what tractor do you tow with compact truck?

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Bad Dog's Toys:
NH: TC55DA + 18LA FEL + 759C BH
Bradco: Grapple Bucket
BushHog: 286 Mower + PHDigger
Gill: HBL84-2 Grader Blade

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You may need a 2500 diesel to tow YOUR tractor, but then I don't need half that much tractor either... and I have better ways to spend my money.

And all your arguing will never change that fact either... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JoeinTX]

@Kent/Rico

Hey, I'm one of those guys who happens to think that half of the people driving around in 1-ton, 4wd, diesels are doing so for "status" and may be just as well served by a Ford Explorer or similar considering what they actually do with it. So, I'm not one of the "gotta have a 1-ton to haul the ridin' mower" bunch.

But, compact/mid-size pickups simply are not intended to do the same types of things as full-sized vehicles. It's plainly obvious that their size/weight are not equivalent. That doesn't mean I'm demeaning you for buying a smaller vehicle-I'm just stating the apparent.

I pull a 16' trailer hauling an 8N/5' shredder with either a Dodge (5.7l) or Chevy (5.3L) half-ton. You don't forget it's back there...plenty of lurching and weight-shifting that'll keep your mind on the job at hand. I wouldn't want to pull the same load with anything smaller very far......even if it is the heaviest, most equipped Dakota/Tundra that money can buy. Once in while.....through the backroads....not much traffic to deal with....maybe, ok. But not on a highway with other traffic at 60 mph for 20 miles or further.

Hey, do what you want, I'm sure you will. But, lots of folks get into trouble trying to make their vehicle do more than it really can. OEM ratings should be taken with a huge dose of salt.....they depend on so many factors that could never be itemized in an owner's manual. In some instances, the vehicle is capable of more than they suggest.....in others, less.

 

[KentT]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You don't forget it's back there...plenty of lurching and weight-shifting that'll keep your mind on the job at hand. )</font>

Joe, are you using a weight-distributing hitch? Mine takes care of all the lurching and weight shifting you describe.. It rides better with a couple thousand pounds on the trailer than it does without the trailer, with no lurching, bouncing, swaying, etc...

You notice the extra weight when braking initially, which requires you to finetune the brake controller settings. Once that's done, the only real noticeable difference is slower acceleration with a loaded trailer, but that's certainly to be expected...

You don't have to have a 3/4 ton or 1 pickup to safely tow a Kubota BX... It does require a properly equipped tow vehicle though.

 

[RayH]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Bah humbug! Piffle!

You guys who beat the crap out of your lesser, wimpy, cheapo toy vehicles (and all Fords) are just crying because you DIDN'T buy the only real truck worth having, and about the only thing GM has done right in the past 5 years:

Chevy Silverado 2500HD LT Ext Cab 4x4 Diesel Allison

I recommend you all sell your monkey-mobiles and get the real thing, just so you'll quit trying to defend your ill-thought-out purchases with your weasel math and bogus manufacturer marketing claims.

Wanna argue with it? Fine... back up to me and hitch on... I'll tow your whiny little toy parade to Alaska... )</font>

You knew someone would have something to say about your post so here it is.
Its more likely you are trying to justify driving your big hunk of crap around and making payments on it 100% of the time when you only need it 5% of the time. Either that or you just dont know how to tow and need to compensate by being over equipt for the job.
Now back to our regular scheduled programming.
I wouldnt tow any trailer + load that weighs over 5000lbs behind anything less than a 1/2 ton truck and thats only if its properly maintained and properly equipt. You should be able to go up to 4000lbs total without much problem if you have the proper rated hitch and trailer brakes and you drive it accordingly.

 

[BadDog]

Now there's a jealous reply!!! Woohoo! (or Boohoo! as the case may be, poor baby's wife wouldn't let him buy a real truck, waaaah)

Big hunk, yep... of crap, nope! Easily the most rock-solid hard-working vehicle I've ever had the pleasure of owning. Very comfortable. Easy to get around with custom in-dash navigation system. Powerful (and about to be more so with 4" dual exhaust system, new intake, and new tuning). Fuel efficient (17mpg average over it's lifetime - pretty good for what it does for a living).

Payments, no. Paid cash, got a great deal, thanks! Resale is holding up better than any other truck on the market... don't believe me, check out the Duramax trucks on ebay. Most have 100K or way more mileage and are still fetching at least 20K. That is phenomenal, and blows the competition away.

