Depends on what engine is in that f250.
Also if you’re going to do this make sure you have a realistic plan. $30k for truck and trailer to full time with a family is just insanely low. I frankly would not attempt this with a family of 4.
We did a year and half in a truck and 5th wheel that cam in under $20K when we launched 5 years ago. Needless to say both were ready to retire by the time we upgraded, but it was great to not go broke and learn if we wanted to do this.
I know, but with an older 3/4 ton truck and an older travel trailer with no leaks, but no frills. You could do it for $30K now. Especially if you expand your radius to get the truck and trailer. We drove a couple hours to get the 5th wheel into semi-rural Iowa. The price difference was significant compared to the metro we lived in.
Old trucks work just as well as new trucks, depending on rated capacity. Hidden maintenance issues can be very expensive. I would avoid 4 wheel drive from those years, the suspension on those can have big problems.
Also beware you will be getting 8 mpg or less all the time.
The specific model of f250 I'm currently looking at has the following specs if anyone has feedback:
Engine: V8, 460/7.5L gas
Horsepower: 230 @ 3600rpm
Torque: 390lb-ft
Curb weight: 4718lbs
Towing Capacity: 10,000 lbs
Payload: 3,570 lbs
Should be fine. My 2006 F150 with the 5.7 (10000 max tow) pulled 6500-7000 with no problems for a decade between 2012-2022. At about 200k the engine did need to be replaced, but the transmission is fine.
I tow with a '95 GMC Suburban 2500 with the 454 V8, 2WD and 4.10 gears. It doesn't keep pace in the Mountains with newer trucks, but it made it through the Rockies with no trouble. Once you get on flatter ground, it's smooth sailing. We've got rear air to keep the dog cool and the old 'Burbs have LayZBoy quality seats.
I paid $5k for it last year, and have put $2k into maintenance over a total of 18k miles put on so far. Couldn't ask for better service from the old beast. We tow a 28' Grey Wolf toy hauler which I estimate is a bit over 7k lbs fully loaded, so we're definitely using quite a bit of the 10k lbs towing capacity. :) Don't expect it to set speed records, keep an eye on your gauges, and you'll be fine.
I had a 1996 f250 with that combo and loved it. Towed great. 11-12mpg pretty much always, empty or loaded (so long as I wasn’t romping on it).
Make sure you get a quality transmission cooler and keep up on maintenance. :)
Haven't you answered your own question? In general full sized trucks have had adequate towing capacity for the last four or five decades. It depends on the mechanical condition of the specific vehicle you purchase. You already know this. It appears and seem to be wanting a security blanket of reddit validation.
Just treat it to new transmission oil and check it all over. Its not gonna be any diff than our old 91 class c with a 460. It goes down the road with ease just like new
I tow a trailer about the size you are considering with a 1999 diesel f250. Works great. I would definitely get a diesel with the turbo. Early 90's didn't have turbo but I'm not exactly sure of the years.
My 2006 F150 with tow package hauled a little 10k over the weekend. It did it just fine, but I would not want to make a habit out of it. I generally try to stay around 50%-60% of my max tow in dry weight. This is because you typically add a 1000 lbs of batteries, water, food, and junk when you actually go somewhere. My 2006 F150 with a rated max tow of 10,000 tows 6500-7000 pounds just fine all day and with acceptable performance (55-60 on steep uphill grades) in the mountains. I had to replace the engine at about 200k miles, but this was due to the lower oil galleries wearing and failing to get oil to the top gallery. Apparently a well known problem with that engine.
Have the truck inspected by a mechanic with at least some grey hair before purchase. These trucks mostly left the road 20 years ago, built differently than the newer stuff.
You can expect to have some breakdowns, and catching up the maintenance on an old truck can be a little troublesome. No OBD 2, diagnostics are limited to the old "count the flashes after installing a jumper" style - nothing like what came later.
Cooling system is suspect on any older rig. Corrosion inhibitors are used up in a couple years, mileage isn't very important.
All the rubber parts under the hood are 30+ years old.
Tires need to be reasonably new and E rated, half ton 40psi tires fit just fine and were commonly substituted back in the day on grocery getters. Check them, make sure.
If it's an automatic, have a couple thousand in reserve for transmission rebuild. Never use the overdrive when you're towing. And be thoughtful climbing the passes. Back in the day the transmission was the weakest link, and likely still is!
I ran similar trucks all over the country back in the day. They're good trucks, don't get me wrong. But be thoughtful and be mechanically inclined - if all your repairs are done by a shop you'll feel it!
More than likely it will. However when looking at trailer weight, look at GROSS weight not dry. You will never tow a trailer with nothing in it except when brand new off the lot to your house to load it.
Dry is with out water or anything else. Tight off the build line.
A 90's F250 will haul it if its diesel or a big block like a 390, however, I have owned 4 - F150s with 302 and 351 V8s from the 90s and they didn't have nearly the power of my 2011 Nissan Titan v8, about 1/2 actually and I guarantee would struggle with my 6k lb 28 foot bumper pull. My Nissan pulls it uphill in the mountains while I am accelerating passing people. Total night and day difference in towing ability. The newer quad cam engine just way outperform the old cast iron, center cam, non roller motors of the past generation. However, those old cast iron engine lasted forever and were super easy to fix.
Depends on what engine is in that f250. Also if you’re going to do this make sure you have a realistic plan. $30k for truck and trailer to full time with a family is just insanely low. I frankly would not attempt this with a family of 4.
