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Towing Police check this shit out.

LargeOrangeFont

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What the towing police have, that the rest of you don't have is...

Seat time towing a trailer.

It's all fine and dandy on a flat road on a sunny day. So pick up a half ton and roll!

But...

Trailer brakes can and do fail. Then what?

Day turns to night, and your headlights are pointed to the sky, then what?

Sunny days turn to monsoon rain and winds, that try to blow you right off the road, then what?

Sure, eq and sway bars double your hitch strength. But did you know you are supposed to remove em when you leave the pavement? Ever seen what happens to even a one ton truck frame if you don't? Is the truck/hitch/receiver/ball rated for the non eq load?

Ever seen what happens when a fifth wheel trailer hits the bed of the truck, when you try and tow a 5th wheel off road?

And how many of you know the difference between advertised towing weight and a combined vehicle weight rating? And how one effects the other one? Which one takes precedence? How to calculate the one that does? How do you find out what these numbers are for YOUR truck?

The towing police know how all these things work in the real world from experience and educating themselves. Not from reading opinions online.

Use the brains your mamma gave you. Use some common sense. Learn everything you need to know to make wise decisions.

The people you love most, are depending on you, to keep them safe, no matter what the world throws your way.

Peace!

Agreed, but people don’t seem to believe the standard towing ratings and somehow think they are better off towing 10k lbs with a 30 year old 1 ton truck.

Let’s ignore the standardized tow rating, the bigger brakes, better chassis and suspension and all the tech attached to all of that in a new truck.. it can’t possibly tow a load within is rating..
 

Riley1

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View attachment 808534

Earlier this year we towed our 24’ spectra to Lake Powell from its storage unit in Vegas. The boat on the trailer weighs around 7,000lbs. It towed fine, but the 5.7 hemi sounded like it was going to blow up going up some of those hills. Going down some of the steep hills would have felt more comfortable in a heavier truck.
It was a rental, so I didn’t mind pushing it a little. [emoji23]




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Pretty sure I saw you north on the 93 in Henderson around 4:00 yesterday or the day before
 

Riverbound

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[emoji106]

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rivermobster

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Agreed, but people don’t seem to believe the standard towing ratings and somehow think they are better off towing 10k lbs with a 30 year old 1 ton truck.

Let’s ignore the standardized tow rating, the bigger brakes, better chassis and suspension and all the tech attached to all of that in a new truck.. it can’t possibly tow a load within is rating..

Tow ratings mean nothing. The age of the tow vehicle means nothing.

The scale and the combined weight rating mean everything.

Everyone's set up is different. No one can speak for anyone else when it come to towing.

Do your own homework, and be safe!
 

LargeOrangeFont

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Tow ratings mean nothing. The age of the tow vehicle means nothing.

The scale and the combined weight rating mean everything.

Everyone's set up is different. No one can speak for anyone else when it come to towing.

Do your own homework, and be safe!


So if the scale and combined weight are within the rated limits of the vehicle, but you don’t believe the manufacturer’s rating what do you do? :)
 

pronstar

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Tow ratings mean nothing. The age of the tow vehicle means nothing.

The scale and the combined weight rating mean everything.

Everyone's set up is different. No one can speak for anyone else when it come to towing.

Do your own homework, and be safe!

But the tow rating, combined rating, tire ratings, etc can’t be exceeded so they do mean something.

If your combined weight is within spec, but any of the other ratings are exceeded, then that’s a no-go.




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squeezer

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I have a 1978 F350 Super Camper Special, mildly built 460 (Cam/intake/ignition/headers) GVW 10K lbs. Truck is less than 5K empty. Have hauled an honest two yards of gravel on many occasions (over 6K in the bed). These things are absolute brutes of a truck.

Payload aside there is nothing about that truck that the Raptor doesn’t doesn’t kill it at. Goes better, stops better, rides better, handles better, etc etc.

Anybody who is all nostalgic about 70’s and 80’s trucks needs to ease up on the White Claws...
 

LargeOrangeFont

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I have a 1978 F350 Super Camper Special, mildly built 460 (Cam/intake/ignition/headers) GVW 10K lbs. Truck is less than 5K empty. Have hauled an honest two yards of gravel on many occasions (over 6K in the bed). These things are absolute brutes of a truck.

