thinking newer truck

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by Stan Disbrow » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:21 am

Hi,

Well, in the FWIW (For What It's Worth) department, I will list the towing trucks I have had over the years.

First off, I had a 79 Ford F150 super cab with a 350 gas and an automatic. This, my first truck to haul a light open race trailer. When my Dad got a 10k gross flatbed to haul the 420c on, I knew I would only get into trouble with the rear axle hauling it the 150 miles between our place and their new retirement place.

So, I got an 80 Ford F250 with a 350 and a manual trans. My thinking that it would do wound up changed on the first trip. That 350 was not nearly enough engine.

So, I went to a NY State Thruway auction and picked up a 83 GMC 2500 crew cab with a 350 and an auto trans. Yup, another 350 but it was soon to be a 454. See, I got it cheap with a dropped valve. I ordered a crate 454 from one racing buddy and hauled it and the truck to another racing buddy. Told him he could have that 4-bolt 350. See, he raced late model stock and I road raced all things Lotus. I had no use for a 350 but he was drooling over an unopened 350 4-bolt.

Well, he did it. Dual four barrel carbs, headers, dual exhaust, variable cam. The works. The carbs were progressive, opening two barrels, then four, then six, then all eight....depending on my right foot position. He said now I could choose my fuel flow rate.

Well, it pulled all right. But, this was a fleet truck with one 14 gallon tank. The dash had a huge fuel gauge. I could literally watch the needle move. I had to put a big tank in the bed. It got 6 MPG pulling the 420c.

So, I decided I wanted the pull, but better mileage. The only way to do that was go Diesel. GM had a 6.2L Diesel engine I could put in. But, everyone hated those and loved the 7.3L International. So, I bought a brand new 1993 Ford F350 Crew with the IH and a manual with 3.73 rear. BTW, that is the same rear ratio the GMC had. Mileage went up to 15. Score!

By 1997, I was now down South and pulling on Saturday afternoons to race tracks. The non-turbo 7.3 was choking on the heat and humidity. It had pulled two tractors and the 420c South OK, but hated those summer days. So, I went for a 97 Crew with the turbo IH and back to an automatic and with 4.10 gears this time. I was planning some long pulls with a box trailer. Some trips out to CA and back. I opted for dual rear wheels this time. Box trailers like to wag around a bit sometimes and dual fix that.

Man, what a difference with that Power Stroke. Pulling the flatbed with the 420 it still does decent mileage, went from 15 on the 93 to 13-14. It did burn more with the box trailer at 11-12, but the extra pulling power was grand. I still have this one. It isn't going away like all the others.

A couple years ago, we started taking trips without a trailer. The F350 is a tad too long, a tad too wide, and a tad too thirsty. It gets 17 MPG at 70 MPH with the 4.10 rear (2500 RPM). I wanted an F250 with the 7.3 and 3.50 rear and a super cab. So, back to single rear wheels. I looked for several months, but any nice ones were up in the $20k range. Too costly. So, I found a 99 Dodge 2500 with a Cummins, an auto and 3.50 rear. It get 24 MPH at 70 MPH because it turns only 2000 RPM. It was only $11k, so that part was much better.

Now, I have yet to tow anything with the Dodge, but expect it would be better than the 93 Ford was but not as good as the 97 Ford.

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

dtoots1
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by dtoots1 » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:14 pm

well now i am wondering....currently my gas is running 2.27/gal diesel at 2.99/gal...if i run 550 miles at 15mpg gas costs 83.23....diesel at 23mpg would cost me 68.77. appears to be a wash at those mpgs....current e.p.a. estimates, not loaded, showing 22mpg gas and i think is 24mpg diesel course that group does pad a bit.

it would still seem a bit better going gas as not hauling a lot...yet seems need to be just a bit better than the 3.73 ratio or at least have 6 speeds in the automatic. and it seems gonna have to keep it a short bed with the crew/extended cab as full size is 20ft and cannot close my garage door with dozer in behind that length!....i planned it at 40ft and local bldg insp. claimed i could NOT cause too many bldg square footage for my acre lot.........so only 36ft,
cause it aint attached to house....dips

still looking

just got back from State Farm, checking on auto insurance....and a fine howdy do too!!....gonna cost more for 1 vehicle than for 2???

paying 728 for 2 and they want 813 for 1.....wow...no joy there ooops! i get to save auto license cost which is cheaper than truck,

Dlcain
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by Dlcain » Wed Jan 17, 2018 2:28 pm

Hi all,
Not sure if this is the right place to ask, but the topic seems related. We just picked up a 450B with a 9300 Backhoe. We're looking for a truck/trailer that we can use to haul it around locally(50mi tops) . We found a good deal on a 1999 Dodge 3500 with Cummins diesel. Was leaning toward a gooseneck trailer, but am unsure if what weight trailer to look for.

Do you think the truck would be ok? Have any trailer recommendations?

Thanks,
-don

dtoots1
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by dtoots1 » Wed Jan 17, 2018 3:21 pm

Got my truck today...nice....more'n i wanted to pay but what the he...lp!

tis '15 GMC 5.3L 6 speed auto, hopefully will do what i need. leastways i got 5 days to figure it out.

