Towing question

[palumbo27]

I have been asked to tow a car (5000LBS car and trlr) up to Atlanta from Daytona (430miles), and offered $400 to do the job. Would you trust a 160,000 mile 6.2TD and 4L60E to do the job? There are no problems with the truck right now other than shot injectors (they are original). I know about not using OD, although everyone seems to do it. I am concerned more with the tranny being the weak link here, as I think the engine is solid still. Any thoughts?

[NH2112]

Well I used my 85 K10 w/186K mile 6.2L and 700R4 to tow a 3000lb trailer from Ft Sill OK to Biddeford ME (1800 miles) and had no problems with the engine or tranny. I towed in OD on some of the flats, but mostly kept it in D and limited my speed to 65 regardless of which gear I was in. I also towed 7000lbs or so about 100 miles a few months later and again had no problems. In fact, the tranny fluid on the dipstick wasn't even hot to the touch when I checked it about halfway home. I still like my SM465 better for towing, though.

[palumbo27]

Thanks for the response. This pull is almost all in the flats, so I may be able to run in OD. Its getting its oil changed this morning and rear brakes. It should be fine. Sucks that my injectors are beat, they are killing my MPG unloaded, can't imagine what they will do loaded.

[CleviteKid]

Casey Flint has hauled HEAVY trailers in his RV business with a 6.2L NA engine for years. You should be fine on this relatively flat tow. Be careful towing in OD - the extra tranny RPM in 3rd will circulate a lot more ATF thru your coolers and be easier on everything but your ears.

Dr. Lee

[arveetek]

5000 lbs will be no problem, I wouldn't sweat it. My '81 tows my 8500 lb 5th wheel with no problems. Over 100K on rebuilt 6.2L n/a, and a lot more on the tranny.

My most recent tow was a flatbed trailer up to Illinois and back...unloaded going up there, loaded with a large utility bed on the way back. I estimated the load was only 3500 lbs or so total, but the large 7' totally flat front made a terrible drag in the wind. It cut my power and mileage way down. About 55-60 mph was all I could maintain, and the mileage was around 11 mpg. EGT's were around 1250-1300 most of the way home.

This new Powerstroke I got is making me want to find another one for towing my trailers!

Casey

[ropinfool]

I guess it depends on the truck. My truck will not tow anything, just pulling a hill drops my speed and causes my EGT's to hit 1200 in a hurry, then the water temp starts to climb. Have you ever towed anything with it before? That's where I'd start. Good luck to you and I hope you don't end up being on the towed end! John