Payload aside there is nothing about that truck that the Raptor doesn’t doesn’t kill it at. Goes better, stops better, rides better, handles better, etc etc.

Anybody who is all nostalgic about 70’s and 80’s trucks needs to ease up on the White Claws...

You are always on point and perfectly reasonable and on outside of the P&G section. :)


I dont know why, I’m not even a Ford guy but that generation of Ford pick up always seemed indestructible to me.. I’ve driven 5 or 6 of them that were beaten work trucks. They all barely ran, barley stopped, barely steered, m and barely started.. but could never be stopped and never left us stranded.
 

4Waters

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My fucking God! The SAE test used to establish tow ratings is not some slouch of a test. It's a real world test with inclines, declines and many other components to it. But hey, let's call all those engineers idiots cause they don't have the experience pulling as the all mighty towing police have here.

Nothing says I'm an arrogant asshole like arguing you're smarter than the hundreds of engineers that have established these tests and ratings just because you "have thousands of miles of towing experience" under your ass.

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I know when my boat is behind my dad's 2015 1/2 ton, I can tell when the trailer catches a rut because it pulls the back of the truck over, I feel every single bump, I don't feel any of that in my 2001 1 ton. BTW my boat and trailer weigh 4600lbs, no god damn way I would tow my enclosed car trailer with my racecar in it behind that 1/2 ton even though it's rated to tow it.
 

LargeOrangeFont

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MeCasa16

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Pretty sure I saw you north on the 93 in Henderson around 4:00 yesterday or the day before

Nope. I live in Seattle. Unless my mechanic took my vote out for a cruise. [emoji23]


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Flying_Lavey

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I know when my boat is behind my dad's 2015 1/2 ton, I can tell when the trailer catches a rut because it pulls the back of the truck over, I feel every single bump, I don't feel any of that in my 2001 1 ton. BTW my boat and trailer weigh 4600lbs, no god damn way I would tow my enclosed car trailer with my racecar in it behind that 1/2 ton even though it's rated to tow it.
Like I said, seat of the pants argument versus actual engineering and testing.

And BTW tires make a HUGE difference for sway with a trailer. Not saying that was your situation with your dad's truck, but it's frequently over looked.

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4Waters

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Like I said, seat of the pants argument versus actual engineering and testing.

And BTW tires make a HUGE difference for sway with a trailer. Not saying that was your situation with your dad's truck, but it's frequently over looked.

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Stock tires, it's just not enough truck for over 6000lbs just because it can tow it doesn't mean that it should. That said most people won't feel what I feel, I have a commercial class A and love performance driving so I am very in tune with any vehicle that I am driving.
 

Riley1

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Nope. I live in Seattle. Unless my mechanic took my vote out for a cruise. [emoji23]


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Well I saw a Campbell or Spectra V Drive. I was traveling the other direction. But it definitely caught my attention.
 

Loo Dog

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Can we just switch this to Ford vs Chevy?
Now why would you go and point out the obvious like that??? Whoever wants to take their “max tow” Ecoboost, hook up identical 13k loads and see what happens up the Cajon pass compared to a “old” 06 LBZ Duramax, I’m your huckleberry. You know, for science or whatnot.
 
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redone76

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3CC33D05-7FD9-4573-9E1B-5272720C6E59.jpeg
Got my ‘66 3/4 ton GMC out of the barn today. Wonder if it’ll out tow my ‘08 Silverado 1500...
 

rivermobster

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But the tow rating, combined rating, tire ratings, etc can’t be exceeded so they do mean something.

If your combined weight is within spec, but any of the other ratings are exceeded, then that’s a no-go.




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Yes sir. Everything needs to be checked and verified. Not Just the tow rating.

That one number by itself means absolutely nothing. But it IS the number most people get a big boner about! LoL

Let's say you thrown a Lance Camper on the back of a truck. Or 4 55 gallon drums of fuel or water, a cord of firewood and maybe some ice chests...

That 13k lb tow rating just got reduced big time! But most peeps don't consider that fact.

Every spec to be checked.
 
