Hi again guys I have a MAJOR problem I need advice on

My wife owns a 2008 F150 4.6L Auto its the one with the full front doors and half doors that open backwards for the back seat, ok, my oldest son ( we'll call him Einstein) goes to Zebulon NC and pays a guy $700 for a 1989 F150 4x4 with a 5 speed manual, I made it run but it went about 20 miles before he blew the motor, now it sprays for mosquitoes worse than a C130 and goes about a mile before it just shuts off.....Anyway I have access to a friends tow dolly, if I turn the overdrive off on my wife's 08 and put the 89 in N with the transfer case in N will the 08 pull it from Rocky Mount to Northampton County, without trashing the Wife's 08? I know I cant go over 45 mph, I know to avoid hills, I'm 55 years old so over the years I have learned that those idiot gauges on the dash are there for a reason ( learned that the hard way with a Chevy). I need to get this thing to my barn so I can see exactly whats what and tell him what he needs to go buy for dear old dad to bail him out (again)
Like I said I DO NOT want ANY damage to the 2008 F150, its in almost perfect condition

 

Your wife's truck will tow the 89 F-150 with no issue. I would skip the tow dolly and get a full car trailer from U-Haul or similar. It doesn't cost much more than the 2-wheel dolly, and you can avoid the whole truck and transfer case in neutral problem. Her truck is a Supercab rated to tow between 6,100 - 7,000lbs depending on her gearing/wheelbase/4x4/etc. See page 17 of this document if you want more specific detail, but you'll be fine. No need to keep it under 45mph, but I'd stay under 65mph for safety.

2008 Ford Towing Guide

 

Just put the rear wheels on the tow dolly and you will do fine.

 

Thank you that helps a lot, now can I use the bumper mount or do I need to install a hitch? Because all I currently have is a class one trailer and I just put a 1 7/8" on the bumper

 

I would not tow that heavy with a bumper ball. You need a Class 3 frame hitch with a 2" ball. I also would not use a dolly.

 

Yea I cant even get a tow dolly around here, because the 08 dosn't have a hitch, and to get a class three requires an online order since nobody around here sells them, U haul in Conway SAYS they sell them, but if y call Flythe Brothers they have to order it too, so why not order the thing myself?

 

If you want to order one and install it yourself, look at etrailer.com.

Rent a trailer from U-Haul, not a dolly.

 

I just looked at where the truck is and where you are - get a quote for a tow. It may be cheaper than buying a hitch and renting a trailer. It could be as cheap as $125.

 

*Cough Cough* -- I've used my roadside assistance to have things towed to my house.... Your scenario is actually more legit than some of the stuff I've done too. It was once running and it technically left you on the side of the road.

 

Depending on the distance you need to tow it, a 2" ball on the bumper would technically work (it's rated @ 5000lbs, 500lbs hitch weight), but I certainly wouldn't recommend it. U-Haul may not even let you have the trailer if you don't have a proper Class III/IV hitch. Hitches are fairly cheap insurance in that department.

 

Nope, the truck and trailer is over 5000#. Truck is at least 3700# and a U-Haul trailer is 2200#.

Considering you don't have that far to go, you could probably get away with a dolly, but the truck may be a bit too big for a dolly.

 

Last night my son was quoted 250

 

If I can get it here I can rebuild it for him easy enough, its just a 302, nothing complicated problem is he doesn't have the money to pay a tow truck or even buy a A frame for the front
as it stands right now he made a $700 mistake. He had to have this 8 foot bed lifter F150 that's not gonna get the best gas mileage after passing over a showroom condition, garage kept 2002 Ranger with a 2.3 for 650, but I wont go there cause hes kicking himself in the rear enough now since when we left Zebulon there wasn't anything wrong, I'd have bought it too engine replacement or not. but then again I'm a shade tree mechanic that quit working on cars 20 years ago, hes a 2 year professional parts changer at a local Ford dealer

 

If he works at a Ford dealer, he should try to see what they can do for him about a tow. $250 is on the high side.

A Class 3 Draw-Tite is $120 from etrailer, free shipping. A drawbar is $20-$30 at U-Haul where you can measure what drop you need. A 2" ball is around $10. A trailer is $55 for one day. That's close to $250 right there when you figure a round trip in gas. Sure, you will then have a real hitch on the truck, but do you really NEED it in the future?

 

I would just pay for the tow. A tow driver with proper insurance, just in case something happens. You could have already had it towed home, by the time everything you order comes in the mail.