Late 80s B2000 Advice

[DemonMudder]

Before I had a winch on my trailer we still were able To Load them up

Your plan will work, but there are a couple of easier ways to consider first

The issue with loading a truck into an empty trailer is weight, you have to be really careful here because with the truck loading onto the back of the trailer via ramps the trailer may want to rise up in. The front which is okay when it’s still connected to the ball, not good when it’s not. Now not all trailers will do this, usually you are fine with a standard dual
Axle 7500# 16’ car trailer, but something to think about

Another way to easily load it would be with a second car or truck, maybe the guy you are buying it from will help? You can simply hook up to the Mazda with a strap or chain and drive / tow it right up on the trailer with another vehicle driving right next to the trailer

A come along is another option, they are slow but man they will load just about anything onto a trailer

Roll it on. If you can get your trailer downhill enough many times you can just push roll steer and brake it right onto the trailer

The last option is of course the best, a winch mounted on the trailer, or if your winch is in a cradle get a double hitch for the back of the truck, lower hitch for trailer upper hitch for winch, long jumper cables can be used to power the winch

Many of us, instead of having 5 trucks with 5 winches will just have one big winch on a cradle and have receivers on the front and back of each truck

I have a harbor freight 5000# winch on my trailer mounted inside a tool
Box with battery and a solar panel. The 5000# utv winch will pull just about anything that rolls up onto the trailer… no need for a 10 or 12 thousand pound winch here

The trailer one I'll do eventually, but like I told fix, it's a rental so not today, haha! The double hitch I've never been sure how much I trusted, looked at that way, way back. We'll see how it is out there, may have a hill but doubt it based on how he talked. Definitely some other options but figured that would be the quickest, though the trailer rising thing I definitely didn't think about and is a good point..maybe I could bring some wood or something to prop underneath the back so it doesn't move far, though it probably is the double axle and won't have to worry as much.

 

[DemonMudder]

I do have my tow strap always handy, so if need be I'll have another vehicle pull it up from beside like ya said. Do appreciate the extra suggestions!

 

[410Fortune]

I loaded many trucks that way, we would even drive two rigs to go pick them up that way I had a helper truck to load. We used long straps and you just kinda force the strap up and over the trailer wheel arch/ fenders
Once the front tires are on it rolls easily until it’s time for the back tires to climb up

A jack stand under the back of the trailer while Loading is a great idea if you turn your truck around and use the winch

If you had a winch and a front receiver you could just hook the trailer to the front of the truck and use the winch

At least you are thinking about this now, go prepared! Many people just show up and try to figure out how to load it later hahahaha

 

[DemonMudder]

I loaded many trucks that way, we would even drive two rigs to go pick them up that way I had a helper truck to load. We used long straps and you just kinda force the strap up and over the trailer wheel arch/ fenders
Once the front tires are on it rolls easily until it’s time for the back tires to climb up

A jack stand under the back of the trailer while Loading is a great idea if you turn your truck around and use the winch

If you had a winch and a front receiver you could just hook the trailer to the front of the truck and use the winch

At least you are thinking about this now, go prepared! Many people just show up and try to figure out how to load it later hahahaha

I like being prepared, too often do I act before I think, so usually when I can I try to be better, a bit smarter at least! Bringing two rigs is smart for sure! I'll see about grabbing my stands, not sure they'll fit under it though, maybe I'll just nab some cheap small stands if they're too tall. That is true, doubt that lil' truck has a front receiver though! lol

 

[410Fortune]

Hahahaha I meant under your winch

Having a front winch and a front receiver can be very handy

 

[DemonMudder]

Hahahaha I meant under your winch

Having a front winch and a front receiver can be very handy

Jack stands under my winch?

Definitely can be! I've looked at it a good few times, was the plan before this bumper I got came along

 

[410Fortune]

My bad

A front receiver under your winch. My bronco has a winch on the bumper and a receiver built into the bumper underneath.
This way I can hookup a trailer to the front of the truck (very handy for launching jet skis)
And the winch can pull things into the trailer (like a dead atv or a dead moose carcass)

Hahahahaha
Maybe that’s a bit more clear

 

[DemonMudder]

My bad

A front receiver under your winch. My bronco has a winch on the bumper and a receiver built into the bumper underneath.
This way I can hookup a trailer to the front of the truck (very handy for launching jet skis)
And the winch can pull things into the trailer (like a dead atv or a dead moose carcass)

Hahahahaha
Maybe that’s a bit more clear

Oh now that's actually a great idea, may have to look back into it!

 

[Fix4Dirt]

My bad

A front receiver under your winch. My bronco has a winch on the bumper and a receiver built into the bumper underneath.
This way I can hookup a trailer to the front of the truck (very handy for launching jet skis)
And the winch can pull things into the trailer (like a dead atv or a dead moose carcass)

Hahahahaha
Maybe that’s a bit more clear

yes!!!!! this is another big one. can use this for your trailers too its been used to push the boat up the driveway etc

 

[Josh P]

That truck is light enough, two 3500 lb rachet straps will pull it up the ramp onto the trailer. I've loaded cars into a semi trailer with a ramp door that way before.

 

[DemonMudder]

That truck is light enough, two 3500 lb rachet straps will pull it up the ramp onto the trailer. I've loaded cars into a semi trailer with a ramp door that way before.

