[Bedwell]

Had some questions about picking up an older F150.
1. Safety
2. Would this even be capable of towing.
The reason I am interested is because I can get a decent package deal with a trailer to tow, as well as the condition is not bad either. This would be a DD too. (Not interested in getting a loan.)

Heres an overview:

93 Ford F150 extended cab short bed
EFI 5.0L with 152,772 miles
E4od Auto
2wd
3.55 gears
31x12.5r15 BFG all-terrains

I did some reading up online and come back with this:

Maximum GVWR 6050 lbs.
Maximum Towing 7300 lbs.
Payload Base Capacity 1690 lbs.

The combo trailer is an 18ft steel deck trailer which is estimated to be 1500-1700 pounds. My Wrangler has a bunch of armor and skids and I am wondering if this will be too much. Would trailer the Jeep maybe once a month at most due to current work schedule.

Opinions? I don't mind spending money to do it the correct way either (proper hitch setup, trailer brake controller, wiring, upgraded discs, etc.)

[wilson1010]

I can't say how much of everything I towed with that era Ford pickup. I had sixes and 351's but not a fan of the 302. Others may disagree. But it will tow and those are nice, functional trucks.

[Millermagic]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

I can't say how much of everything I towed with that era Ford pickup. I had sixes and 351's but not a fan of the 302. Others may disagree. But it will tow and those are nice, functional trucks.

From what I've heard the 300 tows better than the 302.

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by Millermagic

From what I've heard the 300 tows better than the 302.

I had a I-6 (300CID) F250 which I think was a 94 and it had a 4.56 rear end and towed like a 351. I am guessing that was the standard ratio for the F250 with a six cylinder, so it probably got a good reputation among the many many people who bought the F250 I-6. I bet the I-6 had more torque than the 302 and at a lower rpm. Better for towing.

[Bedwell]

Originally Posted by wilson1010

I had a I-6 (300CID) F250 which I think was a 94 and it had a 4.56 rear end and towed like a 351. I am guessing that was the standard ratio for the F250 with a six cylinder, so it probably got a good reputation among the many many people who bought the F250 I-6. I bet the I-6 had more torque than the 302 and at a lower rpm. Better for towing.

So with the 302 will I be able to tow or not? I don't have the 351 or an I-6 model.

[wilson1010]

Originally Posted by Bedwell

So with the 302 will I be able to tow or not? I don't have the 351 or an I-6 model.

These discussions tend to wander off a bit. Try a little patience.

Like I said above, it will tow it and they are nice, functional trucks.

[oteps]

I would not tow a jeep with a f150 302 and 3.55's. They dont have enough power, yeah it will work. I would look for a f250 with a 351 or 460 in it. Fuel mileage isnt going to change much. You will get 8 mpg or less with the 302 compared to 10 mpg with a 460 but the 460 will have power to pull all of the hills around. Heat kills tha a4od trannys, put a big tranny cooler on it and dont use od when towing with the 302 unless you are going down hill.
How much do they want for the f150?

[MLJeeper]

The 302 will tow fine.

[Bedwell]

Originally Posted by oteps

I would not tow a jeep with a f150 302 and 3.55's. They dont have enough power, yeah it will work. I would look for a f250 with a 351 or 460 in it. Fuel mileage isnt going to change much. You will get 8 mpg or less with the 302 compared to 10 mpg with a 460 but the 460 will have power to pull all of the hills around. Heat kills tha a4od trannys, put a big tranny cooler on it and dont use od when towing with the 302 unless you are going down hill.
How much do they want for the f150?

Truck and trailer asking 3500. 2,000 for truck and 1,600 for trailer (seperate sales)

I am not opposed to doing it correctly even if that means doing a trans cooler. I will only being towing at most once a month if not once every 2-3 months. Looking for a cheap DD truck that tows so I can tear the jeep apart again.

[ajmorell]

It won't be pleasant but it will work. Both my dad and grandpa had nearly identical 93 F150s, 2wd, 302, 3.73s. They did pretty well with the smaller stuff like our 16' jon boat and pop up camper, but I can distinctly remember pulling a tandem axle car-hauler style trailer with one flat of retaining wall blocks on it. Saying it sucked is an understatement, but it did the job. A pallet of those blocks weighs close to 3,000 lb, so this was probably a 4,500lb combined load.

[Bedwell]

Originally Posted by ajmorell

It won't be pleasant but it will work. Both my dad and grandpa had nearly identical 93 F150s, 2wd, 302, 3.73s. They did pretty well with the smaller stuff like our 16' jon boat and pop up camper, but I can distinctly remember pulling a tandem axle car-hauler style trailer with one flat of retaining wall blocks on it. Saying it sucked is an understatement, but it did the job. A pallet of those blocks weighs close to 3,000 lb, so this was probably a 4,500lb combined load.

Well here is trailer specs:

1992 Perone tandem axle
2 5/16 ball
18 foot steel deck
6500 lbs GVWR
5000 lbs load rating
brakes on one axle
plastic box on tongue for straps and winch
winch plate and 3000 lb winch
6 tiedown D-rings welded on
slide-in ramps
2 tires have been replaced in the last 3500 miles
driverside fender is removeable
bearing buddies on both axles
break-away system
LED lights and standard running lights3 spare hubcaps
new wiring plug put on 2 months ago
jack is about a year old

trailer:
could use 2 new tires
front axle bearings need repacked

Am I going to be overloading the f150 with the trailer, gear, and my wrangler?

[ajmorell]

I think a stock TJ weighs somewhere just north of 3,000 lb, so I'm sure your's is more like 3,500-4,000 lb. Add in your gear and you are getting close to that 5,000 lb limit on the trailer

[Drix]

I would do it. If you are having issues re-gear. That is a pretty good deal for the truck and trailer.

[Bedwell]

Here's what I am thinking to upgrade:

Obviously tagged, titled, inspected, emissions, tune-up and fluids.

upgraded transmission cooler
brake controller
upgraded/larger brakes if possible
regear maybe to 4.10s
weight distribution hitch

Anything else to consider? I am hopefully going to take a look at it tommorrow.

[oteps]

I would not pay $2000 for a 93 f150 2wd. For that money you can get a 3/4 ton truck with a larger engine that will tow what you want. You will have $6-700 into it for the upgrades you want to do.
Last year I sold my 98 dodge 2500 4x4 for $2500.