Posted 2009-10-19 5:57 PM (#112099) Subject: Do i have enough truck?
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Dacula, GA
I am looking at a 3h Featherlite with 21ft LQ, slide, mid tack. I just found out it weighs 18,000 with 8200 tongue weight. I have a 2002 F450, 11,000 GAWR on the rear axle. My Ford dealer is telling me I should not go over 25,000 total weight and this trailer may be too heavy once i get it loaded. I am getting confused- gcwr, gvwr, etc...! I travel mostly by myself, and dont want to be the woman stranded on the side of the road :)
Posted 2009-10-19 7:22 PM (#112102 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
I think you'll be close on your axle weights (GVWR) and on your GCWR you'll be over, that's truck plus trailer weight. Depending on what exactly the truck is and has on it you will probably be around 26,000 or more without loading the trailer. That's a big heavy trailer and it requires a big truck to safely pull it, my vote is you don't have enough truck.
Posted 2009-10-19 9:02 PM (#112104 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Regular
Posts: 54 Location: Farmington, IL 61531
I think you need to actually see that trailer weighed, axles and tongue weight (not the weight on the jack). The 18000 weight and 8200 tongue weight is equal to 45% of the trailer weight on the tongue. NO ONE would design a trailer to have that much tongue weight. The trailer should have about 5000 pounds on the tongue if it weighs 18000 pounds. Also if the trailer is a tandem axle I doubt that it has an 18000 gross weight rating, that would mean the trailer should have 9000 pound axle ratings or at a minimum 8000 pound axle ratings. These weights sound a little heavy to me which is why I would have the trailer weighed, preferrably while hooked to your truck.
The other factors that would concern me is what engine and transmission do you have? I would assume you have a 7.3L diesel in a 2002 F450. Automatic transmission would be my last choice for this size trailer. But the most important factor would be the brake system on the trailer. I would not pull that trailer if it is equipped with electric brakes, you don't have a prayer of a chance of getting it stopped in an emergency situation with your truck. For big loads I prefer vacuum over hydraulic brakes or electric over hydraulic brakes with your size truck.
I have driven over 1.8 million miles in various trucks and about half or a little over was dragging a trailer of some kind. I am fortunate to have had only two close calls in all that driving. One last thing to be aware of if you are pulling a trailer and you have to stop at a Port of Entry or weigh station, if your truck GVWR plus your trailer GVWR is over 26000 pounds and you DO NOT have a CDL for over 26000 the DOT will confiscate your trailer. I saw this happen with a brand new fifth wheel RV trailer at the Cheyene, WY Port of Entry when I was pulling new RV trailers. Obviously the new RV trailer weight plus the truck weight was not over 26000 pounds but the total of the GVW's was and they made the driver unhook the trailer. I was not pulling that trailer but a friend of mine was.
Posted 2009-10-19 10:01 PM (#112108 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Dacula, GA
Paul--
Thank you! I really am trying to get to the bottom of this and you are a big help. The trailer dealer said they weighed the trailer and had the capability to weight the tongue weight, i have asked for clarification on that.
I do have the 7.3l, it is an automatic. My transmission is geared very low- much lower than normal. I have a banks brake system also. My last large trailer had vac over hyd which we changed to Elec over hyd. I was shocked that this one had electric only. they are quoting me 2500 to change it to elec over hyd.
I think the last paragraph confuses me a little- but i believe you are talking about GVWR and not GVW? as you say... its not the actual total weight, but the weight on the sticker- which is gvwr. actual total weight = gvw. right?
Posted 2009-10-19 10:57 PM (#112109 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Location: Central Arkansas
I own a Bloomer 3H MT 18' LQ w/slide that I pull with a Sportchassis M2. I also own a 2008 Ford F450 HD that has the largest towing rate but I have NEVER hooked it to the LQ trailer, because frankly, I think it could not handle it properly even though it was sold to me by the dealer for the purpose of pulling a 25K # trailer.
Posted 2009-10-19 11:55 PM (#112113 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by bigskyfarm on 2009-10-19 5:57 PM
I am looking at a 3h Featherlite with 21ft LQ, slide, mid tack. I just found out it weighs 18,000 with 8200 tongue weight. I have a 2002 F450, 11,000 GAWR on the rear axle. My Ford dealer is telling me I should not go over 25,000 total weight and this trailer may be too heavy once i get it loaded. I am getting confused- gcwr, gvwr, etc...! I travel mostly by myself, and dont want to be the woman stranded on the side of the road :)
Your truck might handle it, but safety will play a big roll here and the life of the truck. Your truck should have 4.30 gears which will pull the trailer in question, but stopping it is going to be another story.
My opinion, I would either find alittle less trailer or a bigger truck.
