Need advice on F250 and gooseneck trailer combo

[chh]

Flusher this is strictly my personal preference, but I really prefer towing with a gooseneck even though for what you are talking about I think you could get by easily with a BP trailer. The only bumper pull trailer I tow is my boat. I have only used deckover goosenecks, it always seems I have something too wide for fenders(well actually most everything I have now is too wide for fenders). Unless you where wanting a dedicated tow rig your F 150 could probably handle a 20'+5' dovetail with the load you are talking about pulling. If you get a 3/4 ton definetly go diesel or the V10. The 5.8 V8 does not have near the power of the V10 and really does not get any better fuel mileage. The V10 is not really a popular engine though and they generally sell at a discount used because of that.

 

[GATC35]

Very interesting post here. Since I have, or had, many of the trucks discussed here I'll throw in my 2 cents worth. I have an F-150 like yours also. Mine is a 1999 XLT lariat 2 wd 4.6L 3:55 gears with 215,00 miles on it. Great truck, it's my daily driver back and forth to work and my errand truck. As far as towing goes it's a DOG! The 4.6L just doesn't have the guts to tow. The only thing I will ever tow with this truck is a 6 x 12 utility trailer with a ZTR lawn mower on it. If you want to tow with a F-150 make sure it has the 5.4L engine. I had a 2000 F-250 V-10 4x4 SWB that I put 158,000 miles on. Also a great truck, probably one of the best trucks I have ever owned. The V-10 was very reliable, quite and powerful. I never did anything to that engine but change the oil. It was great for towing would pull anything you put behind it. The V-10 got a bad rep because of the gas mileage. Like previously stated the 5.4 is just as bad or worse in a F-250 when it comes to MPG. This truck weighted 6,250 lbs dry without me in it. These trucks are made for towing, not MPG. If you want MPG buy a Honda. My current truck is a 1999 F-250 4x4 LWB with the "Powerstroke" diesel engine. Great truck, great engine. Lots of low end torque. Will also pull anything you hook to it. The only disadvantage is the diesel engine requires a little more routine maintenance.

As far as trailers go you will be fine with a bumper pull for the weight you are towing. Just make sure you get a deckover. You DO NOT want fenders. They are evil and the work of Satan. The first trailer I bought for my landscaping company had fenders. It took about two weeks to realize that was a big mistake. You couldn't place a pallet of sod, concrete blocks, mortar mix, etc over the axles due to the fenders being in the way. Also from time to time I rented large tracked skid steers and mini excavators, some models would not fit between the fenders. So I had to swap trailers or pay a delivery/pick-up fee.

Here are some pics of my current set up. If you have any questions let me know.

Hope this makes sense, I have been out in the sun bush hogging all day.

 

[Duffster]

The rear tires won't even go past the fenders when loaded. QUOTE]

OK

 

[hackalot]

I've got a 2008 Ford V-10, 4.10 gear and pull a Moritz low profile 20'+5' gn deckover. I use it to haul Kubota M9540 w FEL & bush hog (8,000#) or PC-27M Komatsu excavator (7,000#) or KutKwick slopemower (3,000#). Trailer is 15,000 GVWR and weighs 5,400#.

Tractor width is about 86" & slopemower is 96".

Setup has worked great for me.

 

[Duffster]

I've got a 2008 Ford V-10, 4.10 gear and pull a Moritz low profile 20'+5' gn deckover. I use it to haul Kubota M9540 w FEL & bush hog (8,000#) or PC-27M Komatsu excavator (7,000#) or KutKwick slopemower (3,000#). Trailer is 15,000 GVWR and weighs 5,400#.

Tractor width is about 86" & slopemower is 96".

Setup has worked great for me.

Nice truck and Trailer

Not sure if I would like that forward leaning upright on the gooseneck though.

 

[jiminsc]

Nice truck and Trailer

thank you.

Not sure if I would like that forward leaning upright on the gooseneck though.

It's a one piece steel frame which I think is a better (stronger) design than the units that have two or three pieces connected with plates & welds at the angle transitions.

