Seriously? I mean seriously?

[BeachRiding]

So... was on my way to get new horsey and my truck is feeling funny ( I figured tranny) so I decided to pull over, unhitch, and have it towed.I did NOT want to risk blowing the damn thing as I already did that last year for 5 grand. Anyway, tow man came, looks at my truck and says I need to upgrade. Here's the kicker... He offers me to buy his '02 Dodge 2500 gas!!!...... I mean seriously. Really?:rolleyes:

I know my truck is old and I may need to upgrade soon but mine has LOW miles and is in absolutely great condition. Its supposedly the biggest engine ford ever made... 1994 Ford 250 turbo diesel. Am I the only one thinking that it shouldn't have a problem towing a two horse trailer! My sister's expedition can pull it in an emergency....like today.

I would love a brand new dodge truck 3500 dually stick ( sick of tranny problems!), but I can't afford that right now so was hoping I would be okay with what I have. Am I a hopeless cause with my current set-up? I just bought a 4h living quarter and was told I would be fine to pull it, but its just sitting as I am not so sure now. Surely though I can pull my damn bumper trailer?!:eek:

Current set-up: ( don't laugh at my color dammit!):innocent:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/willielove/DSC09450.jpg

Monster LQ:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/willielove/Trailer015.jpg

[mare]

I can't imagine an F-250 not being able to pull either of those rigs. Might not tear up a mountainside, but ought to done just fine.

Do you have a friend who's really into trucks that could take it for a drive with the trailer behind and kind of vet it for you? Be good to get the opinion of someone who doesn't have a truck to sell. I'd be kind of jumpy if I'd had an expensive problem like you did last year, and getting someone else's opinion would help.

Hope it's okay.

[BeachRiding]

Unfortunately I don't know anyone who can give me a good opinion who does not either a. has something they want to sell me instead or b. just figures its old and can't pull, but I should buy a new f-250 and it will be fine. uhm... I am so sick of people trying to sell me their trucks.... grr..

I swear I am getting ripped off every time I take it in to the dealer for a repair, seems like I am back in a month with a brand new completely irrelevant problem. Maybe I'm just paranoid...

[vicklynn]

I cant comment. Id have someone drive it too, but you can do that.
Its a Ford, older model at that, and I had my older awesome Ford break down on me to many times. I quit buying them.
I buy Chevys, would consider a Dodge too.
I do hope you get your situation with your rig taken care of.

[BeachRiding]

My family is so sick of the problems we have had with fords ( we have 4...) won't be buying on next time out... F.O.R.D Fix Or Repair Daily..... so true. :p

[WashingtonBay]

Can you find it's pulling and carrying capacity either in the manual or online? That would be what it should have been able to do new.

I would take it to a shop that installs tow packages... the weak link may be in the suspension and transmission if it's not a heavy duty?


We have a Chevy Silverado that is also older, and not quite enough truck to do unlimited hauling, but it will do our short trips up to the trails, What we don't do is long climbs, we would not attempt our mountain passes in it, or even upper trailheads with a long climb. We'd burn it up. But if we're careful where we go and keep from overworking it, hopefully it will get us through the next couple of years.

[Tatesgram]

I love Fords. I pull my 2 horse bumper pull with a Ford F150. Now, I'm not climbing any mountains, but I've had no problems and it's a '97 model. I drive an Edge in my everyday driving and I love it, it pulls the boat to the lake and it's big enough to haul feed and groceries. :)

I would seriously get someone else to check it out for you.

[AppyLady]

That's a pretty truck; I hope it doesn't have serious problems. I killed my tranny last summer, and getting it repaired was not cheap. *Gulp*

Caveman just bought a 2003 Ford F-350, and it doesn't pull the horse trailer nearly as good as his Nissan Titan. But the Titan is in the shop getting a new frame, and he needed something to use in the meantime.

A few years ago he bought a big Dodge 3500 dually Cummins turbo diesel, and he'll never make that mistake again.

[saddlebum]

I can't imagine an F-250 not being able to pull what you have. I'm not a mechanic but it sounds like you have something wrong with your truck and it isn't the size. Age? Maybe. Probably not. It just sounds like it isn't producing the power it should be producing. I have a couple of friends who own F250 Fords and don't have any problems pulling their trailers. Granted they aren't as old as yours but a 3/4 ton truck should easily pull what you have.

[miatapony]

wow i had a 2004 Nissan Titan also and it pulled my 2 horse slant from Las Vegas to Phoenix over the DAM and around it. with out any trouble ... now i have a 2007 Dodge 3/4 ton mega cab (love it) sooo much room. Cummins turbo diesel ive had it almost a year and no problems with it at all pulling the same 2 horse slant goose neck same places ..