Posted 2009-10-20 6:16 AM (#112115 - in reply to #112108) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Regular
Posts: 54 Location: Farmington, IL 61531
You are correct I was referring to the GVWR on the sticker of the trailer and the truck added together. So if your F450 has a GVWR of 16000 and the trailer has a GVWR of 18000 that equals 34000 total GVWR which means you will have to have a CDL that is valid for that weight range.
Posted 2009-10-21 12:47 PM (#112194 - in reply to #112104) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383 Location: Texas
Originally written by Paul D on 2009-10-19 9:02 PM
The 18000 weight and 8200 tongue weight is equal to 45% of the trailer weight on the tongue. NO ONE would design a trailer to have that much tongue weight.
My trailer is 40% on the tongue, just over 6,000. That's unloaded.... the way it's designed it should stay about the same % as it gets loaded up, so 6 horses all the stuff in the LQ.... it gets up around 10,000.
My point is that it's possible to be that tongue heavy if has slides, I do agree that it's likely lighter than that but I don't think that's the biggest issue with that trailer and that truck combo.
Posted 2009-10-21 12:53 PM (#112197 - in reply to #112115) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by Paul D on 2009-10-20 6:16 AM
You are correct I was referring to the GVWR on the sticker of the trailer and the truck added together. So if your F450 has a GVWR of 16000 and the trailer has a GVWR of 18000 that equals 34000 total GVWR which means you will have to have a CDL that is valid for that weight range.
Paul
Not in all states! Here in Texas if you have farm tags and 34-k gross or under you do not have to have a CDL unless you are hauling for hire. But if you haul for hire, you should not buy farm tags any way.
Posted 2009-10-21 2:37 PM (#112200 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Dacula, GA
We dont have farm tags in GA- We do have non-CDL class A license that would cover 26K and up. I am more worried about the weight and my truck than I am the license! The license I can get, the new truck..not so easy.
Posted 2009-10-21 4:58 PM (#112207 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
I pull a 5H 14'LQ (no slide) with an 02 F550 (4.88gears). Trailer weighs 16000 empty. Total gross weight is 32,000 when loaded. The F550 handles it fine, but it is certainly loaded. Disc brakes on the trailer definitely help the stopping power. Transmission by Brian's Truck Shop in Arkansas stays cool even when fully loaded and 100 degree weather. It can be done but if you happen to have a T800 flattop Kenworth, I'm looking!!!
Posted 2009-10-21 10:14 PM (#112221 - in reply to #112220) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Regular
Posts: 54 Location: Farmington, IL 61531
Stopping the load is not affected by the gear ratio. Starting the load and maintaining speed on hills are what would be most important factors affected by the gear ratio.
Posted 2009-10-22 7:47 AM (#112226 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690 Location: missouri
Stop the insanity. We pull a large LQ with a FL-60 Showhauler. After burnin up some "little" trucks, (F-350, F-450), We upgraded... I just got back from a ride where about 30 cowgirls were each pullin giant rigs alone. Now I'm thinkin O'Bama would give us a tax credit if we could use the buddy system. Are we all so desperate to impress people that we keep stepin up on rigs? why not wear a jacket made from $100 bills and be done with it.
If you have a great horse and some talent, let that speak for itself. Get a comfortable rig that suits you and make it home on the road and put all the $$$$$$$$ in something that appreciates in value.
Posted 2009-10-23 10:47 AM (#112279 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Dacula, GA
Originally written by calamityj on 2009-10-22 7:47 AM
Stop the insanity. We pull a large LQ with a FL-60 Showhauler. After burnin up some "little" trucks, (F-350, F-450), Are we all so desperate to impress people that we keep stepin up on rigs? why not wear a jacket made from $100 bills and be done with it.
If you have a great horse and some talent, let that speak for itself. Get a comfortable rig that suits you and make it home on the road and put all the $$$$$$$$ in something that appreciates in value.
SO good for you. I have no clue why you think this thread is about impressing people or burning up money. I have a some phenomenal horses- but i dont care if I want to put a nag in a $100,000 trailer. I love the horses and its about my comfort on the road- and the 2 90 pound german shepherds that usually travel with me. Appreciates in value? That would be the dirt that i own, not the horse or something that has tires. I have been looking for realistic opinions on what is safe to haul and thankfully have some educated folks on this forum that are helping me figure that out.
Posted 2009-11-07 6:21 PM (#112894 - in reply to #112099) Subject: RE: Do i have enough truck?
Member
Posts: 14
Location: Dacula, GA
Well here is an update. First, I had a lot of fun getting to know the person in the previous post and exchanging some info.
Second-- i have passed on the trailer above, and have my sights set on a 3H Sooner with 16ft SW, mid tack, 10 ft slide. Waiting on a weight on it of course-- but should be MUCH better than 18K!
Thank you all for your help--
Carla
who is now in search of fabric/leather to recover that gosh awful sofa...... suggestions??
Do i have enough truck?
