Your towing rigs and trailers

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

What would you all recommend to tow 14k lbs? I need something reliable, cheap to own and won’t break the bank buying the truck.

Current truck is a 2wd 1995 F350 dually flatbed with 460 v8. Gets 7.3-8.4mpg lol.

I’m thinking about either building this truck up to pull or buying diesel.

I haven’t tried to pull more than 8000lbs with my truck, it should max out around 12,000lbs legally. I would need to liven the engine up to pull 14k.

I don’t have a gooseneck, would prob add one or buy a truck with one already installed.

So far I’m thinking about the 7.3 IDIT (cheap to fix). 6.2 Chevy diesel (cheap and can bolt on 6.5 turbo), Something with a 12v Cummings (good puller, easy to liven up), 8.1 vortec with Allison trans or if I can find one cheap enough, 6.6 LBZ with Allison (reliable but expensive to fix).

That’s what I’m thinking so far. Haven’t made up my mind. Would like to be around 5k, Max 10k. Paid $1800 for my current truck, it’s done well so far.

I would need to add to my truck: brake controller, much bigger trans cooler (E4OD), liven engine, possibly add goose neck hitch. Or buy another truck.

 

[Tomtint]

What would you all recommend to tow 14k lbs? I need something reliable, cheap to own and won’t break the bank buying the truck.

Current truck is a 2wd 1995 F350 dually flatbed with 460 v8. Gets 7.3-8.4mpg lol.

I’m thinking about either building this truck up to pull or buying diesel.

I haven’t tried to pull more than 8000lbs with my truck, it should max out around 12,000lbs legally. I would need to liven the engine up to pull 14k.

I don’t have a gooseneck, would prob add one or buy a truck with one already installed.

So far I’m thinking about the 7.3 IDIT (cheap to fix). 6.2 Chevy diesel (cheap and can bolt on 6.5 turbo), Something with a 12v Cummings (good puller, easy to liven up), 8.1 vortec with Allison trans or if I can find one cheap enough, 6.6 LBZ with Allison (reliable but expensive to fix).

That’s what I’m thinking so far. Haven’t made up my mind. Would like to be around 5k, Max 10k. Paid $1800 for my current truck, it’s done well so far.

I would need to add to my truck: brake controller, much bigger trans cooler (E4OD), liven engine, possibly add goose neck hitch. Or buy another truck.

I have a 2017 F450 4x4 V10 dump truck. It does the majority of the heavy pulling for me. I have had my 18k GVW trailer and the KX121 behind it, and it handles the weight very well. ..a diesel would be better but the little I pull that much around..I didn't see the need for the diesel. It's atrocious on fuel..6-6.5 mpg on average. ...worse when plowing snow.

 

[farm boy00]

.

What would you all recommend to tow 14k lbs? I need something reliable, cheap to own and won’t break the bank buying the truck.

Current truck is a 2wd 1995 F350 dually flatbed with 460 v8. Gets 7.3-8.4mpg lol.

I’m thinking about either building this truck up to pull or buying diesel.

I haven’t tried to pull more than 8000lbs with my truck, it should max out around 12,000lbs legally. I would need to liven the engine up to pull 14k.

I don’t have a gooseneck, would prob add one or buy a truck with one already installed.

So far I’m thinking about the 7.3 IDIT (cheap to fix). 6.2 Chevy diesel (cheap and can bolt on 6.5 turbo), Something with a 12v Cummings (good puller, easy to liven up), 8.1 vortec with Allison trans or if I can find one cheap enough, 6.6 LBZ with Allison (reliable but expensive to fix).

That’s what I’m thinking so far. Haven’t made up my mind. Would like to be around 5k, Max 10k. Paid $1800 for my current truck, it’s done well so far.

I would need to add to my truck: brake controller, much bigger trans cooler (E4OD), liven engine, possibly add goose neck hitch. Or buy another truck.

I would simply build your 460 up. I bet it would even tow that weight stock.

There is a few cheap ways to liven up a 460. Aftermarket headers along with straight pipe, and mod the intake pipe so it breathes better. Google it though because I dont remember what all it was.

My father's 94 f250 460 5sp towed my allis chalmers forklift and trailer without even noticing it was there. Could start in 2nd gear most of the time without a problem.
If you go with a 7.3l, go 1994 or newer with the DI powerstroke. They are a lot more powerful then the IDI. Speaking from owning a 92, 96, and a e99

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

.I would simply build your 460 up. I bet it would even tow that weight stock.

There is a few cheap ways to liven up a 460. Aftermarket headers along with straight pipe, and mod the intake pipe so it breathes better. Google it though because I dont remember what all it was.

