Ford F150 5.0L V8 for towing?
David Fiedler
Hi,
I'm new to this truck and boat thing so I was just wondering...in anyone's
humble opinion, would a 5 liter V8 be enough for towing a 5,000 pound
boat/trailer combination in Northern California (where there are a number of
hills... :-)? The Ford book says the truck will tow up to a 7,000 pound
trailer, so I would guess I have plenty of leeway on capacity, but I'm
concerned about engine size. Thanks in advance.
--
David (Dragon) Fiedler, Infobahn Warrior, Bf.D, CRS
Find me at http://www.innercite.com/~dragon/ or da...@infopro.com
"Multiple personality disorder: it's sort of like shareware." -- Cousin Malka
Bill and Dawn
On Tue, 31 Dec 96 06:44:20 GMT, da...@infopro.com (David Fiedler)
wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I'm new to this truck and boat thing so I was just wondering...in anyone's
>humble opinion, would a 5 liter V8 be enough for towing a 5,000 pound
>boat/trailer combination in Northern California (where there are a number of
>hills... :-)? The Ford book says the truck will tow up to a 7,000 pound
>trailer, so I would guess I have plenty of leeway on capacity, but I'm
>concerned about engine size. Thanks in advance.
>
>--
David,
I think the 302/5.0 would probably work but a 351/5.8 would be a
better choice. the fuel mileage between the two are VERY close and the
added horsepower and torque would only help while towing.
hope this helps,
Bill and Dawn '94 Ford Bronco
'93 Mazda MX-3
solitary bird
David Fiedler wrote:
> I'm new to this truck and boat thing so I was just wondering...in anyone's
> humble opinion, would a 5 liter V8 be enough for towing a 5,000 pound
> boat/trailer combination in Northern California (where there are a number of
> hills... :-)?
Try rec.outdoors.rv-travel
bird
Raymond T. Lowe
In article <5aacog$d3s$1...@harry.innercite.com>, da...@infopro.com says...
>
>Hi,
>
>I'm new to this truck and boat thing so I was just wondering...in anyone's
>humble opinion, would a 5 liter V8 be enough for towing a 5,000 pound
>boat/trailer combination in Northern California (where there are a number of
>trailer, so I would guess I have plenty of leeway on capacity, but I'm
>concerned about engine size. Thanks in advance.
A lot will depend on what your diff ratio is. Chances are you will be doing
some major suckholing on the hills. Careful you don't keep your foot hard
into it up a long hill and then immediately coast. You could crack an
exhaust manifold (302 EFI's are prone to this).
RT
Clint Olsen
On Tue, 31 Dec 1996 18:42:35 GMT, Doug <dmi...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>A 5.0 F150 will tow 5000 lbs with the right axle ratio. You want 4.11
>gears. A 5.0 F150 probably has a hard time getting out of its own way,
>however, so the towing would be slow and unpleasant. A 351 would be a bit
>better, but you still need the low diff gears. Even the 351 won't be
>great, but it should be a good compromise between economy and power.
>Heck, you can tow 5000 lbs with an Explorer 4.0, I've done it, but I got 7
>mpg while doing it and slowed down over every freeway overpass. The F150
>is even heavier than the Explorer. My old Scout has a 345 and 4.11 gears.
>It tows fine, but not super. ...at least I can maintain speed over
>overpasses without downshifting and high-rpm shennanigans. You want to
>tow frequently and keep a decent speed uphills? You gotta get a 460 or
>Powerstroke. You want a fairly economical truck to tow decently a few
>times a year? The 351 would be ok and still keep you in a half-ton
>vehicle.
My family owns '71 Chev 3/4 ton with the 275 bhp 350 ci. engine. It towed
my grandfather's ~7000 lb. Sea Ray boat with 3.73 gears just fine around
Western Washington state.
As long as he has 3.73 (or lower) with the 302, I don't see how he'd have
any problems towing 5000 lbs. I think a big block would be overkill.
