What size fullsize for towing?

[BLOODBANE]

Ive got a F-350 dually (V-10) I do most of my pulling with (Im a rancher), and I also have a Bobcat that get towed occasionally (I use a gooseneck dump bed trailer though). I also have a 3/4 Dodge (24 valve Cummins), that I use . I wish I had the pulling power of the Cummins in my 1 ton, but the 1 ton handles the load a lot nicer than the 3/4 ton. The bobcats are heavy (the tractor will be as well). Biggest mistake I see a lot of folks making is just cause the truck can pull something they think their safe. Stopping, especially for emergency type, is another story. Ive got a JD450 dozer that I could get moving, but I couldn't get that thing stopped with a pick-up, even with trailer brakes, in a safe distance to pull it anywhere. Better to be safe than sorry in my book.

 

[koda6966]

Yeah, a friend of my fathers had a V10 ram and he used to haul stone for us occasionally. It pulled great, there's one road we can barely get up with one pallet when we have the F250 (300 L6) but he could just fly up it with two. I'm not saying the truck isn't worth having, I'm saying it's garbage for fuel economy.

 

[-Nathan-]

if youre not looking to step into diesel land, than a 6.0 silvy is probably going to be your best bet....I would go at least 3/4 ton, so as to get the 4L80E. A 7.3 with a ZF-6 sure is hard combo to beat though

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, a friend of my fathers had a V10 ram and he used to haul stone for us occasionally. It pulled great, there's one road we can barely get up with one pallet when we have the F250 (300 L6) but he could just fly up it with two. I'm not saying the truck isn't worth having, I'm saying it's garbage for fuel economy.

Few of the rules of thumb that apply to the Dodge apply to the Ford. They really don't get very bad milage either, about the same as a 5.4... mid to low teens.

 

[Will]

Definitely need a 3/4-1-ton, and as long a wheelbase as you can stand. Our roads are 17' wide with no shoulders. When two 8' wide vehicles pass it is very common to put the tires off the edge of the road and often into a ditch. You need to have some truck up there, and not an F150, or, dear god, a Ranger.

Power is secondary, a far second, to control. I'd take an F350 with a 300-6 over a 400hp 1500 Silverado.

I am not a fan of 90's F250s though. They are softly sprung in the rear and nothing feels worse than the TIB/TTB with a load when steering into a curve and the steering wheel doesn't seem to be following the path of the truck. I'd either get a later 4x4 with a beam axle or a GM/Dodge with SLA--both of those have confident feeling steering for towing.

 

[koda6966]

Definitely need a 3/4-1-ton, and as long a wheelbase as you can stand. Our roads are 17' wide with no shoulders. When two 8' wide vehicles pass it is very common to put the tires off the edge of the road and often into a ditch. You need to have some truck up there, and not an F150, or, dear god, a Ranger.

Power is secondary, a far second, to control. I'd take an F350 with a 300-6 over a 400hp 1500 Silverado.

I am not a fan of 90's F250s though. They are softly sprung in the rear and nothing feels worse than the TIB/TTB with a load when steering into a curve and the steering wheel doesn't seem to be following the path of the truck. I'd either get a later 4x4 with a beam axle or a GM/Dodge with SLA--both of those have confident feeling steering for towing.

He's looking at crew cab trucks, but he doesn't want a dually.

Something like this (but a few years older, 2004ish) if he goes Ford.

Or this if he goes chevy.

He doesn't want a dodge, he's actually sold his 04 1500 so he could get a different truck.

 

[Will]

Those look good to me. I'd prefer a longbed because I carry a 371 Bobcat in the bed sometimes, and I like to shut the tailgate with plywood in the back.

 

[adsm08]

For that kind of weight I would go with a V10 F-250/350.

Honestly, for towing, the 6.8 is a joke. It has too much crankshaft flex. The 5.4 has more get up and go.

If he wants used, find a 7.3 or a 6.0 that has already had head gaskets replaced.

If he is ok with buying new or almost new, look for something with a 6.2L if he wants a gasser.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Honestly, for towing, the 6.8 is a joke. It has too much crankshaft flex. The 5.4 has more get up and go.

And you are the only person in the whole wide world that I have heard say that.

I wouldn't want any less than the 2v 5.4 in a Super Duty... and honestly I don't know how they could sell any less either.

 

[BigJohn76]

Hey now, don't be hatin on a V10. I never thought too much of them until i bought one.
03 F-250 4x4 auto.
Not sure the model JD or weight but it pulled and stopped just fine. We brought the tractor over to the other farm and loaded round bales the rest of the afternoon, the truck pulled fine with 4 bales on the trailer too.

This one we loaded the trailer before it was hooked up to the truck so the load wasnt centered, but the truck did alright going the 200 miles to deliver the stuff. 6 mpg going over hills and bucking the wind, did better than my powerstroke would have.

Driving around i get 12-13 mpg, trailer empty 11, and loaded anywhere between 10-6 depending on the road and weather conditions.

 

[wahlstrom1]

He's leaning more towards a 6.0 Silverado.

They tow great for a gasser... just setting worst possible mileage records doing it! But for a gasser towrig, it's what I would own.

The diesels are a wash, as long as they're properly maintained.

 

[Maverick]

I've got a great tow rig about ready to go up for sale, you just have to travel to CA to get it Got 15.3mpg towing 3500lbs worth of enclosed trailer down to central CA and back this weekend. That's with 35" tires and running the 60hp tow tune. Gotta love the 7.3/6speed combo.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Did we find a 6.0L Mavy?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

This one we loaded the trailer before it was hooked up to the truck so the load wasnt centered, but the truck did alright going the 200 miles to deliver the stuff. 6 mpg going over hills and bucking the wind, did better than my powerstroke would have.

Since you couldn't get me a good broadside I am going to guess it is a 3010 or early 3020 (doesn't have the oval muffler) It could very well be a 4010 or early 4020 but it doesn't quite look long enough (they have a 6 cylinder) I wouldn't be really surprised if it went either way. It could be a 4000 too for that matter. (40 series engine with a 30 series trans)

Weight varies, from 6500 to just under 10k depending on how it is set up and exact model + bale fork (couple hundred more) She doesn't have any weights but could have fluid... that adds quite a bit of weight.

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/0/6/63-john-deere-3020.html

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/0/6/61-john-deere-4010.html

At any rate it is a lot more than a single ratchet strap is rated for

 

[BigJohn76]

Since you couldn't get me a good broadside I am going to guess it is a 3010 or early 3020 (doesn't have the oval muffler) It could very well be a 4010 or early 4020 but it doesn't quite look long enough (they have a 6 cylinder) I wouldn't be really surprised if it went either way. It could be a 4000 too for that matter. (40 series engine with a 30 series trans)

Weight varies, from 6500 to just under 10k depending on how it is set up and exact model + bale fork (couple hundred more) She doesn't have any weights but could have fluid... that adds quite a bit of weight.

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/0/6/63-john-deere-3020.html

http://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/000/0/6/61-john-deere-4010.html

At any rate it is a lot more than a single ratchet strap is rated for

3010 sounds about right. Its an old pos but it still gets the job done. And there were two ratchet straps on it, thank you very much.

Still the truck pulled it like it wasn't even there.