Posted 2016-07-17 10:40 AM (#167658 - in reply to #167578) Subject: RE: Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448 Location: Los Angeles, Ca.
https://www.fordf150.net/specs/02fsuper.php
This site shows a CGVWR of 20,000 lbs with a max of 12,500 for the trailer. I think that fifth wheel type (gooseneck) can go to 13,000. If your trailer was empty at the time of weighing, add in the weight of horses, feed, water etc. and you are close to the limit, if not over.
Posted 2016-07-17 2:37 PM (#167668 - in reply to #167578) Subject: RE: Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
3CW stated the 1/2 ton truck is not enough but did use the correct weight rating for your 250 at 8800. They used the right numbers, your 250 is overloaded or very close to it. Was it loaded (full fuel tank, luggage, horses, feed, water) when it went over the scales? I loved my old 7.3L but looking at the tow ratings and knowing what I know now just about everyone overloaded those engines. Just because you can do it does not mean you should. Those older 250's are more like the current 150's in terms of tow ratings. If you look at current tow rating charts you'd be blown away at the differences...they've nearly doubled! http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/15RV%26...
Posted 2016-07-17 2:54 PM (#167669 - in reply to #167578) Subject: RE: Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
The 8800 is the GVWR, not the GCVWR. Upon checking the above post with the 20,000 GCVWR is correct...you should have 12,500lb of GN tow capacity. SO the number from the 3CW post should be re-run. When in doubt ask your Ford dealer! https://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/2... is in an easier (for me) to read format to help you. I did let my 2002 7.3L go because it could pull a house off it's foundation but the "rating" did not support it and when the law enforcement nails you for being overloaded on the side of the road you can't win with the argument that everyone else is doing it! I had to move up to stay safely within my tow ratings and not be overloaded.
Posted 2016-07-17 4:59 PM (#167680 - in reply to #167578) Subject: RE: Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
Veteran
Posts: 124 Location: Calgary, Canada
huntseat,
I can’t agree with your comment “When in doubt ask your Ford dealer!”.
In my humble opinion, the dealerships know very little about trailer towing other than “maximum towing capacity”, which is a very misleading number.
In most cases, the tow vehicle GVWR is exceeded well before you reach the “maximum towing capacity”. Try to get a dealer to understand that!
Regards, 3CW
Posted 2016-07-17 5:04 PM (#167681 - in reply to #167578) Subject: RE: Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
Veteran
Posts: 124 Location: Calgary, Canada
horsin around,
Sorry for my reference to a “1/2” ton truck. Brain far* last night. My calculations were based on a “3/4” ton F-250, and NOT a “½” ton F-150.
To get the actual capacities of your truck, if you provide the name plate ratings for “Front GAWR”, “Rear GAWR” and “GVWR” from the sticker inside the driver door well, I can run the numbers based on your truck ratings.
On the “assumption” that your previous EMPTY weights are as follows:
Steer axle = 4400 lbs, Drive axle = 4320 lbs, Trailer axles = 8800 lb, Gross combined weight = 17,520 lbs
And the published capacities of your truck are as follows:
Front GAWR = 4400 to 4800 lbs, Rear GAWR = 6084 lbs, GVWR = 8800 lbs
Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight = 13,000 lbs (fifth wheel / gooseneck towing)
GCWR = 20,000 lbs (combined truck and trailer weight rating)
This results in the following loadings for your truck with an EMPTY trailer:
Truck Front Axle Loading = 4400 / 4800 or 4400 / 4400 = 92 to 100% (depending on your ACTUAL Front GAWR)
Truck Rear Axle Loading = 4320 / 6084 = 71% of rear GAWR
Truck GVW Loading = (4400 + 4320) / 8800 = 99% of GVWR (with your EMPTY trailer, you truck is almost fully loaded)
Trailer Weight Loading = not able to calculate until your truck weight is known without the trailer connected
Gross Combined Loading = 17,520 / 20,000 = 88% of GCWR (you can add up to 2480 lbs to your truck and trailer without exceeding the GCWR).
Given the above, with an empty trailer, you have essentially reached the GVWR rating of your truck (or 99% of it), due to a portion of the trailer weight being transferred to your truck through the gooseneck hitch. Any additional weight to the truck or trailer will only add increase the load on your truck and exceed the truck’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
In answer to your question (and as shown above), if the figures are turned around, you are currently at 99% of your Truck GVWR with an empty trailer.
I agree that an additional trip to the weigh scale is in order to confirm your truck and trailer weights.
Posted 2016-07-18 9:51 PM (#167707 - in reply to #167578) Subject: RE: Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 322 Location: Fort Madison, Iowa
My nephew wants me to drive my truck and weigh it by itself and he'll pull my trailer with his truck and weigh it. It'll have to wait until I get my new tires put on this Saturday so maybe next week to weigh. After reading everthing, ID guess I'll be over when loaded. Never dreamed my 21ft aluminum would weigh so much. IMA learning...Have my truck tires ordered but haven't decided on trailer tire. I talked with my Goodyear man and told him about my over weight concerns and asked him which would be the best tire with the weight issue. Would I be better to have a LT 10 ply or go a ST 12 or 14 ply? Both are a Goodyear tires. I've got him researching the make of both and comparing and he's to get back with me.Thankful I have new brakes and controller put on within the last 2 years. Had my shoer today suggest if I'm going on vacation this year for 2 weeks to take 2 animals. I always take one and I'm definitely taking one now. A lot of great information. I'll have to work with what I have for now until I can do something different.
Posted 2016-07-19 2:03 PM (#167714 - in reply to #167578) Subject: RE: Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
It is a fact according to the truck folks, that a large portion of towing capacity rating has to do with horsepower/torque with respects to being able to maintain acceptable speeds in most conditions. Hence you have seen the newer trucks get higher ratings every year. Just my .02$, but I'd not trash an old 7.3 F-250 in favor of a new F-150, even though both are rated in the 10,000# range.
Posted 2016-07-19 5:56 PM (#167720 - in reply to #167714) Subject: RE: Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
Originally written by horsey1 on 2016-07-19 12:03 PM
It is a fact according to the truck folks, that a large portion of towing capacity rating has to do with horsepower/torque with respects to being able to maintain acceptable speeds in most conditions. Hence you have seen the newer trucks get higher ratings every year. Just my .02$, but I'd not trash an old 7.3 F-250 in favor of a new F-150, even though both are rated in the 10,000# range.
No trashing and no favoring...but I do love my F350!
Good tires & food for thought on spare tire.
