I am looking for a hot-shot truck, thinking of pulling a 36 or 40 ft flatbed trailer. I found a bargin F250 but instead of a diesel or a V-10, it has a 5.4 V8. It does not have to last me forever
but I just need to get myself started in the business and get some cash flow going before I commit for a newer better truck. Does this sound like a mistake? I need to be able to pull around
20,000 lbs total load.

 

Your way out of league with that. Pulling 20k with a 5.4 isn't happening reliably.

 

I expected an answer like that. When I say 20K, I am talking about the combined weight of truck, trailer and load. And that would be the maximum, not the normal load.
I will continue to shop for trucks. I have not had the 6.7 diesel yet but that will be the goal. But right at the moment, I am not prepared for that kind of cash outlay and
I don't want to start up with a large overhead. The insurance and other basic costs are already pretty steep. So I was hoping to get a cheaper truck that would get me
through the first year.

Thanks for your input.

 

If you are looking for a cheaper truck look for a retired lower mileage vocational truck. Common place to see F450 and F550 V10 trucks for under 15k especially the 2012 and older trucks.

 

Even at 20,000 combined load you're taxing a 5.4. It will do it but throw hills in front of you, running the a/c in HOT weather, lots of stopping and going and lots of traffic and you will hate it. Yes it will do it, I've drug more at farm speed on farm roads because it was farm equipment. You can look at it this way, a 5.4 won't cost you much but you won't make much with it for your intended purposes either and will end up costing you.

 

Thanks for your inputs guys! I have an F150 with 5.4 now which I use to pull a 20 ft travel trailer and it is really easy. But that is only 4500lbs.

 

A 5.4 for 20,000 pounds would be awful.

It would drink lots of gas while never getting into overdrive. It would never have an easy time, and the transmission would be in the same boat. If you are doing this full-time, I'd personally bank on major repairs within the first year (unless it is a unicorn 10,000-mile F250/5.4). I believe the door sticker on any F250 will GCVWR well below 20,000 pounds as well. If anything happens on the road, the insurance folks and DOT would probably be all over you.

For what you are talking about, I suggest you look for a decent F350 DRW with a 7.3 . Older, yes, but will do what you are talking about with little strain. There are a lot out there at decent prices.

I'd venture to say that a F350 DRW could do what you are talking about all day long PLUS hauling this F250/5.4 with easily less strain than the F250/5.4 at 15,000 pounds total.

 

Also, 20K combined gross weight isn't much. My 40' gooseneck weights about 10k by itself. Throw in a 7K truck and there's not much left for cargo.

 

5.4 is good for about 8-10 max tow load, With that in mind you will be a tired puppy having to drive that truck and manage that.