Stocking up on ouor sand/salt mix and straight salt mix for the plowing season, had a 12' dump trailer and started my running today to the quarry and bulk plant for materials. I'm running a '00 F350 V10 ext cab 4x4 with 3.73's for reference.

Last year the most I hauled as far as GVWR was a tad over 21K rolling down the hwy. First load of sand and salt mix I scaled at 23,540lbs...initally weighed 11,180lbs when i pulled onto the scale empty. Once again I broke a weight record and once again, the truck pulled it fine, and the braking was fine with the controller turned waay up, actually had the trailer doing most of the stopping. Not a load I'd wanna travel cross country with mind you, but from one side of town to the other, she did just fine. Later today I got a load of straight salt, guy in the end loader did the typical devil grin and dumped the bucket as fast as he could without looking at me for the cut off point. Salt piled 2' above sides of trialer, all 4 trailer tires about half flat, pulled onto scale and this time I'm 25,840lbs. This time there was 14,440lbs of salt in the trailer.

Was I waay overweight for truck and trailer-heck yes, took back roads to my bulk drop spot so any jumpey DOT would'nt stop me and ticket the snot outta me. Dump trailer is rated at 12K, and I can tell you that last load at 14K she worked to get it up.

Normally I'm a safety first kinda guy, but i was trying for max payload so i could make fewer trips, and we got through it. But the ole girl pulled it just fine, I would not win any drag races mind you, but did'nt work as hard as one would think either...just wish I had the cahoona's to install some 4.30's out back.

 

That will be REALLY interesting if you only change the rear ratio...

 

youre talking GCWR not GVWR

 

Yes, you are right. Anybody know off the top of their head what the CVWR is for an F350 with SRW? I was thinking in the 18K range?

 

HEY
that sounds kool, But with no farther then your going i would think you fine.
Just to brag,
I got a 99 F350 xcab 4x4 with 3.73's v-10 and auto
In the summer when i go tractor pulling
truck and 25' flat trailer weighs 13500 empty, i add 2500 lbs of weigths, and 2 tractor one weighs 5100 lbs and the other 6200 lbs
come to about 27300 loaded, usually most trips are between 50 and 100 miles from home. run out of OD and just let the old girl run.
In the fall i pull a 16.5' donahue dump grain trailer with 52 inch sides
usually haul about 450 bushels of corn
puts my gross weight at 39000 lbs
i have to use 4 low to get it out on the road. then it pulls it just fine on the highway. But only go about 5 miles and only travel at 35 mph.
I havent done much but banks headers, k&n air filter, superchip.
Im not sure how many years these trucks will last doing this but so far mine is just like the day i bought it.
Keep em pullin
Shawn

 

We had a load one time from a multi layer roof tear off, built plywood sides the full 4' to get all the material in there, got to the dump and my biggest fear was realized. I have no idea what the grade of the "road" is, but that baby is loong and steeep. I typically floorboard it coming down the first hill to get momentum if no other trucks are coming the opposite way so i can let it carry itself up the big grade. That day of all days there were two roll back dumpster trucks coming from the dump spot, so i had to keep it at 15mph. Got about 15' up the hill and the pedal was on the floor, engine wanting to rev but truck grinded to a halt just a short way up the hill and then the back tires started to dig in...how embarrasing is that

Had to lock in the hubs and go to 4 low and crawl up that bad boy, then the top area where dump spot was is all clay/mud that they usually spread some sort of blue shredded paper type junk to help dry it up so trucks dont get stuck....well, started backing the trailer in and about 30' it started to slooow down, I went another 10' and the whole rig stopped, wheel hopping like mad. Got out, trailer had sunk literally to the frame, tires in deep ruts, axels squished under the muck...and i was still probably 25-30' from dump area (it's a goofy set up at our landfill) Luckily the trailer creeked it's way up to help get some of the crap off the trailer and I was abel to see saw the wheel to pull forward and out of the crap...I dont think the other waiting drivers were too happy with my mess in the middle of the path, but screw em. LOL!! Cant remember what I weighed that day, but that's the first time I've had to use 4 lo to climb that nasty grade.

Worst part, they've since closed that area down and the new dump spot looks like an atomic bomb went off it's sooo deep-trucks literally look like toys when your on top of the hill, and the road is about as steep as i think they could've made it...I'm sure the garbage trucks, roll off trucks are coming up in 1st gear with diff lock engauged..what a joke.

 

No wonder the roads break down so fast with people over-loading. It is especially hard on roads in areas that freeze in the winter. Nice to know the truck can handle it tho.

 

I think the thousands of 80+k lb big rigs have more affect on the roads.

 

Have to agree with DFK. All you have to do is look at the typical pig farmer, 5th wheel vacationer and their load is on no more axles than I had and weigh in about the same overall.

 

I guess you're right, when you look at it that way. I just get fed up when I see our major roads around here getting grooved and broken down. Nobody is charged or fined with over-loading and guess who picks up the tab for repairs. The tax payer.