Towing with 7.3 - Diesel Forum

Maintain · 04-27-2006, 06:21 PM

I have yet to tow anything substantial (plan to), but I hauled a trailer that was probably around 2-3k with one horse in it... Of course it was slower then normal, but I think it did ok. Without the horse in it, I could take of and go up to 2500 RPM's (500 more then I normally do) and stay with traffic. I noticed that when travelling at 50 mph around 1500rpms on cruise, significant hills it would jump down a gear. It did that 4x's... I know you don't want it searchin gears so I used my foot after that. That is because it wasn't in the powerband I know, but I didnt' want to faster since the road was not perfect. I got roughly 11-12mpg, averaging 50mph with quite a few start/stops... Here was the setup getting "wet" haha [image]http://image51.webshots.com/151/3/85/18/2421385180089393685nUAyjH_ph.jpg[/image]

just wanted to say that... not sure why? -- comments...

barrelhorses · 04-27-2006, 09:37 PM

What kind of horse trailer were you towing that only weighs 2 to 3K pounds with one horse in it?

I towed a lot with my 2000 PSD. I had a slightly smaller LQ horse trailer at the time. STill pretty significant weight for the F250. The truck towed great. I never paid a lot of attention to the mileage, but fuel was cheap [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] back then.

Maintain · 04-27-2006, 10:50 PM

It was just a regular 2 horse trailer, bumper pulled... I included a link to the pic... maybe it didn't work so here it is...

http://community.webshots.com/myphot...ecurity=ngXgbT

barrelhorses · 04-28-2006, 06:12 AM

Sorry to hear about the horse. Is she o.k. now?

Isn't that a Merhow trailer? They are well built little trailers. Eventhough it is small, I'd still bet that it weighs closer to 3K than 2K with nothing else in it. Your truck should have no problems with that trailer loaded with horses. Yeah, you'll know it's back there, but you shouldn't be hindered too badly with it.

As far as your trans shifting in and out of O/D when you weren't into the throttle, I guess you could just kick it out of O/D. That will probably help. I actually miss the ability to lock out O/D. The T/H works pretty good, but there are still times when I'd like to just keep it out of O/D.

I would like to have a small trailer like yours, maybe just a little bigger, just for going to local horse shows and trail riding.

JimTJr · 04-28-2006, 06:16 AM

What happened to the poor horse? And what is that in the pic that says "All better" A drain in it? (Looks like a piece of wood still thru its leg?)
Good looking truck too,, that is no weight for these things. I had a 32' gooseneck 2 car trailer behind my BONE STOCK '03 dually in my sig,,(Not the other one) with an F-150 SuperCrew and a Honda CRV mini van on it...didnt sweat at all!
These are workHORSES!! That is for sure.

zmc501 · 04-28-2006, 08:36 AM

You shouldn't have any trouble with your 250 and that trailer. However, you should never tow using the cruise unless you are on a very flat road, going at a consistent speed, and have good conditions. NEVER up a hill! Just a hint for hauling up hills. If you are going up a hill and you start to lose speed and the rpmsdrop to about 1800, take your foot off the accelerator for a second or 2 to let the engine downshift. Then try to keep the rpms just below where your truck wants to shift, usually about 2500 is good. That way you will make your truck work and save your transmission.

Reg Reich · 04-28-2006, 11:55 AM

[ QUOTE ]
However, you should never tow using the cruise unless you are on a very flat road, going at a consistent speed, and have good conditions. NEVER up a hill!

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img]
Damn, 214,000kms towing using cruise. In ALL kinds of roads & hills, (Mountains) I think my truck is about due to fall apart! Where do some of you guys get these ideas from? [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]Reg [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/warmsmile.gif[/img]

Riggodeaux · 04-28-2006, 02:40 PM

Reg, my experience, too. I'm comfortable using cruise control [absent heavy traffic] everywhere except going down a steep grade with a load, when I'll kick out of it and out of OD to get the benefit of the 'braking' effect of the gears. I might kick out of cruise up a steep hill, just to improve my control of the shifting.

