Next week I'll be near enought to that 7500 mile marker to warant pulling into the nearist FMC dealership for my first oil change. I just completed a cross country journey pulling a 5800# enclosed utility trailer with all my shop tools. Aside from wrecking both starboard tires & both axles on the trailer in Indianapolis on I-70 in the construction zone near the airport the only other "aww-*****" was my fuel ecnommy went in the toilet because I was using the "Tow/Haul" feature when I should not have. I went from 15.6 whenI started back to 10.3 MPG. I'm hoping now that I'm mostly empty my economy will pick back up. Sometimes my learning curves are pretty shallow. I have a couple of questions:

Some time ago someone recommended a FMC dealer near me in Ft. Collins that deals mostly (or only) with Ford Trucks. Anyone remember that or can suggest the place? I've settled out here now and want to connect with a dealer like I had in Maine.

The other item is cargo capacity. Eventually I'll deal with the numbers often enough so I can remember them, but step son wants me to haul a palet load of bags of concrete next weekend and I'm wondering about carrying it. My truck is an 04, 350, 4X4, Lariat, PSD, Supercab, long bed, camper & tow package. I don't know how much a load of concrete weighs but noticed tonight I have those overload springs I've read about. ny ideas?

Jerry

 

For comprehensive towing & hauling information, check the FAQs (link at top of this forum).

Maybe someone can help with that dealership question too.

 

1. Make sure when they fork lift that pallet into the bed of your truck that they don't scrape the insides of the wheel wells. Also make sure they plop that pallet down slow and steady and centered over the rear axle.

2. Saw this done w/ a new(er) Dodge 2500 w/ the Cumins Diesel motor. Got it loaded and off he drove w/ no problem. So, you'd BETTER be able to handle it, in the name of FoMoCo!!!

As to the dealership in Ft.Collins, maybe "Wlihntr" will reply or you can E-mail him and ask... He's from CO.

Steady as she goes w/ that pallet...

DS

 

I would also take your tailgate off. Or else....

 

look under the rear of the truck between the frame and the axle, you will see a rubber bushing, load your truck down 'till the bushing just touchs the axle, then you should be just fine....

 

would it not be better to load til an inch or so before so that if you hit a bump it will not bottom out and squish rubber?

 

concrete weighs about 96 pounds a bag

 

yep - when the fork lift placed that pallet load in the back the truck just settled down gently - I figure I had about 3300 pounds back there for a few miles. Only the rear over load spring bumper was just barely touching - the front was clear. Although, when I got to my destination I noticed the front bumper had polished off some dirt from the front end of the leaf. It's not something I'd do on a daily basis but it's nice to know I can. Also, I'm impressed how the brakes drew that rig down to a halt smoothly with all that wieght.