ok i have a 97 ford f150 extended cab with a 4.2 V6 and 5 speed manual tranny, with 185000 miles on original clutch. in the mornings when it is cold after i let it warm for a few mintues when i take off, letting the clutch out into 1st gear the truck shakes much like an 18 wheeler does when he is trying to get moving, but i don't have 30 tons on my back. i thought mabe clutch fluid was low but it is ok, my driving is right has 185K on her, any ideas? Also if anyone knows the towing limit on a 4.2 and a 5 speed plz tell me can't find it on truck plz email me

 

Could be a slave cyclinder going bad. My dad had the same problem on his truck and it was the slave cyclinder. The tow rating is 3500. But many (including myself) have towed more, just be gentle...which it sounds like you are with 185,000 on one clutch.

 

That sorta sounds like maybe a weak pressure plate? My 88 when it was cold the clutch would get really stiff and you could see that the pedal would come up from the floor noticeably slower than normal (makes it a challenge to bang gears fast!). If that is the case with yours it may be slowing down enough that the pressure plate is in that range where it cant decide if it is in or out longer. The older and weaker they get the bigger that range is.

My $0.02

Mike