How fast do tow?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 2
From: Elk City, OK
I have towed many a thing, but like everyone else is saying it all depends greatly on conditions, terrain, etc. I do my best to stay at 60-65. But if you have a steep hill, a pickup, a big gooseneck, a tractor with a brush hog, and some fear, that aint always possible to stay at. Ask any trucker with some descent miles behind the wheel. Even empty, you sometimes do what you have to to stay up. Example: empty pickup, long 3 or 4 percent grade, 3 fat boys riding in the cab, a toolbox with at least 3 or 400 pounds in tools, and nearly bald tires. Hit the bottom of the hill foot to the floor, topped it between 50 and 60. Didn't cut it as close as we thought we would, but still a little scary watching your foot on the floor and seeing the speedo starting to dive.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,641
Likes: 968
From: Near Yosemite CA
I have towed many a thing, but like everyone else is saying it all depends greatly on conditions, terrain, etc. I do my best to stay at 60-65. But if you have a steep hill, a pickup, a big gooseneck, a tractor with a brush hog, and some fear, that aint always possible to stay at. Ask any trucker with some descent miles behind the wheel. Even empty, you sometimes do what you have to to stay up. Example: empty pickup, long 3 or 4 percent grade, 3 fat boys riding in the cab, a toolbox with at least 3 or 400 pounds in tools, and nearly bald tires. Hit the bottom of the hill foot to the floor, topped it between 50 and 60. Didn't cut it as close as we thought we would, but still a little scary watching your foot on the floor and seeing the speedo starting to dive.
Yup,,, done a few dumb things, lived to tell about them, don't plan on repeating them!
But as you so eloquently stated, sometimes ya do what ya gotta do!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 2
From: Elk City, OK
Testify! You gotta admit, even empty a truck can struggle if the grade or terrain is bad enough. Even a 4x4 can get stuck if the mud conditions are bad enough. That's all I got to say about that.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 575
Likes: 1
From: Eastern KS
I'm in the "as conditions will allow" category... Im also **** about tire pressures, properly secured loads, AND BRAKES! I had probably 15k behind the ex one day and discovered that the trailer brakes were too far worn to be worth a flip at that weight, ended up doing 25-30ish in a 55. Luckily I only had to pull that maybe 10 miles and only on paved backroads that are hardly traveled.
What really scares me is the people that hook up to trailers and have no clue about weight or brakes, or properly loading. For instance, my dad thought his Dakota could pull the 20' tandem axle flatbed with no trailer brake controller, on the interstate at 75 and still get his usual 17ish mpg. I damn near fell out of the ex laughing!
What really scares me is the people that hook up to trailers and have no clue about weight or brakes, or properly loading. For instance, my dad thought his Dakota could pull the 20' tandem axle flatbed with no trailer brake controller, on the interstate at 75 and still get his usual 17ish mpg. I damn near fell out of the ex laughing!
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
The new one, assuming the deal goes through okay, is rated to tow 11,300 lbs. It has as much torque as my V10, 55 more horsepower, a longer wheelbase, and a fully controllable 6-speed transmission.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
It actually can. I towed my white trailer with my '07 F150, and we had it over 9,500 lbs a couple of times:
The new one, assuming the deal goes through okay, is rated to tow 11,300 lbs. It has as much torque as my V10, 55 more horsepower, a longer wheelbase, and a fully controllable 6-speed transmission.
The new one, assuming the deal goes through okay, is rated to tow 11,300 lbs. It has as much torque as my V10, 55 more horsepower, a longer wheelbase, and a fully controllable 6-speed transmission.
edit:I just looked it up.. less than 5000 lbs truck weight. Somehow that seems like a bad idea to tow 11,300 lbs.
It is with the ecoboost and heavy duty towing package.
That ecoboost does seem like a great engine. Was watching a show where they used a tuner to add some hp and did exhaust work. Just the tuner alone added 100 hp I think.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
serious? What's the weight of that f150 ? which engine ?
edit:I just looked it up.. less than 5000 lbs truck weight. Somehow that seems like a bad idea to tow 11,300 lbs.
It is with the ecoboost and heavy duty towing package.
That ecoboost does seem like a great engine. Was watching a show where they used a tuner to add some hp and did exhaust work. Just the tuner alone added 100 hp I think.
edit:I just looked it up.. less than 5000 lbs truck weight. Somehow that seems like a bad idea to tow 11,300 lbs.
It is with the ecoboost and heavy duty towing package.
That ecoboost does seem like a great engine. Was watching a show where they used a tuner to add some hp and did exhaust work. Just the tuner alone added 100 hp I think.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 3
From: Colorado
yep, I stand corrected. They've come a long way with these trucks.
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
I keep all my trailers between 55 and 65 and stop every couple of hours to check hubs and load. The one time I opened the dodge up pulling my 33' travel trailer I was coming thru the Texas panhandle at 80 and popped a tire on the trailer. Thousands (and I do mean thousands) of miles pulling that same trailer at 55-65 the tires were fine. I took that as an omen and slowed back down.
Just because our trucks can do it doesn't mean they should. Same goes for unloaded speeds.
Just because our trucks can do it doesn't mean they should. Same goes for unloaded speeds.