Getting ready to tow; or how big is the axel?

[Handegard]

Find out tonight, on mystery rear-end theater! I bought a 1985 F250 awhile back. It had been used to tow in the past. The last owner told me the first owner towed a very large trailer, and I'm all set up with a trailer brake and bed wiring for a camper. How much would this be rated for stock? Now, up next, my moms mechanic looked at my truck, and he thought my rear-end was a little beefed up. How can ID a Dana-this and a 10.25"-that, etc? He said it looked like I had a "floating" rear end and brakes, what is this? I might be getting a 5th wheel camper shortly, if I can haul it. I won't find out the weight of the trailer until I go out of town on the 7th, and I'd like to bring it back if I can. Thanks, the boards are awesome and I'm going to bombard you with questions (up next I ask how to wire in my dual battery system *yay*)

[Handegard]

Bump!

Help! I want my 5th wheel!

Its a 27'er BTW...

[MitchF150]

If you have the 460 and 4.10 gears, you should be ok for the most part. If it's only the 351, it might be a little slow, but should still be able to handle the pin weight.

As long as your rear axle has the large hub sticking out of it, then it's a 'full floater'. Just means it has 2 sets of bearings per wheel and it's better then a 'semi floater' rear end.... (there is more to it then that, but that's all you need to know, really... )

If the trailer weighs in at around #7000-#8000, then you should be ok. Still not going to run with a diesel, but it'll handle the payload just fine.

Mitch

[APT]

You want us to tell you a 21yr old truck we haven't seen can safely tow 7000+ pounds? If that mechanic checks everything out, then that's fine. But there are way too many wear and tear items that I'd look at before towing more than a couple thousand pounds.

[MitchF150]

Well sure.... I figured that's just part of the deal.....

I guess when someone is asking what kind of axle they have, then I guess the above part should not be just 'assumed' either....

My Dad still has his 1971 F250 that he bought brand new in 1970 and it's still a strong 'farm truck'. It's life had been hauling slide in campers and towing #6000 trailers for most of it's 'glory days' of life, plus being his daily driver. When it got retired in 1985 and was just the 'farm truck', it still had to haul the mulch, firewood, horse poo and whatever other nasty stuff Dad didn't want to load in his second new truck at the time.

Anyway, that '85 should still be ok, assuming it was maintained along the way.

His drive train combo is going to be the most limiting factor, but since we don't know what that is yet, it's only a guess!

Mitch

[Handegard]

Sorry all, I should have mention I had a 460, C6, with a 8500lb GVWR and I've learned I have a 10.25" rear

[markclement]

All I can tell you is that I tow a 12,500lb 5th wheel with my 97 F250 H/D, 460ci. I have had no problems and I drag that trailer through the dunes on the beach every week. My only problem is that my truck came with 3.55 gears and 35" tires. It likes to tow at 60 - 65.

Mark

[Zaairman]

Originally Posted by markclement

All I can tell you is that I tow a 12,500lb 5th wheel with my 97 F250 H/D, 460ci. I have had no problems and I drag that trailer through the dunes on the beach every week. My only problem is that my truck came with 3.55 gears and 35" tires. It likes to tow at 60 - 65.

Mark

Mark, I told you I'll trade you trucks anyday!

[markclement]

LOL. Hey how are you? How is that Slick truck of your's doing? Hope all is well. The weather is getting better. Get it out there and show it off.

Mark

[Zaairman]

It's dirty as hell, it's been raining here for the past 3 weeks. But I did buy a boat, so now I've got that to show off too! I've almost got everything the way I want it, I just need to put in a stereo and a few other minor things.