F100 an acceptable tow vehicle?

[Wakko]

Friend of mine has a late 70's F100 that he'll sell me dirt cheap and I'd like some opinions. I'm usually a Chevy guy but I need a truck to run around town in and occasionally pull a trailer if possible.  If I towed it would more than likely be with a U Haul trailer (with it's own brakes) and I'd pull the Charger or the Fury.

I don't know what originally came in the truck but it's now got a brand new 351M with Edelbrock intake a brand new Edelbrock carburetor. Single exhaust with manifolds. Engine was built for performance for a race project that never materialized and it was put in the truck. Original 3 on the tree, now has the 3 speed shifter on the floor and a new high performance clutch. Short bed/cab 2wd, unknown rear end ratio. Truck has new exhaust, p/s pump, front suspension bushings, alternator, battery, front and rear brakes including rear cylinders. Truck would set me back $1400 and then I'd have a cheapie paint job put on it. Needs tires, I was thinking of some 28"-30" (unknown what would fit) all terrain tires.

What do you guys think?

[whitehatspecial]

Found this article by doing a google search for "F100 tow rating". Pretty interesting stuff. Long story short, you should be fine for short runs as "dads69" said. Trailer torque bars will help a lot with stabilizing the rear of the truck.

"But aren't today's pickups better than yesterday's? When it comes to people pampering, there's no comparing today's luxo trucks with the stark ones of yesterday, but measured in purely utilitarian terms of payload carrying capability, the answer is no. There are big differences in towing capacity, since the new models have so much more horsepower than those of a generation ago, but in purely "commercial" terms of carrying burdens, today's pickups haven't improved much, not just in spite of C.A.F.E.'s bow to light truck's hallowed commercial role, but partly because of it. How could that be? At first blush these ratings seemed to have "improved" over the years. The 1967 Ford GVWR rating was 5000lbs for the F-100, while the 2006 F-150 rates 6800lbs. However we must subtract the vehicle's "curb weight" from the GVWR number to get our "payload." Result? The 2006 6800lb GVWR F-150 only nets about 500lbs more payload than a comparable 1967 F-100. On the "Supercrew" four door that gets all the face time in TV ads, the biggest payload is 1500lbs – nearly the same payload as the '67 F-100. All the extra body weight of the large 6 passenger cab subtracts from the truck's ability to do what pickups were originally intended to do before the loophole helped turned them into opulent luxury vehicles. Body weight is a hindrance to the actual payload carrying capacity of the pickup, not a help, and yet the NHTSA "commercial" rationale that heavy duty pickups have to weigh a lot and have massive engines has made them pound for pound at least, less utilitarian than they once were. Remember also that for commercial vehicles, excessive power isn't a virtue either. Every extra penny spent on fuel could have gone into the business owner's wallet as profit. "

[REDNECK]

i would not even pull with a 1/2 ton. if you a going to buy a truck to pull with buy a 3/4 ton. otherwise you will just grenade the trans or rearend. some equipment rental company's wont let you pull their equipment unless you have a 3/4 or 1ton.   bigger is better

[RD]

i would not even pull with a 1/2 ton. if you a going to buy a truck to pull with buy a 3/4 ton. otherwise you will just grenade the trans or rearend. some equipment rental company's wont let you pull their equipment unless you have a 3/4 or 1ton.   bigger is better

i had a 87 Ramcharger 1/2T with a BB 400 in it.  I towed everything with that short wheelbase bugger.  Bigger is always better... engine size that is

[The70RT]

I owned two 73 & 79  f-150s for around 30 years. First one went 150,000 then was totaled. 79 went 250,000 and went through one rebuild and one tranny. C-6 trans like the one that is probably in that 351M truck are bullit proof. I pulled a 1200 lb trailer and car constantly over the years and  they are great trucks. Go thru a lot of brakes with a half ton. Rust finnally got the last one I got my first Dodge now.

[Silver R/T]

Id look for something more heavy duty and preferrably a 4x4 if you want to make it a good winter driver

[Troy]

Id look for something more heavy duty and preferrably a 4x4 if you want to make it a good winter driver

Uuuhhhhhh....










Wakko lives in Florida.

Troy

[Old Moparz]

Id look for something more heavy duty and preferrably a 4x4 if you want to make it a good winter driver

Uuuhhhhhh....


