Rebuild the old vs. Replace with newer

[baldopepper]

3-4 times a month I make the drive from Tacoma to my home in Stevens county (approx. 300 miles) I can't tell you how many older trucks pulling trailers or boats I see on the side of the road broken down.  I stop and offer assistance quite often and have gotten used to hearing "geeze-I just put $3,000 work into this baby"-I hate it when I see the kids and wife sitting in the cab knowing their vacation or long weekend has ended so miserably.  Tow bills out in that area run over 300.00 just to get you to the nearest small town, where parts are usually 2-3 days out for repair. Engines are'nt the only problem with those older trucks-seems more often than not it's bearings, transmission, fuel pumps, water pumps etc..  All I would say is whatever you decide to do, make sure it's  reliable before you hook a trailer up and take off.

[Special T]

Since you are already buying a new truck this is what i would do... I would go on the hunt for a 12 valve cummins with a stick. I would put it on an engine stand and tear that thing down bare and do all the up grades to it. THIS is a great way to get your boys involved because you can have them do a bunch of the work/help them and its REALLY easy to see all the moving parts. Plus you can still drive the beast for a while. I would take each piece of the running gear and start the rebuild. If you have the time, you could start with any piece of the puzzle that you have cash for... You could start with the rear ends since they would likely cost less to start off with... 

[Stein]

A 24' trailer is quite a load, over 6,000 pounds plus you are pulling a square block through the air at 60 mph.  If you plan on towing it more than once a year it is going to destroy an F-150.  Although the motor may to an ok job at it, the transmission, suspension, driveline and everything simply will not last pulling that kind of load.

Craigslist is full of adds for 1/2 ton vehicles with rebuilt transmissions at half or a third of the expected life.

I would pick up a diesel and keep that as the running around, having fun truck.

[Alchase]

Keep the new truck for "towing", and your old truck for "toying"
You could drop a stroker in that bad boy!

408ci CHP INJECTED VENOM GT Crate Motor - Dish Top, 10.00 : 1, 425 HP, 420 ftp torque.

http://www.coasthigh.com/product-p/p4082f-gt-f408-v.htm

Put Crown Vic suspension, and new 4-way disc brakes.

[turkeyfeather]

A 24' trailer is quite a load, over 6,000 pounds plus you are pulling a square block through the air at 60 mph.  If you plan on towing it more than once a year it is going to destroy an F-150.  Although the motor may to an ok job at it, the transmission, suspension, driveline and everything simply will not last pulling that kind of load.

Craigslist is full of adds for 1/2 ton vehicles with rebuilt transmissions at half or a third of the expected life.

I would pick up a diesel and keep that as the running around, having fun truck.

This is what I have thought alot about, the only thing that hangs me up it that this is the "trailer special" that was built for the additional strain. I just don't know how much additional strain as I can't seem to find very much info.

To all those that say have both....I just don't know if I can pull off a truck payment and the money to fix up the beast. Unless, the newer truck becomes the "family" car that replaces my wifes aging Grand Caravan.

Do any of you all use a truck as the family car?

[ballpark]

A 24' trailer is quite a load, over 6,000 pounds plus you are pulling a square block through the air at 60 mph.  If you plan on towing it more than once a year it is going to destroy an F-150.  Although the motor may to an ok job at it, the transmission, suspension, driveline and everything simply will not last pulling that kind of load.

Craigslist is full of adds for 1/2 ton vehicles with rebuilt transmissions at half or a third of the expected life.

I would pick up a diesel and keep that as the running around, having fun truck.

This is what I have thought alot about, the only thing that hangs me up it that this is the "trailer special" that was built for the additional strain. I just don't know how much additional strain as I can't seem to find very much info.

To all those that say have both....I just don't know if I can pull off a truck payment and the money to fix up the beast. Unless, the newer truck becomes the "family" car that replaces my wifes aging Grand Caravan.

Do any of you all use a truck as the family car?

Heavy duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 6,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty alternator,heavy duty battery, HD rear shocks, bigger radiator, rear sway bar, swing out recreational mirrors, amp meter, oil pressure gauge, HD front springs, external oil cooler and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.

[turkeyfeather]

A 24' trailer is quite a load, over 6,000 pounds plus you are pulling a square block through the air at 60 mph.  If you plan on towing it more than once a year it is going to destroy an F-150.  Although the motor may to an ok job at it, the transmission, suspension, driveline and everything simply will not last pulling that kind of load.

