Heavy Loads

How Much Have You Towed?

Posted April 13 2010 03:37 PM by Mike McGlothlin
Filed under: Diesel Trucks, Diesel Enthusiast Culture

Just like it says. How much have you towed with your ¾-ton or 1-ton?...

I know a couple fellas back in Illinois that have hauled their fair share of scrap metal. One grossed more than 42,000 pounds towing a 22-foot, tandem axle gooseneck trailer with his ’07½ Dodge Ram 3500 dualie (he’s towing two Tundras to the ’08 SEMA Show in the photo up above).

Another guy (and a sled puller, of course), also hauling scrap metal, grossed 48,000 pounds—and was towing with a standard cab, single rear wheel ’08 F-350! If I recall correctly, he said the truck got 8 miles to the gallon while doing it, but that that was better than hauling all of it with the semi (4-5 mpg).

How about you? How much weight have you strapped behind your Ford, Dodge, or Chevy workhorse?

Reader Comments:

1. Dont have any great stories, but wondered if you towed as heavy as the above info says (grossing 42-48K) would your truck (lets say 03 or newer 1-ton DRW or SRW) take it? Would the frame last?

On a side-note Mike, what do you think about air bags to help Project 24-valve or your '97 F-350 tow heavy?

Dont mean to bug you, just curious.

SmokenGun - Posted April 13 2010 08:49 PM

2. I would highly recommend not grossing 42-48K on a regular basis with any pickup.

Project 24-valve does pretty well towing 10-15K (dualie), but I do need to look into some suspension upgrades for the '97. She squats a little with a load in tow.

Mike McGlothlin - Posted April 14 2010 12:59 AM

3. yeah, ive seen pics of that 97 of yours under tremendous loads!

linmup - Posted April 14 2010 02:30 PM

4. It squatted a little when hauling Kennedy's Bronco down to Diesel Tech. That was about 9,500 pounds, so I'll have to do something. The goal is to tow 10K with ease, safely, and whenever I want.

Mike McGlothlin - Posted April 14 2010 02:53 PM

5. a guy i work with hauls hay on weekends from upstate NY back here to Ct and he grossed 52k with a goosneck flatbed. i wouldnt hav believed it if i wasnt with him!also in an 08 f-550 flatbed, with an auto. average was about 5mpg.

jmm1982m - Posted April 14 2010 03:11 PM

6. Geez! I agree, you always have to be skeptical until you see it in person. That's a heckuva load.

Mike McGlothlin - Posted April 14 2010 05:44 PM

7. Geez! Is right! I hauled a load of hay with my 95'
F-350 SRW and grossed 35k. Once I got that load to the customer I thought, never again!!!! Acceleration was fine, but forget about stopping.

9598FORDGE - Posted April 15 2010 07:48 AM

8. Yikes, those are some heavy loads!

DP Web Editor - Posted April 15 2010 04:39 PM

9. I've had more luck hauling large loads with a <a href="http://www.dieseltunesperformancechips.com">Diesel Performance Chip</a>.

dieselchip - Posted June 17 2010 05:38 PM

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