I finally talked my Dad into buying a Ford He bought a 2000 F 450 regular cab with a 14 ft bed he is going to use it to tow a skytrak that weighs about 25,000 plus the trailer will weigh around 8,000 the truck has a six speed and about 205000 miles on it and has a 4.88 gear it is 2 wheel drive. I tow around 18000 pounds all the time with an f350 with no problems does anyone have any experience with this much weight. Also the turbo sounds a little odd it sounds similar to siren. The trucks I drive sound nothing like that but they dont have the miles that this one does. I told him his truck would have no problems with this weight even though it exceeds the maximum rating. Can somebody tell me if I stuck my foot in my mouth.

 

32,000 lbs is too much wieght for any 15,000lb truck.The brakes and frame were not designed to go with that much wieght.btw f350 max trailer wieght is 13,600 lbs and f450 max trailer wieght is 17,700 lbs as of 2002.So if you want to take a chance with your life or others but if it were me , I would look at atleast a 650 or 750 or similiar sized truck.Around here the dot would give you an overwieght ticket on the truck if you exceed the rear avel wieght so when we tow any trailer over 12,000 lbs we us at least a 28,000 gvw truck or larger as brakes ,frame and suspension as well as engine and trans are better suited for this type of work.

 

I dont think the frame is going to break in half when he takes off as far as the brakes go thats what trailer brakes are for I am just concerned with ehe clutch and tranny. I have driven several f650s with 300hp cats and gotten passed up by f350s pulling smaller loads. Thanks for the input.

 

The truck will handle that. I've got a 250 and I haul around my hydro hoe and dozer all the time. Both machines weight about 20000.

 

Now that's awesome.

 

I can relate to that! Good pic.

 

What can I say Ford SuperDuty is the Baddest Truck Around

 

What size Hitachi is that? I've got a tandem axle trailer that I pull behind my '05 F250. I've had 5 ton on it and the trailer weighs 3K ----- and it still surprises a bunch of HOKIE-POKIES at the stop lights. The trailer TOW/COMMAND package is GREAT!! ..... even though I have surge brakes on the trailer ('cause I tow with several other trucks, too).

 

Can it be done, yes, occasionally. But I would not do it on a regular basis. First of all the drivetrain nor the truck is made to handle that type of weight on a regular basis. Second, the skytrack and trailer alone well exceed the trucks GCWR of 26,000 lbs. Max 5th wheel tow weight is 18,200 lbs. Besides being dangerous to yourself and others, the DOT man would have a field day with that setup.

 

Quite true, but (owning several pieces of heavy equipment myself) I think both the original poster and the guy with the excavator have overstated their guestimated weights. ............ but not by a great amount, though!

 

Maybe buy a single axle semi? Also around here its a 6 point violation to drive a vehicle weighing over 24,000 lbs. without a CDL. Look here: http://www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/Drive...CDLDisqual.htm

What is a commercial motor vehicle?
State law defines a commercial motor vehicle as a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle:

1. has a gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds;
2. has a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds and the combination of vehicles has a combined gross vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds;
3. is a bus (designed to seat 16 passengers or more, including the driver);
4. is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials that are required to be placarded under Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, parts 100-185; or
5. is outwardly equipped and identified as a school bus.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regul...mcsr/383.5.htm



Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle-

(a) Has a gross combination weight rating of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds); or

(b) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more); or

(c) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or

(d) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in this section.



http://www.iamvd.com/ods/cdl/cdlnut.pdf

http://www.cdl-course.com/faq-mt.html

When do I need a Montana CDL instead of my regular Montana Drivers License?
A Montana CDL is required if you operate any of the following CMV's . . .
1. A vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 lbs.
2. A vehicle towing a unit with a manufacturer's GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs. when the GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs.
3. A vehicle used to . . .(a.) carry 15 or more passengers (excluding the driver), or (b.) carry (15) or less people (including the driver) when carrying children to or from school and home regularly for compensation.
4. A vehicle carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.

 

33,000 gross with my F550. That is what I am "legal" to tow.

 

Insurance co will not cover any truck,trailer gcvw if something should happen if your overweight. just not worth it. check local laws w/state.check fords commercial truck for weight on body builder.IT will tell you all specs.

 

Your F-450 with 4.88 gears is designed with a 33,000# GCVW. towing 25,000#s puts it at or just about the legal limit. However the truck will do the job.

 

25,000 cargo weight+8000 trailer weight +truck 8000=41,000lbs (red flag)