Beefing up my 1993 F350 for towing purposes - Diesel Forum

DiannaBlasingim · 06-12-2006, 10:53 AM

Hello. I have a 1993 F350 (you may all remember me from a year or so ago). I have a six horse gooseneck trailer and I would love your input and assistance and guidance as I make decisions for this truck. I don't want to do anything that won't help (just to spend money), and am leery that I do not have enough "knowledge" to make an educated decision.

So, I have some questions I was hoping you all could give me some input on:

Concerning assisting my truck in pulling this trailer as easily and efficiently as possible.

Also, I notice that when the trailer is sitting on the truck that it drops a bit too much, so does that mean I need springs or shocks or both? The set up on the truck right now is original (and old).

Also, not a towing question but I do live in Phoenix and while my a/c is cold in the morning, it isn't as cold as I would think and in the afternoon, it takes forever to get even mildly cool.

Thank you all for taking the time to help me out on this.

OkieGringo · 06-12-2006, 01:02 PM

Dianna, for the sagging rear end you can have an "Add-A-Leaf" put in or even better AirLift air bags. As for the A/C, when we were driving thru Phoenix last August it was 110 friggin degrees at 10:00 PM(and my A/C was NOT working at all). Why in the world would anyone want to live there? Get the A/C recharged and maybe an electric fan put in front of the A/C condenser. OkieG

DiannaBlasingim · 06-12-2006, 03:50 PM

Well, I don't want to live here, I came from New York with ex-hubby kicking and screaming the whole way. The A/C was recharged at the beginning of this season. I will talk to the mechanic about putting a fan in front of it.

Any other information on the air bag system?

Mr_Roboto · 06-12-2006, 03:56 PM

If the A/C system was very low, it's entirely possible that air and moisture were drawn into the system, which would dramatically decrease cooling capacity. A properly operating system will NEVER leak and will NEVER need to be topped off.

It may be necessary to evacuate the system overnight to remove any moisture, then refill the system. Also if the system was originally R-12 (1993 was the transition year for many manufacturers) and was converted to R134a you will experience a drop in maximum cooling capacity.

DiannaBlasingim · 06-12-2006, 06:47 PM

At the beginning of the system when I had it "checked" they were instructed to evacuate the whole system and recharge it. I was concerned (as was my husband) that there was too much oil in the system.

typefour · 06-12-2006, 06:55 PM

Get air bags for the rear I haul a huge camper and love them. To much oil in ac system can cause some problems, need to get it serviced and start as near zero oil as possible and replenish accordingly.
Make sure you have a very big trans cooler put on. Have the cooling system serviced. Haul away.
My 2 c , experience included.

Mr_Roboto · 06-12-2006, 07:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
At the beginning of the system when I had it "checked" they were instructed to evacuate the whole system and recharge it. I was concerned (as was my husband) that there was too much oil in the system.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have learned that in order to remove oil from the system the system must be taken apart and the oil physically "dumped" out. You are correct that too much oil will cause cooling problems also.

If the system was topped off with parts store freon, many times the cans will contain both oil and freon, which can leave you overfilled with oil.

Phillipmc1268 · 06-12-2006, 10:40 PM

My truck retrofitted with the R134A did well today, it hit 98º and I was very comfortable, as long as the truck stayed moving. Drive thru's and traffic jams were less comfortable, but beat the hell out of rolling down the window! I'll have to try the electric fan.

I saw a nifty hitch / suspension a few weeks ago at a campgroud. The owner loved it. It's called a Kelderman. It is the most well engineered air ride system I have seen. The receiver hitch just acts as a mount for the airbags. NOT CHEAP $950 msrp!

http://www.kelderman.com/productdeta...p?id=98FRDREAR

OkieGringo · 06-12-2006, 10:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I don't want to live here, I came from New York with ex-hubby kicking and screaming the whole way. The A/C was recharged at the beginning of this season. I will talk to the mechanic about putting a fan in front of it.

Any other information on the air bag system?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here ya go for links to the airbags. This is the system I have and I installed it myself. Camping World has lotsa experience installing these for the "mechanically challenged". OkieG

gregrob · 06-13-2006, 04:59 AM

[ QUOTE ]

Here ya go for links to the airbags. This is the system I have and I installed it myself. Camping World has lotsa experience installing these for the "mechanically challenged". OkieG

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

cdnsarguy · 06-13-2006, 04:59 AM

Dianna it has been a while .........

My first advice would be to clean the condensor and rad area ie the fins. I use compressed air first then a powerwasher. Only spray the air and powerwasher straight into the fins, any sideways washing will bend fins if your too close. I did wash mine last week and my a/c's cooling increased immensly. You would be surprised how much dust/straw/grass/bugs will decrease the performance. Also check that the heater blend door is not still allowing hot air into the cab nulifying the A/Cs performance.......

OkieGringo · 06-15-2006, 12:09 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Well, I don't want to live here, I came from New York with ex-hubby kicking and screaming the whole way. The A/C was recharged at the beginning of this season. I will talk to the mechanic about putting a fan in front of it.

Any other information on the air bag system?

[/ QUOTE ]

Here ya go for links to the airbags. This is the system I have and I installed it myself. Camping World has lotsa experience installing these for the "mechanically challenged". OkieG

[/ QUOTE ]

OOPS, another "Senior Moment" [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]. Here are the links:
Air Bags and Smart Lift Controller

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/p...5&src=SRQB

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/s...D&src=SRQB

DiannaBlasingim · 06-15-2006, 11:51 AM

Thank you all for your input and assistance. I'll let you know.

However, is there anything else I can do to make my truck more capable of handling the bigger trailer & heavy load? IE to the engine or the transmission?

RLDSL · 06-15-2006, 12:04 PM

Aside from washing the radiator/condensor, take the grill off and grab a chair , a thin flat screwdriver and a pick tool and spend an hour or so digging all the little tiny rocks and bug guts out of the condensor fins and straighten them as you go. Even a clean looking condensor can be as much as 80% blocked by small debris and bent fins.

An electric pusher fan rigged to come on with the ac will help, and a variable orfice valve will really make a difference in that climate, expecially at low speed ( get the 105 deg+ extreme climate one )

-----Robert

Mr_Roboto · 06-15-2006, 12:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Thank you all for your input and assistance. I'll let you know.

However, is there anything else I can do to make my truck more capable of handling the bigger trailer & heavy load? IE to the engine or the transmission?

[/ QUOTE ]

Trans can always use help. Get one of these: http://www.oregonperformancetransmission...egory_Code=E4O D

Also if you have not gone to the 4x4 pan yet, go to Ford and order a trans pan for a 2000 F250 4x4 5.4L 4R100 trans. This will be a deep pan WITH a drain plug. Direct bolt on. You must use a matching deep trans filter for the same app.

Heat is the transmission's enemy. You may want to look at going to a larger cooler than the factory one if you have not already.

Not a lot to do with the motor, you already have a turbo. Maybe a Walker BTM muffler or other low restriction muffler if you still have your stocker.