Sometimes I think we Americans are overly concerned about how fast we get
to our destination. It's not necessary to speed to the point of peeling
paint when towing a load :)
-Clint
--
Clint Olsen <ols...@kodiak.ee.washington.edu>
Tired of ELM/Pine? Try Mutt! http://www.cs.hmc.edu/~me/mutt/
Doug
Dick Flanagan
In article <32cbd143...@news.mindspring.com>, dav...@mindspring.com
wrote:
>On Tue, 31 Dec 96 06:44:20 GMT, da...@infopro.com (David Fiedler)
>wrote:
>
>>I'm new to this truck and boat thing so I was just wondering...in anyone's
>>humble opinion, would a 5 liter V8 be enough for towing a 5,000 pound
>>boat/trailer combination in Northern California (where there are a number of
>>hills... :-)?
>I think the 302/5.0 would probably work but a 351/5.8 would be a
>better choice. the fuel mileage between the two are VERY close and the
>added horsepower and torque would only help while towing.
I have an 87 F-150 302/5.0 and have pulled our 5,000# travel trailer across
the country and back. It works, but like Bill said, a 351/5.8 would make
the task a whole lot easier and more enjoyable. When the time comes,
that's what I'll be replacing our 302 with.
So, yes, it will work, but you will always be aware that your truck is
working and could use a little more help on occasion.
--
Dick Flanagan W6OLD CFII Minden, Nevada
Visit http://wadg.greatbasin.net/siera/
Paul W Harvey
>Hi,
>
>I'm new to this truck and boat thing so I was just wondering...in anyone's
>humble opinion, would a 5 liter V8 be enough for towing a 5,000 pound
>boat/trailer combination in Northern California (where there are a number of
>hills... :-)? The Ford book says the truck will tow up to a 7,000 pound
>trailer, so I would guess I have plenty of leeway on capacity, but I'm
>concerned about engine size. Thanks in advance.
It will work, but it's not going to race up the hills. More power
couldn't hurt but the 302 will work okay. Just make sure you have a
towing kit. They extra oil and transmission cooling it provides is
what really makes it possible without ruining your truck. Oh and
don't tow in OD if you have the automatic.
--Paul
HIDDA
Doug wrote:
>
> A 5.0 F150 will tow 5000 lbs with the right axle ratio. You want 4.11
> gears. A 5.0 F150 probably has a hard time getting out of its own
> way, however, so the towing would be slow and unpleasant. A 351 would
> be a bit better, but you still need the low diff gears. Even the 351
> won't be great, but it should be a good compromise between economy and
> power.
<Snipped>
I have an F-150 4x4 with the 5.8 engine. It tows 6,000 lbs without a
problem. I can accelerate with the tow and merge without white
knuckles. Without a load, it blows the doors off of many cars. Of
course, the engine screams at speeds over 80.
Mike Forshee
Just for information, up to 1996, Ford rated the 302 to pull 100
pounds more than the 351. Their rating for a 4X4 with the towing package
was 7100 for the 302 and 7000 for the 351.
--
Zilbandy
da...@infopro.com (David Fiedler) wrote:
>Hi,
>I'm new to this truck and boat thing so I was just wondering...in anyone's
>humble opinion, would a 5 liter V8 be enough for towing a 5,000 pound
>boat/trailer ....
I tow a 5000 pound travel trailer with a 79 Blazer with a
350 and 3.73 gears and in my opinion, it is underpowered.
Your (I'm assuming it's quite a bit newer) 302 probably has
as much horsepower as my older, smog ladden, 350 and you
will probably have about the same abilities I do. If you've
got a newer truck, the 351 would more than likely be
adequate for that weight.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note: My return address is INTENTIONALLY INVALID
in an attempt to foil electronic mailing list
generation software. Remove the two x's from zilxx
for my correct address. Please, NO soliciting.
Barry Burnett (Zilbandy)
Tucson, Arizona USA
zi...@azstarnet.com
Windows 95 - Got it... Tried it... Dumped it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
fa...@islandnet.com
da...@infopro.com (David Fiedler) wrote:
>Hi,
>I'm new to this truck and boat thing so I was just wondering...in anyone's
>humble opinion, would a 5 liter V8 be enough for towing a 5,000 pound
>boat/trailer combination in Northern California (where there are a number of
>hills... :-)? The Ford book says the truck will tow up to a 7,000 pound
>trailer, so I would guess I have plenty of leeway on capacity, but I'm
>concerned about engine size. Thanks in advance.
Hello David,
I towed a Farrier F9-A Trimaran of about 5000 lbs with this engine
on a F-150 and found it a bit underpowered. It will get you there but
without much reserve and the engine seems to be working hard.