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lbhsbz

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View attachment 808756 Got my ‘66 3/4 ton GMC out of the barn today. Wonder if it’ll out tow my ‘08 Silverado 1500...

I drove my ‘64 1/2 ton long bed 50 miles once with bricks stacked to the bed rails...the steering wheel was mostly a novelty at anything over 10mph, but I didn’t die....and it wasn’t as bad I expected it to be. Kept running for years...just had to remember to fill up the oil and check the gas every day.

An ‘08 Silverado likely doesn’t weigh as much as those bricks and you’re using a trailer...no problem.
 

spectras only

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Yes sir. Everything needs to be checked and verified. Not Just the tow rating.


Let's say you thrown a Lance Camper on the back of a truck. Or 4 55 gallon drums of fuel or water, a cord of firewood and maybe some ice chests...

That 13k lb tow rating just got reduced big time! But most peeps don't consider that fact.

Every spec to be checked.

The GVWR is available to read what your truck's can be loaded to. Deduct it from the GCVWR and you'd know what you can tow, it's not rocket science. The GCVWR for a F-150 is 17.000lbs, properly equipped.

Spec for my F-150 Lariat with Max Tow package
F-150 Heavy-Duty Payload Package (Option Code 627)Increases GVWR to 7850 lbs. on XL, XLT and Lariat.LT275/65R18C OWL A/T tires (five).18" silver aluminum heavy-duty wheels.Upgraded springs.9.75" gear set with 3.73 electronic-locking rear axle.
 
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mesquito_creek

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To be fair... run the gcwr on a 1999 f350. My 1999 f350 weighted about 7800 if I recall (sold it 14 years ago). The gcwr was 20k, so that left me about 12200 left for 5th wheel towing. It wasn't spectacular and the frame cracked at one point. Brakes lasted about 30k miles which was my biggest complaint.
 

spectras only

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View attachment 808756 Got my ‘66 3/4 ton GMC out of the barn today. Wonder if it’ll out tow my ‘08 Silverado 1500...
That tag only tells you how much you can load your truck to reach its max total weight. What I'd like to know, what the max tow capacity was for 1966? I bet it would be less than your 08 Silverado's, let alone a late model 1/2 truck.;) Back in the 60's you'd see a loaded 30 airstream TT behind passenger cars like my 64 Lincoln that has a 5000lbs tow cap.:eek:
 

spectras only

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To be fair... run the gcwr on a 1999 f350. My 1999 f350 weighted about 7800 if I recall (sold it 14 years ago). The gcwr was 20k, so that left me about 12200 left for 5th wheel towing. It wasn't spectacular and the frame cracked at one point. Brakes lasted about 30k miles which was my biggest complaint.
The new trucks have hydroformed frames with higher torsional rigidity than the old trucks like your 1999, I bet.;)
 

4Waters

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To be fair... run the gcwr on a 1999 f350. My 1999 f350 weighted about 7800 if I recall (sold it 14 years ago). The gcwr was 20k, so that left me about 12200 left for 5th wheel towing. It wasn't spectacular and the frame cracked at one point. Brakes lasted about 30k miles which was my biggest complaint.
My 2001 F350 Crew Cab, long bed, single rear wheel, 2wd, PSD weighs 7k and change (less than 7100) if that helps. I've got almost 50k on the brakes and still have 50% on the linings, I should get 80k no problem.
 

NicPaus

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Can we just switch this to Ford vs Chevy?
Most Ford owners I know are die hard. Nothing can compare with there Fords. One is a member here. He is on his 5th 6.7 after having nothing but issues with his 6.0s. He posted the pic yesterday of his truck MPG from a round trip to Parker. 15.3 MPG avg 67 mph. My gas truck gets 16.2 in comparison and my 3500HD Duramax that weighs over 12k lbs gets 15.5 round trip. I asked towing the rzr and his response not towing.

I use to own all fords had 1 Chevy I bought new the LBZ. I now own all Chevys but am open to what works best. I have a test drive setup to get some new seat time in the latest superduty. Just the MPG of the Ford is where it lacks compared to the Chevy and Ram. The rest of the truck they are on top currently IMO.
 

Fltplan

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I have a 79 1500 4x4, 2018 1500 4x4 and a 2004 F350 4x4. Boat is 8.5k loaded on the trailer.

