Can I Make My '84 F150 A Tow Rig?

[Robb]

The truck:

-'84 Ford F-150 2WD 300 Straight 6 (4.9L for the metric folk)

-pretty sure the engine is strong, although I haven't put much time into it. I put new plugs,wires on it and a NOS Carter carb, but didn't adjust it. It seems to lack "get up and go" and has a horrible exhaust leak somewhere.

-the body has problems. The bed has been beat to h3ll, but I can pick up a replacement for a couple hundred bucks if need be. The worst part of the body trouble is in the cab floorboard where the driver's seat belt mounts. To put simply, there is no solid floor there.

I bought it ($350) simply to carry loads to the dump. All I have done to it is completely re-do the brake system (cylinders, calipers, drums, pads, shoes, mc, hoses, hard lines), put a fender on it, and basic engine tune-ups.

So, onto the questions. I have known guys that have owned the basic same rig, with the same engine, and used them to do a lot of towing of horses and hay and such. Is this type of truck even capable of towing a trailer with a 5000lb X on it? I always thought that when I got to the point of getting a tow rig, I would look into a F250 or similar rig, but is that POS F150 in my driveway capable of the task if I put the time/money into it? It doesn't have to be a "great" tow rig, just capable. Parts for this truck are easy to get, and cheap. Is it worth trying to make into a tow rig?

 

[boominXplorer]

what kinda of tranny came with it?

 

[Robb]

Originally posted by boominXplorer
what kinda of tranny came with it?

Other than telling you it is 3-speed manny with OD, I have no idea!

 

[boominXplorer]

does it have a granny gear or a real short first gear?

 

[Robb]

You are getting technical with me here. It isn't a granny gear, because I can actually start in it and gain a bit of speed. But yea, 1st isn't much, I guess you could call it "real short."

 

[boominXplorer]

I think there were like 4 diff. trannys that the 300 had. My friend does drywall/construction stuff has a older f150 with a 300 in it and its 3 speed + OD and he usually has his bed full of crap and sometimes pulls around a bobcat on a trailor with it with no problems at all. Are you going to be using a tow dolly or a full car trailor? Sorry for all the questions just trying to give clearer answers.

 

[Robb]

Don't worry about over-questioning! I hadn't even thought of my F150 being a possibility until tonight, so the more I can learn about it, the better.

As far as a trailer, I would like to plan to run a flat trailer. With the t-case that will be in the X, I could possibly dolly it for a certain distance, but I would like to just skip the dolly thing and go straight to flat trailer. I would like to have the flat trailer for other reasons than towing the rig.

 

[boominXplorer]

I see you said you didn't adjust the carb... That would be an idea before you tow anything , thats probibly why it is sluggish. Is it running rich or lean? An exhaust leak doesn't matter because if a ford made before 1990 doesn't an exhaust leak there is something wrong . I would say chcck the u-joints, bearings and clutch oriented stuff before towing stuff but other than that she is very capible of towing. You are goign to use a hitch right? Make sure that is welded on good also bec. i know how old ford trucks get

 

[gordhunt]

I have a 84 F150 Supercab 2WD that I tow my 26' Travel Trailer with and it's fine. I have me the wife and 3 kids in the cab and usually a quad in the bed and it still pulls it no problem. I guarantee my trailer weighs at least 5000lbs loaded and I can cruise at 70-75mph on the highway no probs. Gas mileage isn't the greatest but not too bad. The only mods I've done are a Carter carb and headers with a custom 2.5" exhaust all the way back.

 

[Mbrooks420]

My dad had a 84 f-150 with the 300 and it towed well. I have no idea what kind of wieght, but it never seemed like it was overloaded, or struggled.

 

[james t]

the 300I6 is really a torqy motor. first things first, get the carb tuned right. even if you have to take it to someone. if its running really rich it can wash the rings out of the motor and need more work than the truck is worth. its got a 4 spd, which is good. the "granny low" will help get the trailer moving. i would be willing to bet the rear gears are crazy highway. 3:08's or worse. no big deal, because you have superlow first. have an exhaust shop cut everything off and start over with a generic muffler and single 2.5 exhaust. dont pull off the bumper, get a reciever hitch.

i have seen the 300 tow alot of things i would have never thought it should tow. i think that once the minor issues are worked out, it will tow your X just fine. just remember, its powerband is more like a high revving deisel. anything over 3000rpms and it falls flat on its @ss. peak torque is at a really low rpm for a gas engine.

is it worth it? i dunno... late 70's early/mid 80's 3/4tons are awefully cheap right now. you could sell it for what you paid for it and get a 3/4ton Ford with a 351 or 3/4ton chevy with a 350 for dirt cheap. it just depends on how much and how far you wanna tow with it...

 

[Robb]

Interesting..........I like what I am hearing!

Yea, the carb was just slapped on there with no adjustments at all. Why? I have no real idea. Basically, it started and ran and that is all I needed out of it. The truck's sole purpose is to make a 10 mile round trip to the dump about 8 times a year, and it does that fine. I just never put the effort into it to make it run perfect. By the look and smell of the exhaust, and the color of the exhaust tip, it doesn't seem to be running rich. Oh, and I did throw a cheapy cat-back on there with 2.25 or 2.5 pipes.

If I do decide to try out the idea of making this thing a tow rig, it will get a good amount of time and money put into it.

I will have to do a little research on the gear ratio of the rear. If it is found to be 3.08 or higher, I can get a 8.8 or 9 out of the yard with a better ratio for about $100, so that isn't a big deal.

Also, I guess my original weight guestamation was a little off. This would be for a 5Klb X plus the weight of about a 16' trailer.

Is it worth it? In my area, if a 1/2 ton PU runs, it is automatically worth $1000. I STOLE this truck for $350!! At the time, I looked a late 70s, early 80s F150s that barely ran and were complete POSs for about $800-$1000. 3/4 ton project rigs are hard to come by and START in the range of $1500. I am starting to think that I can create a decent rig out of this truck in the ballpark of $500-$600, with no big unforseen surprises.

Thanks for all the advice!! And I welcome more!!