My father's 94 f250 460 5sp towed my allis chalmers forklift and trailer without even noticing it was there. Could start in 2nd gear most of the time without a problem.
If you go with a 7.3l, go 1994 or newer with the DI powerstroke. They are a lot more powerful then the IDI. Speaking from owning a 92, 96, and a e99


View attachment 619756View attachment 619757

I don’t want a PSD, too expensive to fix up compared to the IDI. A turboed 7.3 IDI puts out same stats as the earlier PSDs, I can build up an IDI much cheaper than a PSD and have a cheaper engine to repair down the road. From what I read.

My F350 with stock suspension would handle the load, would just have to make sure the trans stays cool, it’s already over heated on me once and blew out trans fluid all over the place (scared me, thought the truck was on fire). After cooling off, it sealed back up.

My truck has the 4:11 or 4:10 rear gears, so it has a harder time at highway speeds pulling a load, really heats the trans up. Plus my button to lock it out of overdrive doesn’t work at the moment.

The 14k load would just be to tractor shows, less than 10x per year.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I have a 2017 F450 4x4 V10 dump truck. It does the majority of the heavy pulling for me. I have had my 18k GVW trailer and the KX121 behind it, and it handles the weight very well. ..a diesel would be better but the little I pull that much around..I didn't see the need for the diesel. It's atrocious on fuel..6-6.5 mpg on average. ...worse when plowing snow.

I just sold a 05 F350 with a v10, it had a long bed and just wasn’t good for what I needed. I would consider another v10 truck in a useful configuration.

The 05 had front coils rode MUCH better than my 95.

 

[4570Man]

I’d rather have a gas burner over a 7.3 no turbo or a 6.2. My 6.5 turbo pulls pretty respectable. My Topkick is gas but it’s got pull the earth gears and that makes a big difference. I’m also not a fan of working the old automatic transmission. Every truck I work has a 5 speed.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I’d rather have a gas burner over a 7.3 no turbo or a 6.2. My 6.5 turbo pulls pretty respectable. My Topkick is gas but it’s got pull the earth gears and that makes a big difference. I’m also not a fan of working the old automatic transmission. Every truck I work has a 5 speed.

I would add turbo to a 7.3idi or 6.2 if they didn’t have them already.

I have been considering something bigger like a topkick or international truck also. They are cheaper than 1 ton trucks to buy.

 

[DMax82]

I just saw a F450 with a super single conversion. The look is so much better than a dulley and I read it actually has 10% more capacity than a regular dually truck.

I didn't get a photo of the conversion, but after searching the web, found lots of stuff on it. This is my favorite...

Beautiful! Ready to work in the woods.

 

[Mikejeakins]

I just saw a F450 with a super single conversion. The look is so much better than a dulley and I read it actually has 10% more capacity than a regular dually truck.

I didn't get a photo of the conversion, but after searching the web, found lots of stuff on it. This is my favorite...

That does look really cool.

 

[DMax82]

I have a 2017 F450 4x4 V10 dump truck. It does the majority of the heavy pulling for me. I have had my 18k GVW trailer and the KX121 behind it, and it handles the weight very well. ..a diesel would be better but the little I pull that much around..I didn't see the need for the diesel. It's atrocious on fuel..6-6.5 mpg on average. ...worse when plowing snow.

Wow, that mileage is rough. I have been looking for a somewhat older F450 dump with the same 6.8. Usage would be pulling a maybe 8k pound trailer and/or hauling basically the legal limit in the bed. Do you think my mileage would be similar? It seems like a beast of a truck and about as big as I would want. Won't be putting a ton of miles on it, so horrible MPG isn't the end of the world, and I do realize that performance comes at a cost. Would prefer gas of diesel for a lot of reasons.

 

[farm boy00]

I don’t want a PSD, too expensive to fix up compared to the IDI. A turboed 7.3 IDI puts out same stats as the earlier PSDs, I can build up an IDI much cheaper than a PSD and have a cheaper engine to repair down the road. From what I read.

My F350 with stock suspension would handle the load, would just have to make sure the trans stays cool, it’s already over heated on me once and blew out trans fluid all over the place (scared me, thought the truck was on fire). After cooling off, it sealed back up.

My truck has the 4:11 or 4:10 rear gears, so it has a harder time at highway speeds pulling a load, really heats the trans up. Plus my button to lock it out of overdrive doesn’t work at the moment.

The 14k load would just be to tractor shows, less than 10x per year.

For the 7.3 auto people recommend putting in a 6.0 tranny cooler. Their temps run 40°ish cooler. I'm sure it would do the same for a 460

 

[4570Man]

I would add turbo to a 7.3idi or 6.2 if they didn’t have them already.

I have been considering something bigger like a topkick or international truck also. They are cheaper than 1 ton trucks to buy.