The 79’ wouldn’t make it to Havasu from Prescott. Power, brakes, miserable.

I didn’t think the 2018 would do that well with the same trip but I was pleasantly surprised. It was working hard on the uphills and underbraked on the downhills. I was still impressed.

My F350 with the 6.0 diesel is not comparable. It barely knows the boats there, uphill, downhill, wind.

There was a statement earlier that the new trucks have too much power for their own good, probably right on, Atleast with the half tons. There is no way I would tow 13k thru the mountains with a half ton, regardless of age, hp, etc.


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mesquito_creek

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My 2001 F350 Crew Cab, long bed, single rear wheel, 2wd, PSD weighs 7k and change (less than 7100) if that helps. I've got almost 50k on the brakes and still have 50% on the linings, I should get 80k no problem.
It was a good truck and did what it was built for... but I hung up my kidney belt on that truck and went IFS... I still own 4 trucks. Including 2 fords
 

COCA COLA COWBOY

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When I was a kid, my dad towed our 38 foot bumper pull trailer to the river to leave with a single cab 1989 Chevrolet single cab 1500 (350) truck. I think that may have been the only time I saw my dad scared.
 

DLaskaris

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I am also playing the game of being maxed out or over loaded. I have a 2017 Ram 3500 mega cab Cummins with the Aisin trans. The truck with a half tank of gas weighed in at 8600 lbs and my 2020 Attitude 35gsg +3 is 41'10" long and weighs 14,100 lbs dry according to the factory sticker. By the time you add 150 gallons of water all your crap and some toys i may be close or over 17,000 lbs. I should have it weighed fully loaded, but i am afraid to know what it really is. According to the factory the GCWR for this truck is 25,300 lbs with a max trailer weight of 16,600 lbs. As far as towing i think this tows 200% better than my 24ft tag trailer ever did. I have been through white water when the wind is blowing and this thing just plows through like a freight train. The cross wind didn't seem to be much of an issue. My buddy behind me towing a 27 ft tag trailer with a F150 lifted on 35's had to drop down to 40MPH just to stay in his lane while i was cruising at 70.
IMG_6349.jpg
 

EBT531

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I know when my boat is behind my dad's 2015 1/2 ton, I can tell when the trailer catches a rut because it pulls the back of the truck over, I feel every single bump, I don't feel any of that in my 2001 1 ton. BTW my boat and trailer weigh 4600lbs, no god damn way I would tow my enclosed car trailer with my racecar in it behind that 1/2 ton even though it's rated to tow it.

Probably depends on the factory options etc., but I pull my boat that is about 8K with fuel etc. behind my tundra with no issues. I even got 12.5 mph from CO to Phx which included pulls over 14k elevation, 6% grades up/down etc.. I usually run 65mph if that makes a difference
 

ChumpChange

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I am also playing the game of being maxed out or over loaded. I have a 2017 Ram 3500 mega cab Cummins with the Aisin trans. The truck with a half tank of gas weighed in at 8600 lbs and my 2020 Attitude 35gsg +3 is 41'10" long and weighs 14,100 lbs dry according to the factory sticker. By the time you add 150 gallons of water all your crap and some toys i may be close or over 17,000 lbs. I should have it weighed fully loaded, but i am afraid to know what it really is. According to the factory the GCWR for this truck is 25,300 lbs with a max trailer weight of 16,600 lbs. As far as towing i think this tows 200% better than my 24ft tag trailer ever did. I have been through white water when the wind is blowing and this thing just plows through like a freight train. The cross wind didn't seem to be much of an issue. My buddy behind me towing a 27 ft tag trailer with a F150 lifted on 35's had to drop down to 40MPH just to stay in his lane while i was cruising at 70. View attachment 809044

Most Rams I see with the towing mirrors out aren't towing anything like you do!
 

