Well, I'm finally glad to have found a forum primarily geared for towing thanks to the listing in Diesel Power mag. Getting to the point, I have a tractor service business in northeast florida (mostly flat land) and have long distances between my commercial mowing sites. I've been hauling a 20' tandem dullie gooseneck with the tractor (combo weighs about 15000 inc trailer) with a 1999 Dodge v10 4x4. This truck hauls fine but is a pig in the gas department (5-6 mpg). What is killing me is that this haul has to be done twice for each site; the second trip is for the mowers (6,000lbs worth of mowers on a twin tandem 20' tagalong, 10k total weight) I'm paying for double fuel and double operator time. My operator uses the truck as a daily driver to and from the sites after we drop the equipment sometimes 200 miles a day :doah: . I've got to get a hauler that can handle more so I can get a bigger trailer and make just one trip (I'm thinking a 30' gooseneck rated at 24,000). I feel like a regular 1-ton dullie will pull what I need to and get the best mileage dead heading home at the end of the day. I need to stick with a 4x4 to get in and out of the sites as they are undeveloped. Fords seem to be the only rated high enough GCWR (f350, 450, or 550), but I love those cummins. I currently have a 03 f250 fx4 that is tuned up for a daily driver and I've got no gripes with the 6.0 so far. I know I'll need at least 4.10s in whatever I end up with. I'm taking any and all suggestions about a good tow rig. Thanks for your input Brett PS the f800 in my profile is only 170hp 7.8L and would dog out doing 56-75 on I-95 in FL
Either an F450 or 550, or wait for a new Dodge 4500 and 5500. Legally, 24K behind a 1 ton is illegal, but the truck can handle it.
As long as I don't exceed GVW or GAWR, and I'm registered for the combination weight with a CDL, how would it be illegal? Brett
What is an F350 dually's GCWR (gross combined weight rating, of truck and trailer together)? 23K? Maybe a little more or less? If your trailer weighs 24K and your F350 weighs in at 7,500+, that puts you above the manufacturer weight specs. An F350 can do it, plenty of people have prooved that with good brakes on the trailer, it's just if getting stopped is a problem in your area.
what will the F-550 get for mileage running dead head on the highway @ ~65mph vs towing the 16k-20k (obviously driving with a sensible foot)? Am I really stupid to be even considering a 1-ton? It seems the primary difference is rear end gears. I found a very low mileage (26000) 2005 f-350 cab &chassis 4x4 with a flatbed and 6spd for $20500 I was thinking that this would be a great deal. The chassis cab superdutys have the heavier duty frame and brakes; I can always swap in 4.30s or 4.88s and add airbags. Right? Brett
Good point, RJF red, the F350 GCWR = 23500. my trailer would be ~21-22k including the trailer weight and the mowers...not likely I'll find a 1500lb f-350 Brett
I would jump on the Ford 6.4L Power stroke F 450/550 bandwagon myself. The milage is not going to be quite the same as a F 350 but they use the same engine so the truck weight and frontal area is going to be the only change between the two trucks. Or look into used GM Kodiak trucks. maybe they have the GVW you need. If I was you I would make my selection based on serviceability, dealer and avialability. What ever you buy needs to have the GVW rating a few thousand pounds over what you are towing.
The problem with most F-450s and F-550s is that the gears are typically 4.88s...especially with 4wd. That will drop your mileage significantly when running over say 60mph. I wouldnt be surprised if your deadhead mileage without a trailer was only 12mpg at 75mph. With a 1 ton with 3.73s or 4.10s will probably get you about 17-19 under similar conditions...that adds up quick. Talk to Hot Shotters in your area and see what the local regs are regarding weight. A 1 ton will run fine for you but you need to make sure that you are relatively legal...especially with employees driving your trucks. Oh yeah Welcome Aboard!!!!
