LBrown59
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Can a F - 350 powerstroke dually 4x4 safely tow a 15000lb gooseneck trailer? Thanks
Subj: :F 350 max. tow rating
- Thread starter LBrown59
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wantabota
Member
I really wouldn't woory about how much it can pull but how much it can stop
RobS
Super Member
<font color="blue">Can a F - 350 powerstroke dually 4x4 safely tow a 15000lb gooseneck trailer </font>
Good possibility. Go to Ford and check out the towing specs. It will depend on cab style, axle ratios and tranny but some F350s can tow up to 19,200. And as the other poster said, it's not what it can pull but what it can stop. Make sure you've got the trailer brakes working well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Good possibility. Go to Ford and check out the towing specs. It will depend on cab style, axle ratios and tranny but some F350s can tow up to 19,200. And as the other poster said, it's not what it can pull but what it can stop. Make sure you've got the trailer brakes working well /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
cowboydoc
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Yes you can easily tow a 15k trailer provided a couple of things:
If you have a diesel and a 6 speed you should be ok. If you have the 4 speed transmission don't expect the transmission to hold up for a long period of time. If you have the 5 speed torqshift you will be fine. Also you should probably have 4.10 gears.
Unless it is a 2005 you will have to do a couple of modifications. First make sure you have 10 ply E rated tires. Second make sure the brakes on your trailer are excellent and that you have a really good brake controller. Third you need to know the pin weight of your trailer. Make sure your pin weight doesn't equal to more than your tire ratings. If you have a higher pin weight you may need to put on airbags or the timbren springs. If you do these things and you keep good brakes you will have no problem.
If you have a diesel and a 6 speed you should be ok. If you have the 4 speed transmission don't expect the transmission to hold up for a long period of time. If you have the 5 speed torqshift you will be fine. Also you should probably have 4.10 gears.
Unless it is a 2005 you will have to do a couple of modifications. First make sure you have 10 ply E rated tires. Second make sure the brakes on your trailer are excellent and that you have a really good brake controller. Third you need to know the pin weight of your trailer. Make sure your pin weight doesn't equal to more than your tire ratings. If you have a higher pin weight you may need to put on airbags or the timbren springs. If you do these things and you keep good brakes you will have no problem.
v8dave
Platinum Member
Need to know what year F-350 you are asking about. Ford has been steadily upping their tow capacity over the last few years. Now all the manufacturers are getting into a my truck is bigger than your truck contest and the capacity (and risk) are going up.
Not too long ago the max tow rating with the Heavy Duty Diesel was 12,500 pounds--around 2002 and earlier. I believe when Ford came out with the 6.0 Diesel and the Torqueshift automatic transmission in the 2003 trucks was when they started upping the capacity.
I'll look for the old Ford sales brochure and make another post with the information.
Not too long ago the max tow rating with the Heavy Duty Diesel was 12,500 pounds--around 2002 and earlier. I believe when Ford came out with the 6.0 Diesel and the Torqueshift automatic transmission in the 2003 trucks was when they started upping the capacity.
I'll look for the old Ford sales brochure and make another post with the information.
Michigan_Mike
Silver Member
You can see the specs at
http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/superduty/features/specs/#tow
http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/superduty/features/specs/#tow
Bird
Rest in Peace
Yep, Dave, they've been increasing the ratings, but I have a brother who lives in a 38' fifth wheel travel trailer with 2 slide-outs, generator, washer/dryer, side by side refrigerator, 3 axles, etc., tows it with a '95 Ford Powerstroke, automatic transmission, crew cab dually (but not 4WD) and the whole rig weighs over 26,000 pounds and he's happy with that rig. He says the only thing it lacks is a Gear Vendors overdrive. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
cowboydoc
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<font color="green">and the whole rig weighs over 26,000 pounds and he's happy with that rig </font>
The mfg. ratings only have to do with your warranty. Your registration and license will determine what you can legally tow. I've been towing similiar loads to Birds friend for many years. It isn't a problem but you need to be legal. There are many, many what are called hotshot drivers that make their living with these pickups regularly hauling 30k loads all over the country. You can do it just need to make sure you are setup properly.
The mfg. ratings only have to do with your warranty. Your registration and license will determine what you can legally tow. I've been towing similiar loads to Birds friend for many years. It isn't a problem but you need to be legal. There are many, many what are called hotshot drivers that make their living with these pickups regularly hauling 30k loads all over the country. You can do it just need to make sure you are setup properly.
Before I sold my race car and bought a tractor, we towed a 48 ft gooseneck trailer with an F350 and a four speed automatic. We would take two Mustangs, a quad, two large toolboxes, air compressor, generator, etc. It was pretty heavy. We hauled from south Florida as far as Dallas, TX and Epping, NH. We had very good results with the auto, but we purposely tried to NOT kill the tranny. Whenever it started to shift we would lift off the throttle, no WOT blasts from a standstill when the trailer was attached, no cruising on the highway with the boost set to 25 psi, etc. The truck also had two aftermarket tranny coolers running in series, behind the factory tranny cooler. I suspect this increased longevity quite a bit. If you try not to kill it, it should last for quite a while. I guess it depends on the definition of "quite a while" though.
RobertN
Super Member
You made a couple great points earlier... Tires should be up to the wieght, and the trailer should have adequate brakes. But, the springs and axle should be up to it too. Where you would find what wieght the axle for a truck is made for I do not know.
I have a dual axle flatbed trailer. The axles are rated at 3500lbs. The tires pretty evenly match the axles. Unknown about the springs... so, I keep it within the 7000lbs gross.
It is a sticky subject, what can it haul though. If I put E rated tires on it, could I go over the 7000lbs?
The factory designs the trucks to a spec. They figure a constant load, at for example, 70%. You should be able to use the truck forever at 70%. Above that though, you may be affecting the life of the vehicle.
The biggest issue, running overloaded "compared to factory recomendations" is if you get in an accident. The lawyers will hang the driver(who is ultimately responsible for the load) out to dry.
I have a dual axle flatbed trailer. The axles are rated at 3500lbs. The tires pretty evenly match the axles. Unknown about the springs... so, I keep it within the 7000lbs gross.
It is a sticky subject, what can it haul though. If I put E rated tires on it, could I go over the 7000lbs?
The factory designs the trucks to a spec. They figure a constant load, at for example, 70%. You should be able to use the truck forever at 70%. Above that though, you may be affecting the life of the vehicle.
The biggest issue, running overloaded "compared to factory recomendations" is if you get in an accident. The lawyers will hang the driver(who is ultimately responsible for the load) out to dry.