2002 Ford 350 5.4L dually dump towing

aerodan1 · Oct 4, 2016

Hi,

Just picked up a 2002 Ford F350 dually dump truck with the 5.4L gas engine, 3.73 geared axle. I don't have a tractor or trailer yet but planning to purchase within the next year, to do some lawn grading, light construction, etc. Probably looking at a 35 - 40 hp tractor with loader and box blade, backhoe also. Not sure if I have the right truck to tow such a setup - per tractor data's website, just one example is the Kubota L39, weighing around 7,000 pounds with the tractor / loader / backhoe. So if I figure roughly 7,500 for the machine (assuming with backhoe on) and another 2,500 for the trailer that puts it around 10,000 pounds, assuming no additional equipment on the trailer (or in the truck bed).

I checked out the manual for the particular set up I have, the max. GCWR is 13,500, which puts max. trailer weight at 7,600. I guess this assumes a truck weight of about 5,900 pounds, which I'm not sure includes the weight of the 9 ft. dump body. If that's the case, the max. trailer weight would be 4 - 5,000 pounds I'm guessing. It has a conventional trailer hitch, looks like a decent hitch set up across the back. I've been reading a lot of posts around the interwebs with people with the 5.4L engine towing 10K trailers give or take. I know I probably have a good suspension with F350 dually set up, but concern is around the engine and transmission as much as anything. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks,

4570Man · Oct 4, 2016

It's a pretty conservative tow rating. I've got a F-350 crew cab, single rear wheel, 5.4 with unknown gears. It handles my GN weighing 11,000 pounds fine. Just don't expect to go fast. If you wanted to do that you should've gotten a 6.8 with 4.10 gears. I'm guessing that truck is over 5,900 pounds. I've hauled quite a bit of rock with a similar truck. It was a Chevy 3500 6.5 diesel dump truck. It had hydraulic dump and steel sideboards. It weighed about 7,500. If your go by the door sticker my F-450 7,3 diesel rollback had less hauling capacity than my 1/2 ton.

2458n · Oct 4, 2016

I have the same color of truck. 87 idi 7.3 c6 trans, but with 4.10 gears. Slow but sure. The 1996 7.3 is turbo with auto/od and 4.10 gears. You have good everything but I believe with the small engine and tall gears you will be wanting with the weight of your trailer/tractor.

dieselcrawler · Oct 4, 2016

Id be surprised the GCWR is only 13500, my dually door tag says 15000 for the truck alone... Ive grossed 24k (overloaded, but made the trip safely, cautiously) with my f250 and 20' deckover.

The truck chassis can handle it. It will be slow, and the high gears will hurt you... Im surprised its not 4.10's, most duallys are. If you have 4x4, dont be shy about dropping the transfer case into low range if you are on steep hills or slow speed tight spots. I often do that, better control and saves trans stress. Trans is the weak spot, add an extra cooler.

fordmantpw · Oct 4, 2016

GVWR should be 13,500, not GCWR. 14k and under (to 10001) is a class 3 truck. Over 14k and it's a class 4 or higher truck (not sure the upper number on a class 4).

GVWR is the total weight on the truck. GCWR is the total weight of truck and trailer combined.

You should have no trouble pulling a load of 10k (assuming your dump bed isn't loaded with 2 tons of stuff). As 4570Man said, don't expect to go fast, but that Super Duty will tow 10k lbs all day long.

HHR · Oct 4, 2016

I have a 5.4L and 4.10s in my Excursion and it has adaquate power with loads under 10K but starts to struggle after that. Deeper gears really help.

terryknight · Oct 4, 2016

we have a 2000 with a 10.5 bed. PSD/6 speed/3.73s/stock. with me in the drivers seat it weighs roughly 8220-8280 across the scales. with the tractor 10-11K depends on implements behind it it is okay, throw something in the bed and it is a dog especially on hills.

aerodan1 · Oct 5, 2016

Thanks for all the helpful feedback guys, I too like the idea of a trans. cooler, not sure if there is a trans. temp. gauge in the dash cluster, will have to look when I pick it up later this week.

The attached shows the stats from the Ford manual for the F350 dually. GCWR is defined in the manual as ": Maximum permissable combined weight of towing vehicle (including occupants and cargo) and the loaded trailer".

And also:Maximum Trailer Weight Rating: Maximum weight of a trailer the
vehicle is permitted to tow. The maximum trailer weight rating is
determined by subtracting the vehicle curb weight for each
engine/transmission combination, any required option weight for trailer
towing and the weight of the driver from the GCWR for the towing
vehicle.

I agree in this case it's probably conservative, assuming an 8,000 curb weight of the truck alone with dump body it's basically saying you can only tow 5,500 pounds. All other facts being the same, except substituting 4.10 rears for the 3.73 yields an extra 1,500 pounds of GCWR.

4570Man · Oct 5, 2016

Mine has a transmission temperature gauge. My buddy likes to show off the power of his V10 by spinning 37" tires with 1000 pounds in the beds. He puts it in 4x4 with the front hubs unlocked. Of course he doesn't tell many people that. The same concept would work here if it's a 4x4.

aerodan1 · Oct 5, 2016

terryknight said:
we have a 2000 with a 10.5 bed. PSD/6 speed/3.73s/stock. with me in the drivers seat it weighs roughly 8220-8280 across the scales. with the tractor 10-11K depends on implements behind it it is okay, throw something in the bed and it is a dog especially on hills.

Nice looking set up you have there! My dad had the 7.3 diesel in an F450 dump that I drove for years, I was spoiled! I think it was geared lower though, I remember it wasn't too great at highway speeds.