Tool Trailer for Handyman Service

[Ray Cecil]

2020 is going to be my year when I finally start my own business. We've got $ in the bank as a cushion finally, and I would be disappointed in myself if I never tried being my own boss.

The Rig will be little Blue 82 Flareside pulling a single axle 10' or 12' long enclosed trailer.

Hints, tips, tow caps, locks, safety, etc. Any advice from the crowd? I will mostly be driving around town, rarely going over 60mph.

I am thinking an automatic with the 300 six. Upgrade to an offy intake and a fitech fuel injection setup.

I plan on this being a 6 month long project until launch.

I need to rebuild front end and get the steering dialed in so its safe to haul.

[Rembrant]

The Rig will be little Blue 82 Flareside pulling a single axle 10' or 12' long enclosed trailer.

Have you given any thought to just buying a used cargo van to use strictly for work? I'm just wondering if it makes any more sense or would it be too expensive. That or an old pickup with a Spacecap on it?

I dunno, I'd have a hard time using a classic Flareside as a work truck. You may not set out to use the bed on the truck, but it could happen, and you wouldn't want to hurt those fiberglass fenders or bed, etc.

Just playing devil's advocate Ray, and curious about other options...if there are any;).

For what you'll spend modding the '82 for more power, maybe you could buy an old 3/4 ton with an 8 ft box? And, who wouldn't want more trucks??...lol.

 

[Ray Cecil]

The Rig will be little Blue 82 Flareside pulling a single axle 10' or 12' long enclosed trailer.

Have you given any thought to just buying a used cargo van to use strictly for work? I'm just wondering if it makes any more sense or would it be too expensive. That or an old pickup with a Spacecap on it?

I dunno, I'd have a hard time using a classic Flareside as a work truck. You may not set out to use the bed on the truck, but it could happen, and you wouldn't want to hurt those fiberglass fenders or bed, etc.

Just playing devil's advocate Ray, and curious about other options...if there are any;).

For what you'll spend modding the '82 for more power, maybe you could buy an old 3/4 ton with an 8 ft box? And, who wouldn't want more trucks??...lol.

My wife will kill me if I buy another vehicle. The flareside will do.

Options on automatics? Will the c6 in that bronco bolt up to the 300? I think I asked this question before, but cant remember the answer.

[Gary Lewis]

My wife will kill me if I buy another vehicle. The flareside will do.

Options on automatics? Will the c6 in that bronco bolt up to the 300? I think I asked this question before, but cant remember the answer.

I've read this several times, but haven't figured out for sure what will be in the trailer. Nor therefore how heavy the trailer might be.

As for the C6, a tranny from a Windsor will bolt to a 300. But you'll need a flexplate for the 300.

[Ray Cecil]

I've read this several times, but haven't figured out for sure what will be in the trailer. Nor therefore how heavy the trailer might be.

As for the C6, a tranny from a Windsor will bolt to a 300. But you'll need a flexplate for the 300.

Gary, the thread title says it all. Handyman service. So, anything from a hammer, to a tool chest, to a power washer, ladder....

So, a 302 is considered a windsor? Forgive me for my ignorance.

 

[Gary Lewis]

Gary, the thread title says it all. Handyman service. So, anything from a hammer, to a tool chest, to a power washer, ladder....

So, a 302 is considered a windsor? Forgive me for my ignorance.

Yes, handyman. But the handymen I've seen don't usually go around with trailers. Just pickups. So I'm still struggling to understand how heavy the trailer is and if the truck can handle it.

Yes, a 255, 302, and 351W are Windsors.

[Rembrant]

Yes, handyman. But the handymen I've seen don't usually go around with trailers. Just pickups. So I'm still struggling to understand how heavy the trailer is and if the truck can handle it.

I see some contractors around here using enclosed utility trailers, mainly in the heat pump installation business, and sometimes carpentry. It allows the contractor or sole proprietor to buy whatever pickup they want for personal use, and then the truck does double duty as a work truck through the week. Otherwise they all use vans. When phone company or cable company unloads a bunch of old white vans they end up as handyman vehicles!

Ray will correct me if I'm wrong as I assume he already looked into this, but I'm guessing 10-12 ft single axle trailers are in the 1000 lb range when empty. I'm also guessing that day to day cargo weight would be 250-500 lbs, with a 1000 lbs being an occasional peak weight? Ray? Ya know, if you were to stick a 750 lb lawn tractor in one with a few other tools, you'd hit 2000 lbs total pretty easily.