I like my topkick because it’s cool and tough. The downside is it’s a gas guzzling pig but I don’t really care because it only moves when there’s work to do. I had a 90s body 3500HD that I sold because my 3500 is a lot nicer but otherwise the HD is a lot better hauler. The 90s HD is a huge step up from a 3500. But for towing 14,000 an HD or Topkick is complete overkill.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I like my topkick because it’s cool and tough. The downside is it’s a gas guzzling pig but I don’t really care because it only moves when there’s work to do. I had a 90s body 3500HD that I sold because my 3500 is a lot nicer but otherwise the HD is a lot better hauler. The 90s HD is a huge step up from a 3500. But for towing 14,000 an HD or Topkick is complete overkill.

Seems the consensus is to build up my F350 a bit and call it good lol.

Add gooseneck, trailer brake controller. Will prob do headers, exhaust, better intake, bigger wires, cooler plugs etc. biggest thing is the trans, big trans cooler, deep pan, temp gauge, MAYBE punisher valve body for better shifting.

I have $1800 in the truck, 2-3k on high end for all I just listed and have a good hauling truck hopefully.

That’s what I’m leaning towards now, anyway.

 

[3930dave]

Seems the consensus is to build up my F350 a bit and call it good lol.

Add gooseneck, trailer brake controller. Will prob do headers, exhaust, better intake, bigger wires, cooler plugs etc. biggest thing is the trans, big trans cooler, deep pan, temp gauge, MAYBE punisher valve body for better shifting.

I have $1800 in the truck, 2-3k on high end for all I just listed and have a good hauling truck hopefully.

That痴 what I知 leaning towards now, anyway.

Sounds like good performance vs. $ to me. Might add air-bags to the list, if not done already.

Understating the obvious...... on their own, headers and exhaust will probably go a long way to managing heat on that 460.

(Not discounting trans upgrades; I'd do similar @ 14K).

Rgds, D.

 

[4570Man]

Here’s both of my trucks. I needed to take the big truck and leave it and I didn’t have another ride so I just loaded my other truck.

 

[two_bit_score]

^^^^^^^^That's the way to roll^^^^^^^^^^

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Here’s both of my trucks. I needed to take the big truck and leave it and I didn’t have another ride so I just loaded my other truck. View attachment 620643

I did that once, bought the 91 F350 1 ton about an hour and half away from my house for $900. Towed an empty trailer, put my 1/2 ton on the trailer once I got there and pulled it home.



We called it the Christmas tree, because it had so many **** lights lol. Was a good truck though, after about $400 in parts. (Belts, radiator and heater hoses, drivers side rear axle seal, clutch pedal bushing, Master cylinder, ABS Hydraulic Unit, DOT 4 brake fluid flush etc.

When I bought it, brakes were super soft, clutch pedal wouldn’t come up all the way. Made a bushing out of copper because where the plastic bushing was, it was too hollowed out, had too much slop.

When I was done, sold it for $2200. Guy who bought it got two years out of it completely trouble free hauling equipment, I didn’t get an update past that.



Edit: I almost forgot till I saw the chains on the front of the truck, the truck died 1/4 mile down the road from my house. I had to bother a neighbor that happened to be outside and have him drive the truck as I pull the rig home with my tractor. The truck had a rear gas tank, someone before me dropped the tank and plugged the fuel lines with some bolts and random crap that slipped off so the truck ran out of gas essentially. I fixed it with a proper brass barbed fittings and hose clamps. Never had an issue after that.

 

[KenB2920]

I needed a one man show, do-it-all truck & trailer setup so I just took delivery on a new completely custom Midsota FFRD for my good old M59 to ride on in style.
The FFRD has a 12' x 8' dump box with dropdown sides, 8' x 8' flatbed in front, pass through gates, 3 way rear gate, 9.5' ramps, wireless remote, receiver in neck and on rear, basket in neck, tool box, etc.
I am very impressed with how it works with 10k axles and super single 18ply 17.5's.
I pull it with an '18 Ram C&C dually converted to super single 19.5's. All the super single tires exceed axle capacity by at least 10% for safety margin.
It all works great together without having to worry about picking up rocks in between duals and a narrower track to fit through tighter roads & bridges out in the rural Rockies of MT.
Here are some pics:
View attachment 618338View attachment 618339View attachment 618340View attachment 618341View attachment 618342View attachment 618343View attachment 618344View attachment 618345

That’s an awesome trailer!! How much did that run? They have a website with different options ?

 

[AZTimT]

That’s an awesome trailer!! How much did that run? They have a website with different options ?

About 21k before tax when all was done. Yes, their website is www.midsotamfg.com

 

[foreman Etexas]

Power Wagon didn’t do to bad.