Posted 2005-10-14 11:49 AM (#31757) Subject: help my trusty 86 F150
Veteran
Posts: 113 Location: Lyons Oregon
I love my old red truck and want to make sure it is a safe towing vehicle. I bought it new in 1986. It is an F150 with a 302 V-8 manual 4 speed transmission. I think it is rated to pull 7,800 but I'm not sure. When I bought it, I added an electronic trailer brake controller. I just bought an ez-lift hitch stabilizer hitch. I've fallen hard for a 1989 Kiefer 2-h straight load with dressing room that weighs 2944lbs. Can I? Should I ad anything else to my truck? I read somewhere that it would need an oil cooler or something added to the radiator. I want to be safe. I have pulled a two horse trailer with one horse in it but it was a lighter trailer without a dressing room. I don't want to break my old pal with more then it can haul. I don't tow often but I would like to be able to be confident when I do.
Posted 2005-10-14 12:40 PM (#31762 - in reply to #31757) Subject: RE: help my trusty 86 F150
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
I would think you are ready to go! The oil cooler is for automatic transmissions. Is it the 4speed overdrive or the 4speed with granny low 1st? The 4 speed with the granny low would be better.
Posted 2005-10-14 2:05 PM (#31769 - in reply to #31762) Subject: RE: help my trusty 86 F150
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Kansas City
Originally written by xyzer on 2005-10-14 12:40 PM
I would think you are ready to go! The oil cooler is for automatic transmissions. Is it the 4speed overdrive or the 4speed with granny low 1st? The 4 speed with the granny low would be better.
Though I would suppose you are guessing correctly, transmission coolers are made for automatic transmissions. The do make engine oil coolers which I have seen people use to cool the engine oil.
Posted 2005-10-14 3:28 PM (#31772 - in reply to #31769) Subject: RE: help my trusty 86 F150
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Originally written by barry on 2005-10-14 12:05 PM
"Though I would suppose you are guessing correctly, transmission coolers are made for automatic transmissions. The do make engine oil coolers which I have seen people use to cool the engine oil."
I wasn't guessing ... I was assuming the post thought they needed a transmision cooler for a manual transmision. You are right... and I am aware of it, but I wouldn't consider an engine oil cooler part of a basic trailer tow package. Haven't seen one yet on a factory tow package...
Posted 2005-10-16 2:53 PM (#31819 - in reply to #31772) Subject: RE: help my trusty 86 F150
Location: La.
My 97 F350 (gas) came from the factory with the tow package and engine oil cooler. I pulled that truck hard most of the 150,000 miles I put on it and I believe that was one of the things that kept it in tip top shape. It didn't burn a drop of oil. Getting back to the original post, if the truck is a long wheelbase I don't think it would be a problem. If it is a short wheelbase I would give it a good hard look. Just my .02
Posted 2005-10-16 8:01 PM (#31829 - in reply to #31757) Subject: RE: help my trusty 86 F150
Regular
Posts: 99 Location: Florida/Georgia
My beloved 1988, F-150 Extended cab pulled 7500lbs ( click below ) on a regular basis in flatland Florida and parts of Georgia. It had a 302ci,4spd automatic (Metric ) tranny with factory tow package (3:55LS rear, extra tranny cooler,frt/rear swaybars & extra capacity radiator. 1000lb WD hitch was a must with that weight. When I finally sold her she had 190k on the speedo and was still running strong.
Posted 2005-10-17 9:33 PM (#31889 - in reply to #31772) Subject: RE: help my trusty 86 F150
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
My 2003 ram 1500 came from the factory with a transmission cooler and an oil cooler. It also has a HUGE radiaitor, a plug under the dash for the brake controler and a fuse space (no fuse, I guess those cost to much to supply) for an aux trailer wire.
Posted 2005-10-19 12:15 PM (#31994 - in reply to #31757) Subject: RE: help my trusty 86 F150
Veteran
Posts: 113 Location: Lyons Oregon
My truck is the manual 4 with granny low. Newer may be flashier and have many advantages but my old truck has been been well maintained by one owner and it's paid for! I don't haul often, but I want to be safe when I do. You guys helped me make my decision. What I've done is retire my truck to be my tow vehicle (I'll look into getting an oil cooler). I bought a lightly used honda cr-v to run around in. So instead of a new truck-- I have two used vehicles and no payments. I'm just not sure of how much I can tow... Thanks for all the help!
help my trusty 86 F150
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