Truck towing question

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KramerSwinger70

70 Dart Swinger360
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I've recently fallen in love with the 68-71 D-Series trucks. Tryin to get one as a DD/camper/work truck. I need to be able to tow my car!

I've found it's rather difficult to get reliable stats on 40 year old trucks, so I figured the great minds here on FABO may be able to tell me!

So, anyone know the tow rating for:
D100- 318, 360, 383
D200- 318, 360, 383

Idk if the type of trans would affect the capacity but if it does I'll need that as well

Most trucks I run accross are 318s but I've seen the occasional 360 or 383 so figured I'd cover all my bases

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
Most these old trucks were TRUCKS

Back in the day they were made to WORK

They didn't have to worry about tow ratings because they were not general purpose vehicles. If you are looking to tow an open trailer with a car on it it will do it. Gas mileage suck because as a truck they were made to work and have steep gears for the most part.

I used my 67 Ford F100 300 six, to pull all kinds of boats and trailers. It done a great job, except on boat would bounce the rear tires of the truck off the ground for some reason...... LOL

If you are looking to pull a large enclosed trailer you would want a 3/4 ton truck, and even those came with 6 cyl engines in that time frame.

Until people started using trucks more for long haul did they start putting the bigger engines and they really liked the fuel with big blocks and steep gears. Ever see an older dually going 60 mph on interstate pulling a big camper. It isn't because it couldn't go faster, but the gas gauge was going down fast enough as is.

My buddies 95 f350 crew cab dually has 4.10 gears and has OD trans and still only gets 12 mpg empty and pulling my 24' enclosed trailer with my Prowler inside got 6.5 mpg and we towed it to Florida from Indiana at 65-68 mph

The modern diesel made towing a breeze with all the torque and fuel economy.

Good luck finding the truck of your dream, just be prepared for the results
 
I do expect awful mileage, as per old trucks. I just don't know trucks or towing very we'll. Wasn't sure if I'd be pushing breaking something pulling a camper. Heaviest thing if pull might be 5-6k lbs, but mostly if pull my Dart or down the road the old Charger I'm (hopefully) getting from my uncle, down the road. As far as campers, I dnt expect ever owning anything larger than a tent-trailer or 1 of these hybrid tent/travel trailers, which aren't terribly heavy. The only thing I know about trucks is my dads 1/2 Chevy Acalanche is "rated" roughly 8k lbs with a 5.2 auto. That, and I know Cummins tows over 10k without breakin a sweat
 
I do expect awful mileage, That, and I know Cummins tows over 10k without breakin a sweat

In fact, you should consider a first gen 12 valve Cummins Diesel . Mine is 2wd A/T and gets 22mpg and around 18 towing. Can tow 10K with it. The late 80's - early 90's body style is pretty cool too. I just did a minor restification to mine.
 

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I got my first travel trailer in 78 a 24ft Prowler.Towed it with a W150 Power Wagon.400 big block with a auto trans.It was a great truck.Only problem with that truck is it rusted away in 3 years. Later I had a 1500 4wd Chevy 350 pulling a 28ft Prowler 5th wheel.Again did it's job and then some.
Now I still have a old 88 D 350 dodge 8500 GVW and weighs 4800 empty.Automatic 318 with 4.10 gears. I tow a 24 ft enclosed car trailer with a weight of 7000+ lbs.It too gets the job done.Old trucks "work" and you can fix them with a hammer and a screwdriver.
 
In fact, you should consider a first gen 12 valve Cummins Diesel . Mine is 2wd A/T and gets 22mpg and around 18 towing. Can tow 10K with it. The late 80's - early 90's body style is pretty cool too. I just did a minor restification to mine.

im with ya but needs a 5 speed .
 
With it being an old gas motor it will be a pig....both in fuel economy and towing strength. 200 pounds of torque just aint enough....
 
I saw Mitch's truck last weekend. Looks sweet; sounds awesome!

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Yeah this is easy. Go to your local Dodge dealer and look at the window stickers of new trucks in those same classes. You're lookin at the mileage rating of those older trucks. They haven't change not one iota in 40 plus years. 15/19 give or take is about it. All this fancy technology ain't changed a thing as far as mileage. Not one damn thing.
 
Yeah the new trucks have improved but due to od trans and less gear ratio

That it the reason tow ratings for older trucks are different. The newer trucks are designed for highway use and basic transportation

The old trucks were designed to WORK

My 1967 Ford F100 custom cab 300 straight 6 3 on the tree got 11 mpg on its best day. But it could pull a load. Wasn't fast, but it would work

Brother had a 1967 Dodge d100 had a slant 6 these trucks were just trucks, nothing fancy, probably have 3.73 or 4.10 gears in a 68-72 truck

If you can find a big block will probably be a 200 series

If you are looking for a 68-72 it will be a truck
 
the cummins will always be in a 3/4 or larger.
all depends on how many miles you drive it (DD?) and what ya pay for gas/fuel. the 12 valve cummins is 1,000,000 mi engine, but it will need fuel system rebuild well h\before that. I've had several d22 and 300 late 80's. early 90's cummins. bought 85 cummins 300 new, still got.
I personally always prefer a d200 for towing anything. heavier frame, brakes, everything pretty much.... slant will pull more thasn ya think on level to gently rollon roads, once it gets rollin!! LOL like they said, the older trucks were lower geared.
good part is your in Ca!!!!! no or little rust. get good pretty much staright body, and go from there!!
in most places expect to pay good bit more for a cummins truck.
sidenote. I just got my property tax bill. somehow they had my 95 d300 cummins on there twice, once as diesel and then as gas truck. (how!????). the taxes on the diesel were 3X that for gas!! LOL friggin 20 years old truck!! too!
 
I have a '67 d-100 factory 383 4 speed and it would pull anything. I added an electric brake controller and had no issues. I have since added a rebuilt 440 built to HP specifications and a 727 automatic with 3.23 Detroit Locker 8 3/4 rear and added a Scarebird disc brake conversion and it pulls anything I will give it. It is just an old farm truck but everybody asks what it is etc. A Gear Vendors overdrive would help with milage but I do not put enough miles on it to justify the expense.
 
The only difference is comfort. It's rare t find one with AC or power steering. But if you have a $2000 old truck and put it against a $35,000 truck there is hardly any difference. I have 2 of them and I have a 97 2500 Ram the only difference is the quietness and comfort
 
6-8 MPG at 68mph is $1 every ~2.44 minutes....@ 3.00/gal! Man that sucks. Take a taxi next time, its cheaper! Just find one with a hitch. :)
I ran a Predator Carb on a warm 351c in a 57 Fordor and got 5..I think I needed a little tuning...
 
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