Towing heavy on a 1/2 ton

[Industrial Toys]

I drove a V6 94 Dakota, then went to a 2000 V8 Dakota and now a Duramax. For straight transportation, the fuel economy of all three was pretty much the same.

 

[Jstpssng]

I had a 91 and a 94 Dakota, they got lousy mileage and were the worst POS's that I ever owned. When I finally bought a different truck, the garage that kept them running started closing on Saturdays. I used to joke that it was because I had bought the Toyota, but it stopped being so funny when I started adding up my repair bills and realized that the '94 had averaged 4.5 hours/week in the shop for the 2 years that I owned it. :thumbdown:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Except for bad gas that messed up the fuel pump on my 94, they never gave me a lick of trouble. I really loved that 94, but an 8 would have been nicer. The interiors in all trucks just got uglier and crappier after that it seems.

Picked this stuff up at HORST, to build a trailer. CLEARLY, I needed more truck!



Just looking at the date. That truck got written off later that year, just minding my own business stopped at a stop sign, and I took advantage of the GM going out of business sale and got a free Duramax and Allison.

 

[Morning Wood]

You might have a hard time finding a dump trailer tongue that can accommodate a weight distributing hitch. They usually aren’t tube frame like a camper frame. They also don’t usually have a welded on coupler, but adjustable one. I don’t worry so much about the tow ratings of the truck, but more about the hitch ratings. But I’m also running a 2016 F350 SRW. I have a 2 1/2” hitch rated for 2k lbs in tongue weight. WD and WC. I pull a 14k dump and it does ok, but I have air bags. I think you’ll have bad luck with a 14k bumper pull dump on your F150. Go with a 10k dump and air bags and a beefier hitch. You’ll be fine.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
Just out of curiousity, what are the weight ratings for your F350?

 

[Morning Wood]

No idea. It’s the 6.2 4wd, crew cab short bed with 3.73 axle. I only pay attention to gross axle weight rating and tire ratings. Combined the truck and trailer are 26k. (12k truck, 14k trailer). No CDL, but dot #’s and dot physical.

The truck has a GVWR of like 11300 or 11500. I have it registered at 12k.

 

[Egon]

How can that rust situation happen..... in CANADA?
I thought there was an annual (or bi-annual) provincial inspection required for every vehicle?

Inspection in Canada varies province to province.

 

[prof fate]

My boss at the bus garage where I work got a dump trailer - like me, he has a class b CDL so we're restricted to trailers of 9990 or less, or else need a class a.
Since he's the expert on this (third generation driver) I'll assume he's correct.

Seems illogical that a professional driver is limited to a 10k trailer when a 'regular' person can have a 14k trailer.

Also, if it's an RV no special license is needed - even if it's 45feet long with air brakes as some Prevosts are.

No idea. It’s the 6.2 4wd, crew cab short bed with 3.73 axle. I only pay attention to gross axle weight rating and tire ratings. Combined the truck and trailer are 26k. (12k truck, 14k trailer). No CDL, but dot #’s and dot physical.

The truck has a GVWR of like 11300 or 11500. I have it registered at 12k.

 

[RandyT]

My boss at the bus garage where I work got a dump trailer - like me, he has a class b CDL so we're restricted to trailers of 9990 or less, or else need a class a.
Since he's the expert on this (third generation driver) I'll assume he's correct.

Seems illogical that a professional driver is limited to a 10k trailer when a 'regular' person can have a 14k trailer.

Also, if it's an RV no special license is needed - even if it's 45feet long with air brakes as some Prevosts are.

Everybody seems to forget that 10K trailer rating is tied to a single vehicle or combination of vehicles exceeding 26,001 pounds.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Overtaxed,
Here is my two cents. A weight distributing hitch for what you are doing is going to be a PITA. Reason is after you load it you will have to install the torsion bars on the hitch and how they are adjusted is going to change based on your load. IMO I would not plan on using a WDH with a dump trailer.
I owned a 2004 chevy suburban and towed over the rating of "the vehicle regularly" Now before everyone has a fit hear me out. The hitch and all safety chains where rated for the load. I used a WHD keeping tongue load to within spec. Used a good brake controler and had disc brakes on the trailer. Key here is tongue load, that spec is for the weight on your rear tires. Tow ratings on vehicles change because of drive train engineering specs, driveline rear end ect. that is why you see minor changes year to year. I blew the brake line on the suburban if the brake light on the dash would not have come on you would not have known, as the trailer was doing all the braking.
With that said and based on what I have read of your post. Go with trailer you want forget the WDH load the trailer so that the back of your truck just starts to sag. Watch the loading on the trailer springs and the wheels in the wheel well, that they don't hit, when loaded. If you have to add sides and keep load in the middle of the trailer. Since you are loading same material and driving same route you will figure out what is best. You'll be OK.
Just make sure hitch, ball and safety chains are rated for the max load of the trailer. Get a good brake controler and don't go to fast. keep eye on tire pressure and as long as your careful you will be ok.

That is with WDH I use that same trailer and truck for my skid loader takes everything right to the max. I however go slow and not far, works. The Suburban has been replaced with the truck on the trailer and have purchased larger deck over trailer.
Have dumptrailer that I have pulled behind that suburban we load it as discribed and it worked ok. Suburban didn't like it....... but it worked. That is why we went to the 3/4 ton. My guess is we will have that to the max in less that a year....