That definitely would work, and I've got some too, but the winch is faster lol

 

[Rick]

Before I had a winch on my trailer we still were able To Load them up

Your plan will work, but there are a couple of easier ways to consider first

The issue with loading a truck into an empty trailer is weight, you have to be really careful here because with the truck loading onto the back of the trailer via ramps the trailer may want to rise up in. The front which is okay when it’s still connected to the ball, not good when it’s not. Now not all trailers will do this, usually you are fine with a standard dual
Axle 7500# 16’ car trailer, but something to think about

I have adjustable legs mounted to the rear corners of my car hauler. When we are RV camping with the truck camper we leave the car hauler hitched to the Ram. When I drove onto the trailer it would lift the back of the truck and that was really hard on the campers stabilizer legs. When I lower and lock the legs on the trailer they keep the tow rig from lifting.

I would definitely go slow to see what happens, it may want to put the back of the trailer into the ground.

 

[DemonMudder]

I have adjustable legs mounted to the rear corners of my car hauler. When we are RV camping with the truck camper we leave the car hauler hitched to the Ram. When I drove onto the trailer it would lift the back of the truck and that was really hard on the campers stabilizer legs. When I lower and lock the legs on the trailer they keep the tow rig from lifting.

I would definitely go slow to see what happens, it may want to put the back of the trailer into the ground.

Guess we'll see, probably just do it the old fashioned way and we'll just push it up, not like that lil' thing weighs much. My girlfriend will steer, while the owner, his son, and I all push.

 

[DemonMudder]

Well, we're back home, some title issues we're working out, we got one signature but it was a co-owner setup and they didn't think about it either. So she'll be at my work for a few days, but overall the drive went great! Suckers in much better shape than I expected, the bench seat definitely needs a cover or to be replaced, but the dash is all in one piece, EVEN HAS A/C!! I mean, I gotta fix the a/c like everything else, but at least I don't have to mod it in. Also, due to where it was at, ended up just blocking the road and pushing it on the trailer, though thank you @Josh P for the ratchet strap suggestion, that definitely helped get it over the bumps! The engine stayed nice and warm, the transmission never even touched over 180 even on some real high inclines, Jade pulled her home easily! And apparently I impressed the owner for being a first time tow, was impressed at how well I backed it up, which I've got all yall to thank for on the tips! I'll add some more details and pictures in a bit, but for now, figured I'd at least add an update that I got her home!

 

[DemonMudder]

Alright, as promised! Crank windows, a real old school stereo, a perfect headliner, seat needs work, carpet ain't too bad but could use work too (least a cleaning, whole truck needs it), but the lack of rust is surprising, and where there is rust, it's pretty much just surface and easier to fix! Sorry about all the parts in the cab, started to rain a smidge on the way back and didn't want all of that in the bed. But that seven and a half foot bed makes me so giddy! Overall it's in great shape, just gotta get the pistons free...which if anyone has suggestions feel free!! I got a breaker bar on it and it wouldn't budge, they've been soaking the pistons a while in some magic oil stuff, don't remember the name, I put some 10w40 oil on them today, since he sent that with the truck, the rear piston seems like the worst of the four, the least bubbles at least, but we'll check it tomorrow and try it again the day after.

 

[Rick]

It looks nice. Brings back some great memories.

Probably Marvels Mystery Oil is what you were referring to. I have heard of folks using that alone, others will use transmission fluid (ATF) and acetone and let it soak with that on top of the pistons for a few days.

 

[DemonMudder]

Yep, that was it, gotta get some myself I guess too. They had no luck with it, but not real sure how much they did, or if they tried turning it manually at all. So I'll be trying later, letting it soak least for a while, may try it again Thursday even to see, if it still doesn't then they'll be getting a small hammer does to see if that helps, and no I won't be hammering them directly lol
Didn't think atf would do much for it, but guess that sorta makes sense!

 

[Josh P]

ATF and acetone will also clean any carbon buildup as well as eat the rust. Glad the ratchet strap idea helped out. Remind me again, since we're 8 pages deep, does this thing have one or two (clutch) brake pedals?

 

[DemonMudder]

ATF and acetone will also clean any carbon buildup as well as eat the rust. Glad the ratchet strap idea helped out. Remind me again, since we're 8 pages deep, does this thing have one or two (clutch) brake pedals?

It's got one clutch pedal, which as the guy told me, goes to the floor. Literally will hold itself out fine, but as soon as ya press on it some, it literally rips itself to the firewall and ya gotta pull it back off, not a lot of effort to do, but just funny. Any idea where to start on that? Slave cylinder? I've never messed with a manual before so this is new lol
That atf fact is news to me, maybe I'll switch the oil for atf and acetone then!

 

[Josh P]

It's got one clutch pedal, which as the guy told me, goes to the floor. Literally will hold itself out fine, but as soon as ya press on it some, it literally rips itself to the firewall and ya gotta pull it back off, not a lot of effort to do, but just funny. Any idea where to start on that? Slave cylinder? I've never messed with a manual before so this is new lol
That atf fact is news to me, maybe I'll switch the oil for atf and acetone then!

Is it an internal hydraulic slave? Or is it an external that a piston pushes a rod? Or does it have a cable? Every other person that went to high school with me had one of these trucks buy I never got to wrench on one.