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amos
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by amos » Thu Jan 18, 2018 6:21 am

Hi Don,
The 450B with backhoe should be around 17,000+ pounds. Way too heavy for a bumper pull behind a pick up in my humble opinion.Trailer should be either a triple axle with singles having either 7000 or 8000 pound axles or dual tandems with 10,000 pound axles.Watch trailer length as each foot of trailer adds weight and rating of axles is gross(includes trailer weight) and not net(load only). Lots of people get into trouble thinking a 20,000 pound rated trailer means the can haul a 20,000 pound load and forget that the 40' trailer they bought weighs 6000 pounds empty so they can only haul 14,000 pounds.
Also look at tires. I run 14 ply load range H at 95 PSI on all of my heavy gross trailers and have blown a few of those when I mis-load something heavy:usually too far forward on the triple axle trailer with singles.
When loaded you want 60% of the weight forward of the trailer pivot point.Any more and front trailer axle has too muck load and gooseneck weight is high. Any less and front of trailer is light and will really make truck unstable as hitch will try to lift truck rear end from pavement.This is what couses trailer fishtailing and jack knife of truck and trailer.
Air bag overloads on the truck would be a good upgrade too.
With a 20+5 gooseneck with dual tandems and the 450B with BH you will be pulling around 22,000 pounds(17,000 pound load + 5000 pound trailer) with 3000 pounds on the hitch(trailer axle load will be 19,000). Make sure your truck drivetrain is rated for that.
Amos
Pushin hard or diggin deep life is good.
What's ahead is what matters. What's behind is already done.
A fool of a man is he who doesn't ask questions...
God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason...

Dlcain
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by Dlcain » Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:23 pm

Thanks Amos,
Picked up a 2000 F-350 Dually Diesel today. Will be installing a 30k gooseneck hitch. I think it'll be ok as I'm not going anywhere far or fast. Just local hauling since our public works department wants us to keep the metal crawler tracks off the pavement. Need to haul from the storage yard to our property until I can get a lockable area setup.

Thanks for the info...

-Don

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amos
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by amos » Sun Jan 21, 2018 6:50 am

Dlcain wrote:
Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:23 pm
Thanks Amos,
Picked up a 2000 F-350 Dually Diesel today. Will be installing a 30k gooseneck hitch. I think it'll be ok as I'm not going anywhere far or fast. Just local hauling since our public works department wants us to keep the metal crawler tracks off the pavement. Need to haul from the storage yard to our property until I can get a lockable area setup.

Thanks for the info...

-Don
Morning Don,
Congrats on new truck. Internet check indicates it has a tow rating of 13,100 to 14,400 pounds(reg cab versus crew cab and 4x2 versus 4x4).Lock out overdrive and slow and local you should be ok. Heat kills transmissions(heavy tow causes high heat) so I would definitely install a transmission cooler after doing a complete transmission service.
I have a 99 ford F-250 crew cab with diesel and auto as a spare truck I use when Ram is in for service or for running around town,117,000 miles on it and last year I did a heavy service/light re-build. All fluids,filters,hoses changed. New thermostat,fan clutch,water pump, and some steering components changed along with "U" joints and rear drive shaft section(out of balance) carrier bearing etc.
At the point of beginning the work nothing had failed but was more timed out:18 year old hoses are past their prime,etc.
If your new truck is in good overall condition it could be a good candidate for that level of heavy maintenance.
Amos
Pushin hard or diggin deep life is good.
What's ahead is what matters. What's behind is already done.
A fool of a man is he who doesn't ask questions...
God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason...

dtoots1
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by dtoots1 » Sun Jun 02, 2019 8:48 am

so to clarify...full floating rear axles....fordf250 heavy duty 2013...would that have floating axle and how do you tell or find out??

missed it and bought 9000 gvwr camper, looked like 5000 gvwr in poor light..pull behind and need to pull it 500 miles, don't think i want to pull with my half ton, sons got the 3/4.

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by Stan Disbrow » Mon Jun 03, 2019 4:48 am

Hi,

If there is a hub-like piece with a circle of bolts sticking out of the center of the rear wheel, that is the drive axle flange bolted to the end of the full floating wheel hub where the outer roller bearing is.

If there is no piece like that sticking out, then it is a semi floating axle.

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

dtoots1
350 crawler
350 crawler
Posts: 1162
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 8:54 am
Location: akron, ohio

Re: thinking newer truck

Post by dtoots1 » Mon Jun 03, 2019 6:54 am

re..floating axle..

Well Stan,
thanks for that info!! Just checked and my sons f250 heavy duty does have the full floating axle, so that is a relief and will be using it to get that down the road. Thanks to all for feedback

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Stan Disbrow
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Re: thinking newer truck

Post by Stan Disbrow » Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:27 am

Hi,

Excellent. In the Ford F250 world, HD gets full floating, SD gets semi floating. I found that out the hard way back in the 80s. ;)

Stan
There's No Such Thing As A Cheap Crawler!

Useta Have: '58 JD 420c 5-roller w/62 inside blade
Useta Have: '78 JD350C w/6310 outside blade
Useta Have: '68 JD350, '51 Terratrac GT-25
Have: 1950 M, 2005 x495, 2008 5103 (now known as 5045D)

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