Trailer Needs For Newbie

[Diamondpilot]

A 1/2 ton is not enough for this.

A properly equipped 1/2 ton truck is ok for this load. It all depends on the truck. You could have 20 GM 1/2 tons sitting side by side with 15 different tow capacities depending on how they are outfitted. His big problem is now the trailer after hearing what his tractor weighs and he wants to take a BH with him.

Chris

 

[Ken45101]

I have a 7000# car hauler trailer and IIRC, it's empty weight is around 2300#.

If you are going to be hauling that much weight on the trailer, make sure it has good tires and they are rated for trailer use (ST). Some dealers will save money by putting auto tires on trailers and they definitely are not as stable.

Yes, a half ton pickup can pull a 7000# trailer, but can it safely stop and/or handle an emergency maneuver? It's pushing it, IMO. Also, 7000# is more than most hitches are rated for! Most factory hitches are rated for 5000 or 6000# and the inserts and balls are only rated for 5000#. Even the factory hitch on our 1 ton C3500 dually is only rated for 6000#.

Don't trust the factory ratings for what a vehicle can tow. Our Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated for 7000#. I'm sure the engine can pull it, but I'd would never, never, ever hook up a 7000# trailer to it! Emergency handling? Forget it! You'd be all over the road, sideways or upside down! I also remember when the Chevy trailering guide said a Chevette (70's small car) could tow a 3000# trailer. What a joke! It didn't even have any place to put a hitch for 3000#!

Ken

 

[KeithInSpace]

A 1/2 ton is not enough for this.

? My Expedition tows 9,000# like butter. It is basically 1/2 ton on shortened wheelbase and...the horror...an independent rear suspension. The only disadvantage with my setup is the extreme sensitivity to overloading the tongue...I don't/can't have "helper springs", so I need to be very careful about keeping the weight over the trailer wheels.

Not that I can't tell it's back there, but I can get up to Interstate speeds and off the line without much trouble and brake on a dime. If loaded with only my Kubota BX tractor/implements (~5,000# trailer/load combo), I can still get 13 MPG interstate. Don't ask about City.

A 1/2 ton truck can pull a 7,000# anything, CERTAINLY if you have the tow package (tranny cooler and lower gears). Of course, dual axle trailer brakes are obligitory.

 

[Ken45101]

A few years back, we were in WVa on I-64 going down a 6%, multi mile downgrade. We came around a curve and there was a semi with the tractor pulled off the road, but the trailer still blocking the right lane.

We were in the midst of other semi trucks jockying to change lanes. Fortunately, at the time I was driving the truck without trailer. However, we were exploring for places to bring the big horse trailer (17,000# GVW).

The thought of "what if we had the trailer?" certainly opened my eyes wide!

For those who feel a half ton truck is "okay" because it can "pull the load and get it to highway speeds", my question to you is "how well would it handle in an emergency maneuver on a steep downhill curve?" Would you be safe, or would you be skidding along on your side, headed for oncoming traffic.

Something to think about beyond "oh, I can pull it okay".

A half ton truck does not have the suspension or stability that the 3/4 and 1 ton units have.

A year later we went down the same hill, towing a 5000# travel trailer. Believe me, I held to the 45 mph limit posted for heavy trucks!

BTW, for those not familiar with trailers, a gooseneck or 5th wheel hitch is a lot more stable and controllable than a bumper hitch.

Ken

 

[KeithInSpace]

...WVa...going down a 6%, multi mile downgrade...places to bring the big horse trailer (17,000# GVW)..."pull the load and get it to highway speeds", ..."how well would it handle in an emergency maneuver on a steep downhill curve?" ...does not have the suspension or stability that the 3/4 and 1 ton units have.

A) I would take a very different approach to trailer towing IF I were traveling West Virginia mountain interstate. I've driven it many times and it takes effort WITHOUT a trailer. Clearly, that would make a difference in the discussion.

B) 17,000# is no joke. Very different discussion from 7,000#

C) I have performed an emergency lane-change maneuver towing my 24' Bayliner with only surge brakes and the truck performed brilliantly. That was a 5,500# load. Goober in a Geo pulled in front of me while towing home from the Outer Banks.

D) Ford rated the truck to 9,000#, not me. As a responsible adult male with children, I've pulled the rated load and WHEN PROPERLY BALANCED, it performed in a very controllable manner in acceleration, braking, and turning. I always perform a "system check" which includes adjustment of my brake controller to the new load and a low speed 'emergency stop' every time I tow anything. I once loaded a lower load poorly balanced and it performed horrible. I had to had some of the load removed and break out the shovel to balance the remaining load before leaving the loading area.

E) Traveling at or below the speed limit with rated load while making certain to keep ample room in front of you is perfectly safe and legal.

