I'm looking for experiences towing with a manually equipped truck. I know that these units are rated for considerably less than an automatic equipped unit, and I've read different reasons for that (warranty issues, weak clutches, weak input shafts, weak gears, etc), but i'd like to hear some actual experiences with towing with these transmissions. I'm not too worried about being too hard on the clutch, i've had a fair bit of experience with taking it easy on them (former truck driver), and when i did my engine swap i inspected the clutch, and was satisfied with the condition i found it in. I ran a search on here about this topic, but almost all the threads i found were very old, and had very little actual feedback. I figure now that these things have been around for well over a decade, theres probably alot more experience floating around out there!

Specs:
1998 supercab
M5 transmission
5.4 swap (2001 engine)
3.55 non-ls rear end
31" tires

Thanks guys.

 

How's this. Haha I have towed and pulled with mine a lot. I seem to have a trailer behind mine most of the time. But I have had zero problems with mine when towing. You'll be easier with yours cause I have a 4.6 but the rest was the same for me. If you have any specific questions or anything else you wanna know just ask me. Hopw this helps.

 

How'd you manage to mate a M5OD to a 5.4L?

The M5OD works excellent for me, but I have a V6. Simple dual-axle pop-up camper up the mountains for about 6-8 years straight. Just take it nice and easy, my main concern would be the engine killing it, not the weight.

 

The 4.6, 5.4, and 6.8 all have the same bolt pattern for transmissions.

 

JMC has an excellent write up for the swap here: https://www.f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=355403&highlight=swap+notes
It isn't a terribly difficult swap to do if you have some mechanical inclination, and a good place to work in. The added power is what mainly concerns me as well, the new engine has 85lbs torque over the old one, and makes it 1000 rpm lower. I was regularly towing a 3500 lb boat with the old one, as well as a single axle utility trailer, but I'd like to buy a tandem flatbed to haul construction materials on, as well as the occasional small vehicle (twin 3500's, so 7000lbs max). If I wear out the clutch prematurely its not a big deal, I mainly just don't want to be breaking tranny's, or become stranded with it. Thanks everyone for your replies, and keep em coming!
P.S- that picture is the kind of thing I like to see

 

Need to balance that load... or add air shocks for a level pull

 

If you have a 5.4, that's hard enough on a M5OD all by itself. You may want to look into a ZF swap.

 

Yea I know I was pissed at the guy who loaded it. Said he pulls trailers for a living. I highly doubt that with how he loaded it.

 

I have a auto.. But when purchased a tahoe for a quick flip everybody looked at me like you dont know how to load a trailer.. But my truck stayed level....

 

i would have backed the truck on to the trailer so the weight balanced out better over the double axel

 

In that pic, even if the (trailered) truck was back more toward the first side rail support bar would have been better than it is (was). Sure, the bed of the truck would hang out a little but why work the pulling vehicle more than it needs to?

 

I know. That's where I wanted it. Back farther to get some weight off the tongue. But it pulled fine like that. Only went like 20 miles.

 

i have a 93 f250 2wd 5 speed 302 v8 i have hauled pretty much every thing with a 5 speed the fallowing are some pics of what i have hauled the only advice i can give you is be care full dont smoke a clutch if you do you will be done

(notice where the rear axle is)

the trailer the sled's are on is the top picture

 

You sure your F-250 doesn't have a ZF?

 

Zf?