[Kaitlyn]

Well, are you positive it's the turbo? 1994 is I remember correctly is the first year that ford came out with the 7.3L turbo diesel, that is the engine to have. They run forever and can haul nearly anything. It could all boil down to who had it before you and if they took care of it or not, diesels are more expensive and generally 'harder' to repair. Post an ad on craigslist near you saying you need to have someone look at your truck, not sell you one. Are there any automotive schools around you? Those kids are trained well and typically have all the smarts needed. I love Fords, but it's the same with any vehicle - they need properly maintained and if the previous owners didn't do that, it'll be problems for you, and that there's always a lemon in the bunch with any vehicle make.

[gabhainn]

I have an older (2001) F-250 V-8 , and it pulls anything I want anywhere I go, so there is no reason it shouldnt pull either of those, it sounds to me like a tranny problem and I am thinking torque converter. But I have one question tho, does it feel like its "choking"? you run it uo to say 40 mph and then it just seems to choke is the only wat I know to describe it.....Kevin

[mare]

I was thinking torque converter or does it just have a high gear ratio for running the highways without a load?

[alittleoffkey]

My cousin had a 95 or 96 F250 diesel that hauled his 4-horse LQ trailer everywhere (including up into the mountains)... with up to six horses in it with no problem. I agree that it sounds more like a transmission issue than a truck issue. Ford's cars have issues - but I don't trust anyone else to make a truck. :D

[gabhainn]

I was thinking torque converter or does it just have a high gear ratio for running the highways without a load?
I was thinking that or possibly the exhaust when the catalytic converter goes it chokes down because the exhaust has nowhere to go.....Kevin

[BeachRiding]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Well its checked out and apparently NOTHING is wrong with it, well that's great news but then what the heck did I get it towed for? So I am just imagining a problem I suppose...

Kaitlyn- Yes its the turbo 7.3. I absolutely adore it, but not sure why I was having problems.

I guess I'll just try again...

saddlebum- I swear 'something' is not quite right. But apparently the dealer thinks I am nuts now.:p

[miatapony]

ok so now you know there is nothing wrong with it trade it in ..lol ...ok im kidding but i think you need to have the cat looked at by a specialist. .

[BeachRiding]

Well he took the whole transmission apart and put it back together, says its in perfect shape ( should be it hasn't even had a year on it!). Torque converter is fine. So apparently I just paid $300 in labor to know my truck is fine.

[JackieB]

Bummer. Sorry you had to spend all that money just to hear that your truck is fine. Could you have someone who has done a lot of towing go with you while you are towing the trailer to see if he/she notices anything? It can be a bit of a different experience.

[BeachRiding]

Hmm.... will have to think about my contacts... Thanks for the idea.

[gabhainn]

I am still leaning towards the exhaust, you might want to have that catalytic converter checked......Kevin

[gaited07]

Just an idea but there are numerous computer chips in this truck and yes, if there is one that is bad will display issues that may make you think your tranny is bad. (learned this the hard/EXPENSIVE way)

Did they do a digital diagnostic test on this truck?

[HoustonFarrier]

Just an idea but there are numerous computer chips in this truck and yes, if there is one that is bad will display issues that may make you think your tranny is bad. (learned this the hard/EXPENSIVE way)

Did they do a digital diagnostic test on this truck?

On diesel engines, there is a "limiting" mechanism that essentially "dials down" the transmission power in the event of some type of engine malfunction. You essentially get no POWER out of the truck. My Freightliner lost the sensor that causes that.....and I could not have pulled a skateboard with it had I wanted to. It was literally a .19cent sensor........

Steve

[miatapony]

wow ......

[Miracle Whip]

Our neighbor has an older Ford like yours. He can pull a flat bed trailer with a Ford Escort on it...

I haul a livestock with my Chevy 1500 Silverado 4 x 4. Its not the fastest or the strongest but it gets us where we need to go. Its got a Vortex engine I think, the largest available for that class and year. I would NOT haul more than 2 horses on a regular basis though.

Don't know what a living quarters weighs. You could always look at what the truck is rated to haul and what the trailer weighs and go from there.

[Miracle Whip]

Does it have overdrive? I used to haul in overdrive until I learned to use 3 or regular drive. Its less work on the engine. Read your owners manual.

[cheval]

Doesn't surprise me at all. I've had to use our F-250 to pull my 18 ft. electroshocking boat and it's a NIGHTMARE. My regular F-150 work truck has 10x the power!!

[Miracle Whip]

Have you had the trailer looked at? Are the brakes greased? Do you have electric brakes? I'd be telling that mechanic to take the truck out for a test drive with a fully loaded trailer - before I'd pay $300 labor. Do you need a tow bar...does the engine labor or what? If its just an uncomfortable feeling, maybe it has something to do with the trailer? Its worth thinking about. Are you driving slower or trying to drive like you would without a load?

[quest]

uh yeah, a 3/4 ton diesel not being able to pull that? Yeah right! Sounds like the guy is just trying to get rid of his truck. Your truck can pull a lot more than that