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Looking at first trailer purchase
- Thread starter 71PA_Highboy
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- trailer
71PA_Highboy
An Unknown but Engorged Member
I have manual right now, but I have the '79 crossmember and PS box sitting here to convert.A 1980 F350 is a lot less truck than a highboy. No clue what they are rated at but I know mine would tow ~6k slowly with a Miller Big 40 in the back.
What does your 71 have for steering? My least favorite part of using my 71 was the manual steering.
As far as trailers for what you are doing and the truck you are pulling it with I bet a 10k is fine. There isn't really a downside to a 14k other than initial cost and replacement parts cost unless you are always towing big light stuff though.
Probably be a winter project....
Provience
Kill!
Exactly, the book doesn't rate them to anything
It's all meaningless and depends on the weather and speed. Claim ignorance if you end up over 26,000 lbs and somebody makes you stop
71PA_Highboy
An Unknown but Engorged Member
Exactly, the book doesn't rate them to anything
It's all meaningless and depends on the weather and speed. Claim ignorance if you end up over 26,000 lbs and somebody makes you stop
Doesn't GCVW mean the weight of the truck AND trailer loaded weight combined?
Provience
Kill!
Yes, GCWR.
But again, would you really limit your 5th combined weight to 600 lbs less than your rear hitch combined weight?
Those are just recommendations. Don't got 4.1 gears or an auto? No big deal, feel free to violate the book suggestions. That's all just ford looking to secure their 36,000 mile warranty
pinchegringo
Well-known member
They can call it whatever they want but a standard 5 lug axle has a 3500 pound rating and 6 lug is 5500.
That's 7k and 11k
My last 5 lug broke a spindle less than a year after I bought it and the tire/wheel/brake/axle shot off into the woods never to be seen again.
Usually loading one to max will eventually bend the axle a little and wear your tires,not break off completely.
I drug it to the closest trailer shop and bought a 6 lug.
That's 7k and 11k
My last 5 lug broke a spindle less than a year after I bought it and the tire/wheel/brake/axle shot off into the woods never to be seen again.
Usually loading one to max will eventually bend the axle a little and wear your tires,not break off completely.
I drug it to the closest trailer shop and bought a 6 lug.
This is a bad pic, but its a 14k trailer, it weighs 3500# two 7000# Dexter 8 lug axles under it, it has a long 6' tongue on it so it can be towed and jackknifed behind a dump truck. I haul a couple of Toyotas on it.
Not sure what you think a decent trailer weighs, or what you plan on towing, but you'll have your hands full towing two pieces of equipment.
Not sure what you think a decent trailer weighs, or what you plan on towing, but you'll have your hands full towing two pieces of equipment.
arse_sidewards
Red Skull Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
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- 71
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- 8,552
The old man nostalgia is strong with this one.
The 1980 generation was an upgrade in everything but the axles and powertrain options that were carried over and in those cases it was a lateral move.
You'd have to be comparing a big block 70s truck to a 300/302 80s truck to reach that conclusion.
Exactly. Ratings back then were basically the fine print that went with the warranty claim. They expected you to know what you were doing.
speed bump
Red Skull Member
The old man nostalgia is strong with this one.
The 1980 generation was an upgrade in everything but the axles and powertrain options that were carried over and in those cases it was a lateral move.
You'd have to be comparing a big block 70s truck to a 300/302 80s truck to reach that conclusion.
Exactly. Ratings back then were basically the fine print that went with the warranty claim. They expected you to know what you were doing.
Nah, I've owned or had as a work truck most major iterations of the F250 or 350 from 71 on and the early 80s ones are a step backwards compared to the 70s trucks when it comes to using them as work trucks. Past 86 or so those are absolutely better trucks than a highboy though.
Provience
Kill!
While I agree early 80s is the low water mark, the owners manual suggested "ratings" aren't much changed and are pretty ridiculous low for what everybody does with them