Advice on buying a pickup for towing a car/trailer.
 

Hey everyone.
I searched the website but couldn't really find what I was looking for.

I'm looking for a 93ish F-150 F-250 whatever.

I want to use it for trailering up my Stang to the track and possibly daily driving it also.

What are thing I should look for. I have really no experience with the truck stuff.

What engine should it have? That incline 6, 302 or 5.8?
manual or auto?

oil cooler?
tranny cooler?
what kind of tow equipment should it have?
2wd or 4wd?

Thanks guys,
Mike

For towing:

Weight is your friend.
Wheelbase is your friend.
Torque is your lifeline.

As a tow rig for a light car on an open trailer, almost any truck will do the job. An F250 will do it better than a 150, a long wheelbase will do it better than a short. 4WD is useful in muddy paddocks, etc. but doesn't help your towing ability in the slightest.

As to trannies, avoid the Mazdog 5 speed, the AOD and AODE like the plague. The ZF 5 speed used in the F250 and 350 and the E4OD will both do the job depending on your preference for manual or auto.

As to engines, the PSD would be your 1st choice but there are issues with used Deisels if the previous owner didn't pull the proper maintenance, the 460 is a close second, followed by the 351, 300 and 302 in that order.

You want at least 3.55 gears on any 150 and probably larger on a 250 due to the taller tires

So the F150 trannies are no good for towing? Do all F250's have the ZF 5 speed(better trany)? Is there a way to tell if an F150 would have this tranny?

This truck would be hooked up probably 10 times the most per year...and make a ~60 miles trip(each way) each of those days.

Okay..so the inline six 300 is better than the 302? ha I didn't know that!

2WD it is than!! Less stuff to deal with! ;)

Thanks for the help!!

I wouldn't necessarily say a 300 is better than a 302. My 90 f150 has a 302 and it has been through 158000 miles of hell and is still running strong. I would agree with StrangeRanger about the AODE, though. Mine is on its third rebuild. In regards to the engine, though, I would say they are about the same as far as overall quality.

The 300 is better than the 302 for towing, but the 302 is better for high rpms. The 300 reaches it's peak torque quicker than the 302, which is what you want for towing. The 300 will last twice as long as the 302, too. If you're new to towing, I'd recommend an automatic tranny.

Okay...I'll keep looking and pick up a truck in a few months!! Thanks!

back to lurkin....umm...learning. ;)

If you get a late F150 with a 300 or a 351 and an automatic, it will have the preferred E4OD. They only used the AODE with the 302 and not with all of them. If you have any doubt look for tranny code E on the vehicle ID sticker, that means E4OD. The E4OD improved continually throughout it's life, you really want a 95 or 96 for the best and most nearly bulletptroof version. If you're planning on ANY engine mods though, avoid the 96. It has OBD-II which is designed to be "tamper-resistant"

Great thanks!! :rocker:

If you do happen to go with an earlier version of the E4OD, make sure that the transmission is service regularly by a transmission specialist...I learned this the hard way...the previous owner took mine to a quick-lube to have the tranny fluid & filter changed...it was done incorrectly and the filter dropped, causing the transmission to overheat.

$1500 bucks later, I ended up with a beefed-up '96 spec E4OD with a shift kit. (I love it, but ouch...it hurt)

I would also strongly recommend a transmission cooler and the use of sythetic or a synthetic blend motor oil. Heat and friction are the enemy, esp. in a towing vehicle.

Regards,
Gary W.