Need to tow 25,000 lbs

ponyboy123 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-28-2009, 07:54 AM

I have been checking the Ford website and it seems that there is no towing capacity increase from the F250 to the F450, still 16,000lbs. I am now looking towards the F550 but wondering if there is any increase in towing capacity there either. What would I have to buy to tow 25,000lbs? Starting to look like I may need to purchae a straight truck tandem axle dually. Didn't really want to go with out a truck and trailer combo so I can be able to use the truck when nessecary with out trailer for trips to town and such. Anybody have any advice?

grafekie · #2 (**permalink**) 06-28-2009, 09:07 AM

You can get a F450 rated for 24,500lbs. The F450 and F550 have the same brakes and other equipment, just different suspension. But will you be happy with the power of a pickup based truck?

Ford_Six · #3 (**permalink**) 06-28-2009, 01:32 PM

I'd go with a medium-duty truck, not a pickup-based truck. You can pick them up at repo sales now, with Cat engines, air suspension, Allison automatics, and all the bells and whistles for far less than new.

senix · #4 (**permalink**) 06-28-2009, 02:16 PM

maybe this link will help...https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...ng/default.asp

powerstroke72 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-28-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponyboy123

I have been checking the Ford website and it seems that there is no towing capacity increase from the F250 to the F450, still 16,000lbs. I am now looking towards the F550 but wondering if there is any increase in towing capacity there either. What would I have to buy to tow 25,000lbs? Starting to look like I may need to purchae a straight truck tandem axle dually. Didn't really want to go with out a truck and trailer combo so I can be able to use the truck when nessecary with out trailer for trips to town and such. Anybody have any advice?

If you'll look a little further into the towing guide, you'll see that 16,000 is the max for the F-450 on a receiver hitch and 12,500 is the max for the F-250 on the receiver hitch...the ratings vary greatly when using a fifth wheel or gooseneck hitch. Still, you would be better served and much safer looking toward an F-650 / 750 or something like an International, Freightliner, Pete, or some type of class V or VI truck.

mudmaker · #6 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 10:26 AM

If you the trailer is just 25k gross then a 450 or 550 would work fine. If your load is 25k plus the trailer you need a bigger truck.

ponyboy123 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 01:01 PM

Well, I found a 2009 F 450 and have purchased a 24,000# trailer. Figure if I run it maxed at 24,000# GTW we should be safe and productive. I was looking at hauling for another farm as well and that would put me well over the 26,000# mark at times. It just aint worth it for a few extra hundred bucks a trip. The truck I am looking at is in Ontario so I am either gonna wait on the dealer to ship it or hop on a plane and go pick it up and drive it home. Think I'd like to got pick it up myself and test it out empty on the Trans Canada. I never realized how much trouble it was going to be to find an F 450. The dealer tells me that this is the only new one he can find in the country.

grafekie · #8 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 05:22 PM

They aren't terribly common, but there are six at my local dealer. They do tend to sell out before the year is up, mostly because Ford is (I assume) careful not to overproduce them.