005 18:00 GMT
> I have the above-mentioned truck,

Nice.  I like the look of the 80-85 trucks.

> and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
> camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Any advice/help is appreciated.

I have a '93 with the 300 (4.9L; fuel-injected) and 5-speed manual
transmission.  Mine isn't actually rated to tow anything in the
owner's manual, although it had a ball hitch in the bumper when I got
it.  The reason mine isn't listed in the tow ratings is the 2.37 ratio
in the rear differential.  The 3.03 (or is it 3.08?) is rated for
~1800 lbs.  OTOH, my old (1990) BroncoII (2.9L V6, 5-speed) with 3.73
gears is rated for around 3600 lbs, IIRC.

What is the gear ratio in your differential?  If you give me that,
I'll see what my 1993 manual says for the 5-speed with that engine.

-D

Signature

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probably have no idea what it is.  If your company _is_ involved in ISO
9000 then you definitely have no idea what it is.
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putt@webtv.net - 05 Apr 2005 14:00 GMT
>How much weight can this truck pull?

Here is some info from the '81 owners manual:

for a Class I trailer, max trailer weight is 2000lb using the 4.9L
engine.  Ford recommends not using a manual transmission for pulling a
trailer, only an automatic.  The engine should have a HD cooling package
and the gross vehicle weight should not exceed 7600lbs for the short
wheelbase, or 7900lbs for the long wheelbase.  What that means is the
truck fully loaded with people, equipment, loaded trailer......every
thing.  You probably have the light-duty truck without a trailer
package.  I don't think I'd go much above half the weights if it were
me. Make sure you have a good/tight suspension/shocks and very good
brakes....very good brakes.  Trailer brakes would be something to think
about.

Hope this helps a little.

Dave S(Texas)
Brigitte - 06 Apr 2005 15:12 GMT
> I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
> camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> Thanks,
> Brigitte

Thanks to everyone that replied.  I did a little investigating and found
that GCWR for this truck is 6,450.  This number apparently represents what
the truck will pull, including the truck's own weight and its contents.

Thanks again. Without your combined help I wouldn't have known how to find
this information.

Brigitte
Rob Munach - 11 Apr 2005 14:28 GMT
>>I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
>>camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> Brigitte

That is pretty pathetic for an F150. Manufacturers must be getting a lot
less conservative lately.

Signature

Rob Munach, PE
Excel Engineering
PO Box 1264
Carrboro, NC 27510

lugnut - 11 Apr 2005 15:03 GMT
>> I have the above-mentioned truck, and I'm thinking abour purchasing a
>> camping trailer.
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
>Brigitte

I had an '86 F150 w/4 speed manual.  It was a great truck
and was probably the best I have had over the years.  The
6450 GCWR does include the weight of both the truck with
it's passengers and payload and, the towed unit weight.  The
biggest reason the truck is rated so low is the propensity
of the front bearings in the trans to fail when pulling in
4th gear because of the rather marginal design of the trans.
The big six has a sledge hammer power stroke at low RPM
which results in great bottom end torque at the expense of
the bearings.  OTR Diesels have experienced the same kinds
of failures in years past before transmission were developed
that could take the high torque/low rpm abuse and electronic
controls to prevent drivers from abusing them.  The
automatic trans will not allow you to inflict this kind of
abuse into the transmission/drive train.  Friend of mine
learned this the hard way hauling hogs to market - several
times.  If you religiously avoid 4th gear when towing and
keep the rpm up, it will handle more while getting less fuel
mileage which you may not be able to afford.
 
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