Towing heavy on a 1/2 ton

[BoneStock]

There are lots of opinions about this, but my biggest concern about towing with 1/2 ton versus something heavier duty is braking. If my 1/2 ton can only pull 40mph up a grade, well, oh well. It's a short term inconvenience. But the 1/2 ton brakes are lower capacity than bigger trucks, so that is the issue for me.

This.

...and without trailer brakes, I wont pull more weight than my truck weighs, thats when I really notice braking issues.

 

[fried1765]

Sorry, no.

A CDL brings down my legal BAC whether i'm in a commercial vehicle or my private vehicle.
My license allows me to drive any "one" vehicle of any weight - a triaxle dump, say, for personal use or for hire.
And I cannot tow a trailer exceeding 9,990 - it's specifically stated as such on a CDL class B. Class A is tractor trailer, so trailer weight isn't limited by one's license.

My license isn't different depending if i'm working commercially or for myself in a personal vehicle.

Like a bus - the SAME vehicle, as a 'bus' you need a CDL. If it's registered as an RV, any old license works - even if it's well over 26k pounds or has air brakes.

CDL's are so specific I can't drive a manual transmission commercially unless i take the road test in a stick shift truck or bus.

If you go for your class b test in a tractor (as in semi) with a fifth wheel they won't let you use it. take off the plate, and you can use it for the test. Absolutely no difference in the vehicle's size, handling, rules of the road, etc - but the plate on the back makes it a Class A vehicle - even without a trailer!

Hey, license's are government things - they don't have to make sense.

Not necessarily true as described above!
Rules/regulations may vary according to state you live in.

 

[Sysop]

Not necessarily true as described above!
Rules/regulations may vary according to state you live in.

Yep. Some places folk can buy nearly any type of vehicle, paint 'farm use' on the side, and run it on a standard driver's license. In WV we can do so with anything up to 26,000lbs without any special documentation. If over 26,001lbs, we can get an exemption so we do not need CDL.
https://transportation.wv.gov/DMV/D...tion-for-Farm-Vehicle-Driver-Exemption-wf.pdf

 

[Jchonline]

I had a class V on my Ford F350 dually and it was 2 1/2"

F250 here (2018) Class V 2.5 inch hitch

 

[sd455dan]

Quote Originally Posted by plowhog View Post
There are lots of opinions about this, but my biggest concern about towing with 1/2 ton versus something heavier duty is braking. If my 1/2 ton can only pull 40mph up a grade, well, oh well. It's a short term inconvenience. But the 1/2 ton brakes are lower capacity than bigger trucks, so that is the issue for me.

This.

...and without trailer brakes, I wont pull more weight than my truck weighs, thats when I really notice braking issues.

^^^
and to add some more things that may be upgraded on 3/4 tons and up

1/2 tons don't generally have full floater rear axles or tires that are load range E 10 ply rating or above ...

Some 1/2 tons with rated towing above 11,000lbs. and are still sold with (P) grade passenger tires.
If towing near the rating I would want heavier duty tires - ride quality deemed secondary.

Most 3/4 and 1 ton trucks that have aluminum wheels are (Forged) not (Cast) making them stronger. Forged Aluminum are available with 1/2 tons but not always stock.

The weight and engine torque is carried on and through the axle shafts and tires.

In case of axle failure 3/4 and 1 tons full floaters will retain the wheel.
also bearing surface area is increased with full floater designs because 2 bearings are used instead of 1.

The heavier duty tires extra plies and sidewall toughness are also a bit more of a safety factor with all that weight attached to the truck.

 

[Jstpssng]

This.

...and without trailer brakes, I wont pull more weight than my truck weighs, thats when I really notice braking issues.

In this state you aren't allowed to haul more than 3000 lbs without brakes no matter what's pulling it. I once drove a C70 with a 23'hay body on back for landscaping, pulling a 3300 lb haymulcher behind it. We got stopped by the weigh wagon and they said that needed brakes on the trailer, it was 300 pounds over the limit.

My Ranger is rated to pull a "properly set up" trailer up to 7000 lbs; yet must have brakes for over 2000 lbs per manufacturer's specs.

 

[dnw64]

In this state you aren't allowed to haul more than 3000 lbs without brakes no matter what's pulling it...

I wonder how many thousands of violations occur per day there...

 

[Jstpssng]

You're right, and it's a peeve with truckers who are fined for minute things

 

[RandyT]

I wonder how many thousands of violations occur per day there...

16' tandem axle utility trailer with 3500# axles with 3000# plates because there don't have any brakes, and have 2" balls hitches rated at 5000#

 

[timswi]

I wonder how many thousands of violations occur per day there...

Same thing here. 3k & up has to have brakes. Makes sense safety wise. I prefer brakes, just don't like having to get them inspected. Under 3k you don't have to.