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mojo_norte
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Posts: 725
Registered: 2-14-2006
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How much trailer can I tow with 1/2 ton>
I am looking to buy a 1962 Airstream 28 foot trailer for my lot near Los Barilles. Tow vehicle would be a 87 Ford LB 4X4 4 speed. Probably have 400
ponds of other gear. I'm guessing the trailer weighs 3800 #'s. Yes ? No? recommendations?
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beercan
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After you load yur personal goods ---
your total weight will probably be closer to double that estimate.
Short haul with proper hitch may work. Long haul with that old truck , may not !
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Bruce R Leech
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you should be just fine if your truck is in good shape. you should use a equalizing hitch to keep your tung wait to about 400 lbs. I pull 11,000 lbs
with my 95 F150. cyl. 5 speed, and not short trips.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Hook
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mojo_norte
I am looking to buy a 1962 Airstream 28 foot trailer for my lot near Los Barilles. Tow vehicle would be a 87 Ford LB 4X4 4 speed. Probably have 400
ponds of other gear. I'm guessing the trailer weighs 3800 #'s. Yes ? No? recommendations? |
Call the owner and ask what it weighs. Then add your gear to that amount. Then look at your driver's side door jamb and see what the truck weighs
(your unladen weight). It's probably on the vehicle registration, too. Then find your CGVWR (combined gross vehicular weight rating) and subtract the
unladen weight plus your gear from the CGVWR and see if the trailer's weight is under that.
This is the letter of the law way of determining this; the one that insurance companies and police agencies would use to determine if you are legal.
Outside of the letter of the law, much will depend on your rear springs, shocks, what engine you have and weight rating of your tires. DEFINITELY GET
A WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCH. I buy most everything thru etrailer.com. XLNT site, XLNT service and as cheap as anywhere.
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Diver
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I have seen it done many times but these tips will make the ride easier;
1. You will need working trailer brakes and controller.
2. Brake BEFORE curves and accelerate through them so the trailer doesn't push your light truck; especially downhill.
4. The trailer weight will be a lot in relation to the truck. If you need to take evasive action, flat tire, etc. things may get scary. Load the truck
with much of your gear to increase it's weight as a tow vehicle and add air bags to the rear to level the load and stop truck sway.
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Bob and Susan
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your weakest link will be the tires...
you WILL need brakes for the santa rosalia grade...
i can't belive that an old airstream only weigs 3800#
has any wood cabinets been added...lots of extra weight
these things were built different in 1962
the 1987 truck is 21 years old...
"WHEN" you break down you're screwed
old trailer...old truck
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Bruce R Leech
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the transmission and differentials you have in that truck are bullet proof and will handle twice what you want to do. the only place you fall short
are the brakes. you will need to check them and replace the pads and shoes more often as well as trailer brakes. your springs also wont be a problem,
on my truck with 500 lbs of tung wait the equalizer hitch adjusts about 250 lbs. to the front so my truck drops about 2 inches but stays level and
handles grate.
what engine do you have in your truck? all will work but more torque is best.
my 300 CID in line 6 has a lot of torque at low rpm the 302 v8 has the least.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Bruce R Leech
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
your weakest link will be the tires...
you WILL need brakes for the santa rosalia grade...
i can't belive that an old airstream only weigs 3800#
has any wood cabinets been added...lots of extra weight
these things were built different in 1962
the 1987 truck is 21 years old...
"WHEN" you break down you're screwed
old trailer...old truck |
Ford was still building trucks back then. and any ranch mechanics in Baja can repair that truck you are the one that will have to ship your truck
north on a flat bed when it gets ill Bob I love your new truck Bob but the
reason I don't get one is repairs down here
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Bob and Susan
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yea...you are correct
when i break i'll need the flatbed
i already have a plan for the flatbed...
mayoral trucking here in mulege
the ONLY thing is newer trucks break down less than a 21 year old "beast"
...it's all about the parts here...
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mojo_norte
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Truck has a 302. I'm the 2nd owner and trust it mechanically.