John Vye
Zilbandy
HIDDA <denn...@mauigateway.com> wrote:
>I have an F-150 4x4 with the 5.8 engine. It tows 6,000 lbs without a
>problem. I can accelerate with the tow and merge without white
>knuckles. Without a load, it blows the doors off of many cars. Of
>course, the engine screams at speeds over 80.
To hell with the engine. My wife screams at speeds over 80!
David Fiedler
In article <5ad4t6$k...@news.qi3.com>, Mike Forshee <"mi...@qi3.com"@qi3.com> wrote:
-->Just for information, up to 1996, Ford rated the 302 to pull 100
-->pounds more than the 351. Their rating for a 4X4 with the towing package
-->was 7100 for the 302 and 7000 for the 351.
I know, but that's probably based on weight, since clearly power is a
different animal altogether. BTW, thanks to all for their input...I've
definitely decided to get the 5.8/351 engine!!!
--
David (Dragon) Fiedler, Infobahn Warrior, Bf.D, CRS
Find me at http://www.innercite.com/~dragon/ or da...@infopro.com
"If I blow my top, would you let it go to your head?" -- ZZ Top
Tim Sullivan
I have been using a 305 in a full sized Chevy van for towing my 3500lb
boat and trailer in Arizona. Works fine as long as you have lots of
patience pulling up 6% mountain grades. The real secret is in the
transmission. My automatic pulls the boat out of the water at the
ramp (10% grade) no problem. However my previous stick transmission
had a big problem allowing the engin to develope any significant
horsepower at low RPM's
Karl Fengler
Mike Forshee wrote:
> Just for information, up to 1996, Ford rated the 302 to pull 100
> pounds more than the 351. Their rating for a 4X4 with the towing package
> was 7100 for the 302 and 7000 for the 351.
What I'm reading in the manual shows this:
1995 - F150 with 3.55 rear:
-------------------------------
302 351
-------------------------------
4x2 7,100 lbs 7,500 lbs
4x4 6,800 " 7,200 "
-------------------------------
--
-Karl Fengler---------------- BRONCO*351 - FXDWG -
---------------------- ka...@hpb18162.boi.hp.com -
-!! You Have Strayed Upon The Motorway To HELL !!-
Karl Fengler
David Fiedler wrote:
> In article <5ad4t6$k...@news.qi3.com>, Mike Forshee <"mi...@qi3.com"@qi3.com> wrote:
> -->pounds more than the 351. Their rating for a 4X4 with the towing package
> -->was 7100 for the 302 and 7000 for the 351.
> I know, but that's probably based on weight, since clearly power is a
> different animal altogether. BTW, thanks to all for their input...I've
> definitely decided to get the 5.8/351 engine!!!
> David (Dragon) Fiedler, Infobahn Warrior, Bf.D, CRS
> Find me at http://www.innercite.com/~dragon/ or da...@infopro.com
> "If I blow my top, would you let it go to your head?" -- ZZ Top
What I'm reading in the manual shows this:
JVetere704
I personally own an '87 Bronco (full-size) with the 302 (5.0L). I've
pulled a couple of suburans out of creeks, and various other vehicles. Of
course I have the 4spd. manual w/granny (a VERY low first gear). I know
the engine will pull the 7000 lb. weight limit. I would say go ahead and
tow. Just make sure to change you trans. and diff. fluids often when you
do a lot of towing.
Torsten Hoff
Without wanting to comment on the suitability of the 302 for towing,
recovery work in 4LO is quite different from highway towing.
Anyone who wants to tow routinely ought to spend some extra money to make
sure that the engine and transmission stay cool -- nothing kills a
transmission faster than heat. And as the last poster said, pay close
attention to the fluids.
Regards,
Torsten Hoff
th...@symantec.com
(The views and opinions expressed are my own, and
should not be construed as representing those of
Symantec Corporation)
JVetere704 <jvete...@aol.com> wrote in article
<19970113064...@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
JMK033149
I'm new to this so I don't know if this will get mailed.
I have a '93 Ford F150 with a 5.0L and I tow quite a bit- so far without
any problem. I tow around 3500 lbs. (horse and horse trailer). The axle
ratio on my truck is 3.55 and have been able to go up some decent hills on
paved roads. Off road towing for me is basically going across flat
fields. If you have an automatic transmission, make sure you have a
cooler for it