Rental Yards here now require 3/4 ton truck or better when towing.

[ultrarunner]

If a rental outfit, or anyone else, knows that somebody is getting themselves into a dangerous towing situation, I'd hope they'd prevent it. And if they don't, when they could, and some guy runs over me or my loved ones, I'm suing everyone involved. And that's only right.

My point is the 3/4 ton of better truck really is a line in the sand when 1/2 ton trucks are made and sold with several times the rated towing capacity of the equipment I wanted to rent.

If the yard was serious, they would evaluate each vehicle based on manufacturer's rating, load and hitch specifications...

When I worked in Austria, the registration for every vehicle clearly states the maximum towing capacity in bold print... towing a trailer is as simple as comparing the registration of the tow vehicle with the equipment to be towed...

 

[Depmandog]

A tad off topic, but it has been discussed in the thread...thought some of you might be interested.

I bought my son a new F150 4x4 SuperCrew with the ecoboost 3.5 V6 last week. Didn't plan on buying new, but 2 year old trucks with 40k miles were about the same price as the heavily discounted new units - courtesy of Ford Truck month. That and Ford extended the powertrain warranty to 5 years / 100k ...it was a no brainer.

We decided to get the ecoboost engine after tons of research. I have linked the first of 5 or 6 videos from Ford called the Ecoboost Torture test. Expressive to say the least!

http://youtu.be/ttMD-n2D_18

I will tell you...I am amazed...365 HP / 420 pounds of torque from a V6. Power off the line, turbos kick in at low RPM - you can feel them spooling at 1500 RPM. 21 mpg highway with a 36 gallon tank. That's some range.

Too bad I won't get to drive it much!!

 

[TomSeller]

Sounds like it is Ford Tough. Impressive.

 

[sd455dan]

A tad off topic, but it has been discussed in the thread...thought some of you might be interested.

I bought my son a new F150 4x4 SuperCrew with the ecoboost 3.5 V6 last week. Didn't plan on buying new, but 2 year old trucks with 40k miles were about the same price as the heavily discounted new units - courtesy of Ford Truck month. That and Ford extended the powertrain warranty to 5 years / 100k ...it was a no brainer.

We decided to get the ecoboost engine after tons of research. I have linked the first of 5 or 6 videos from Ford called the Ecoboost Torture test. Expressive to say the least!

Episode 1 Ford F 150 EcoBoost Torture Test - YouTube

I will tell you...I am amazed...365 HP / 420 pounds of torque from a V6. Power off the line, turbos kick in at low RPM - you can feel them spooling at 1500 RPM. 21 mpg highway with a 36 gallon tank. That's some range.

Too bad I won't get to drive it much!!

Maybe we can get your input on the tires? I'm wondering what these half tons come with from the factory. If it's not to much trouble, Would you mind posting the specs including load range?? And the GCWR, your truck seems to fit the high powered Eco boost that is what everyone has been discussing. That does sound like a blast to drive-with that much power probably give a few old muscle cars fits 0-60 and with much better mileage.

 

[Depmandog]

Maybe we can get your input on the tires? I'm wondering what these half tons come with from the factory. If it's not to much trouble, Would you mind posting the specs including load range?? And the GCWR, your truck seems to fit the high powered Eco boost that is what everyone has been discussing. That does sound like a blast to drive-with that much power probably give a few old muscle cars fits 0-60 and with much better mileage.

I sure will. My son is at college, but is planning on coming home tonight or tomorrow. I will get the specs and post here. Honestly, I am not sure if they put LT or P tires on This particular dealer orders all his trucks "models" spec'd with with the same options. For instance their ecoboost trucks have the 7,200 GVWR option, tow package (brake controller, trailer sway control and receiver) rear camera, rear sensors.

Ours is a 3.55 with electronic locking rear differential. Will post the other specs later.

 

[sd455dan]

All trucks including 2500 series require a weight distribution hitch above a certain limit. Some 3/4 ton trucks have a 300 lb tongue/3000 lb limit without one. The 500/5000 limit is actually average to above average in 3/4 tons.

Unfortunately many don't realize this. I see a lot of skid steers and mini excavators being hauled behind 3/4 ton trucks without a WD hitch and 99% of them are exceeding their hitch limits. You can purchase aftermarket hitches but that doesn't change what the manual states.

Having the WD hitch spreads the tongue load across all the bolts holding the hitch on rather than just the rear bolts taking all the tension. Not to mention adding addition weight to your most important stopping axle, the front.

You are correct, towing capacities between the 3/4 ton and 1/2 ton are similar. What you gain is cargo capacity.

I noticed this on another thread now check the listed tire inflation (35psi) someone correct me if I'm wrong , but shouldn't the pressure be closer to 80 psi If this truck is going to pull an 11,000 lbs.+ trailer, those air pressure #s look like passenger car inflation pressures?? I just want everyone to be safe especially towing at max weights... Now if i'm wrong on this assumption that all trucks that are going to tow 10,000+lbs. should have 10 ply rated, load range E tires. Please set me straight. I just don't want anyone to have an accident due to tire overloading

 

[Dmace]

Tire pressure and load ratings are more important when talking payload not tow capacity. When towing 11k lbs the tires may see 1100-1500 lbs of tongue weight. Hardly enough to require 10 ply tires.

I will add though that the sticker clearly list P rated tires which is ridiculous. That truck should have LT tires.

 

[Renze]

ITs like GEICO not insuring Mustangs years ago. Mustangs were black listed and they didnt care if you were a 70 year old lady and the mustang had a 4 cylinder engine. If it was a mustang, they would not insure it. Why? They told me it was because the type who bought them (teenagers) had too many wrecks and it was easier just to blacklist all Mustangs than argue who drives how.

A VW Golf is very expensive to insure over here. Because the type of drivers you refer to: Wannabe macho kids wearing baseball caps the wrong way.
When i discarded my Volvo 440 (small family car, predecessor of the S40 and V40) after my boss hit it with the 5th wheel trailer on the parking lot, and bought my first 850, i payd the same insurance despite the 850 being 400kg heavier. Assumably the typical driver of larger older Volvos doesnt get involved in damage that often... ?

 

[jejeosborne]

I noticed this on another thread<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=310808"/> now check the listed tire inflation (35psi) someone correct me if I'm wrong , but shouldn't the pressure be closer to 80 psi If this truck is going to pull an 11,000 lbs.+ trailer, those air pressure #s look like passenger car inflation pressures?? I just want everyone to be safe especially towing at max weights... Now if i'm wrong on this assumption that all trucks that are going to tow 10,000+lbs. should have 10 ply rated, load range E tires. Please set me straight. I just don't want anyone to have an accident due to tire overloading

Yes, that is my sticker. I agree, I would benefit from LT tires. They were an option with the HD package but it would have forced me into a 6.5' bed with the SCREW cab. These passenger tires to cover my axle ratings at max pressure. Here is my sidewall. These tires cover me up to my 11,300 towing capacity. When replacement time comes around, I will probably opt for P tires again for my needs.

 

[Dmace]

So do you run those tires at 44 psi or the Ford recommended 35?
Those tires are not gonna take your axle rating at 35 psi for long. Looks like Ford is asking for another Explorer/Firestone class action suit by cheaping out in important areas...