Tow rating on a 1/2 ton

[67fastbackFE]

What is the tow rating of a '68 to '72 2wd half ton (F100/150) short bed? I'm interested in getting one of these trucks and am not familiar with the engine/trans combos for these years. I'm a big NEWBIE to these trucks but I think they are sweet. Can I pull an open trailer with a car on it on a road trip (moving). It would not be a common occurence but if I needed to do it once in a while would it stand up to the job? thanks

[67F250CS]

Many combinations of engines and transmissions on these trucks.
Also many types of spring packs and rear end ratios.

I have not met one truck from this era that had trouble pulling its own weight plus.
The sixes are strong and will pull fine on mostly flat ground. Maybe a little struggle up hills. The V8 has a bit more pulling power but again up hills you slow a little.
Look at your tounge weight and see if you can bumper pull or if you should invest in an underframe hitch with receiver. Also check for good tires for the load range you need

Im sure someone here will be more helpful with the numbers.

[FORDification]

That's exactly what I intend to do with my F100, once it's finished....that is, semi-regular towing of a car trailer with my '67 442 on it. The F100 frame is only .030" thinner steel than the F250 frame, so it'll handle almost anything the bigger truck can do. However, I AM also putting some slightly heavier springs in the back to handle the extra load. Between that and some good-quality light-truck tires with a decent load rating and there's no reason you can do some occasional towing with an F100.

...and as 67F250CS suggested, I'd definitely go with a receiver hitch, as opposed to trusting the step bumper. It'll spread out a load just a bit more on the frame, plus have the added benefit of tying the two sides together a bit, for a little additional frame support.

[67fastbackFE]

thanks a lot for the info

[hardtailjohn]

Or even better yet, go for a gooseneck style hitch and trailer. Much safer, and you can safely carry more of a load. Once you pull one, you'll never want to pull a "regular" style trailer again!
John H.

[greenbank]

If you set up for gooseneck, I assume you can remove the stuff in the bed to use it for normal hauling? Any photos of what a gooseneck setup looks like in the bed?

[67F250CS]

You have a cuople of options here. I towed a 40 foot RV cross country with the REESE style hitch. Most horse trailers or car haulers have the "Goosneck style" A few photos are included. You only need to look at what type of trailer you are using to determine wich hitch you'll need.

[71Ford100]

You're nuts if you put a gooseneck on a new f 150 let alone a f100 (even though it is a FORD). That would be something (no offense) a city slicker would do. It would be hard on it and where I come from you would be the laughing stock of the town. I would go for a 250 for a gooseneck. Trust me on this I have (okay my dad has) pulled a 24 FT gooseneck all over the country.

[hardtailjohn]

Well Lance,
You'd be surprised at what can be done with a 1/2 ton... we've ranched here for almost 75 years on this place and never had more than a half ton pickup... unless you use a truck. There's nothing wrong with a gooseneck on a half ton, and it's way safer than a bumper pull... they're just talking about pulling a car trailer, and that's about all.
I've owned a trucking company for almost 26 years now, and have hauled loads from one sack of feed to over 200 tons... nothing wrong with the half tons.. too many people think ya gotta have something big to haul anything.
John H.

[72hiboy4x4]

I gotta go with hardtailjohn on this one. There is nothing wrong with a 1/2 ton toting/towing a load, and I would rather have a gooseneck on a 1/2 ton than a bumper pull trailer any day.

that being said, I use my 1 ton dually to pull my car trailer. nothing says overkill like that! My 1/2 ton is just for the smaller loads, but even it has air springs in the rear to help keep the front end on the ground.

You're nuts if you put a gooseneck on a new f 150 let alone a f100 (even though it is a FORD). That would be something (no offense) a city slicker would do. It would be hard on it and where I come from you would be the laughing stock of the town. I would go for a 250 for a gooseneck. Trust me on this I have (okay my dad has) pulled a 24 FT gooseneck all over the country.

edit: Oh Boy! there were so many things I wanted to say about this post, I just couldn't decide where to start, so to keep the peace, I deleted my comments.

[hardtailjohn]

Me too....

Greenbank, my goose neck ball just threads through the bed into a plate that's attached to the frame. When not using the ball, I keep a bolt in the hole, or a rubber plug, so I can still use the bed of the pickup for anything that I would normally. It's a bit more hassle to set up that way, but I've done dozens that way and it's worth it! My trailer light plug is in the inside of the box wall on the left front, so it's out of the way as well. If the ball's not in, you don't really notice that anything is there. I'm going to go the same way on my HALF TON 4x4 that I own now... it's soooo much safer than a bumper or equalizer hitch pull type trailer!!!!
John H.

[greenbank]

John,

Thanks for the info. We have two trailer in our future, a horse trailer and a car trailer. I have neither now, and now am thinking gooseneck. The only real disadvantage I can think of would be perhaps less space to put stuff in the bed while hauling a trailer.

[hardtailjohn]

Actually, you'll be amazed at how much you get in there when you've got the trailer on!! I pull a gooseneck horse trailer alot as well as a flat bed and still throw lots in the pickup. As far as I'm concerned, it's the only way to go. The only drawback that I can think of is that you have to swing just a bit wider on corners, but the way it handles a load more than makes up for it! I'll try to get a pic of one of my hookups tomorrow.
John H.