Will i be able to pull a two car trailer?
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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Will i be able to pull a two car trailer?
I've been looking around at tow capacities for my truck and they have wet weight, dry weight, GCWR, GVWR, percentage of this and that... none of it makes sense to me.
I have a 01 f250 7.3 diesel extended cab with an auto trans and 3.73 gears. I want to see if I'm capable of pulling a two car trailer without too much trouble or grenading my transmission. Each car is about 2,400 pounds and 15 feet long so I'll be looking to get about a 32' gooseneck flatbed trailer. I don't know how much those generally weigh but it looks to be about 7,000 pounds from what i read. There's a couple times a year where i would be pulling this between iowa and wisconsin and if anyone here has driven through there before they'll tell ya it's not flat. There's a couple 5% and 6% grades in there around Dubuque IA.
Is this within a comfortable limit for my truck or is this falling within the risky category?
I have a 01 f250 7.3 diesel extended cab with an auto trans and 3.73 gears. I want to see if I'm capable of pulling a two car trailer without too much trouble or grenading my transmission. Each car is about 2,400 pounds and 15 feet long so I'll be looking to get about a 32' gooseneck flatbed trailer. I don't know how much those generally weigh but it looks to be about 7,000 pounds from what i read. There's a couple times a year where i would be pulling this between iowa and wisconsin and if anyone here has driven through there before they'll tell ya it's not flat. There's a couple 5% and 6% grades in there around Dubuque IA.
Is this within a comfortable limit for my truck or is this falling within the risky category?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
You're looking at 15k trailer weight, and 3000 pounds of pin weight.
Ford rated your truck for a maximum of 13k trailer weight, so you are 1 ton over your max recommended weight. Your 4R100 transmission will be the weakest link on your truck, but the newer replacement transmissions are better.
You might want to research your trailer weight and see what your options are. I tow a 28 foot enclosed car hauler conventional tow, empty it weighs 3500 pounds. It can handle a 6500 pound load. If you could stuff your two vehicles into a 28 to 30 foot enclosed trailer you will be below the recommended max trailer weight.
Ford rated your truck for a maximum of 13k trailer weight, so you are 1 ton over your max recommended weight. Your 4R100 transmission will be the weakest link on your truck, but the newer replacement transmissions are better.
You might want to research your trailer weight and see what your options are. I tow a 28 foot enclosed car hauler conventional tow, empty it weighs 3500 pounds. It can handle a 6500 pound load. If you could stuff your two vehicles into a 28 to 30 foot enclosed trailer you will be below the recommended max trailer weight.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 2
From: CA Bay Area
I towed 12,500 lb equipment trailer with my F250 just fine, including pretty steep grades in Bay Area. It rarely dropped out of overdrive even with front wind. Those years are rated for 10k trailers due the legal reasons. Even looks like my flatbed has stronger suspension - my rear sag quite a bit and I am planning to add air bags. The truck has only 305,000 miles on it, but I don't know if/when the automatic transmission was rebuild.
Bare in mind a cargo trailer over 10k GVW require CDL regardless the actual load.
Also with gooseneck you are going to exceed the rear axle rating quite a bit, so heavy tires will be a must.
Bare in mind a cargo trailer over 10k GVW require CDL regardless the actual load.
Also with gooseneck you are going to exceed the rear axle rating quite a bit, so heavy tires will be a must.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,202
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
You're looking at 15k trailer weight, and 3000 pounds of pin weight.
Ford rated your truck for a maximum of 13k trailer weight, so you are 1 ton over your max recommended weight. Your 4R100 transmission will be the weakest link on your truck, but the newer replacement transmissions are better.
You might want to research your trailer weight and see what your options are. I tow a 28 foot enclosed car hauler conventional tow, empty it weighs 3500 pounds. It can handle a 6500 pound load. If you could stuff your two vehicles into a 28 to 30 foot enclosed trailer you will be below the recommended max trailer weight.
Ford rated your truck for a maximum of 13k trailer weight, so you are 1 ton over your max recommended weight. Your 4R100 transmission will be the weakest link on your truck, but the newer replacement transmissions are better.
You might want to research your trailer weight and see what your options are. I tow a 28 foot enclosed car hauler conventional tow, empty it weighs 3500 pounds. It can handle a 6500 pound load. If you could stuff your two vehicles into a 28 to 30 foot enclosed trailer you will be below the recommended max trailer weight.
Agreed. It's too much, a lighter trailer is your only option. As stated, your trans is your weakest link when we are talking about this kinda weight.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
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From: Mesa AZ
I pulled a 12k lb fifth wheel with my F250 for 3 or 4 years with no problems.
