F350 Dump Towing Capacity

[skipmarcy]

My 2000 F250 Super Duty 4x4 is rated to tow 12,500(has the factory tow package w/4.11 gear). The factory hitch was only a 5k hitch, had to install a Class 5 hitch rated for 12,500 (14k w/equalizing hitch, which I don't have). I've towed thousands of miles with both my trailers loaded up to 13k. I haul commercially with it and have been over the scales hundreds of times to verify this. I keep my trailer brakes checked & adjusted and adjust my brake controller to fit the load and all is well and legal. Surely your F350 is rated at least as much as mine and should be a little more if logic plays a part in it.

 

[tractorsanmore]

I have a 1992 f-350 dump with the 5.8 and auto and 4:10 gears . Not sure about the tow rating but the gvwr is 11,000 . I find the 351 lacks power on the highway . The cab shield doesn't help ( wind drag ) . This truck will haul more in the bed than it will pull , it also drives very good when loaded .

 

[skipmarcy]

My 2000 F250 Super Duty 4x4 is rated to tow 12,500(has the factory tow package w/4.11 gear). The factory hitch was only a 5k hitch, had to install a Class 5 hitch rated for 12,500 (14k w/equalizing hitch, which I don't have). I've towed thousands of miles with both my trailers loaded up to 13k. I haul commercially with it and have been over the scales hundreds of times to verify this. I keep my trailer brakes checked & adjusted and adjust my brake controller to fit the load and all is well and legal. Surely your F350 is rated at least as much as mine and should be a little more if logic plays a part in it.

I failed to mention that I found my towing capacity from a Ford dealer, they used my VIN to determine it. As far as I know, this is the only reliable way to tell the capacity of a particular vehicle as it comes from the factory. The GVWR rating on the truck is the max. capacity on the axles of the truck itself. This would include everything on the truck including the tongue weight of the trailer which under ideal loading conditions would be 10% of the total trailer/load weight. So theoretically a 10k trailer load would be putting 1k weight on your truck. I put my truck on the scales right after I bought it as it has a fiberglas cap on back and I had the normal tools I always keep in there which all added up to several hundred pounds. It's amazing how just moving the tractor a few inches on the trailer changes the tongue weight dramatically which also changes the way the truck handles & brakes. Was a learning experience how to load depending on what implement was on the tractor.

 

[Builder]

I failed to mention that I found my towing capacity from a Ford dealer, they used my VIN to determine it. As far as I know, this is the only reliable way to tell the capacity of a particular vehicle as it comes from the factory. The GVWR rating on the truck is the max. capacity on the axles of the truck itself. This would include everything on the truck including the tongue weight of the trailer which under ideal loading conditions would be 10% of the total trailer/load weight. So theoretically a 10k trailer load would be putting 1k weight on your truck. I put my truck on the scales right after I bought it as it has a fiberglas cap on back and I had the normal tools I always keep in there which all added up to several hundred pounds. It's amazing how just moving the tractor a few inches on the trailer changes the tongue weight dramatically which also changes the way the truck handles & brakes. Was a learning experience how to load depending on what implement was on the tractor.

Not always.

You'll find many trucks front & rear axle ratings add up to more than the GVWR on the door jamb sticker. That's because they're several other factors that might limit the trucks GVWR. The "weakest link" determines max GVWR.

You could have 2 axles that add up to 11,000 GVWR and still have the GVWR limited by the capacity of the tires, brakes, wheels, parking brake, etc. In any case, the lowest capacity component is the determinant of GVWR.

 

[mikegt4]

MYTOYS,
Before you buy a dump truck for personal use, talk to your insurance agent. A dump truck can be pretty expensive to insure.

 

[Builder]

MYTOYS,
Before you buy a dump truck for personal use, talk to your insurance agent. A dump truck can be pretty expensive to insure.

Naaaah....they're very cheap to insure. Both of mine were less than a pickup truck to insure and worth $30-40,000 each!

 

[MarkV]

I find this subject so frustrating. I bought an 88 Chevy C30 diesel dually with a 12’ stake bed that has an electric/hydraulic dump system. How much can it legally tow, what a mystery. GM can’t or will not help because it was originally sold without a bed. Nor would they give me a rating without a bed installed. Talked to state DOT and was told they could not help nor did they know where I could find the ratings. When I ask how do I know if I am within legal towing limits if stopped, I was told that was my responsibility to know. Great, my responsibility to know and there is no way to find out. Talked to a DOT enforcement officer and he told this comes up all the time. So I ask if I don’t know the rating how could you know the rating to give me a ticket. He said they would weigh each axle to determine if any were over loaded and that the total did not exceed my license rating. (no CDL) Then he told me even if each axle weighed in OK that does not mean I haven’t exceeded the manufactures towing limit. Think liability in an accident case.

