Posted 2007-01-01 5:39 AM (#53104) Subject: 1985 F-250?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 954 Location: Hagerstown, MD
I'm sure someone has this info at their fingertips and I could use some help. I have a 1985 F-250 ext/cab 4X4 diesel longbed with no owners manual and the sticker in the door jam is missing so I don't have much technical info on this truck. I need the following:
empty weight (guessing 4400)
gross weight (guessing 8800)
gross combination weight rating (have no clue)
I'm really concerned how much I can legally tow with this truck so the DOT guys don't have a "field day" with me on the side of the road with one of my "loaded" trailers behind me. I get stopped pretty frequently for safety inspections and off road fuel tests. So far I've been pretty lucky each time I've been stopped and they haven't bothered to pull the scales out to see how much I'm hauling. (whew)
Posted 2007-01-01 9:27 AM (#53108 - in reply to #53104) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Expert
Posts: 1283 Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey
Man you have the worst luck, "you get stopped frequently" I have been pulling trailers all over the southeast for going on 20 years I haven't been stopped one time for anything. As far as the weights go every state is going to be different according to how you are registered and tagged. Commercial tags on a pick-up are just that, here in Kentucky you could put 6000lb-14,000 tags on it commercial plus what the trailer is tagged for, or you could put farm tags on it and last I was told with farm tags you could weigh 34,000lbs. truck and trailer. The funny thing is I see 4 door dually trucks tagged everyday with 6000 lb. tags on them the truck will weigh over 7,000 empty. Don't ever see any of that being enforced.
Posted 2007-01-01 12:30 PM (#53118 - in reply to #53108) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 954 Location: Hagerstown, MD
It is kind of weird. I've got stopped more in the last 2 years than I have in the last 20! Like I said, I've been lucky so far, but I'm waiting for a DOT guy to nail really good with something. I try really hard not to give them a reason to stop me. Happy trails.
Posted 2007-01-01 1:53 PM (#53122 - in reply to #53104) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316 Location: Illinois
For a manual you could try Ford. I was able to purchase a brand new manual for my 1994 GMC from them for less than they sell them on eBay. Don't know, but would think you could do the same with Ford I'd think. Beyond that, couldn't tell you.
Posted 2007-01-06 12:16 PM (#53409 - in reply to #53104) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316 Location: Illinois
How many '85 Fords do you think are still out there and running? Oh common it's a joke. Good luck finding the info you need, but did you try Ford or don't they remember either?
Posted 2007-01-07 5:31 PM (#53468 - in reply to #53104) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Member
Posts: 45
According to the owners manual for 1985 trucks (which should be very close to 1986) the rating is by transmission and rearend gear ratio. Manual transmission 3.07 ratio: 9000 GCWR. 3.54 ratio: 13,000 GCWR. 4.10 ratio: 14,000 GCWR. Add 1,000 lbs. to the 3.54 and 4.10 if you have a T-19 wide ratio transmission. Automatic transmission 3.07 ratio:10,500 GCWR. 3.54 ratio: 12,000 GCWR. 4.10ratio: 14,000 GCWR. An automatic transmission cooler is "required" for over 13,000 GVWR. And while the chart does not go over 14,000 GCWR there is a note stating that stabilizer bars front and rear and hitch equalizing bars are "required" over 17,400 GCWR for SRW 4X2. Heavy duty shocks are "required" for fifth wheel towing. The chart does not mention 4X2 or 4X4 so it would seem to cover all trucks. It is broken down by engine and transmision only. I posted only the 6.9L info. Hope this helps.
Above info came from dieselstop forum post. I think that truck is a lot closer around 6,000lbs empty. other sites gave 8700 gvwr for that truck. Hope info helps.
Posted 2007-01-07 5:46 PM (#53469 - in reply to #53468) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
Try looking inside the door on the drivers side all that stuff should be there along with codes for the rearend. You can also call your local Ford dealer and either the guy that does all the stuff for service should be able to tell you. If it isn't too far go down there and look someone in the eye they can tell you take your VIN # Sorry didn't see you said the sticker is missing but all that info is embedded in the Vin
Posted 2007-01-07 8:02 PM (#53476 - in reply to #53104) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Regular
Posts: 50 Location: Colorado
Originally written by deranger on 2007-01-01 4:39 AM
I get stopped pretty frequently for safety inspections and off road fuel tests.
Gee deranger, I was going to say... well, er... if you were a woman, maybe you were being flirted with. Then you mentioned your wife and so that took care of that idea. Grin. Or maybe you look cute there driving along in your truck anyway. JUST kidding!!!
So what is an off road fuel test all about? I've never heard of that one.
Hope you can get the info you're looking for on your truck.
Posted 2007-01-07 8:51 PM (#53479 - in reply to #53104) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
An off road fuel test involves checking your tank to make sure you are not using red diesel fuel. This diesel will run the same in your trucks. However, it is intended for off road vehicles--- mainly farm equipment around here. It is not taxed as much and will get you a hefty fine if you are using it on a vehicle that is driven on the road. They will conduct one of these in the middle of our town about once a year to try and catch the farmers that are using this out of their own tanks in their trucks.
Posted 2007-01-08 6:36 AM (#53499 - in reply to #53468) Subject: RE: 1985 F-250?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 954 Location: Hagerstown, MD
lostinohio, that's exactly the info that I was looking for. On one of the earlier posts, the info stated that I should just make sure that the tags have the right weight rating on them for truck and trailer. With the info you have given me, I guess that would be true, but I just wanted to make sure I was headed in the right direction so I could stay out of trouble with the long arm of the law.
Someone else suggested that all the info I'm looking for is embedded in the VIN #. I'm going to try to get the VIN # deciphered so that I have a better idea of what I'm dealing with in the future.
By the way, the truck still has a 6.9L diesel in it, but I modified the tranny to a late model ZF 5spd last Fall and that made a huge difference in the way that truck performs. Next big mode I'm thinking about doing is adding a turbo. That should really put some life back into that truck.
1985 F-250?
Don't know, but would think you could do the same with Ford I'd think. Beyond that, couldn't tell you. 
Oh common it's a joke. Good luck finding the info you need, but did you try Ford or don't they remember either? 
