Pulling Weight
How much weight can my 1978 Ford F-150 pull? It has a 351 rebuilt engine. I don't know what kind of transmission except it is automatic, which I also had rebuilt. I want to pull a 1975 20ft. Nomad bumper pull camper across country, but would also like to purchase a new 36ft. Sierra bumper pull.
My 1998 F150 has 4 wheel drive and a small block 4.6 liter which equal's a 289. and I have enough power in mine to pull a fully loaded 1 ton chevy van and other thing's like concrete highway dividers lol pulled a couple of those over in reverse so it's got alot of power in the small block so your's will have no problems pulling your trailer....
Wow get your checkbook out for all the fuel you will use.
You don't say which 351 engine you have, but odds are very good since the 351M block is quite common and the 351-W only turns up in trucks if the owner transplants them (like I did). The transmission is most likely a C-6 which is very stout. You should have not trouble pulling the trailer around as those engines have pretty good low end torque. I would suggest a trailer hitch other than the one on your bumper though, just for peace of mind. Adding a transmission cooler if you don't have one already would be a wise move before heading cross country. I think your doortag might also tell you what towing capacity your truck was rated for as well. Failing that, I suggest visiting www.ford-trucks.com Someone there can tell you everything you need to know in fine detail. As for the reply comparing his 4.6L to a 289. Apples and oranges my friend. The 4.6 is a new generation engine that uses nothing from the old style 289. The displacement is likely closer to 270 cid in fact.
Not really a gas guzzler just takes alot to fill the tank..