What a frustrating system. There really needs to be a revision to the laws dealing with towing and ratings to make them more user friendly. It seems like a simple matter to require the manufactures to add the CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/ The rating for truck fully loaded plus trailer loaded) to the door tag.

Sorry for the rant, too much coffee this morning.

MarkV

 

[mytoys]

Mark.....I agree completely!

 

[machmeter62]

I find this subject so frustrating. I bought an 88 Chevy C30 diesel dually with a 12’ stake bed that has an electric/hydraulic dump system. How much can it legally tow, what a mystery. GM can’t or will not help because it was originally sold without a bed. Nor would they give me a rating without a bed installed. Talked to state DOT and was told they could not help nor did they know where I could find the ratings. When I ask how do I know if I am within legal towing limits if stopped, I was told that was my responsibility to know. Great, my responsibility to know and there is no way to find out. Talked to a DOT enforcement officer and he told this comes up all the time. So I ask if I don’t know the rating how could you know the rating to give me a ticket. He said they would weigh each axle to determine if any were over loaded and that the total did not exceed my license rating. (no CDL) Then he told me even if each axle weighed in OK that does not mean I haven’t exceeded the manufactures towing limit. Think liability in an accident case.

What a frustrating system. There really needs to be a revision to the laws dealing with towing and ratings to make them more user friendly. It seems like a simple matter to require the manufactures to add the CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/ The rating for truck fully loaded plus trailer loaded) to the door tag.

Sorry for the rant, too much coffee this morning.

MarkV[/QUOTEMARK: If you have towed either your L-39 or B-21 with a prior vehicle without problems; I would initally base my decisions on that if there wasn't any issues. I don't know how steep/narrow the mountain roads are there, but I would think the vehicle is very capable, if it is in mechanically good shape? I tow a large boat and a L-35 Kubota with a 92 Ford F-250 dually/diesel with no problems, even over the Sierra Nevada Range; each trailer has a 10,000# capacity. Good trailers give one "piece of mind!"

Also, I would take the truck to a weigh station, and get a written statement from them for your own protection in case you are pulled over? Tell them what you will be towing, etc; and put "the ball in their court!" I believe a "one ton" truck is very capable for your tractors. If they won't give you an answer; go to the next level. Remember, your taxes pay their income/retirement funds, and you need an answer NOW!

 

[Builder]

I find this subject so frustrating. I bought an 88 Chevy C30 diesel dually with a 12’ stake bed that has an electric/hydraulic dump system. How much can it legally tow, what a mystery. GM can’t or will not help because it was originally sold without a bed. Nor would they give me a rating without a bed installed. Talked to state DOT and was told they could not help nor did they know where I could find the ratings. When I ask how do I know if I am within legal towing limits if stopped, I was told that was my responsibility to know. Great, my responsibility to know and there is no way to find out. Talked to a DOT enforcement officer and he told this comes up all the time. So I ask if I don’t know the rating how could you know the rating to give me a ticket. He said they would weigh each axle to determine if any were over loaded and that the total did not exceed my license rating. (no CDL) Then he told me even if each axle weighed in OK that does not mean I haven’t exceeded the manufactures towing limit. Think liability in an accident case.

What a frustrating system. There really needs to be a revision to the laws dealing with towing and ratings to make them more user friendly. It seems like a simple matter to require the manufactures to add the CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/ The rating for truck fully loaded plus trailer loaded) to the door tag.

Sorry for the rant, too much coffee this morning.

MarkV

here's what you do, my friend. IF you can find out what brand of body is on the truck, go to a local installer that installs that brand of bed. Like let's say it's a Galion. Then go to a local Galion installers. If they are not too busy, slip the guy a $20 and ask him if he can help you certify your truck's GVWR. He might even apply a new door pocket sticker to help you when you get pulled over by DOT.

The important thing to remember here is that the BODY INSTALLER determines GVWR and, if he installs a towing hitch, he also sets the GCWR and the trailer tow capacity, too!

Too many people ask DOT. They don't know a Chevy Cavalier from a F-350. Don't bother with those bozos, just go to a body installer, decribe your situation and be nice, give a few bucks and you might get some help.