Right now my 94 F-350 4x4 crew cab long bed weighs 9750 pounds full of fuel, slide in camper in the back and camper full of water and all our gear.

That's a little bit over the max gvwr of 9400. It does have better tires than stock. They are 265/75/16 firestones. Load range E, max load single 3420. I did weigh the truck on all 4 tires and I'm not overloading them but I'm close on the left rear.

My dilemma is I also have a horse trailer I'd like to pull. The trucks been in the same configuration for years with it's previous owner but I like playing it a little safer. The trailer tongue weight is pretty bad empty. Almost 1000 pounds. With three horses in it it goes down slightly to 600 pounds. Full of horses and tack it weighs 12,900 pounds. I took out my water tanks, roof rack and some other junk to get it down to that. I was maxing out at almost 16,000 pounds.

Needless to say, given my gvwr already being exceeded a little there is no more room for a tongue load on it. The trailer puts me over the max combined gvwr too. I think it was 16,000 pounds. The truck doesn't care much but I do. It pulls it without complaint no matter what the road is like.

What we are thinking of doing is using both trucks to go on outings with the horses. I have a 94 and a 97 powerstroke. I'll leave the camper on the 94 f-350 since it's got heavier springs and sway bars and pull the trailer behind the F-250. This plan will definitly be easier on the truck but will burn a LOT of diesel fuel!
Only one problem there though. That means my wife has to drive one of them. The 350 is a stick shift and I like my transmission. The transmission does NOT like my wife!

She can't even pull a hay wagon in a straight line with the tractor across our pastures either. I"m a little uneasy about her doing 60 with a very large horse trailer down the highway.

My other idea is to get the heaviest load rated tires I can get on the F-350, one more overload spring on each rear and just drive the whole rig myself. It barely sags the rear right now but one more overload will set it perfectly. The tires I'm looking at are 285/75 16 Load range E BFG all terrains rated at 3750 pounds each. I think those will run safely under all that weight.
Those tires are recommended on a 7.5 to 9 inch rim. I have no idea what ours are. They are the factory aluminum 16 inch wheels. I guess they are at least 7 inches wide but does anyone know the exact figure? ALso does anyone have any experience with this size tire on a factory F-350? I don't think I'll have clearance problems.

What do you all think I should do?

 

I think our wheels are 8 inches. You won't have any clearance problems. If I were you I would just use the one truck especially if you're worried about your wife driving. That ford will haul it and I'm sure you don't have commercial plates like I do so you don't have to go thru the scales. I would rather take chances with a heavy load than worry about my wife driving if she's not comfortable.

 

I actually have farm plates on my truck and trailer. I believe legally that makes my gvwr at 38,000 pounds as far as DOT is concerned. I run close to that durring the summer all the time on the 250 with the flat bed full of hay behind it. It's got farm plates too.
Those plates do give DOT more reason to pull us over sometimes but only to check my tanks for red fuel. I've never been questioned about my weight before.

 

The factory aluminum wheels are 7 inches wide. Not sure what you plan to do with your 350 since it is a 4x4, but if you gonna haul on the road alot with it and with that much weight you might want to consider 19.5 wheels and getting some load range G tires. I would only do that if you plan to be on the road more that off as the extra weight makes it harder to drive down muddy roads and not get stuck. My roommates parents run that set up on a 03 F-250 and they handle the weight nicely, but it is a pricey investment. again just someting to look at. Also i thought farm tags made it to where you can go to 48,000 lbs and not need a comerical license.

 

To be honest i wouldn't worry about it unless your going over 100 miles everything is underrated.

stock rims are 7" and are too narrow for anything wider than 265 tires. i have 265/75R16 BFG MT which are load range D (3042lbs.) and regularly over load both the truck and tires with no problems. And I'm not the craziest person in my area.

 

I guess I was wrong on the wheel size(surprise). I agree with cowmilker on everything though. I run 305/70/16 load range D which are quite wide for my stock wheels and haul way more than I should with no problems. Again, though, all trips under 100 miles. I've got commercial plates with 18 ton tags and push that limit with our telehandler forklift loaded.(prob. too much avoid scales!!!!)

 

Now that I think about it I think the farm tags are good for 48,000 pounds. I know it's a lot more than I care to pull with it.

19.5's are out. I already discussed that with my wife and she said no way after I told her how much.

Most of our trips are over 100 miles when we go on trail rides or roundups but not too much over usually. I only drive 60 max also with that much weight on the truck.

 

the 285's will be fine on the sotck wheels. i run 315's on stock rims. just remember that your truck is only as good as your weakest link. if the tires are not rated for the load you put on them you risk blowouts.

 

I have 315s on my stock rims too... E rated tires though.

 

I run 255/85-16 D rated tires, and have the Timbren SES. We gross 17-18K lbs. (w/ a 31' travel trailer and my bike in the truck) 1600 mi. ea. way to AZ every year. No problems with the tires, and the Timbren overloads work great.