Re: [VAC] Tow Vehicles

["Dr. Gerald N. Johnson" <geraldj@xxxxxxxx>]

My dad towed a 5000 pound Prowler with F150, 302, 3.50 axle and 4 speed
T-18 heavy duty transmission with granny gear. When he acquired a
Caravel he though it was too much truck and sold the truck to me. He
towed the Caravel with a mid sized V-6 in a Ford Ranger which was a full
load for the Ranger. Last fall I towed the Caravel to my house with that
truck and it didn't work it hard. Unfortunately a control valve failure
under the hood broke that engine and I've bought a newer F-150 with 5
speed. With the original 3.08 axle its not rated to tow the Caravel
(Ford rates it at 2200 pounds with the small V-8), but by my
calculations it will tow 4700 pounds with the 4.10 axle gears that I've
had put in. I don't have the brake controller selected and installed yet
so I've not hooked up the Caravel, but it sure does drive nice on the
highway or in traffic with that high ratio rear axle. It was more bother
to find the correct aftermarket speedometer gear than the axle gears.

With Ford factory parts the automatic is the only way, which I don't
prefer.

Gerald J.