F250 7.3 PSD towing 10,000 lbs tractor?

[hondarider]

I'm about to purchase a MF 650 tractor that weighs about 10,000 lbs?
I'm wondering if my stock F250 7.3 PSD can tow it. (just once in a while)

 

[Diamondpilot]

Sure if your truck is equipped properly. Just get a 14K GN trailer. Your 250 can tow about 15,500# or more depending on the year. You can get a good light weight 14K trailer that weighs in at around 3,800# and that will leave you with 10,200# for cargo. You are not going to be able to take much more than just the tractor. The bigger problem may be the width. 8 1/2' is the legal towing width in most states and you need to watch your height on the trailer, max on that is usually 13 1/2', for stop light clearance and bridges and such.

To be sure though we need more info on your truck like bed/cab/gear/4x4 or not/year/tranny type/ect.

Chris

 

[Builder]

I'm about to purchase a MF 650 tractor that weighs about 10,000 lbs?
I'm wondering if my stock F250 7.3 PSD can tow it. (just once in a while)

I did exactly that for 13 years from 1994-2006 with at least 6 different 7.3L diesel powered Ford trucks. The engine will do it, but if the transmission is an automatic, it will not tolerate anything more than once-twice a a week towing that kind of weight. The rest of the truck should be OK. Sounds like you should be OK with occassional towing, but if you have a lot of miles on your truck and it's the original slush box, be careful.

The E4OD and the 4R100 4 speed automatics are nothing more than glorified car transmissions. If it's a ZF5 speed manual, then you're better off. ZF 6 speed is even better.

 

[hondarider]

6 ｾ-foot bed crewcab
4-speed 4R100 automatic

4R110 3.73
Gear 1 2 3 4 R
Ratio 2.71:1 1.54:1 1:1 0.71:1 2.88:1

I really don't want to install a 5th wheel.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You will not be able to tow a 10,000# tractor plus the trailer of the bumper hitch. Trust me, been there done that and have a broken hitch to prove it off my 2004 F-250 FX4 Short Bed Extended Cab. The hitch was rated at 12,000# and I bent it and cracked a weld 80% of the way through with 14,600# behind my truck from Pittsburgh to about 50 miles over the Indiana Ohio line. All this was on good roads like I 70 and US 35. Only 10 miles or less on non highway roads.

I found the broken hitch the next morning when I went to change balls from a 2 5/16" to a 2" ball to tow another trailer. I was lucky. The weld that broke was about 3" long and less than 3/4" remained. If it would have failed I would have had a mess. On the Reese Style Hitch if it fails the safety chains do you no good.

You did not list the year of your F-250, cab config, or if its 4x4 or not. I guessed with and used the info from my old truck, a 1999 7.3 auto 4x4 extended cab and my towing database says you are limited to 10,000# max off the rear hitch.

The only way you will be able to pull the load you want is to put a ball in the bed. By the way, its not a 5th wheel. They are what campers use. Equipment trailers use Goose Neck Hitches.

Chris

 

[Builder]

6 ｾ-foot bed crewcab
4-speed 4R100 automatic

4R110 3.73
Gear 1 2 3 4 R
Ratio 2.71:1 1.54:1 1:1 0.71:1 2.88:1

I really don't want to install a 5th wheel.

You'll need to mount a turnover ball in the bed and buy a gooseneck trailer to pull a 10K tractor on a trailer that's going to weigh 3,500+ lbs. I hear they're more challenging with a shortbed truck.

With the 4R100, you need to flush & fill your trans if it hasn't been done recently, check your trans cooler situation and install a second one or larger one if it's small and last but not least, install a trans temp guage.

I like the idea of a deeper tranny pan like a mag hytec, too. I put them on mine to increase the trans fluid capacity and cooling.

 

[hondarider]

I have a crewcab 4x4 if it makes any difference.

I was hoping to get this.. 22Ft, 14,000 lb. Wood Tilt Trailer For Sale

I saw a few of these at an auction.

But I guess i'm going to need these?

20Ft, 14,000 lb. Lowboy Gooseneck

Gooseneck Hitches : The Hitch Store

When do you use 5th wheel hitches and when to use gooseneck hitches?

My wife is not going to like this....



That reminds....I need to flush the tranny fluid because I haven't done one yet in three years and I tow a 7000 lbs boat and trailer.

 

[DanD78]

I would go with a deck over the tires goose neck. I have a 20' deck and 5' tail. The fenders are a pain and a tractor that large might not fit between the fenders. My 06 F350 takes on 10,000 lb with no problem so your 7.3 will be fine.


Dan

 

[aczlan]

When do you use 5th wheel hitches and when to use gooseneck hitches?

You would be well off getting a hitch of this style: 2 5/16 Folding Ball Gooseneck Hitch

As for which gets used when, generally you use a 5th wheel hitch for travel trailers and a gooseneck hitch for horse, stock and equipment trailers. IIRC the gooseneck design allows the truck and trailer to swivel a little more from side to side than a 5th wheel. In addition, a gooseneck hitch (if you go with a turnover ball style) takes up less bed space when not in use (you can just flip it down and off you go, which is important to many of those hauling equipment trailers).

Aaron Z

 

[HCJ]

I agree with this advice. Get a BMW turnover gooseneck hitch. They make a bolt on version for you truck so no drilling or modification is necessary (except for a hole in the bed of course). Then get a deckover 20', 5' dovetail 14 K gooseneck, which are fairly common. Expect to pay $4000 up to $6000. Then buy the necessary tie downs, and a brake controller if your truck doesn't have one. Now you are ready to go safely. I pull my 8000 lb. plus Kubota with several implements with a 97 F250 7.3 diesel, and it pulls great. Anything less is just not safe with a tractor this size. I would rather have a newer F350.