Towing a '99 F-150

[yeloduster]

timjet,

If you only anticipate towing it twice per year I would definitely look at a trailer or tow dolly. If I used a tow dolly with your truck I would disconnect the driveshaft at the rear differential. Remove four relatively small bolts and remove the retaining straps. Store the bolts and straps in a secure place. Tie up the driveshaft securely. Bungy cords would scare me a little, I would probably use a light duty ratchet strap. Also, be careful to not let the bearing caps on the free ends of the u-joint come off. When I have towed my Jeep on a tow dolly I wrapped duck tape around the u-joint to make sure the bearing caps stayed in place.

Towing 4 down is expensive. You need a base plate, a tow bar, a braking system and lights. Expect to spend $3K to $5K for all this stuff. You can do a lot of rentals for that price. AND...you would have to disconnect the driveshaft for this as well.

It seems to me the most economical way to do this is to buy a used tow dolly. When not in use you can store it by pushing it tongue first under the rear of your MH. It will add 2-3 feet to the overall length needed for your parking spot.

I just looked up U-Haul tow dolly and car hauler prices from Florida to Michigan. It is ≈$500 for a tow dolly and ≈$650 for a trailer. They may decline to rent either one to you because your truck exceeds their weight ratings.

[Dutch Star Don]

"timjet".....Take a look at one of the base plate manufacturers and see how many year models their base plate fits, ie....96 -2000 F-150. Then keep an eye out for a used set. There are a few sites that sell used tow equipment. I sold the used plates off of my Silverado a few years ago.

[timjet]

Thanks guys for your reply. I haven't decided which way to go but if in fact I think we will be going back and forth from FL to Michigan each year I will probably flat tow. But probably next year I will rent a trailer one way in the spring and again in the fall. Doing that more than 2 or 3 years and I've paid for the expense of flat towing, but again for next year probably a rental trailer or dolly.