Yes, a 255, 302, and 351W are Windsors.

On a side note to the Windsors...there is also the rare 1982-1983 only 3.8 V6, I believe it also had the Windsor bolt pattern? I only know this because I was reading recently about the 4.2 V6 that replaced the 300/6 in 1997. It apparently also had the SBF bolt pattern until it's last year in 2008. Interesting little pushrod engine that was used right along side all of the modular Triton engines. It was like a small small block. There was a guy on Facebook last week that had purchased a 1997 F150 transmission to install in an early Bullnose with a 3.8 V6, a swap I didn't know was possible.

I wonder what other later 1997-2008 transmissions would work? There are some of them that you can buy stand alone electronic controllers for.

As for the C6 from the Bronco being swapped into Ray's 1982, yes be aware of the flexplate differences. A 300/6 auto trans flexplate would be required, and I assume the crossmember from the Bronco.

Might also need to come up with a kickdown rod for a 300/6, or was that done by cable?

Also need an auto trans steering column...unless the one can be swapped over from the Bronco? I believe I've seen Bricknose columns in Bullnose trucks, although the steering wheel looks a little out of place.

 

[Ray Cecil]

Yes, handyman. But the handymen I've seen don't usually go around with trailers. Just pickups. So I'm still struggling to understand how heavy the trailer is and if the truck can handle it.

I see some contractors around here using enclosed utility trailers, mainly in the heat pump installation business, and sometimes carpentry. It allows the contractor or sole proprietor to buy whatever pickup they want for personal use, and then the truck does double duty as a work truck through the week. Otherwise they all use vans. When phone company or cable company unloads a bunch of old white vans they end up as handyman vehicles!

Ray will correct me if I'm wrong as I assume he already looked into this, but I'm guessing 10-12 ft single axle trailers are in the 1000 lb range when empty. I'm also guessing that day to day cargo weight would be 250-500 lbs, with a 1000 lbs being an occasional peak weight? Ray? Ya know, if you were to stick a 750 lb lawn tractor in one with a few other tools, you'd hit 2000 lbs total pretty easily.

Yes, a 255, 302, and 351W are Windsors.

On a side note to the Windsors...there is also the rare 1982-1983 only 3.8 V6, I believe it also had the Windsor bolt pattern? I only know this because I was reading recently about the 4.2 V6 that replaced the 300/6 in 1997. It apparently also had the SBF bolt pattern until it's last year in 2008. Interesting little pushrod engine that was used right along side all of the modular Triton engines. It was like a small small block. There was a guy on Facebook last week that had purchased a 1997 F150 transmission to install in an early Bullnose with a 3.8 V6, a swap I didn't know was possible.

I wonder what other later 1997-2008 transmissions would work? There are some of them that you can buy stand alone electronic controllers for.

As for the C6 from the Bronco being swapped into Ray's 1982, yes be aware of the flexplate differences. A 300/6 auto trans flexplate would be required, and I assume the crossmember from the Bronco.

Might also need to come up with a kickdown rod for a 300/6, or was that done by cable?

Also need an auto trans steering column...unless the one can be swapped over from the Bronco? I believe I've seen Bricknose columns in Bullnose trucks, although the steering wheel looks a little out of place.

I will probably start with deck, fence and exterior siding repair, stain, paint, drywall repair.

Yes, 10 to 12 foot cargo trailer.

So the max tow weight is 2000lbs for an automatic flareside!? That seems pretty low.

[Rembrant]

So the max tow weight is 2000lbs for an automatic flareside!? That seems pretty low.

You have the 4spd w/OD now, right?

An NP435 swap might be what you're looking for...that's the work transmission if there ever was one.

 

[Gary Lewis]

So the max tow weight is 2000lbs for an automatic flareside!? That seems pretty low.

You have the 4spd w/OD now, right?

An NP435 swap might be what you're looking for...that's the work transmission if there ever was one.

That's why I've been asking what would be in the trailer. The tow ratings on the 4spd OD are really low. But with a C6 the ratings are much higher. And, while the NP435 ratings are low from Ford that's just 'cause it is a manual. But I'm with Cory - that's a work tranny and with its low first gear you can move anything.

Use the 1986 Towing Guide tab here: Documentation/Specifications/Towing.