8dayz

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I am also playing the game of being maxed out or over loaded. I have a 2017 Ram 3500 mega cab Cummins with the Aisin trans. The truck with a half tank of gas weighed in at 8600 lbs and my 2020 Attitude 35gsg +3 is 41'10" long and weighs 14,100 lbs dry according to the factory sticker. By the time you add 150 gallons of water all your crap and some toys i may be close or over 17,000 lbs. I should have it weighed fully loaded, but i am afraid to know what it really is. According to the factory the GCWR for this truck is 25,300 lbs with a max trailer weight of 16,600 lbs. As far as towing i think this tows 200% better than my 24ft tag trailer ever did. I have been through white water when the wind is blowing and this thing just plows through like a freight train. The cross wind didn't seem to be much of an issue. My buddy behind me towing a 27 ft tag trailer with a F150 lifted on 35's had to drop down to 40MPH just to stay in his lane while i was cruising at 70. View attachment 809044

Really nice truck! What are the specs on it? Looks like some remote reservoir shocks?
 

DLaskaris

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Really nice truck! What are the specs on it? Looks like some remote reservoir shocks?
I put the Carli suspension Pin top kit on it. they are King 2.5 shocks with a custom tune for these trucks. The Kit is new front springs, shocks front and rear, sway bar, drag link, small leaf pack for rear. It lifts the front 3" and the rear 1" and the ride is way better. it is also sitting 37 13.5 20 Toyo RT's.
 

spectras only

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I don’t have the eco boost Inhabe the 5.0

Dave, I'd recommend finding a local Ecoboost with MAx tow hooking up your rig and try it. I did a test tow with the 5.0 when shopping for my truck. I tell you, found the 5.0 great but, towing with it on level roads, but, there's no comparison, Ecoboost vs n/a 5.0. The 5.0 would bug down on a long steep hill, unless flooring it and downshift to second gear. I [m in no lower than 3rd gear on 5-6% grades, maintaining momentum. My trailer's spec is 7850 lbs dry,with max loaded weight 9600.TW of the trailer is 960lbs,loading spec on the truck's factory hitch is 1200lbs. You'd need an endorsement above 10.200 lbs in Canada, so the trailer manufacturers build these units accordingly for 1/2 Ton trucks. The F-150 has built in electronic sway control, but in case of strong crosswinds in open areas, I do have not one but two sway bars to attach. I don't care if you have a 150 or 350 truck, traveling on highways over over 65mph, hit a 25-30mph crosswind , you're in trouble.;)The surface area vs weight of any large TT is always a concern, as you can see semis flip over with unloaded trailers.
In this picture, I had the WD bars off to demonstrate the truck sitting perfectly level, with the TT's 960 lbs TW on the hitch.
upload_2019-10-21_13-44-42.jpeg
 

Canuck 1

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Dave, I'd recommend finding a local Ecoboost with MAx tow hooking up your rig and try it. I did a test tow with the 5.0 when shopping for my truck. I tell you, found the 5.0 great but, towing with it on level roads, but, there's no comparison, Ecoboost vs n/a 5.0. The 5.0 would bug down on a long steep hill, unless flooring it and downshift to second gear. I [m in no lower than 3rd gear on 5-6% grades, maintaining momentum. My trailer's spec is 7850 lbs dry,with max loaded weight 9600.TW of the trailer is 960lbs,loading spec on the truck's factory hitch is 1200lbs. You'd need an endorsement above 10.200 lbs in Canada, so the trailer manufacturers build these units accordingly for 1/2 Ton trucks. The F-150 has built in electronic sway control, but in case of strong crosswinds in open areas, I do have not one but two sway bars to attach. I don't care if you have a 150 or 350 truck, traveling on highways over over 65mph, hit a 25-30mph crosswind , you're in trouble.;)The surface area vs weight of any large TT is always a concern, as you can see semis flip over with unloaded trailers.
In this picture, I had the WD bars off to demonstrate the truck sitting perfectly level, with the TT's 960 lbs TW on the hitch.
View attachment 809092

You only need the endorsement in BC, no commies left in Alberta
 

Mr. C

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I put the Carli suspension Pin top kit on it. they are King 2.5 shocks with a custom tune for these trucks. The Kit is new front springs, shocks front and rear, sway bar, drag link, small leaf pack for rear. It lifts the front 3" and the rear 1" and the ride is way better. it is also sitting 37 13.5 20 Toyo RT's.

