I would say that you made a good choice to stay away from a med duty truck.

If they cost the same as a F350 that would be one thing, but I know when I got mine it was 15k more that what I paid for my pickup.

 

I have no problem posting data as far as mileage and any issues I have with the truck. I'm certainly not biased by any means and I'm not here to start trouble. That said I'll post some data for my run today.

Sacramento to Vallejo, to Sunnyvale, to Salinas.

Roundtrip was 398 miles and used 40.xx gallons of fuel and avg'd 9.9 mpg today. I went to Vallejo empty and picked up a 05 1500 Chevy. Then to Sunnyvale to pickup an 06 F-250 6.0 at the Ford dealer. Then to Salinas to pickup a Kia Sedona mini van and bring back to Sac. Once fully loaded, I was pulling some weight. 7,000 trailer, 7000+ F-250, 5000+ mini van, 5500+ truck, puts me around 24,500+ lbs of trailer. This was a heavier than avg load, and a less than avg day because I didn't haul anything out.

Around here guys use pickups for Hot Shoting because in California Pickups don't have to scale. Also the convenience of double duty work truck, nice truck when not working. You still have to beef up your truck though. I have air bags and plan to put some 19.5's on, install 4.10 gears to get my effective gearing back to stock, straight pipe the exhaust (no more regens) and put a Quadzilla programmer on to kill the check engine codes. I'm too cheap to buy a bigger fuel tank so 2, 5 gallon fuel jugs will have to do, lol.

 

Yea, I don't have a fuel tank yet either...but I'll get it in a month or so.

Gonna get a 100 gallon diamond plate tank w/tool box combo.

 

Very interesting thread.....I wouldn't call what I do Hot Shotting yet. I pull doubles with a GMC C4500. Mostly from KS, OK and TX. I went with the bigger combo for the safety aspect, big honking brakes. Unloaded truck only weighs 10,200 lbs. and gets high 14mpg. Loaded with two trailers, about 65 to 75 feet long, I get 8.5 to 10 mpg. The wind resistance can really knock your mileage down. Since Oct 07' I have logged 51K miles and the only problem to date was an out of round steer tire replaced by Bridgestone.

To answer the question about buying a bigger truck, it is all about the weight. Running under 26,001 lbs. is a lot cheaper. No IFTA and recording mileage between states. I do not stop a scales that say "All Truck Must Exit" as I am not a truck until I go over 26,001 lbs. Still have to stop at al POE and commercial scales. Licensing is not bad as is insurance.

Anthony

 

I take your pulling new stock trailers. In your case you can get away with under 26k. Hauling cars you cant. A car hauler using a 1ton has to stop at the scales (except CA like said they have a nice sign that says no pickups) because if you are not licensed over 26k you are completely illegal. Sometimes you trailer and load wieghts 26k alone.

BTW have pulled those trailers using a pickup. I use to run down to waterville and pickup new titans every once in a while. If it was just stock trailers they pulled easy. Pulled a little harder when you start stacking flatbeds.

 

How are you hauling 24,500lbs of trailer? Isn't that way over the rating? I'm asking because I'm currently trying to figure out if I'm legal or not for work. I'm looking at medium duty trucks that are 26,001. But doesn't that include the truck, load, and trailer??

 

My legal gross combined weight is 31,400 lbs. 11,400 for the truck and 20,000 trailer. Technically I was over, but don't need to scale in CA.

My next work truck will be more work truck style and keep this one for backup and daily driving. Right now I'd be looking at the Dodge 4500-5500 series because of their GVW rating. I'd just put a bed on it so I don't need to scale in CA, but wouldn't need to worry about weight in other states. I'll have to see if they're willing to give the 10-12k off sticker like they are on the 3500's. The 4500-5500 comes with 52 gallon fuel tank, exhaust brake, 19.5's etc so it's ready to work and it's cheap. It seems this truck might be the best medium duty option for the $$$ and it looks like a normal 3500.

 

I'm really trying to figure all the regs out right now. What truck do you have that has a GCW of 31,000? Do you have a CDL for it? My 2006 F350 Dually Chassis has a GCW of 21500lbs.

 

you just take the trailer gvwr and add it to the pickup gvwr. that gives you your total gvw. that is the highest number you can licensed for. if that number over 26k you need a cdl. if you go interstate you need an ICC authority. unless you're going to just buy single trip permits. CA is the easiest state to run in. I use to get pulled over coming out of CA in NV a lot. the DOT guys just wanted to make sure I was licensed properly w/ a log book because CA doesn't check pickups.

 

Before guys complain about fuel mileage they should do their homework. Ford built these trucks to haul heavy and do it safely. When I want 22 mpg I drive my Escape. When I want to haul heavy and work the truck I use my 450. Towing over 2000 miles 16650# this summer was 8.76mpg. Now average 13.46 rural and round town. You guys that complain should not have bought a Ford 6.4 in the first place, it is your fault for not doing your homework. Driving over 2,000rpm is going to give you much lower mileage period.

 

Wow, if only we possessed the knowledge that you have...I'm surprised I even know how to calculate fuel mileage I'm so stupid...gee, thanks for clearing that up for all of us.

For 45k on a 1 ton, I'll complain all I want, thnx. Obviously we don't expect great mileage hauling anything in a 1 ton truck, but 6 mpg is ridiculous, loaded or not. Period.

I wonder how many times guys are going to come in here and sound as if they just know it all...not that it's getting old or anything.



BTW, next run will be Corpus Christi...about 685ish round trip. Details tomorrow I hope...that is if I can remember to screw my head on straight this time.

 

One thing recreational haulers don't seem to consider is that when you make your living towing, poor mpg cuts into your profit...

Tim

 

roger that

 

Today's trip was 195 miles and used 15.55 gallons of fuel for 12.54 mpg. I went from Sacramento to Modesto with my trailer unloaded (7k lbs). Then picked up a Ford Taurus, Pontiac grand prix GTP, and a 3500 chevy express van and returned to sac. Total weight today was around 19-20k lbs loaded up. The drive was all flat with no hills to climb and speed was 60mph avg. I ordered my exhaust and programmer so we'll see what it gets with no DPF and no regens.

Yes I have a CDL class A, and MC #, DOT #, and CA #.

 

How will a DPF delete affect the warranty. Or is that not really a concern?