truck towing capacities

[homesteader]

Does anyone know what a 1973 f100 camper special with 4wd, a 360 engine, and an automatic transmission is rated to pull? Thanks

[cep62]

They'll pull more than they can stop.
That being said I used to regularly pull a truck and trailer weighing 6000 lbs plus,
with a "71 f100 4x4.
I put disc brakes on the front axle and trailer brakes, which made a big improvement.

Then I bought a '78 F350 with dual rear wheels and I felt much safer because of the stability.

What are you planning on pulling.?

[Mancar1]

Ford offered a 10,000 lb towing cap. and a 4700 lb load cap. that year. Yours may be up there since you have a CS but maybe not since it is a 1/2 ton. I have always wondered what Ford was thinking selling 1/2 tons with the CS package. I have owned one and the weak spot on mine was the rear bearings after a few loads the truck was rated to haul, I had to change them. Remember your componates are old and worn so check and replace as necessary for safety.

[woods]

The pull more than they can stop is a very good description. Everything will seem just dandy until some bozo slowly turns out in front of you. Then you get to spend the next half hour removing the seat cover from your butt.

[averagef250]

Seems like a safe upper limit for an older 1/2 ton pickup is towing about 5000 pounds. You can take chances and cheat quite a bit with a weight distributing hitch, but towing trailers is a lot nicer with a 1 ton truck. Lighter trucks, especially older ones just don't have the frame rigidity to handle the forces on the back of the frame well. If you've ever towed or hauled much with one you know the feeling, where you watch the front of the hood move up and down as you go through dips in the road wondering how much the frame can actually bend like that before something gives out.

[woods]

I have towed with a 1/2 a number of times. If it's anything heavy in the least bit, it's a handfull in my opinion. I may have just gotten spoiled over the years by driving pickups where you have to look in the mirror to make sure the trailer is still back there, but there is something "uneasy" feeling about a 1/2 with a lot of weight to me.

[homesteader]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I haven't understood how this sight works so I didn't realize I had gotten a response. Anyway, My intensions are to tow a 3000 # single axle trailer with brakes several times a week up and down the high peaks of the Adirondacks where I live. I have extensive towing experience unfortunately with overloaded light and medium duty trucks in my youth. As well as in more recent years towing my case 580c backhoe on a tri-axle trailer with my f900. At 50 with two young children I am done taking foolish chances. Most of my heavy work is done with the f900. The only thing I was considering is hauling a donor truck for and with my f100. On long distance hauls it is much more economical but that would be with a tandem deck over trailer with both axles having brakes if I can figure out if my truck is rated for it.

Thanks for the heads up on the rear end and the frame, my truck is old but not worn as it has 41k original miles. I will be adding disc brakes when my next brake job is due. I have an 05 rear axle and a G transmission. I don't know what that makes me rated for. I also would like to find out in what a other ways a camper special is different with the exception of the trim package. While the fender of the trudk says f100 the door panel says f111. Further it also has a 76 with the letters DSO under it. What does that refer to? Thanks for your thought, concerns, and shared experiences.

[70_F100]

Thanks for the heads up on the rear end and the frame, my truck is old but not worn as it has 41k original miles. I will be adding disc brakes when my next brake job is due. I have an 05 rear axle and a G transmission. I don't know what that makes me rated for. I also would like to find out in what a other ways a camper special is different with the exception of the trim package. While the fender of the trudk says f100 the door panel says f111. Further it also has a 76 with the letters DSO under it. What does that refer to? Thanks for your thought, concerns, and shared experiences.

I think this will answer most of your questions, from our sister site: http://www.fordification.net/tech/vin.htm