How much can I realistically tow?

[BCMike]

Hey all
I have a 89 F350 4x4, 7.3, 5spd, 4.10s. no turbo. Engine runs strong, 425-430lbs across all for compression. Looking at purchasing a piece of farm machinery and don't want to pay to have it hauled by semi-truck. So figuring 12k lbs for the equipment, and 5k dry for the trailer, would I be waaaaaaay over what I could sanely pull with this truck? I realize that on the hills I certainly might as well get out and walk for all the speed I would have.
What do you guys figure?
Mike

[beretzs]

If you are set up for a 5th wheel I would think you should be able to pull that, you may not set any records, but if your truck and tires are up to it and you feel the truck is strong, it shouldn't struggle too much. Guys pull more weight than that all the time. Shouldn't have to worry about speeding with that much weight, so that is a plus. You have the 4.10's and the 5 speed, so I would bet you would pull it fairly easily, hills will suck, but heck, it is still going to be cheaper than shipping. Scotty

[mgraveman]

I agree. If it's a gooseneck or fifth wheel, all's good. I've gone close to it, and you should be able to load it safetly, without going over any axle or tire ratings, and it'll get you there and back.

[Hayguy]

I've had 21000 pounds behind my rig, and while it was working pretty hard, especially on hills, it pulled all right. This was a gooseneck too though, not a bumper pull trailer.

[cdnsarguy]

Single or dual rear wheels, total CGVW would be around 24,000lbs. How much for the haul by transport and what route. Not through the Quappele valley I hope, brakes would be the most valued possession on that trip.

I see many loads leaving Fraser Auctions in Brandon and the rates are pretty reasonable from what I hear. Call them or email and ask for recomended haulers in your area.

http://www.fraserauction.com/

Phone: 204-727-2001 or toll-free: 1-800-483-5856

I personally would not do it, your pin weight could be over the limit I think. My 2cents [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

[Phil D.]

Sounds pretty close to the "reasonable" limit...

Make sure you have good trailer brakes. Consider propane to help you get on the freeway faster.

my 2cents [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

[BCMike]

Thanks for all the responses.
I only have single rears and there are definitely a couple of hills that would give the old girl a serious workout. The equipment is in southern alberta and needs to go to the BC interior, so over both the rockies and rogers pass, definitely a couple good pulls and a few downhills where slow would be the name of the game on that highway. The pin weight certainly worries me as being single rears I only have a 8900 gvw. My best bet on getting it shipped professionally is waiting for a backhaul and probably be looking near a grand.

Mike

[cdnsarguy]

Mike since it is BC I would pay the piper, the DOT boys are mean MF BC nothing worse then getting stopped and have to arrange transport from the side of the road. Plus they fine yer azz off. Single rears I would not even consider it.......a grand is cheap life insurance, think of your family.

[argve]

If you were here in the states I would say strap it up and go man go, but I hear tell that Canada is quite hard on DOT - here in the US if your not a professional hauler they pretty much don't pay any mind to ya - they really couldn't care less. So for where you live I would think about it hard before I would be hitching up.

[Gibson]

Your truck would pull teh heck out of it. no dout about it. other than the canadian DOT i would go for it but since theya re sctrict from what i hear iw ould pny up teh one gradn and get ti dnt professionally. I have hauled a 32' (+5' dovetail) goose neck loaed with a CAT D3 and a John Deer 1020 tractor. that was a heck of a laod for any truck but i did get it done pretty well. ddint go too fast but it oulled ti like a champ down hill [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] with a singel wheel i wouldnt pull too much but i have duals so i laod her down!...........Gibson

[mgraveman]

I didn't even think about not having duals. The pin weight could be easily adjusted by moving the tractor front and back, but I woudl nto do it without duals either.

[RyanE]

I'll agree with the other comments....the DOT in Canada is quite strict, and especially here in BC. Your truck is probably capable of hauling that kind of load in Southern Alberta, but I think you'll really regret trying to take it through the mountains of BC. I regret hauling some loads here with a similar truck and they are nowhere near as heavy as the one you describe. Rogers Pass would kill you....not to mention the other smaller passes and such. You could probably make it over the passes, but going down the fast side, you'd have to be really careful. Where are you purchasing it? Somewhere near Pincher Creek? I'm sure you could get something worked out with a professional hauling company. Probably your best bet, and might even be cheaper too, considering today's fuel prices.

With that said, good luck with whatever way you choose. Just let me know if you're heading my way...I'll get outta your way [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img]

Ryan E

[aceohearts]

Not sure of the size limits in the north country there (heck it's hard enough just keeping track of the different states here), but something that hasn't been brought up is overheight/overwidth. The same height and width laws that apply to big truck apply to pickups and trailers too. And if they catch you running too wide or too tall without the proper permits you're in for a world of hurt.

I bring that up because you said it was farm equipment, and that tends to be oversize quite frequently. May be the reason for the higher shipping rates....Us drivers have to figure the costs of permits into shipping anything oversize.