I expect that Merhow and one adult horse onboard was 3k lbs, too. The original poster's truck, like mine, is a fine tow vehicle for up to a 4 horse all-alum [around 5k empty, in a gooseneck], and maybe a little more. My CM - with a full load - takes me to around 18k+ gross combined weight. I had close to that last weekend [four horses + tack]. On rolling country in GA, my truck handled it well with the DP-Tuner at the 60 hp tow setting. My only issue is that this load marginally exceeds the 8800 truck rating with the weight of the goose transfered to the bed and all the junk I have in the bed and toolbox. That and making sure the power plug to the trailer is fitting properly and getting juice from the Prodigy to the trailer brakes. I DO NOT want to tow that load anywhere without fully functional trailer brakes!

Nasty wire cuts on that mare. Good pictures explaining why I'm leery of wire fencing of any kind other than the diamond or 2x4" 'no climb" mesh in a paddock or pasture.

barrelhorses · 04-28-2006, 05:56 PM

Reg, I once pulled a friend's 6 horse (+ dressing room + midtack) Sundowner trailer loaded full of horses home from the Quarter Horse COngress in Columbus, about a 120 mile trip. I think the trailer was like 36 or 37 foot on the floor. That was with my 2000 F250 S/C short bed PSD. Let me tell you that was a load, but the truck handled it just fine. I can't say that I'd want to head out cross-country with that load though.

I recently hauled 8 head of horses to Unadilla, GA from home for the same friend. He had to sell some horses quick..... Anyway, he borrowed another friend's 7 horse (+dressing room) trailer. We loaded 8 head in it and headed down 75 to Unadilla. I guess it was roughly the same weight as the load mentioned above, but it was with the current truck. That trip went o.k. too....except I bought one of the horses and my wife wasn't too proud of me.

Reg Reich · 04-28-2006, 06:55 PM

Well I agree these trucks can pull pretty damn good. I just do not understand the statements of NOT using Cruise Control. I use Cruise Control EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME. What in the He double hockey sticks is it going to harm using it anytime. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Some statements on this site sure need to be taken with a grain of salt because they are outlandish to say the least. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif[/img]
My truck is not the greatest by my standards, because of an ongoing problem but I will tell you, it does the pulling job very well. And I pull HEAVY. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] Will be trying some new things this summer & see if I can get to like the truck a little more. 4" MBRP exhaust, Edge/Attutude, Turbo refit & I am considering replacing the K&N with an Xair Intake. I have been happy with the K&N but it has been suggested to me I can get colder air & lower EGT's if I change. Will give these a try & if that don't work then I guess I will have to find a way of biting the bullet & take on some truck payments & get a different truck. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img] But sure as HE double hockey sticks will NOT be a Ford. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif[/img]

Reg

barrelhorses · 04-28-2006, 09:01 PM

Regarding using cruise, I think it's purely a matter of preference. I use it sometimes and I don't think it hurts anything at all. I don't like to use it when there is heavy traffic or hilly roads. I prefer to have total control in these situations. On long trips, it sure is nice to put it in cruise and rest my right leg some. My ankle sort of gets stuck in an extended position if you know what I mean.

Maintain · 04-28-2006, 11:38 PM

I knew it wasn't going to be any problem... I was just surprised at how much more it works on taking off, thats all. I have a 4 horse with dressing, loading room gooseneck we haul with a stock 99 CC LWB 4x2 on the farm.

As far as the Cruise Control... I know it's not good for it to be searching the gears but I wanted to set it on cruise and see what it did. IF I would have been on an interstate and been in the powerband I know it would not have been searching.

Letting Cruise Control shift in and out of O/D is NOT good for your tranny... I think that is what the previous person was saying. O well... I won't be putting the gooseneck in my truck now, because my step dad and our friend has them. I'll just be pulling the bumper pulled ones... Once I open up with the mods in my signature it should be a trailer pullin king [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Maintain · 04-29-2006, 12:08 AM

[ QUOTE ]
what happened to the poor horse

[/ QUOTE ]

She was one of the 4 yearlings given to us, and she was let out in one of the cow pens for some uknown reason and there was a guide wire holding a pole up and she ran into it. All better = stitch job finished, and that is a drain tube for the air, otherwise the wound would balloon up.