WAkko lives in Florida.

Troy

Florida gets snow Troy, like back in 1954 when they got 4 inches. 

6 March 1954, Florida: Greatest modern-day snowfall in Florida history: 4.0 inches (10 cm) at the Milton Experimental Station. Pensacola ties their 24-hour record with 2.1 inches (5.3 cm).

http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/diarymar.htm


By the way Wakko, I have a 1995 F-150 with a 5.8L (351) with over 130,000 miles. It's 2WD, has a factory tow package with a capacity of about 8300 pounds, & I've towed cars & camping trailers with never any problem. It's been one of the best vehicles I've owned.

[moparguy01]

Id look for something more heavy duty and preferrably a 4x4 if you want to make it a good winter driver

Uuuhhhhhh....


WAkko lives in Florida.

Troy

Florida gets snow Troy, like back in 1954 when they got 4 inches. 

6 March 1954, Florida: Greatest modern-day snowfall in Florida history: 4.0 inches (10 cm) at the Milton Experimental Station. Pensacola ties their 24-hour record with 2.1 inches (5.3 cm).

http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/diarymar.htm

and they declared it a national emergency, and everything shut down for a week. 
I pull my sailboat using my 79 ford bronco with a 351 4 speed. havent had issues with it yet. before that i had a 91 E350 (yes a 1 ton van) and pulled with it for quite awhile. that thing was a freaking tank, if the head gasket wouldnt have blown I'd have kept it. (after i fixed it i vowed never again. you ever do a v8 head gasket in a full sized van? Good lord did it suck)

If you do get one, put a aftermarket trans cooler on it, just get the biggest one you can possibly get. i got the biggest one i could find at the local parts store for 75 bucks. it worked just fine. other than that just do a tune up and change out all the fluids and have the trans adjusted. it should last you awhile.

[Wakko]

Thanks for the tips.  I mainly need the truck for doing Home Depot runs, shipping large items and hittin the junkyards.  The towing would be a nice bonus but isn't mandatory.  I know that if I wait to find an F250 or Chevy 3/4 ton that it will be alot more money for a truck with 80-120k miles.  Last thing I need is another vehicle that needs mechanical work, so I figured this was a good way to go, and if I really need to tow something beyond around the corner I'll rent something.   Another little bonus is that this truck looks like Uncle Jesse's truck...    I did just realize that it has manual brakes...that'd be a big problem with towing, so I guess other than a small utility trailer this one is out for that.

Isn't the C6 an auto tranny?  This is a three speed manual.

[JR]

One thing about all old ford trucks is the gas mileage. its going to be horrible. But its an old truck with a V8, what can ya do? I just know my clean 2 owner 86 F150 with 302 Fuel Injection barely gets 14 mpg. They are tough as nails though.

I would be concerned about the springs and other things being rated for the weight. My half ton drops a good bit in the tail end when pulling my Charger on a trailer. and it isn't comfortable enough with it to drive  55 with the trailer. I can''t imagine the f-100 doing much better.

I'd hold out for a bigger truck if you plan on towing your two ton Charger on a trailer, there are better options out there. The chassis, springs, and brakes would worry me.

Hope that helps.

[moparguy01]

my bronco gets 11 mpg. up a hill, down a hill, empty, loaded, trailer or not.

you can convert the brakes quite easy using f350 stuff and you'll stop real good with off the shelf parts. the c6 is an auto, a 3 speed manual will be tough as nails. my 4 speed is. The other advantage is that parts for these trucks are dirt cheap.

[bull]

my bronco gets 11 mpg. up a hill, down a hill, empty, loaded, trailer or not.

What about sidehill driving? Still 11?

[moparguy01]

my bronco gets 11 mpg. up a hill, down a hill, empty, loaded, trailer or not.

What about sidehill driving? Still 11?

I've never tried it. but the laws of probability would say yes.   

[Wakko]

Gas mileage means nothing to me...I drive my personal car once or twice a week anyway.     I don't think I'd bother upgrading anything.  I need a fun to drive hauler and it would have been nice to have one that tows too, but it's pretty rare that I need to.

