I'm thinking of selling my (dearly loved) RX-8 in favor of an R-package Miotter and a cheap tow vehicle (and hopefully some cash left over).
I've always liked the early-mid 90s F-150s and they seem to be cheap, simple and reliable. i found a '93 regular-cab 4.9L (tranny, driveline, mileage not listed) near me; no price, but i can't imagine it would be more than $2500 or so for an automatic 4x4.
I've heard the 4.9L is a great engine; the '93 was rated at 145hp/265tq, which seems like enough grunt for a miata on an open trailer.
thoughts? would a V8 (302 or 351) be necessary? is there any way to avoid the horrifyingly ubiquitous red interior? is the auto trans up to haulin' duty?
The 300 is a good engine. You can't kill them. They tow very well. I have pulled 9000# behind a F150 with that engine without any problems. Gas mileage sucks though.
I'd rather have the 4.2 V6 given the choice. Almost as much torque at 252 and an extra 50+ hp at 202. Much better fuel mileage than the 300. I get in the 16-17 mpg range out of my work van on average and have seen over 20. A lot of truck guys turn up there nose at them, but they are really a great engine.
i had an 88 4wd 5spd long bed ,and i loved it and i'm not even a real hardcore ford guy. it was an awesome little truck , i towed all kinds of cars with it, and even pulled a mistubishi fuso out of a ditch with it.
They are old and crude and a bit leaky, but I'd probably tow with a 4.9 before a 5.0. If its cheap and runs decent, go for it. Around here, its tough to find a Ford truck that old with a box not rusted off.
4.9's are a good excuse to get the truck for cheap, since some people turn their noses up at them. I certainly wouldn't go looking for one, but there's nothing wrong with them.
Kinda the same story as finding a GMT400 with a 305. Lotta people would not be interested, but they'll get the job done (slowly).
Had a '95 F-150 that I bought new. Put 260K on it and only had to change the water pump. Regular oil changes and used 1/2 qt in 3000miles. Got 20 mpg when not towing. I used it for towing boats. The truck rusted around it though.
Dad had one years ago. An 85 Bronco with the granny gear 4 speed. It would tow just about anything. 25 ft boat. Stuck trucks in the sand in the Outer Banks. He traded it to a neighbor with 250k on it. The neighbor used it to tow his bigger boat! The neighbor traded it to a painter to paint his house. That's the last I heard of it.
It was not fast but ran forever.
My father had one of these with 2 wheel drive, an early '80s, I think. Considering "on paper" they don't seem powerful or sophisticated, they do pull well.
I do know 1 or 2 guys with the "later" V6 (I think Ford even offered the F with the 3.8 for a short time, back when you could still get an F-100) and they run okay...but on other websites they have developed a rep for being money pits.