Nice looking!!! My son just did his 2500. Level Kit PinTop 2 1/2 in front just shocks in back with sway bar. On 37s x 12.5. He loves it.
IMG_2752.JPG
IMG_2750.JPG
IMG_2754.JPG
IMG_2751.JPG



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spectras only

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You only need the endorsement in BC, no commies left in Alberta
I had to take a class to get my airbrake lic too, to drive my buddy's diesel pusher. You don't need to do that in Alberta, either?
BTW, did you go protest Greta yesterday?;)
 

Canuck 1

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I had to take a class to get my airbrake lic too, to drive my buddy's diesel pusher. You don't need to do that in Alberta, either?
BTW, did you go protest Greta yesterday?;)

No airbrake needed for motorhomes, The church of global warming got the wrath of the redneck thrown at them, I wouldn't walk across the street to give them the attention they crave
 

RiverDave

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Dave, I'd recommend finding a local Ecoboost with MAx tow hooking up your rig and try it. I did a test tow with the 5.0 when shopping for my truck. I tell you, found the 5.0 great but, towing with it on level roads, but, there's no comparison, Ecoboost vs n/a 5.0. The 5.0 would bug down on a long steep hill, unless flooring it and downshift to second gear. I [m in no lower than 3rd gear on 5-6% grades, maintaining momentum. My trailer's spec is 7850 lbs dry,with max loaded weight 9600.TW of the trailer is 960lbs,loading spec on the truck's factory hitch is 1200lbs. You'd need an endorsement above 10.200 lbs in Canada, so the trailer manufacturers build these units accordingly for 1/2 Ton trucks. The F-150 has built in electronic sway control, but in case of strong crosswinds in open areas, I do have not one but two sway bars to attach. I don't care if you have a 150 or 350 truck, traveling on highways over over 65mph, hit a 25-30mph crosswind , you're in trouble.;)The surface area vs weight of any large TT is always a concern, as you can see semis flip over with unloaded trailers.
In this picture, I had the WD bars off to demonstrate the truck sitting perfectly level, with the TT's 960 lbs TW on the hitch.
View attachment 809092

I'm not buying a new truck for awhile.. LOL I spent waaaaayyyyy too much money over the last 4 months.

RD
 

CLdrinker

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Dave, I'd recommend finding a local Ecoboost with MAx tow hooking up your rig and try it. I did a test tow with the 5.0 when shopping for my truck. I tell you, found the 5.0 great but, towing with it on level roads, but, there's no comparison, Ecoboost vs n/a 5.0. The 5.0 would bug down on a long steep hill, unless flooring it and downshift to second gear. I [m in no lower than 3rd gear on 5-6% grades, maintaining momentum. My trailer's spec is 7850 lbs dry,with max loaded weight 9600.TW of the trailer is 960lbs,loading spec on the truck's factory hitch is 1200lbs. You'd need an endorsement above 10.200 lbs in Canada, so the trailer manufacturers build these units accordingly for 1/2 Ton trucks. The F-150 has built in electronic sway control, but in case of strong crosswinds in open areas, I do have not one but two sway bars to attach. I don't care if you have a 150 or 350 truck, traveling on highways over over 65mph, hit a 25-30mph crosswind , you're in trouble.;)The surface area vs weight of any large TT is always a concern, as you can see semis flip over with unloaded trailers.
In this picture, I had the WD bars off to demonstrate the truck sitting perfectly level, with the TT's 960 lbs TW on the hitch.
View attachment 809092
Did you just say that there is no difference when towing in crosswinds if you have a 1/2ton or 1ton?
Your high as fuck.
 

CLdrinker

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Food for thought. Ram 1500 4x4 5.7 with 3:55 rear end. Truck was at its limit pulling this trailer. Power and braking was not a problem. If you were a rookie towing trailers I would heavily advise against it.

Ram 2500 4x4 6.4 with 4:10 rear end. Truck can pull the same trailer without issue. I just made the hauled from Apple Valley to Mammoth on Thursday night. Wind was so severe it blew the steps down on the trailer multiple times. I was literally pulling the trailer sideways. I could see the whole passenger side of the trailer in my right side mirror. My left side mirror only showed the front of the trailer. Truck didn’t even flinch. Why? Not because it has more power or torque. It’s because the 2500 is a whole hell of allot heavier.
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