Only need it 5% of the time? What time would that be? I only use it for moving stuff (run a horse property so lots of that), towing stuff (horses mainly), working off-road (fixing/building fence, etc...), or plowing stuff (run a 7ft BOSS V-plow, also paid for). That'd be 100% of it's use, thanks. Frankly the truck has paid for itself a couple times over since it was bought new in 2002. I don't 'joyride' the truck, I have other vehicles (also paid for) for that.

Don't know how to tow? I regularly two at least two horses all over CT and PA (horses and trailer also paid for, and worth a lot more than the tractor). Never had a dangerous incident, never killed or hurt a horse, and never had a violation. Truck hardly knows the trailer is back there. Prodigy brake controller and WD hitch help lots, but the truck does most of the work. Moving to a gooseneck later this year, for more maneuverability and more horses.

Over-equipped? YOU CAN'T BE OVEREQUIPPED! The right equipment makes it safe for me, for the horses, and for the pretenders in their toy trucks.

That's the real point here... Do what ever you do safely, using the right equipment for the job.

 

[john_bud]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( Remember, if you didn't order it special, the max towing capacity is around 2,000 pounds. IF you did order it special, the max towing is 7000 pounds MINUS the weight of all the stuff in the truck including fuel weight, option weight and people weight. And that's only if you don't exceed the max vehicle weight due to tongue weight (which should be about 12-15% of the trailer weight).
BTW<
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I bought my Dakota off the lot with the HD trailer towing package -- every V8 on the dealer's lot at that time had the HD package -- that's how the dealer ordered them.

BTW, I was using those numbers for a 3500 diesel Ram, not a 2500. Also, I've repeatedly said "properly equipped" -- mine is -- and my trailer has brakes, and I always use a weight distributing hitch...

My point still stands -- a properly equipped compact/midsize will tow a 5,000 lb trailer package safely. That allows me 2,000 pounds still for fuel, passengers, stuff in the box, etc.

Your mileage may vary... but then, I'm also not calling anyone stupid because of the truck they drive, either.... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'll repeat -- properly equipped, with brakes on the trailer and a weight-distributing hitch ...
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<font color="black"> </font>
KentT,

You sound a bit touchy on the subject! I hope you didn't take my posting personal - I didn't mean to have it focused on you, but on the topic at large. Also, if you would please re-read my post -- you'll see that I state that the 7000# tow capacity is probably closer to a number higher than the 5000# you noted. You see, I was supporting your position that you can tow 5000, probably more. BUT you (read --> all small truck owners) have to be aware of the limits. The gross vehicle weight being the one with the least budget.


I also am hurt by your line implying that I've called you or anyone else stupid due to the truck they drive. No where in any of my posts have I ever done that.

Oh on Dakota's. The new ones are larger, longer, heavier and are more powerful than my old '89 Ford F150. I didn't see where you had pointed that out previously....

And on Chevy Duramax / Allison's- Mine has towed between 8500-10,000 pounds for 42% of it's mileage since new. Fuel economy is 17.51 lifetime. Max non-towing was 22.4mpg (19-21mpg is common). Just curious, what does the Dakota get?

Enjoy your truck and chain your tractor down well when you trailer it!

jb

 

[firemanpat2910]

Got to agree with the cant have to much truck guys, Ive had every thing from a 80 ford courrier , 88 ranger, 4 different f150s, 1 and only one dodge full size, a Z71 and my current
2500 4wd crew cab durramax. I have moved hundreds of if not thousands of large peices of equipment over the last 20 years on my job (wow 20 years same job Im gettin old) There is no comparison and I feel there should be no compromise. If you are hauling any thing close to your published limits UPGRADE, rent or hire it done. I pull a 10000 lb fork lift around, ONCE with a f150, only when I had to with the Z71, and any where you want with the2500. Its a world of difference. I wont go back...

 

[RayH]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Now there's a jealous reply!!! Woohoo! (or Boohoo! as the case may be, poor baby's wife wouldn't let him buy a real truck, waaaah)

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Go ahead and insert foot, unless you want to turn this into a Chevy-Ford thing, which I see no point in.

 

[rico304]

RayH...

Now that is a nice setup!!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I don't tow my tractor, but plan on getting a setup like yours in the near future for a side business.

 

[cp1969]

I almost made it through this post without using gag-suppressant, but didn't quite make it.