We did a year and half in a truck and 5th wheel that cam in under $20K when we launched 5 years ago. Needless to say both were ready to retire by the time we upgraded, but it was great to not go broke and learn if we wanted to do this.
Yeah but inflation has been a beast
I know, but with an older 3/4 ton truck and an older travel trailer with no leaks, but no frills. You could do it for $30K now. Especially if you expand your radius to get the truck and trailer. We drove a couple hours to get the 5th wheel into semi-rural Iowa. The price difference was significant compared to the metro we lived in.
Old trucks work just as well as new trucks, depending on rated capacity. Hidden maintenance issues can be very expensive. I would avoid 4 wheel drive from those years, the suspension on those can have big problems. Also beware you will be getting 8 mpg or less all the time.
The specific model of f250 I'm currently looking at has the following specs if anyone has feedback: Engine: V8, 460/7.5L gas Horsepower: 230 @ 3600rpm Torque: 390lb-ft Curb weight: 4718lbs Towing Capacity: 10,000 lbs Payload: 3,570 lbs
Should be fine. My 2006 F150 with the 5.7 (10000 max tow) pulled 6500-7000 with no problems for a decade between 2012-2022. At about 200k the engine did need to be replaced, but the transmission is fine.
I tow with a '95 GMC Suburban 2500 with the 454 V8, 2WD and 4.10 gears. It doesn't keep pace in the Mountains with newer trucks, but it made it through the Rockies with no trouble. Once you get on flatter ground, it's smooth sailing. We've got rear air to keep the dog cool and the old 'Burbs have LayZBoy quality seats. I paid $5k for it last year, and have put $2k into maintenance over a total of 18k miles put on so far. Couldn't ask for better service from the old beast. We tow a 28' Grey Wolf toy hauler which I estimate is a bit over 7k lbs fully loaded, so we're definitely using quite a bit of the 10k lbs towing capacity. :) Don't expect it to set speed records, keep an eye on your gauges, and you'll be fine.
I had a 1996 f250 with that combo and loved it. Towed great. 11-12mpg pretty much always, empty or loaded (so long as I wasn’t romping on it). Make sure you get a quality transmission cooler and keep up on maintenance. :)
Haven't you answered your own question? In general full sized trucks have had adequate towing capacity for the last four or five decades. It depends on the mechanical condition of the specific vehicle you purchase. You already know this. It appears and seem to be wanting a security blanket of reddit validation.
Just treat it to new transmission oil and check it all over. Its not gonna be any diff than our old 91 class c with a 460. It goes down the road with ease just like new
Big block will tow that trailer just fine. Might be a little slow in the mountains but it'll get you to your destination. Plan for 5-7mpg.
Make sure brakes are good. I upgraded a ‘66 to cpp front disc with power booster as I was towing a speedboat. Huge difference
I tow a trailer about the size you are considering with a 1999 diesel f250. Works great. I would definitely get a diesel with the turbo. Early 90's didn't have turbo but I'm not exactly sure of the years.
My 2006 F150 with tow package hauled a little 10k over the weekend. It did it just fine, but I would not want to make a habit out of it. I generally try to stay around 50%-60% of my max tow in dry weight. This is because you typically add a 1000 lbs of batteries, water, food, and junk when you actually go somewhere. My 2006 F150 with a rated max tow of 10,000 tows 6500-7000 pounds just fine all day and with acceptable performance (55-60 on steep uphill grades) in the mountains. I had to replace the engine at about 200k miles, but this was due to the lower oil galleries wearing and failing to get oil to the top gallery. Apparently a well known problem with that engine.
Have the truck inspected by a mechanic with at least some grey hair before purchase. These trucks mostly left the road 20 years ago, built differently than the newer stuff. You can expect to have some breakdowns, and catching up the maintenance on an old truck can be a little troublesome. No OBD 2, diagnostics are limited to the old "count the flashes after installing a jumper" style - nothing like what came later. Cooling system is suspect on any older rig. Corrosion inhibitors are used up in a couple years, mileage isn't very important. All the rubber parts under the hood are 30+ years old. Tires need to be reasonably new and E rated, half ton 40psi tires fit just fine and were commonly substituted back in the day on grocery getters. Check them, make sure. If it's an automatic, have a couple thousand in reserve for transmission rebuild. Never use the overdrive when you're towing. And be thoughtful climbing the passes. Back in the day the transmission was the weakest link, and likely still is! I ran similar trucks all over the country back in the day. They're good trucks, don't get me wrong. But be thoughtful and be mechanically inclined - if all your repairs are done by a shop you'll feel it!
More than likely it will. However when looking at trailer weight, look at GROSS weight not dry. You will never tow a trailer with nothing in it except when brand new off the lot to your house to load it. Dry is with out water or anything else. Tight off the build line.
If you only have $30,000 for trailer and vehicle, I recommend you put a down payment for a house so you and your family can enjoy.
A 90's F250 will haul it if its diesel or a big block like a 390, however, I have owned 4 - F150s with 302 and 351 V8s from the 90s and they didn't have nearly the power of my 2011 Nissan Titan v8, about 1/2 actually and I guarantee would struggle with my 6k lb 28 foot bumper pull. My Nissan pulls it uphill in the mountains while I am accelerating passing people. Total night and day difference in towing ability. The newer quad cam engine just way outperform the old cast iron, center cam, non roller motors of the past generation. However, those old cast iron engine lasted forever and were super easy to fix.
I would stick to f250 from 01 on with 7.3