Two questions

[Orsalak]

First question is the easier one. I am in need of summer housing and I am thinking of buying a travel trailer. So this leads me to my question how much can my 73 camper 7500 power wagon (w200) safely tow. It has a 360 (I put an edelbrock four barrel and intake on) and a four speed.
Next I am hoping for some info on a problem the truck is having. The truck has a hard time starting and once it does start, idling becomes a problem if I drive it till it reaches temperature then turn it off and then turn it back on after running into a store. It seems like the truck is flooded out it starts if I have the gas all the way down. So what is going on there? It did this before I changed the carb also. This is part of the reason why I talked my wife into letting me buy the 4 barrel.

[Cheyenne Dave]

When you installed the new carb, did you mount it on a thermal isolation plate? If not, you may be boiling the gas out of the carb. After the engine gets to operating temp, that carb gets pretty hot.

Just a thought...

cd

[KRB64]

Doesn't the 7500 indicate the gross vehicle weight? Which I know is different from the combined I think. It should be listed on the vehicle right? or can look it up. Again, I know what is rated is different from real life though, there is no industry standard so they basically just make it up in their own favor. What is your axle ratio?

I'd say pulling won't be the problem. Stopping will. Make sure your trailer brakes work perfectly. Isn't the '73 still a drum brake up front? If so I'd convert to disc if possible. I guess the other limiting factor is what MPGs you can tolerate too! I tow very little with my M880. Mostly a hay wagon on the farm or a load of calves to the sale barn occasionally so I can't really say. I use my CTD for the heavy stuff but the brakes still suck (same basic braking system...)

As for the starting issue, I had a very similar situation. I finally tracked mine down to the spark. Turns out the flyweights in the distributer has rusted up. It wasn't advancing or going back. Stuck at that one setting. Took forever for me to figure that one out. Fat chance I know but worth a look, especially since you have the same situation with different carbs.

[Orsalak]

Thanks guys I will check into those ideas for the stall!
On the towing do you think this means I have 80% of 7500gvw? So 6000lbs?

[Orsalak]

Doesn't the 7500 indicate the gross vehicle weight? Which I know is different from the combined I think. It should be listed on the vehicle right? or can look it up. Again, I know what is rated is different from real life though, there is no industry standard so they basically just make it up in their own favor. What is your axle ratio?

I'd say pulling won't be the problem. Stopping will. Make sure your trailer brakes work perfectly. Isn't the '73 still a drum brake up front? If so I'd convert to disc if possible. I guess the other limiting factor is what MPGs you can tolerate too! I tow very little with my M880. Mostly a hay wagon on the farm or a load of calves to the sale barn occasionally so I can't really say. I use my CTD for the heavy stuff but the brakes still suck (same basic braking system...)

As for the starting issue, I had a very similar situation. I finally tracked mine down to the spark. Turns out the flyweights in the distributer has rusted up. It wasn't advancing or going back. Stuck at that one setting. Took forever for me to figure that one out. Fat chance I know but worth a look, especially since you have the same situation with different carbs.

I think it has 4.56 gears? I see a code under the hood on the equipment identification sticker that says code number FE7 tran np445b 4spd 4.56 3633228 I also put larger rims and tires on original 16s. They are Lt 315/70/r17.
It is drums all around. That is one of my next upgrades.
I bought a heavy trailer 8300lbs. I am thinking that this truck may not be the one.

[712edf]

That just means the 1st gear ratio is 4.56

The NP435 would have 6.69 1st gear.

Bucky

[KRB64]

The trailer is rated for 8,300lbs gross? That doesn't sound like too much, with proper gearing of course but the 4 speed will help. Still, my concern is stopping. Both trailer axles have brakes or only one?

[712edf]

I think his trailer must be a bumper pull travel trailer.

Bucky

[Orsalak]

I think his trailer must be a bumper pull travel trailer.

Bucky

I am sorry yes it is a bumper pull travel trailer that left the factory at 8900 lbs. so even more than I thought.

[712edf]

I agree with the other posters, power/gearing is sufficient but braking & maybe even cooling could be problem areas, particularly if you intend to tow in mountainous regions. Flatland short distances might be alright.

A 73 W200 likely has 4.10 gears. Good for taking off but not so great for 75mph highway speeds.

Then there's the matter of gasoline consumption....... :-(

Bucky

[KRB64]

8,900 dry so by the time you add food, water, pots & pans and everything you will be close to 5 tons. Plus all your clothes, camp chairs etc etc in the bed.

You'll pull it but like 712edf says, not very fast and not very efficient. If its just a leisurely pull to a camp site here & there you'll be ok. I wouldn't want to travel the country like that though.

If I had your truck and Bill Gate's money I'd swap in a Cummins 6BT and the running gear from the doner truck and pull that thing anywhere comfortably.

[QuantumJo]

If I had your truck and Bill Gate's money I'd swap in a Cummins 6BT and the running gear from the doner truck and pull that thing anywhere comfortably.

If I had just some of the crumbs from Bill Gates moolah I'd love to drop my 77 Adventurer body on a 92 1ton, 4x4, manual trans, CTD frame.

[Orsalak]

Well I had a friend pull it up to my summer spot. I agreed with everyone that until I get disks on the truck I will not pull it with my truck.