With tong weights in the 200 to 400 + lb. an extra leaf spring in therear
of the F150 is advisable (in my opinion after towing with and '82 F150).If you
are using a load leveling hitch like a Valley it will shift even moreto the
tow vehicle springs. If you don't already have a extra transmissionand engine
oil cooler with the tow package I would suggest adding that investment."More
cooler is more better". Never tow in overdrive (I'm sure your vehiclemanual
cover all this). Power will usually be okay, try towing up a smallhill to
check out the level of power needed Most of my experience was withthe 302 V8
(normally aspirated) and it lacked real power for full time towing.Many people
tow with less, but more power can mean less wear on the other partsof the
system. Age will also show early failure on the older vehicles unlessyour
willing to spend BIG BUCKS to maintain and improve it..
Not to put too much of a slant on it. As soon as I found the opportunityto
get a restored and fully operational '70 28' Ambassador A/S I searchedfor a
real tow vehicle. I came up with a short wheel base F250 extended cab
sporting a 7.3L Power stroke turbo diesel with overdrive automaticand full
towing package. What a brute of a towing machine with over 235 hp andnearly
500ft.lbs of torque. It may be little overkill for the Airstream butmost of
my towing will be Summer with air conditioning and lots of hills. Ido expect
better than average performance and reliability. A bonus was surprisingly
better fuel economy of the diesel. Towing I was getting a pinch over11 mpg,
not towing over 20 mpg. It really shines when it is towing. Sorry,my passion
for a Vintage Airstreams does not extend to vintage tow vehicles. Safetyand
reliability will always be paramount in my mind when towing .
Good luck, and may the hills be small, your radiator run cool, thetraffic
be light and pull through parking with full hookup always be available!
Always My Best,
R.M.Andrews
========================================================
Evan Prytherch wrote:

> Hi gang,
>
> Currently we're towing our 1972 31' International with a full sizedFord van
> packing a giant 460 V8. The transmission is a 3 speed automatic.
>
> We're considering a 1993 Ford E150 with a 5.8 V8, 4 speed automatic
> transmission and a factory towing package.
>
> Is this enough vehicle for towing our Airstream?
>
> Thanks in advance for your comments.
>
> Regards,
>
> Evan Prytherch
> writing on 3/30/99
> at 8:49:10 pm