Awsome truck!

[RobertN]

Ford.com lists 20,000lb GCWR for the 4x2 F250/350. The F450 4x2 is rated 26,000lb.

You must be running a F450? I'm guessing it must be a gooseneck, since most all tag along hitches are rate 10,000lb or less.

My buddies '02 F450 does not get but 13-14mpg, although it does have 4.88's... I'm sure it couldn't be his driving/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Re: HP/torque, it is amazing what has happened just in the last 3-4 years. The latest offerings from Dodge/Ford/GM blow away my '01 Dodge/Cummins, and that is only 3 years old! My little ole truck is only 235hp... They've jumped HP by about 100hp in 3 years. Oh, and run cleaner with better mileage.

 

[cowboydoc]

I'm running a F-350 dually crew cab. All of my trailers but one are gooseneck.

 

[hfd376]

I have no regrets switching to a diesel earlier this year. I have always like the looks of the Dodges, and love the grunt of the Cummins. Anyways, heres mine with the trailer and BX1800. Its a standard output, SLT trim, 250 hp, 460 ft/lbs torque.

Doug

 

[SageBrush]

When you haul farm stuff, its real easy to bust the factory load limits. I've never met a farmer that tows within the factory ratings. I try, but from time to time I'm even over a good bit on hitch weight when I have a job to do that has to be done in one trip. I think my Dodge receiver hitch is rated for 10K with weight distribution, well, it will do much more. My tag trailers always weigh more than 5K, which is the weight limit for most class IV hitches with just a ball. It takes about 14K in trailer to push me up to my 23K GCWR. I've run up to 22K GCW with no problems, so far. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

A good well balanced trailer makes all the difference when your running heavy. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[RobertN]

I agree a well setup and balanced load can easily be pulled. I am sure my Dodge could pull more than factory specs. Spec the truck at 70% and run it at that or less and it last a long time(or whatever that percentage might be).

All pickups from the Big-3 limit out at 20kgcwr. What is the limiting factor? Is it the weight you can put on each axle or tire per DOT?

Tag-along is broken out at 5000/500 and 10,000/1,000 trailer/tongue. I do not know about gooseneck hitches.

I will run at the limit, and possibly bump over it, but not by 5-6000lbs. Man, one ticket or an accident would be bad bad bad overloaded like that.

One thing about it all, is it can be a bit confusing. For instance, my 7000lb trailer is below the 10000lb limit, but has no weight disti stuff on it, so is really basically a 5000lb trialer. The coupler on it is rated at 5,000lb too. This is all ok, since my Kubota only weighs about 2500lb with all the stuff I normally take on the trailer.

 

[SageBrush]

The new Dodge trucks are at 23K GCWR. The 05 Ford F-350's will probably be more than the current Dodge.

I just pulled 13K with no problems. I only pull heavy a few times a year. Most of the time I'm pulling under 10K. When I talk about weight with fellows I see on the road they say its not a problem and they roll through scales! I don't understand how these guys pull 3 full size cars with a F-350 crew cab and pass the DOT boys.

My truck will pull 12 to 13,000 pounds at 65 mph in OD and it gets 11.8 to 11.9 mpg during my 280 mile trips. GN/5th wheel hitches run up to 30K. I like the B&W, its a GN that you can add a 5th wheel too and still maintain a flat bed with the turn over ball. http://www.turnoverball.com/

 

[_RaT_]

Shamus, I agree about the turnover ball. I have never pulled a 5th wheel but can certainly understand the benefit. I don't seem to quite understand the big ol contraption folks put in the back of the bed that takes up much of it and requires either unbolting or at the very least a sturdy back to lug out. If I had a 5th wheel trailer, I want the roll over hitch. As far as GCWR, I would always be fearful that if something happened my liability would not be covered under insurance and a slick personal injury lawyer would have me for lunch. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[SageBrush]

I don't like leaving my self open to lawyers either. I doubt I'll ever need to go over 23K, thats almost 15K with my truck. If I towed a big 5th wheel (say a Teton or Alpha), I would use a F-650 with the Cummins 5.9. They are easy to find and cheaper than most other options of the same power and weight.

I personally like smaller RV's that are easy to tow for weekend use or even the slide in types which I'm looking at now. I like the boonies and rustic sites. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[BIGUN]

Thanks. Yes it is a 6.0 Powerstroke. The power these engines make totally stock is pretty awesome. After you drive them a while they become your "new normal". When I was at my parents recently I drove their late model F-150 SuperCrew with the large V-8 gasser engine. The performance seems very sluggish by comparison. I kept unintentionally causing the transmission to downshift and the engine scream from pushing farther and farther on the go-pedal trying to get that “seat of the pants” feel of torque I have come to expect and love. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It just wasn’t there. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[hobbyfarm]

<font color="blue"> </font><font color="blue" class="small">( The Powerstroke is built for Industrial use too! 7.3 (444 C.I.) )</font> </font>

Industrial use? In this photo, Connecting rod comparison of the GM Duramax, Ford Powerstroke, and the Cummins.
Which would you rather depend on for durability and long life?
Phil