Your towing rigs and trailers

[farmboy12]

6spd manual, really its a 5spd, very rarely do I use first, mostly just to crawl across rough fields. That's one of the main reasons I got another dodge. Chevy doesn't offer a stick anymore.

Chevy doesn't offer sticks in the trucks, but they do in the Corvette and the Camaro I think. But, I think you can only get the manual in the Z Corvette, and you have to pay more for it in either one. It's terrible. 15 years, everything will be like that.



Kyle

 

[DJ54]

Here is a picture of one of the last loads I hauled with Ole' Henry, before I sold him.., and my Eager Beaver Tri-axle. Not nearly a new and shiny as some of you guy's rigs, but they do/did the jobs needed around here.

Still have the trailer... Just put new bearings and seals, and backing plates, and brake shoes on this spring. I'm guessing an early 70's vintage trailer, and still going strong. Hope you all get that kind of service out of yours..!!

With that load of lumber on, plus the 4 high pre-cast steps on the bed, it just did set down on the helper springs... Just enough to make it ride nice...., LOL.. If it weren't for having the nearly 300,000 miles on it, and had an extended cab, it'd probably still be here..

 

[Dill]

Yup, I had to jump through quite a few hoops to get this truck, since the manual was a big deal for me. Originally I was looking for a Hemi with the 6spd but the closest one was TX and Dodge was doing funny things with rebates. My Father went out last year to replace his 04 Gmc 6.0 5spd and couldn't believe that Gmc is all Allison now. The most annoying part is having the salesman try and talk you out of a manual. No that's what I want, and I'm not going to spend money on something I don't want. Basically it means that we only buy new cars and trucks. Both our vehicles are sticks, same with my folks and my inlaws.

 

[ToaDisco]

Here's the only towing pictures I have on the computer. Not really tractor or work related, but I'll put it up anyways...

 

[Raw Dodge]

Nice to see another 8.1 owner here.

Add me as well 2001 GMC Sierra 8.1L 2500HD 4x4

 

[KentT]

My needs are smaller, and so's my rig. 2004 Dakota V8 QuadCab towing 14ft Hawkline 7,000 lb tandem-axle with electric brakes and load-levelling hitch.

My loads are typically 3,000 - 3,500 pounds but the distances are long. Whether hauling my old garden tractors to tractor shows 500 miles away (shown here), 900 mile trips (one way) to Tennessee hauling the PT-425, or the 2300+ tractor-hauling trip through the upper Midwest a couple years ago...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/33/62667367_1fd2a1f36c_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/32/62667670_2432e0ee86_b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/62668117_04fed19133_b.jpg

After 100K miles of relatively troublefree use, I took advantage of the bad auto market and traded the Dak in on a 2009 Nissan Frontier 4.0L 4x4. Essentially the same towing capacity of the Dakota, with between 3-4 mpg better gas mileage. Less than 2K miles, but I'm liking it well so far...

The Hawkilne 14' trailer has got be over 10,000 miles at this point -- no trouble other than one flat tire from picking up some metal off the road somewhere. Two round trips to Tennessee this year alone means 3600 miles...

Still consider that $250 Hidden Hitch weight-distributing hitch and Easy Lube axles some of the best investments I've ever made.

 

[Raw Dodge]

Nice to see another 8.1 owner here.

One more here 8.1 Allison GMC.
Heres a pic of it getting ready to tow about 13000lbs all together,maybe a touch more..

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

My current set up. '01 2500HD GMC 8.1 with Allison 5 speed and 3.73 rear end. It has to go backed in when something is attached to the front (FEL or blower). When backing in the rear edge of the ramp nearly touches the ground then it levels out. Overall it looks ok. Rig is crossed chained, axles on the front, rims on the rear with the BH in place.
As a side note, I learned today the curb weight of the truck. With a full tank and only me on board (180lb) the truck weighs 6300 lbs. So that leaves about 2800 lbs carrying capacity.

 

[johnk]

I have a 2009 Ford 350 V-10 that I use to haul things with. Here's a few pics when new and one with a full cord and a half of wood that didn't even make it squat.

 

[woodchuckcanuck]

... with a full cord and a half of wood ....

I'll assume that's a "face cord" you are referring to. A full cord is 4ft x 4ft x 8ft.