F) Traveling at 65 MPH with a 5,000# load in a 9,000# rated vehicle while generally in the far right lane, keeping pace with the semi trucks is perfectly safe and legal. See C.

G) Neither Note E or Note F requires a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. OF COURSE they handle a load better. If I towed a heavy enough load frequently enough or on extreme grades as you've described, I'd own one.

Please don't assume we're all unsafe morons. Not all suburbanites can justify or afford a 1 ton truck with gooseneck trailer. That doesn't mean we're going to kill everyone else on the road with our irresponsibility.

For that matter, a F550 is better for towing than a F350. A F750 TopKick better yet. We should all get one of those. If you can convince my wife, I'm all about it...

 

[KeithInSpace]

...and balls are only rated for 5000#...Our Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated for 7000#...a Chevette (70's small car) could tow a 3000# trailer. What a joke!

On my Expedition, I have a solid shank Weight Distributing hitch with a 10,000# ball.

I am going on the assumption that a Ford truck with a tow package and a tow rating has a hitch system rated to the same. If that isn't the case, Ford has a little problem on their hands. Perhaps I'll go check my hitch. Unfortunate about your Chevy hitch...that makes no sense.

I would never consider towing 7,000# with a Jeep GC. That thing is a toy...only a little larger than a Ford Escape...smaller than a Ford Explorer. That's another example of "knowing your surroundings".

And the Chevette thing is a joke. Funny.

 

[Ken45101]

Please don't assume we're all unsafe morons. Not all suburbanites can justify or afford a 1 ton truck with gooseneck trailer. That doesn't mean we're going to kill everyone else on the road with our irresponsibility.

I am not assuming that "we're all unsafe morons". However, I've seen plenty of questions in the horse groups where the only question is "can my xxxx (generally small) pull yyy horsetrailer.

I even personally know someone who has pulled a not small horse trailer with an S-10 pickup.

What I'm trying to point out is that the more important questions should be "can I control and stop in an emergency" rather than "can I pull". I rarely see that question asked and I believe it is the more important one. YMMV

You know they show the pickup trucks pulling freight trains. The never showed them stopping the freight trains.

You are right, it depends a lot on the terrain and distance. But that is rarely mentioned in the questions and in most parts of the country there are short sections of twisty downhills. One doesn't need to go to WVa to find a hill with a curve. I brought up the WVa incident because it opened my eyes that rural interstates can be tricky too.

Ken

 

[LBrown59]

1*What I'm trying to point out is that the more important questions should be "can I control and stop in an emergency" rather than "can I pull". I rarely see that question asked and I believe it is the more important one. YMMV

You know they show the pickup trucks pulling freight trains. The never showed them stopping the freight trains.

2* One doesn't need to go to WVa to find a hill with a curve. I brought up the WVa incident because it opened my eyes that rural interstates can be tricky too.

Ken

1*Right On.
2*I live next door to Wv. and have been to Va.
Va hain't exactly flat.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

LB you seem to do this in every topic of trailers.
So tell me why a 1/2 ton is not enough to do this?

Because he heard it on the internet, and we all know EVERYTHING you read on the internet is true. (SARCASM indicator light blinking wildly!!!!!) (And it's only a matter of time before we see a picture of his fuel tanks )

A SAFE, PROPERLY EQUIPPED, 1/2-ton, with a PROPERLY EQUIPPED trailer, and a COMPETENT DRIVER would have ZERO issues with a load the size/weight of the OP's.

There is no one who's more of a saftey advocate than I am. I believe in having more than adaquate truck/trailer to haul a load. I believe in a sufficient margin of error in weight capacities. I DO NOT believe in loading to the absolute maximum capacity of any truck or trailer for obvious reasons. I use a truck/trailer combination that can SAFELY and LEGALLY haul just shy of 11,000lbs of cargo to haul a 5200lb tractor and 1200 lb mower. That said, there is absolutely no reason on earth why a 1/2-ton truck meeting all saftey criteria can't handle a load with-in it's duty rating so long as ALL equipment is in good condition and operator is not functioning outside of his window of ability. The load specified by the OP is well with-in the SAFE, REASONABLE limits of a properly equipped 1/2-ton truck (One with sufficient towing rating....Not ALL 1/2-tons are created equal) and a safe, properly equipped 7,000lb gvwr trailer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am in the boat business so I see it all trying to tow this and that. Here is the deal with trucks, they can all be overloaded or driven my a idiot. What matters more to me is the driver and the condition of the equipment. Once saw a guy with a 1 ton Dodge Cummins sitting on 35's and a stack coming out the bed put it in the drink pulling a 1,500# 16' aluminum boat with a 5 Hp outboard. Felt real stupid when a 4 cylinder S-10 could have done that job no problem toting that boat around.

Chris