if it was me i would go with a longer framed international. build it for a goose neck trailer AND as a flat bed. you could get it set up to put the mowers on the truck and the tractor on the trailer. your guy who DD's the V10 could still do so, and every international tow truck i have driven(same frame lengths about) has had no problem going 70+ mph when empty. you have a specific application you are working with. time to build a specific truck for the job. any medium duty would be GREAT for the job, but i think the longer the frame for a longer bed to load up would be great. or heck, treat your mowers right, get a 30 foot pintal trailer and an enclosed truck. Grant
Gm Is The Best I have the 4500 with the duramax i love the truck and any one that thinks the F550 or even the F650 is better than this truck you need to ask real people that have those trucks. I get better mpg than the F650 i have towed the same 38 boat that a F650 has i got better mpg and i had no problems the F650 was screaming it had the powerjoke in it. Also GM are just better than anything else out there. P.S THE GUY WITH THE F650 HAS A BOAT HAULING COMPANY HE HAS SOLD THE F650 AFTER DRIVING MINE AND JUST BOUGHT A KODIAK 4500 WITH THE DURAMAX HE LOVES IT NOT ONE PROBLEM WITH BOTH OF ARE TRUCKS HIS FORD WAS IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 1 A MONTH MY KODIAK IS FOR SALE JUST TOLD THE F650 DOES NOT HAVE THE POWERJOKE IN IT MY BAD THAT IS WHAT I WAS TOLD NOT A FORD GUY
So you have what, one tractor and two mowers? Why not get a Dodge 3500 dually CTD and a 40' gooseneck trailer and haul everything at one time?
I've seen lots of posts on other forums saying the Kodiak is a dog. The problem is not with the motor but the weight which is 4000lbs heavier than the 1ton, making acceleration glacial.The way to fix that is either pump up the Dmax or swap to the Cummins. The F650 usually comes with the 300/860 Cat which can be upgraded to 330/960. The 5.9 Cummins is also an option. No one in his right mind would put the Powerstroke motor in an F650. I saw an F550 in Diesel Power mag with the Cummins built up to 600/1200. He tows 25,000-30,000lbs every day in his work and he said he was very pleased with the Cummins.
That would be Rick Newlands truck. The truck Dynoed 450/900 in Tulare this year, but I think the dyno was reading low. I can tell you that the truck tows awesome. When we did the Diesel Power article, the photographer was amazed at how well the truck towed. We pulled onto the freeway with the backhoe on the Big Tex trailer and it had no problem keeping up with traffic. Now, this is a purpose built rig and cost accordingly. I know he is trying to sell the truck right now. I just put a new 6 speed and dual disc in it a few months ago. RJF - the GCW ratings are kinda iffy. Ricks F550 is registered with CA DMV for 45K lbs combined, twice the Ford GCWR. The usual load is about 42k combined when towing the hoe. As for the 4.88 gears, the US gear or Gear vendor will allow you to get the RPMs back down, and let you split your gears. Nice option.
YEA THE KODIAK IS SLOW BUT WITH A TRAILER YOU ARE FASTER THAN MOST MY MAIN COMPANY IS BREAD DELIVERY TRUCK, TRAILER AND BREAD IS AROUND 20-25,000 AT THE BORDER SCALES A THOMAS DRIVER HAS A 3500 RAM WITH THE PRECUMMINGS HE SAYS HE IS NEVER OVER 18,000 WE HAD A TRAILER RACE AND I BEAT THE SNOT OUT OF HIM SO IF YOU PLAN ON TAKING YOU TOWRIG RACING THAN THE KODIAK IS NOT FOR YOU AND IS A DOG BUT IF YOU PLAN ON TOWING WITH YOUR TOWRIG THE KODIAK IS THE KING IT STANDS ALONE
Would love to do my towing with a 1-ton truck, but I'll be over manufacturers gross combined vehicle weight for every 1-ton (ford with tow boss would be close) Regulations wise as long as I'm not physically over axle weight at the rear from pin weight, and I'm registered for my combination weight I'll be "legal with DOT" get in an accident over manufacturer's limits and a lawyer will eat me alive. The high gear ratios like the 5:13 (kodiak) and 4:88 (fords) does have me scared a bit about fuel mileage, why can't these manufacurers make a dual speed rear end? I guess I could look at the overdrive units $$$$. I'm still in the hunt Thanks
Ok how about this Dodge 5500 quad cab with 4.30 gears and the Gear Vendor over-under auxillary transmission. Fuel mileage won't be a problem if you go this route www.dieselsecret.com. If DOT gives you grief about the fuel tell them you're paying the road taxes.
