My dad has a friend with a 78 F100 that is in decent shape and will sell for $500. My dad and I plan to purchase the truck together as an extra vehicle for when my sisters vehicle breaks down and as a tow vehicle for my 69 Barracuda.

The truck is an 78 F100 Ranger Lariat shortbed auto with a 302 V8 but only highway gears.

Our plan right now if we were to purchase the vehicle is to put 4 barrel intake, carb, and change out gearing to around 3.90 rear end ratio. Is there anything else that would need done to make the truck able to tow a 3200lb car with around a 1500lb trailer, both car and trailer weights are over estimated.

Thank you for your help.

Jason

I forgot to mention that we are in the flatlands of Northern Ohio so no hills really to consider. I have plans to move out of Ohio possibly to Omaha, NE with little hills and would like a truck that could make the trip.

 

Howdy and welcome!

I've pulled with my F-100 for fun just to see how 2.90ish gear and a 2bbl carb would do.





I'm guessing 2-3000 lbs, and not that fast even on the flat. A regear would be needed to pull heavier, but I have better tow rig choices.

Next thing is braking.

I've pulled pretty good weight with the '74, and while the motor has no problems pulling, stopping is kinda "fun".



Make sure you have good trailer brakes, and install a trailer brake controller.

'79 with a 351, C6, and a 4.30 rear gear will pull the world around backwards, and prolly could stall out my '08 hooked back to back.



Either way, 500 is a great baron for a running truck to have fun with. You don't need a big diesel king ranch lariat $75K dually tow rig to pull with style.

Adrianspeeder

 

Thanks for the help. I forgot to say trailer brake controler was in the mix as my trailer does have brakes.

Let me ask this. With the truck mentioned above what would I need to pull 5000lbs?

Is a cam change neccesary? Like I said the regear and 4 barrel swap is planned.