The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 41 towing capacity

I was searching old threads about towing but I'm still not sure what mine would be.
Mine is an all stock 41 as far as drive and brakes go. All brakes are new but still drum. I have a 216, 4 speed, and 4:11 gears.

What started my research is I have a 67 mustang coupe that I thought it'd be cool to put on a (trailer with electric brakes) and tow with the 41. Im geussing that's probably to far fetched and some probably are gonna say I'm crazy for considering that. Especially since I live in Tennessee with lots of hills. Anyway what is the towing capacity of my set up? Or maybe a range at least?

GVW

This is the closest info I can find.

I don't have an informed opinion on your truck's tow capacity, but I do have a lifetime of towing various loaded/overloaded trailers with 1/2 ton thru my current 250,000 mile 3500 Dodge Diesel dually and driving a log truck in my very early years.

I wouldn't try what you're proposing on a trip type drive. In all likelihood the mustang weighs about 3,000 lbs., the trailer about 1,500 lbs. So, 4500 lbs plus 4,000 or so for the truck and you're looking at 8,500ish lbs. True, good trailer brakes will handle the stopping but the trucks suspension I'd think is the weak link.

The 216 is also going to mean driving at 30 to 40 mph a lot.

Now all the above said, I'd likely hook up to the trailer, pull it a bit and see how it does. If OK, I'd load the Mustang and pull it a mile or so and if I felt comfortable and I had a car show in my local town and it was only handfull of miles away....I might give it a go. But that's just me.

One thing about pulling loaded trailers, you need to always drive with your focus a long way down the road, when following other vehicles allow a "LOT" of stopping room and always assume ever car approaching a stop sign is going to pull out in front of you.

Good Luck,
Ron

Ok good to know, I forgot to mention that on suspension my truck has been improved at some point I think. I don't know if this changes anything but I have 32 leaf springs on my rear axle, 16 behind each wheel, the front has 10 behind each wheel, is that factory? And does that help at all?

The springs described were not as factory delivered. Some of these had after market rear "overload" springs added often by wheat farmers in this part of the country.
There are a number of considerations in using these trucks to tow. One key one for me is how much do I value what is being towed and my truck?

I probably won't even try it, I'll haul small trailers but with 30-40 mph in today's fast society it's probably just not worth the risk. I really appreciate the information thank you

Ian, If you do decide to try towing the trailer with electric brakes, you will need a brake controller.
I like this one: Prodigy brake controller

Ok thanks wayne

I recently pulled my 4' x 8' trailer with my '37 which is a little smaller then your truck. Total trailer weight with load was around 2000 lbs. I have a class 1 hitch,so I was maxed out on weight. I had 190 lbs tongue weight, and no trailer brakes.
This was all the truck wanted, it had the power to pull, and even with front disk brakes and '80s rear drum brakes, stopping wasn't much fun. My truck weighs 3300 lbs with me and a load of fuel, still not heavy enough to be a towing truck. I could slide the front wheels in a panic stop.

In town or on secondary roads, under 50 mph, yours would be OK. Not the best setup, but it would pull the load. Dual axle brakes on the trailer would be a must.