towing with an F-250?

[Kurt Combs]

I need to move a 1977 F-150 35 miles (one slight hill) and my only possible tow vehicle is my 1972 F-250 with a 360 and a C-6. The 360 loses a little antifreeze on a long drive, so that has me a little concerned as it is probably a head gasket or cracked head. I have the trailer hitch and light wiring installed, but no trailer brake controller. Aside from the possible overheating, anyone have experience towing a pickup on a trailer with a F-250 bump?

[dirtwrench]

Don't sweat it Kurt. Make sure your truck is full on antifreeze and keep an eye on the temp guage. If it is a 35 mile one way trip, maybe stop and have some lunch, etc to let the truck cool off once and check the anti level again. You should get along fine if you pay attention to the temp & level.

BTW- I'm a dumb Iowa farmer. I have pulled lotsa stuff many miles with an F100-F250's over the years. Many times it was a waaay to heavy load behind an F100 or F150 with a small block motor & auto trans.

[forrestbump]

...and give yourself alotta room for braking. Yup, even with disc brakes it can be a little scary. 4 wheel drum brakes...even more room.

[Kurt Combs]

I got to thinking about it after my post, and I believe most rental trailers have surge brakes, which should help. I will check with the rental company tomorrow to see what they have. Then all I have to worry about is the dreaded CHP pickup - he's the one who goes after truckers and those with trailers.....

[dirtwrench]

LOL, I have NO advice to help you out with the CHP guys. I know all my local cops really well here. And don't ask me about the Missouri HP guys.....

[mjhaltom]

Slow and steady wins the race, but even an injured F250 can handle that no sweat

[tmcalavy]

Should be a cakewalk as long as you do your pre-towing inspection...tires, fluids, coolant, wiring/trailer lights. Just take it slow and easy and keep the radiator topped off.

[1972hiboy]

Should be a cakewalk as long as you do your pre-towing inspection...tires, fluids, coolant, wiring/trailer lights. Just take it slow and easy and keep the radiator topped off.

Yes! Just do a good walk around, visually inspect, check your fluids. Even with surge brakes I find most rental companys dont keep them up to par. Just like what has been said here. You shouldnt have any trouble power/truck wise. Just use your head and keep a good following distance.

[Kurt Combs]

I am going down to the rental company now to reserve a trailer for tomorrow morning. I think they said $65 for the day. I will just go during non commute hours and take it easy. Thanks for all the votes of confidence, I'll think of you all as I am motoring down Highway 20 with a truck in tow!

[Swegner99]

Take some pictures, you know we are all picture whores

[Kurt Combs]

The dent is sitting in my driveway, all I have to do now is unload it. I was down to under 35 miles per hour on a couple of the hills, but I just kept the pedal to the metal and she pulled through. Sure would have been nice to have the 460 installed today! I would have to say that I was towing more than the truck was designed for and I wouldn't have want to stop fast. The rental company said their trailer was designed to for a gross weight of 10,000 lbs and I had around 9,500 behind me when the dent was on there. Their books said the dent should weigh about 4,400 dry and it only had about three gallons of fuel in it, their limit on the truck's weight was just under 5,000 lbs, trailer was a little over 5,000 lbs.

Man that dent sure looks nice, a little power wash and it would look really good. Too bad it needs $734 in back fees and a list of other things to put it on the road. Pictures have been taken, I just need to figure out how to re-size them, and then I will post.

[averagef250]

Put a storage or mechanics lien on it, it should negate the back fees.

What kind of car trailer weighs 5000 pounds? My trailer has a 21' deck and two 5" channel frames with the upper tilting, hydraulics, winch, 600 pounds of diamond plate up front and it weighs 3400.

Most car trailers weigh under 2500 pounds.

[Kurt Combs]

I think this one is designed to haul equipment such as tractors. That does sound high though doesn't it? And there are those who work in equipment rental yards who miss state things. The main thing was they had one to rent and they were Ok with me towing a truck on it, U-Haul wasn't.

[Kurt Combs]

Dustin, you are correct, it doesn't weigh 5,000 lbs. Here is the link to the trailer manufactures website page with specifications on the trailer. I am not certain where the rental yard came up with the numbers, but if you put 10,000 lbs on that trailer (their capacity rating) a F-250 with a 360 in it would have to be headed down hill to get it moving. God help you if wanted to stop it.

http://towmaster.com/trailers/trailers/ ... dt_t-12dt/

[flyboy2610]

I think this one is designed to haul equipment such as tractors. That does sound high though doesn't it? And there are those who work in equipment rental yards who miss state things. The main thing was they had one to rent and they were Ok with me towing a truck on it, U-Haul wasn't.

I knew from reading your previous posts that you weren't using U-(don't)-Haul. They don't really want anybody hauling anything on their trailers, unless they also rent you the truck to tow it with!!