bugstruck
Platinum Member
I can tell you from experience that you can tow with trailer and tongue weight loads past the manufacturer's ratings more easily on the smaller trucks than the larger trucks. My 1993 F250 has a trailer rating of 11,300# +/-. Tounge I don't recall at this moment but it's substantial. At 13,000 of trailer (overloaded) and maybe 1,500 tounge it's past it's capability. Been there. My 1980 Dodge D-50 toy pickup was rated at 2,000 trailer rating. 3,000 barely phased it. It pulled 5,600 lbs of boat and trailer for nearly 5 years. Only once did I think that was a mistake. At 65 mph in driving rain on an interstate I asked for more power and the rear wheels broke loose (going forward) and it wasn't a hydropolane situtation. Got interesting fast, but in dry pavement it would out pull most small V-8's. If the trailer brakes are right, the balance (tounge weight) is manageable, and the power is there, you can pull beyond the ratings in certain instances. My F 250 is senisbly done at the manufacturers maximum. My F 150's were good for maybe 1,500 lbs less than the 250's rating (real world) in the late 80's and early 90's, but Ford said the spread between those two vehicles should have been more like 4,000# in towing. Just my 2 cents but I know what towed loads feel and react like. I'd rather tow 9,000 lbs. on my 1987 F-150 and be say 1,500 lbs beyond the manufacturer recommended max. than tow 11,300 with the 250 and be in compliance. Tow ratings can be the bar and then sometimes they don't even seem sensible.
This much I know having pulled the 5,600 lb. load for 23 years.... The F250 diesel will make the quarter mile just over one second faster than the now dead and gone D-50 Dodge with a 2.6 liter 4 cylinder. It will take about 25 more feet to stop the F-250 from 50 mph and 7 more feet at 60 mph (can't explain the spread). The 3,000 lb. truck stopped faster with a 5,600 lb. load. Can't be!!! The trailer had both axles braked and could out-stop the 250. It couldn't outstop the D50 but it couldn't push it into the next state either.
If you use your senses you can pretty easily accertain what any vehicle can pull and stop with. If you only read charts you may just be safe. Good Luck.
This much I know having pulled the 5,600 lb. load for 23 years.... The F250 diesel will make the quarter mile just over one second faster than the now dead and gone D-50 Dodge with a 2.6 liter 4 cylinder. It will take about 25 more feet to stop the F-250 from 50 mph and 7 more feet at 60 mph (can't explain the spread). The 3,000 lb. truck stopped faster with a 5,600 lb. load. Can't be!!! The trailer had both axles braked and could out-stop the 250. It couldn't outstop the D50 but it couldn't push it into the next state either.
If you use your senses you can pretty easily accertain what any vehicle can pull and stop with. If you only read charts you may just be safe. Good Luck.