GVWR is 6250 pounds
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tortuga
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Dear Mojo
We tow our 24' Mallard trailer 4,000 + lbs with our half ton GMC with out any trouble. I am in agreement with others about equilizer hitch. Highway
one is rolly (up and down) in many spots. It is nice to have the extra control these hitchs give you.
Happy towing, Tortuga
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tortuga
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one more thought
how are the wheel bearings? don't know if you thought about that, but good to have checked.
Saludos, Tortuga
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thebajarunner
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Twp cents worth
I would be concerned about the transmission,
make sure it has a trans cooler and that this cooler does not block off the radiator flow.
We lost a tranny in our "sort of stock" Ford pickup in the 1976 500.
Also, jack up the trailer, grab the hanging wheel/tire with both hands, like a steering wheel, give it a good shake/rocking motion. If it has play in
it, then get the bearings changed.
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Bruce R Leech
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Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by thebajarunner
I would be concerned about the transmission,
make sure it has a trans cooler and that this cooler does not block off the radiator flow.
We lost a tranny in our "sort of stock" Ford pickup in the 1976 500.
Also, jack up the trailer, grab the hanging wheel/tire with both hands, like a steering wheel, give it a good shake/rocking motion. If it has play in
it, then get the bearings changed. |
he sed he had a 4 speed man trains.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Bruce R Leech
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Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
yea...you are correct
when i break i'll need the flatbed
i already have a plan for the flatbed...
mayoral trucking here in mulege
the ONLY thing is newer trucks break down less than a 21 year old "beast"
...it's all about the parts here... |
if you have a old beast that is in prefect condition then you are in good shape, I would trust my truck to get me there over a brand new one. it is
all in how you take care of them.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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thebajarunner
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went right by that, too many 4's
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
| Quote: | Originally posted by thebajarunner
I would be concerned about the transmission,
make sure it has a trans cooler and that this cooler does not block off the radiator flow.
We lost a tranny in our "sort of stock" Ford pickup in the 1976 500.
Also, jack up the trailer, grab the hanging wheel/tire with both hands, like a steering wheel, give it a good shake/rocking motion. If it has play in
it, then get the bearings changed. |
he sed he had a 4 speed man trains. |
Well, to be totally picky he did not say 'man' but I think we can make that assumption.
Comments on the trailer axle still stand...
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Diver
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Then check your clutch before you go and be good to it on the trip !
Have fun !!
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Wiles
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If they could..............you can.
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Skeet/Loreto
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Bruce: How many miles do you have on that Truck? Will you sell it? If How much?
I had a Ford 150 6 Cylinder 4 wd 5 Speed Tranny that Virginia and I were Rear-ended in our last trip up from Loreto.
It is a good puller as well as the 87, I pulled several different Trailers to Loreto, including 1 34 Footer. 217 Wellcraft Fish Boat, a 21 FT Lobster
Boat all the way from Flordia.
Tee me what kind of a Truck you will take for your 150, I will buy it Deliver it and Granatee it
Let me Know
Skeet
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Bruce R Leech
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Bruce: How many miles do you have on that Truck? Will you sell it? If How much?
I had a Ford 150 6 Cylinder 4 wd 5 Speed Tranny that Virginia and I were Rear-ended in our last trip up from Loreto.
It is a good puller as well as the 87, I pulled several different Trailers to Loreto, including 1 34 Footer. 217 Wellcraft Fish Boat, a 21 FT Lobster
Boat all the way from Flordia.
Tee me what kind of a Truck you will take for your 150, I will buy it Deliver it and Granatee it
Let me Know
Skeet |
thanks for the Offer Skeet but I would not trade that truck for 10 brand new ones. I hunted for five years to find it and made it better than new.
they call that engine the gasoline Diesel because you drive it like one. lots of torque for little gas. Best gas engine ever built and the rest of the
truck can handel it.
just hunt around and you will find a good clean low mileage one. min has 95,000 on it and it is ready for 200,000 more at least and getting 24 miles
per gallon.
if you find one I will tell you how to set it up.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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