Will it tow?

[Weldingman]

I have an 86 350 single cab dually with a 6.9 and T19. It’s bone stock and I’m probably sitting at around 8000lb curb weight with all my tools and welding machine. I might go buy an 85 250 idi 4x4 single cab with a plow. I’m guessing that truck will be around 5500-6000lbs curb weight. My question is you think my trucks got enough in it to tow that?

 

[chillman88]

Depends on what shape your truck is in. My crew cab weighs about 7600 or so and my trailer is around 2500. I've towed a 94 4x4 extended cab F250 without issue. I do not have a turbo.

It's not going to be fast, but should be plenty capable if it's in good shape.

 

[Weldingman]

Oh yeah she’s in great shape 54k miles on the original motor believe it or not.

 

[Shadetreemechanic]

Should not be an issue.

 

[Farmer Rock]

You shouldn't have any problems handling the load with your 1 ton, but it's gonna be slow if there are hills around.
I tow a 16ft flatbed and an old stock trailer with my 87 6.9 zf5 f250. Every single road here in Pa has rolling hills, and to be perfectly honest, unless you hit a grade at speed, you'll be disappointed. Starting on a long grade will keep you in 2nd gear for awhile.
I sure hope my crew cab does better with the turbo. I got some big trailers to tow come spring.




Rock

 

[Black dawg]

How heavy is your trailer?

 

[Weldingman]

Just a regular car trailer. 1500 maybe that’s just a guess.

 

[Old Goat]

You will be fine towing anything. You probably have 4:10 Diff.?
If my 86 F-250 6.9 T-19 4-spd 3:55 Diff could pull from sea level, to 8K ft and down here in NV at 5K ft and with way over 200K miles, you should be ok.
My biggest load was, 5 Mercedes 5 cyl engines, 6 MB Manual gear boxes, 1/2 dozen Differentials and other crap, plus my heavy ars home built Car Trailer with an 84 Mercedes 300SD Sedan plus it was fill up.
Slow? yeah, 2nd gear up the steep grades, maybe 25 mph. Made 22 trips moving all aur treasures out of Calif.
Over loaded? Naaa not us.
OH, and she is naturally exasperated,.....no Turbo.

You should be fine what ever you pull.

The picture in your avatar, that is a nice looking truck.

Goat

 

[Weldingman]

Thank you I forgot to mention it’s 3.55 gears which i know isn’t the best for towing but it is nice on the ear drums.

 

[ih8minimumwage]

3.55s do fine if the tires aren't too oversized. As others have said it will be slow going.
Heaviest I've towed was an RS5-19 forklift (9760lbs) on a Towmaster 12ft tilt trailer (3900lbs). It was a slow drive for sure (6.9NA, 4spd and 4.10s with 37s; so 3.55s), and glad I had the trailer brake controller!

 

[Weldingman]

I’m sure the truck will sell before Saturday that’s just my luck. But good to know it’s something that shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[Old Goat]

I didn`t know one tons came with 3:55 gears, unless it was a 250 switched over to dualy. ll---(O)---ll

Iam using 235/85/16" stock tires now. When I bought the truck it had 265`s. Don`t know what height they are.

Hauling that big load, that was the trip I lost the Vac pump.
Get into Placerville, Ca. (also known as Hang Town) an old 1849 Gold Rush town.
Pull in for a Burger at IN-N Out and for fuel. Peddle was hard as a brick.
Still had a long up hill climb to Echo Summit about 7500ft then a steep down grade about 1 1/2 miles towards Lake Tahoe.
Oh well we have Trailer Brakes we are good. At the Summit drop it into 2nd and it held us around 25 - 27 MPH only had to tap the brakes a couple times.

These old IDI Engines might be old and not up to todays standards, and people thumb their noses at them,But they will get you there.

I learned to drive on a 55 Chevy Step Side, 3 on the tree 1/2 ton PU. Stove Bolt 6. Thats a 6 cylinder straight 6 for you young guys.
That is what they used from the late 30`s to about 60 when Chevy put the first V8 in the PU`s.
Then the old Stove Bolt wasn`t any good. Not adequate enough.
Hey, this is what build America, along with the flat head 4 and 6 bangers, and flat head V8`s.

Now the old IDI 6.9, 420CI 150 HP or so, isn`t any good.
The new fire breathing monsters sitting in the show rooms today, with 500 HP and $50 - $75K won`t be up to the standards of the day 10 or 20 yrs down the road.

Load em up and drive them...


Goat