Craigslist is full of adds for 1/2 ton vehicles with rebuilt transmissions at half or a third of the expected life.

I would pick up a diesel and keep that as the running around, having fun truck.

This is what I have thought alot about, the only thing that hangs me up it that this is the "trailer special" that was built for the additional strain. I just don't know how much additional strain as I can't seem to find very much info.

To all those that say have both....I just don't know if I can pull off a truck payment and the money to fix up the beast. Unless, the newer truck becomes the "family" car that replaces my wifes aging Grand Caravan.

Do any of you all use a truck as the family car?

Heavy duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 6,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty alternator,heavy duty battery, HD rear shocks, bigger radiator, rear sway bar, swing out recreational mirrors, amp meter, oil pressure gauge, HD front springs, external oil cooler and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.

Yup, that's it. So I would be better off with even a newer F-150 for a camp trailer. I believe the newerones have around a 9-10000 rating.

[b23]

As for the drivetrain of your old truck.  The motor and trans. will be the exact same whether it's a f150, f250, or f350.  All the 400's were the same and if it has an auto trans. it's a C6, regardless the size of the truck. 

The F150's typically have a Ford 9in. and I'm not sure if they used something different for the "trailer special" or not.  My guess is it's a Ford 9in. in the rear and Dana 44 in the front.  From your pics, it looks to be the standard Ford F150 bolt pattern of 5x5.  Which would indicate a Ford 9in rear end and that would be plenty strong for towing your trailer.  Maybe not the strongest axle to have if you were carrying a significant amount of weight but towing is a bit different.

For a stock motor the stock cooling system is fine but if you start pumping up the hp and towing, I'd highly recommend going with a bigger then stock radiator and trans. cooler.  I'm not 100% sure on this but I'm pretty sure the brakes are smaller on the F150's vs the 250's and 350's so that is an area you would want to make sure and address as well.

[turkeyfeather]

I appreciate everyone's input. In fact it inspired me to do some research. Day off and back was killing me so I hit the internet to find out more about it. I decoded the vin and then started looking up info from Ford's production numbers. After what I have found I think I will be keeping it and looking for a more HD truck as well. Turns out the "Beast" is a bit on the rarer side. It is vin'd and titled as a 1978. But was built in 7/78 using some '79 parts. It is also badged as a F150, however the vin indicates in 2 places that it is a F100 supercab 4x4. The F100 was discontinued with the '78 being the last year and was not offered in 4x4 as a production model. The vin indicates that it was a special order to a dealer in Seattle. Additionally, the research has concluded that this truck would have been maxed out towing the trailer we were looking at. The owners manual I found online states a max of 6,000 lbs. Thanks all for the input. I think we are gonna keep it and fix it up to let the boys drive when they come to that age.

[Mudman]

Good choice.  Half ton like that isnt safe for towing big loads.  Cool truck.  Tran cooling gear ratios brakes all deficient.  ABS?  Fuel too.  People think if I have the power in the engine its all good.  Nope.  Stay away from 6.0 fords. 

[HillSlick]

I appreciate everyone's input. In fact it inspired me to do some research. Day off and back was killing me so I hit the internet to find out more about it. I decoded the vin and then started looking up info from Ford's production numbers. After what I have found I think I will be keeping it and looking for a more HD truck as well. Turns out the "Beast" is a bit on the rarer side. It is vin'd and titled as a 1978. But was built in 7/78 using some '79 parts. It is also badged as a F150, however the vin indicates in 2 places that it is a F100 supercab 4x4. The F100 was discontinued with the '78 being the last year and was not offered in 4x4 as a production model. The vin indicates that it was a special order to a dealer in Seattle. Additionally, the research has concluded that this truck would have been maxed out towing the trailer we were looking at. The owners manual I found online states a max of 6,000 lbs. Thanks all for the input. I think we are gonna keep it and fix it up to let the boys drive when they come to that age.

Check out the new F150's for a family truck, I'm 6'8" and I can ride comfortably in the back seat with the front seat all the way back. Very comfortable and plenty of HP and  Torque, I love em. Good luck in your search!


"WAIT! Looks dangerous...you first" - Young Dr Frankenstein