 

[Duffster]

thank you.

LOL

I am confused now.

Did you change your name since this morning or do you have a split personality.

It's a one piece steel frame which I think is a better (stronger) design than the units that have two or three pieces connected with plates & welds at the angle transitions.

Isn't it still cut at the angles all but one flange?

 

[jiminsc]

LOL

I am confused now.

Did you change your name since this morning or do you have a split personality.



Isn't it still cut at the angles all but one flange?

Just realized I'm registered twice with different logins, one for my laptop and one for my home computer. Guess I better consolidate, I have a difficult time remembering anything at my age.

 

[flusher]

I'm restoring a 1951 Minneapolis Moline BF gasser and plan to trailer it to tractor club events when it's ready to go.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/vintage-tractors/136417-minneapolis-moline-bf.html

If I hang the rear wheel weights on it, the BF will tip the scales around 4500 lb. Track width is 57" measured to rear wheel outer walls.

I have a 2001 F150 (regular cab, 4x2, automatic tranny, long bed, 4.6L gasser, 3.55 rear axle, 93000 miles) that's supposed to be able to handle up to 7200 lb of trailer weight. The F150 has the factory BP towing package.

I could invest in an 18-20ft BP equipment trailer and use the F150.

But I'd like to check out the F250 with a 20-ft GN as an option. There are plenty of F250's on craigslist and the prices are attractive.

Question: what should I be looking for in the F250 (engine size, diesel/gas?, tranny, rear end, towing pkg, etc)?

Question: which GNs should I be looking at? I'd like to be able to haul my 1964 MF-135 diesel that has 83" track width measured at the rear tire outer walls.

Been thinking about my hauling situation for a few weeks now and I think I've got a plan.

Find a 1996-98 vintage F250 diesel (7.5L, 3.55 rear axle) with 13000-15000 lbGCWR, 8000-9000 lb max trailer weight, that's running OK and has a decent towing setup. Hope to find one for $8-10K.

Buy a gooseneck equipment trailer with tilt bed. I like this 7K unit

7-Ton Multi-Purpose Gooseneck Tilt Bed trailer with multi-leaf suspension

What I'm looking for is safety and convenience (hitching/unhitching, loading/unloading the tractor onto the trailer). To me that means having a towing vehicle that can handle the trailer load, having a stable trailer (why I like the gooseneck), and having a trailer that's easy to load/unload (why I like the tilt bed).

When the F250 engine, tranny, rear end go south, I'll spend the $$$ and drop in a remanufactured unit.

Question: what's the typical cost of a remanufactured engine for that F250 I'm considering? Tranny? Rear end?

The 2001 F150?--I'll sell that on craigslist and use the cash as a down payment on a new high gas mileage going-to-town vehicle (Prius, Jetta, etc).

 

[Duffster]

Been thinking about my hauling situation for a few weeks now and I think I've got a plan.

Find a 1996-98 vintage F250 diesel (7.5L, 3.55 rear axle) with 13000-15000 lbGCWR, 8000-9000 lb max trailer weight, that's running OK and has a decent towing setup. Hope to find one for $8-10K.

Buy a gooseneck equipment trailer with tilt bed. I like this 7K unit

7-Ton Multi-Purpose Gooseneck Tilt Bed trailer with multi-leaf suspension

What I'm looking for is safety and convenience (hitching/unhitching, loading/unloading the tractor onto the trailer). To me that means having a towing vehicle that can handle the trailer load, having a stable trailer (why I like the gooseneck), and having a trailer that's easy to load/unload (why I like the tilt bed).

When the F250 engine, tranny, rear end go south, I'll spend the $$$ and drop in a remanufactured unit.

Question: what's the typical cost of a remanufactured engine for that F250 I'm considering? Tranny? Rear end?

The 2001 F150?--I'll sell that on craigslist and use the cash as a down payment on a new high gas mileage going-to-town vehicle (Prius, Jetta, etc).

Good plan,

but good luck finding a '98 F250 diesel