Looking for truck to tow John Deere 4210

[F350Lawman]

Yep 1/2 tons are fine like everyone said, I ran one for 4 years, 97 Chevy

Your irght it could be done with a truck such as yours but things have improved in just a few years.

I think if you take out your owners manual and compare the specs. to a new Chevy or any other US auto makers 1/2 ton you will see they ae rated much higher now. The HP, torque, payload and towing capacities are all up significantly. I would also think their factory hitches have been upgraded to meet capacities.

The Chevy now hauls about 2000lbs and tows about 8500 and Ford can be confugures for 3000 and 9,500lbs. I am sure Dodge is right in there as well. These figures go down a little if you get CC's but are still in the ballpark. Some of these trucks have GCWR of over 15,000lbs., something I am sure not too many years ago would have been a 1 ton rating.

 

[picard335]

From Chevy Site on 1/2 ton:

http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado/popup/specs/index.html#trailering

2 Silverado 1500 models are limited to 5,000-lb. trailer rating with a 600-lb. tongue rating unless equipped with Z85

5.3 Liter 4wd Extended 6 1/2ft bed, 3.73 axle 7800 lbs max trailer weight.

5.3 Liter 2wd Standard Cab, 8ft 3.73, 8300 lbs.


"Weight-carrying hitch limit: 5,000-lb. trailer with 600-lb. tongue weight. Weight-distributing hitch and sway control required over 5,000-lb. trailer weight. The vehicle owner is responsible for obtaining the hitch ball, a hitch of the proper size, type and capacity, and other appropriate equipment required to safely tow both the trailer and the load that will be towed. "

Looks like a class 3 hitch... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[picard335]

From Ford Site on 1/2 tons F150:
http://www.fordvehicles.com/Trucks/f150/features/spectowing/

5.4 liter 4x4, Super Cab, Auto, 3.55, 8300 lbs
5.4 liter 2wd, Reg Cab, Auto, 3.55, 8800lbs

"TRAILER TOW PACKAGE
Required for towing over 4,000 lbs. Includes • Class III/IV trailer hitch receiver, 4/7-pin wiring harness, heavy-duty 72-amp battery, upgraded radiator and auxiliary transmission oil cooler."

Looks like its unknown, class 3 or 4, does anyone know?

John

 

[picard335]

From Dodge Site on 1/2 ton:
http://www.dodge.com/

4.7 Magnum, 4x2 SLT Reg Cab, 3.55, 8400 lbs
4.7 Magnum, 4x4 SLT, Quad Cab, 3.55, 7750 lbs

Trailer Tow Group
MSRP: $335.00
750-Ampere Maintenance-Free Battery
Class IV Hitch Receiver
Heavy-Duty Engine Cooling
Seven-Pin Wiring Harness

 

[Dave___in___CT]

A weight distributing hitch (~$275) can be used to safely increase the towing capacity of a 1/2 ton pickup to 10,000 lbs GVW trailer...

I used this setup on a 1990 1/2 Ton Chevy 2-WD pickup to tow a 10,000 lb GVW trailer (double axle brakes) (~2,000 lbs) with a ~3,800 lb tractor...

I recall... it about doubles the towing capacity... say from 5,000 to 10,000...

Dave...

 

[BillyP]

The Owner's Manual for my 2003 Chevy Silverado says the Maximun Trailer Weight is 7,800 lbs. The GCWR is 13,000. This is for an extended cab.

Regular cab Maximun Trailer Weight is 8,300 and GCWR doesn't change.

I might add this is with a 5300 engine and 3.73 gears.

 

[CTyler]

I'm running a 1999 5.3 Liter 4wd Extended 6 1/2ft bed with 4.10 myself for a 8800 max towing cap. Also added load leveling bars to stay off the ragged edge of the hitch parameters(not factory). Also trailers a tad better.

I've only hauled the tractor around a dozen times and it seems to do ok. Hauling 7k+ through hills I'm stepping on it pretty good in Drive holding 65. Running on the flat on OD is no problem. When pulling 6k or less around(no backhoe) it pulls much easier in the hills and stay in OD quite a bit.

For occasional+ pulling it works great. If I were pulling it everyday a 3/4 would be the ticket.

Personaly I have not liked deisels all that much because of the noise. That and they, the ones I've been in anyway, all ride like a rock. For heavy pulling though thier the ticket. Don't think my tractor/trailer qualify as heavy pulling.

The owner of my neighboring property just bought a new Duramax HD and it was actually pretty quiet. Haven't been in it for a ride yet.

 

[BradK]

I started towing my L3010 loaded tires and box blade on a 12,000 lb trailer with my 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 Extended cab 4X4 it worked fine with the electric brakes. I would still be using it except i found a great deal on a used F350 Extended Cab 4X4 with a 5.4 engine. Can't complain about either truck they both do the work fine. Would not have tried the 1500 with out brakes on both axles on the trailer.
BradK

 

[jwstewar]

Both my '97 Chevy 4X4 1500 Extended Cab 6 1/2' bed and my '99 equiped the same way came w/ a class 4 10,000 weight distributing hitch. I've towed 30'+ campers (weighing about 8000 - 8500) w/ both of my trucks w/o a bit of a problem. I'll agree on the '97 I was replacing the front brakes pads a bit frequently - 60k. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif On my '99 I'm at 75000 and the front pads look like they are brand new. Changed the rear pads out at about 70k because I had a squeak. Turned out it was a dry u-joint. I hauled about 10 ton of sand/gravel for my garage 2 ton at a time. 1 ton on the truck and a ton on my little 2 wheel trailer (no brakes). Not a bit of problem. The proportional braking system on the Silverado is fabulous. I've also had almost 13k on a trailer behind in w/ a large Toyota skidsteer. That did slow the truck down a little, but it towed it just fine, though I'll admit I wouldn't want to do it everyday. For the size of tractor (2800lbs) a half ton truck would do the job fine. Even w/ everything (tractor(2800), FEL(1000), trailer(1500), rear???(1000?)) You are still under 7000 lbs. and under the limit of the truck.

 

[lamarbur]

Regardless of what truck you buy, you better find out from your state, first, what the particular requirements for a trailer are, in that state. Someone here mentioned get one axle with brakes. I think that is a good way to get a new guy in trouble. Here in the New England area, all axles must have operable brakes, and that's all there is to it. In fact, in Ct, my 12,000 GVW trailer requires a low level CDL license. It doesn't bother me as I've had a class one now called CDL A since 67.. THe CT and NY DOT love stopping equipment trailers, so I'd check the law requirements first..