I then traded for a 16k lb trailer and my transmission died shortly after. It had 138k miles on it so it might have been worn out or it might have been the heavier trailer. (I guess I'll never know for certain..)
My rebuilt trans is still going strong 160k miles later....
I then traded for a 16k lb trailer and my transmission died shortly after. It had 138k miles on it so it might have been worn out or it might have been the heavier trailer. (I guess I'll never know for certain..)
My rebuilt trans is still going strong 160k miles later....
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
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From: Stephensville WI
Utility Trailers - Flatbed Trailers - 1585 Flatbed Trailer
That puts you at or just under your maximum rated weight.
Your truck would handle that, but I would add additional transmission cooling capacity. Heat is the enemy of the 4R100.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 5
From: Minneapolis, MN
Don't forget though, that if this is commercial use, you'll have to comply with your states commercial vehicle requirements, and USDOT requirements if traveling interstate. This means medical exams, inspections, log books, DOT numbers, fire extinguisher, triangles, etc. if traveling interstate, and intrastate requirements tend to be similar.
As for whether or not an F250 can handle it, sure, no problem, it's essentially a 1-ton anyway. You may need to upgrade the rear springs, but make sure you stay within your tire ratings. People go over the rear axle weight ratings all the time with no issues, even the DOT doesn't care as long as you're within your tire ratings.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
If he is coming up this way 5-6 times a year with 2 vehicles, it probably means he is racing at Crandon (off road vehicles) or perhaps road racing at Elkhart Lake. Might also be tractor pulling at Tomah, but the vehicles sounded too light for pulling.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,524
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From: CA Bay Area
As far as I know CDL requirements are federal law and all states have to follow them, so double check if you can tow over 10k without proper license. I know there are lot of exempts like RV or agricultural trailers, but you don't want to risk your trailer impound and that did happen.
So to date we have 2 members who pulled 12k trailers with F250 and no issues.
So to date we have 2 members who pulled 12k trailers with F250 and no issues.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 10,101
Likes: 40
From: Pa
OK, a Featherlite 1585 32 foot flatbed tips the scale at 4750. Check this link.
Utility Trailers - Flatbed Trailers - 1585 Flatbed Trailer
That puts you at or just under your maximum rated weight.
Your truck would handle that, but I would add additional transmission cooling capacity. Heat is the enemy of the 4R100.
Utility Trailers - Flatbed Trailers - 1585 Flatbed Trailer
That puts you at or just under your maximum rated weight.
Your truck would handle that, but I would add additional transmission cooling capacity. Heat is the enemy of the 4R100.
Maybe throw a 6.0l trans cooler and a "shift kit" on the 4R100. If the rear end sags too much when loaded throw on a pair of firestone airbags.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,098
Likes: 136
As far as I know CDL requirements are federal law and all states have to follow them, so double check if you can tow over 10k without proper license. I know there are lot of exempts like RV or agricultural trailers, but you don't want to risk your trailer impound and that did happen.
So to date we have 2 members who pulled 12k trailers with F250 and no issues.
So to date we have 2 members who pulled 12k trailers with F250 and no issues.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 2
From: CA Bay Area
Reading the law is always tricky, so I went to NYSDMV and
"A Class D driver can drive a vehicle that tows another vehicle (for example a trailer) that has a maximum gross weight of 10,000 lbs. or less
A Class D driver can tow a vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs only if the combined weight rating of the two vehicles is 26,000 lbs. or less."
NYS DMV - Driver License, Learner Permit and Non-Driver Photo ID Card
Better confirm the law here, than in front of the cop. It is written in snake language as if you want to tow 15k trailer, you have to do it with truck 11k GVWR or less. Meaning you will be breaking the law about tow ratings.
Not that tow ratings are ever enforced, but that is not clearing the confusion.
Bottom line - looks like NY is observing federal law about 10k max towing and than is giving an exempt for combos below 26k. Exempt is still exempt.
"A Class D driver can drive a vehicle that tows another vehicle (for example a trailer) that has a maximum gross weight of 10,000 lbs. or less
A Class D driver can tow a vehicle with a GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs only if the combined weight rating of the two vehicles is 26,000 lbs. or less."
NYS DMV - Driver License, Learner Permit and Non-Driver Photo ID Card
Better confirm the law here, than in front of the cop. It is written in snake language as if you want to tow 15k trailer, you have to do it with truck 11k GVWR or less. Meaning you will be breaking the law about tow ratings.
Not that tow ratings are ever enforced, but that is not clearing the confusion.
Bottom line - looks like NY is observing federal law about 10k max towing and than is giving an exempt for combos below 26k. Exempt is still exempt.