Towing With a 1974 Ford F100

[melprice]

What is the largest trailer I could tow with my 1974 Ford F100.

I currently have a '72 Trade Wind but haven't towed it yet. It's situated in a campsite for the Summer .

[Action]

Welcome to the Forum!

To better answer your q, need more data.

Engine size?

Trans- auto or stick?

Axle ratio - This will be on a tag on the inside of the drivers door along with the vin under a box marked AX. It will give a code and I can get a translation. Or easier (for me anyway) the ratio will be on a metal tag bolted to the axle housing.

And did the truck come with factory air?

With the above data I an give you what the truck was rated to pull in 1974. There are other factors that can have some effect on the rating such as; condition of the drivetrain and any modifications to the truck. A 1974 fullsize truck can be a stout puller. It is a 100 however, Ford (and most manufactures) overbuilt vehicles back then.

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[melprice]

Thanks,

It's going to take me a couple of days to gather this info.

As Arnold said "I'll be back"

What did you mean by:
>It is a 100 however, Ford (and most manufactures) overbuilt vehicles back then.

What did the 100 signify and by overbuilt do you mean they made things more powerful than they needed too? Are you saying this is a good thing?

[melprice]

I have the required information (I think).

The truck is a 302 V8.
Axle ratio is 3.25
3 gear stick
No air

Thanks.

[Action]

M,

What I meant by "It's a 100" is that it is a 1/2 ton pick up. The lowest rated in the line up vs: 200 (3/4) or 300 (1 ton). My guess right from the hip is it will tow 4000 #'s. I do have the tow limits that Ford published for 1974. However it is in storage. I will get it out and email it back out.

Also note (as previously mentioned) Ford and most maunfactures had a lot more margin built in the trucks that they manufactured back then. What I mean is that the trucks are built different now. Now the frame is differenat for every model. Back then most suspension components were developed for the most extreme use. Then smaller models of the same truck had smaller engines and trans. So the small truck could take some of the use of a larger rated truck, because some of the components were the same.

Long story short what ever rating that I find your truck most likely it was designed to tow more. That is assuming your truck is in excellant mechanical condition!

Other comments: a manual trans is not the best trans to tow a load. There is no way to cool it like an automatic and to multiply torque one needs to slip the clutch. Not the best for a stick. And clutches were much bigger back then. Not having A/C means you have a smaller radiator. Again something (coolant temps) to watch if you are at the limits of towing.

I will look it up.

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[Action]

I was not able to find my 1974 data in my storage unit. I have it cause I used to have a 1974 Ford. I will have to dig a little deeper. I did find specs on 1976 and 1978 and I am listing those below. I am now very interested in the data for 1974 vs these years. 1974 was the first year for emmissions for light trucks, and 1976 the standards got more intense.

Based on what I have so far.

Ford F 100 4X2 regular cab either wheel base (there are 2)
and given the trans - the towing limit is 2000#'s

Requires tongue load not to exceed 200#'s

I will find my 1974 and see the differences.

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[melprice]

Wow,

2000 lb is low, I guess I won't be taking my '72 Trade Wind for a jaunt around the block until I win the lottery.

[masseyfarm]

Came across this and the Chevy 1/2 ton, short box, seems to handle this trailer with no problem. And the trailer is not empty??????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...3FVFhEXxA8#t=2


Dave

Originally Posted by melprice

Wow,

2000 lb is low, I guess I won't be taking my '72 Trade Wind for a jaunt around the block until I win the lottery.

[overlander63]

I think after twelve years, he's probably got his problem taken care of.

[Colin H]

Originally Posted by overlander63

I think after twelve years, he's probably got his problem taken care of.

Maybe not , I still have my 75 F100 pick up, but haven't tried to tow with it yet.
Colin

[pappy19]

Call Andy at CanAm and I'll bet he could fix it to tow anything. He's the Man!!

[perryg114]

The brakes on those old trucks were scary.

Perry

[Colin H]

Originally Posted by perryg114

The brakes on those old trucks were scary.

Perry

Yeah, mine has drums all around & no boost
Colin

[perryg114]

I think the drums were better than the disk brakes. We had a 76 F350 and it had disks but the brakes were still crap. I had a 92 F350 and it had the same crappy brakes. My Excursion has good brakes though. My 68 Dodge van had drums but at least you could lock them up if you had to.

Perry

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by perryg114

I think the drums were better than the disk brakes. We had a 76 F350 and it had disks but the brakes were still crap. I had a 92 F350 and it had the same crappy brakes. My Excursion has good brakes though.

but the mass of the Ex make it hard to stop... "The brakes are huge four wheel ventilated discs at each corner with standard antilock. Pedal feel was strong and linear. Stopping this much mass is going to take some distance, but the brakes were fade free and powerful. Figure stopping distances in 60-0 panic stops to be 20 percent greater than your average family sedan."

For the Ex 60 to 0 braking distance is 167'. Our car does it in less than 120'

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by melprice

I have the required information (I think).

The truck is a 302 V8.
Axle ratio is 3.25
3 gear stick
No air

Thanks.

I had a 1970 Mustang.
It had a 4v 302 V8
3.50 gears (31 spline nodular 9") HD truck rear end
4 speed top loader stick
No air.

I suspect the Mustang from that era would make a better TV than the F100 pickup.

[slowmover]

The steering, not just brakes, would rule it out, IMO.

[r carl]

A Galaxy 500 with a 390 would be a better tv.

[perryg114]

All large trucks are going to be harder to stop. I do know that my Ex handles better than a pickup because the weight distribution is MUCH better. It will always take longer to stop something of more mass. This is one of Newton's laws. It is not a flaw of the Ex. I will still take a big truck over a touring egg and that is just my personal preference. My Ex will be on the road when the eggs all have cracked shells.

The old Fords with disk brakes did not have brakes good enough to stop the wheels from moving so the mass was a secondary issue. They did not have enough boost.

Perry

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

but the mass of the Ex make it hard to stop... "The brakes are huge four wheel ventilated discs at each corner with standard antilock. Pedal feel was strong and linear. Stopping this much mass is going to take some distance, but the brakes were fade free and powerful. Figure stopping distances in 60-0 panic stops to be 20 percent greater than your average family sedan."

For the Ex 60 to 0 braking distance is 167'. Our car does it in less than 120'