[Bandit72]

just outta curiosity...why are dodge trucks out of the question? i grew up with all kinds of trucks and to be honest (not a biased opinion) the dodge's always held up better and had fewer problems....most memorable is my dads 65 D-100 slant six 3 on the tree....my grandpa saved that truck from a junk yard when it had 160K on the clock...did some minor work, replaced the carb and gave it to my dad as a wedding gift. for the next 18 years the truck was driven to work everyday and to the farm on weekends (13 miles away) i remember stacking hedge posts to the top of the cab for years (we had over loads put on it btw) we would stack hay to 3 - 4 feet over the cab then proceed to fill a 15 foot flat bed trailer, then haul them the 13 miles to our house to put in the barn....at least twice a day. Drove it 150 miles to pick up an Allis Chalmers CA tractor. Truck finally died when i was 15....we estimate it had damn near 300K on it before it died....oh what i'd give to go back then....oh well, thanks for the trip down memory lane anyway....

[Wakko]

Convenience.  If this truck was a Dodge I'd be just as interested, I actually don't LIKE Ford.  I like that this truck has a ton of new parts including a motor and it's a 351M rather than just a six.  If I were picking a truck based on likes/dislikes it'd be a Chevy all the way.

[The70RT]

Convenience.  If this truck was a Dodge I'd be just as interested, I actually don't LIKE Ford.  I like that this truck has a ton of new parts including a motor and it's a 351M rather than just a six.  If I were picking a truck based on likes/dislikes it'd be a Chevy all the way.

Buy it. You won't find any with a body like that....looks rust free. You won't find an old Chevy body that clean for the money.....my thoughts.

[Chatt69chgr]

I don't see how you can possibly go wrong assuming the mechanicals are good.  For your around town work, it will work fine.  And I see that you are not going to be putting a lot of miles on it so the gas milage issue is also really not a problem.  If you took the truck to the junkyard, I bet you could get $300 easily for scrap iron prices.  Lets face it, any vehicle that runs is now worth at least $500.  You won't have to carry anything but liability insurance on this so that will keep costs down.  One of the best parts is that you won't have to worry about getting a scratch on it.  It's a work truck.  The brakes are an issue.  I would think it has front disc's and rear drums.  Probably a pretty high rear end ratio so that will help in hauling stuff.  The transmission is pretty bulletproof.  It's a Ford 3.03.  Not much goes wrong with those.  I really don't think you can pull a car with that truck leastways on the interstate---you would never stop it from 70mph.  I see how you could pull one on backroads taking it easy and not getting over 45 or 50 mph.  That thing probably has twin I-beam front suspension which I never liked.  It will drive like a log wagon by the way.  If you plan on putting any more than a thousand pounds in the bed, I would look at putting some helper springs on it.  I got some from JC Whitney.  And see if you can find some 6 ply truck tires at a junkyard---not the 4 ply car tires-----that is if you are going to be putting a lot of weight in the bed.  I have a 2005 Ram Hemi now but owned 73 F100 for 29 years.  Ended up with 100,000 miles on it when I got rid of it.  Rust was starting to take it's toll.  Good luck.

[whitehatspecial]

I called these torque bars in my last post. The correct name is a weight distributing hitch. I had them one on my F250 when I pulled an 24' enclosed car trailer around the country. They work great and will actually lift the rear end of the truck to meet the trailer and eliminates the rear end swaying. Also make sure you have good trailer brakes.
Truck looks good. I can't see how you can miss for that kind of money. BTW I pull a 21' boat around with my F150 with no troubles
http://www.mrtruck.net/wdh.htm

[firefighter3931]

I called these torque bars in my last post. The correct name is a weight distributing hitch. I had them one on my F250 when I pulled an 24' enclosed car trailer around the country. They work great and will actually lift the rear end of the truck to meet the trailer and eliminates the rear end swaying. Also make sure you have good trailer brakes.
Truck looks good. I can't see how you can miss for that kind of money. BTW I pull a 21' boat around with my F150 with no troubles
http://www.mrtruck.net/wdh.htm

That is good advice.   The weight distributing hitch makes a world of difference in that it equalizes weight between the truck and trailer instead of loading the rear axle of the truck only. This helps to level out the load and improve handleing significantly. A set of helper springs or even airbags will stiffen up the back end of that truck. Towing an open car hauler is no problem with a 351m which has plenty of grunt.

A trailer with electric brakes is a must for safe stopping. 



Ron