Pickup truck advice

[42FarmallMatt]

Welcoming all opinions. I currently have a newer RAM 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi. Out of the book it says it can pull 17k with a gooseneck. I am looking at purchasing a gooseneck trailer in the future for transporting tractors to shows and such. Currently have a Farmall H and a styled JD "A". I expect both of these tractors to add up to 4.5-5.5 tons worth of cargo weight but I'm wanting to get a trailer that has the potential to carry 8 tons worth in the event of getting a 3rd tractor. Obviously this has the potential to be more than the 3/4 ton gas truck can safely handle. What is everyone's opinion on towing with duallys and single rear wheel trucks? I would be buying it as a weekend tow rig / daily driver. Any advice/input is appreciated.

 

[RCP]

You realize that at 16,000 lb plus trailer of probably 5,000 lb you will need a trailer with a GVW of 21,000 lb and the truck GVW will probably be 11,000 lb for a grand total of 32,000 lb. This puts you well into CDL territory, unless your state has an exemption of some kind that you can use. As far as trucks, a dually would be my choice, they ususally have a higher GVW than a single rear tire truck and most people consider them to be more stable in cross winds and curvy roads.

 

[Duner Wi]

Purchase and old fleet single axle js what I would do. Fasten down your pickup camper to the front of trailer and go to shows. Keep old pickup for daily driver.

 

[showcrop]

I towed a 22,400 tandem dual for years with my F-350 SRW. I was legal but close. I had no trouble stopping in full panic mode two times when people ahead made stupid moves.

 

[JohnRowehl]

You need to know what the Gross Combination Weight Rating is for your 2500. That is your legal limit. Depending on your axle ratio, yours is probably 21K or 24K. Subtract the weight of the truck with passengers and cargo and what’s left is your gross towing weight capacity.

“Capable of towing XXXXX LBS” in sales literature has probably created more unsafe situations where people are out there hauling above the truck GCWR than anyone realizes.

 

[42FarmallMatt]

You realize that at 16,000 lb plus trailer of probably 5,000 lb you will need a trailer with a GVW of 21,000 lb and the truck GVW will probably be 11,000 lb for a grand total of 32,000 lb. This puts you well into CDL territory, unless your state has an exemption of some kind that you can use. As far as trucks, a dually would be my choice, they ususally have a higher GVW than a single rear tire truck and most people consider them to be more stable in cross winds and curvy roads.

 

[42FarmallMatt]

Thank you guys. GCWR is 24,000. Minus truck and driver / passenger it comes down to 17,100 max tow weight. I don't like the idea of daily driving a dually, But I'm noticing alot of these newer SRW trucks are putting out bigger numbers these days. I just want to be legal and safe. But my gosh these new diesel pickup prices are ridiculous.

 

[Peat]

Purchase and old fleet single axle js what I would do. Fasten down your pickup camper to the front of trailer and go to shows. Keep old pickup for daily driver.

Like the idea often thought an old R model Mack w/ antique tags and tag along would work well for taking tractors to shows. How do registration and insurance costs add up compared to a new dually? CDL no problem.

 

[Scott 730]

Thank you guys. GCWR is 24,000. Minus truck and driver / passenger it comes down to 17,100 max tow weight. I don't like the idea of daily driving a dually, But I'm noticing alot of these newer SRW trucks are putting out bigger numbers these days. I just want to be legal and safe. But my gosh these new diesel pickup prices are ridiculous.

You also need to subtract the tare weight of the trailer from the 24K to find the max cargo weight allowed.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Pulling the load is not the problem it is the stopping that is. Doesn't matter if it is a car or a semi. The single axle tractor will out last any pickup today in the towing department. Just will put you in the CDL category real fast since most of them will already be there without a trailer . 18,000 rear and 9000 front is there without the trailer. IF you can plate for farm it would be a cheaper cost for the plates. Use it to haul a few loads of grain for a friend or neighbor with it during harvest if need be for the farm plate no charge of course. Then if you have a choice on the trailer get air brakes on both much simpler to work on and fix. Will be bigger and better brakes on the truck too.

 

[ss55]

Pulling the load is not the problem it is the stopping that is. Doesn't matter if it is a car or a semi. The single axle tractor will out last any pickup today in the towing department. Just will put you in the CDL category real fast since most of them will already be there without a trailer . 18,000 rear and 9000 front is there without the trailer. IF you can plate for farm it would be a cheaper cost for the plates. Use it to haul a few loads of grain for a friend or neighbor with it during harvest if need be for the farm plate no charge of course. Then if you have a choice on the trailer get air brakes on both much simpler to work on and fix. Will be bigger and better brakes on the truck too.

Some states are more restrictive on farm plates than others, so the OP should check the local laws. Some states do not allow hauling for hire with farm plates and restrict travel distance from the farm.

 

[E.B. Haymakin']

Welcoming all opinions. I currently have a newer RAM 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi. Out of the book it says it can pull 17k with a gooseneck. I am looking at purchasing a gooseneck trailer in the future for transporting tractors to shows and such. Currently have a Farmall H and a styled JD "A". I expect both of these tractors to add up to 4.5-5.5 tons worth of cargo weight but I'm wanting to get a trailer that has the potential to carry 8 tons worth in the event of getting a 3rd tractor. Obviously this has the potential to be more than the 3/4 ton gas truck can safely handle. What is everyone's opinion on towing with duallys and single rear wheel trucks? I would be buying it as a weekend tow rig / daily driver. Any advice/input is appreciated.

I believe I read online new regs we're adopted limiting farm vehicles to 150 miles of their registered address. Also I have a GM 6.0 gas and manual stresses 93 octane gas when pulling loads anywhere near maximum. I would have to reread to give more specifics. See what the 6.4 requires

 

[Duner Wi]

Like the idea often thought an old R model Mack w/ antique tags and tag along would work well for taking tractors to shows. How do registration and insurance costs add up compared to a new dually? CDL no problem.

No idea about costs for registration and Insurance. I have seen collector plates on semi at tractor shows that had a trailer. Not sure how legal that would be. R models are penny cheap compared to new dually.

 

[john in la]

I believe I read online new regs we're adopted limiting farm vehicles to 150 miles of their registered address. Also I have a GM 6.0 gas and manual stresses 93 octane gas when pulling loads anywhere near maximum. I would have to reread to give more specifics. See what the 6.4 requires

The 150 mile rule is an exception from getting a CDL. It has nothing to do with the vehicle tags. As long as the state you are driving in honors your states farm tags you can go wherever you want with them.

To get the CDL exemption you have to be driving a vehicle with a farm tag; not hauling for hire; within 150 air miles (172 land miles) of the farm and conducting farm business.
Some states give an exemption of anywhere in your state and the 150 mile rule only kicks in if you cross a state line.

 

[1955]

Like the idea often thought an old R model Mack w/ antique tags and tag along would work well for taking tractors to shows. How do registration and insurance costs add up compared to a new dually? CDL no problem.

Every state and province is different. And insurance companies seem to be getting harder and harder to deal with. Never in my life have I had as big a problem with insuring anything, as my Ford F550 here in Ontario Canada.
For the record, I owned a trucking company and had commercial insurance. But get this.....they wouldn't let me insure my F550 for personal use because their computer tells them it is a commercial vehicle when they enter the VIN. So I said "well then just insure it commercial under my business" and they actually told me "sorry we can't insure it commercial because it is being used for personal use"
WHAT????? Unreal. Anyway, I finally found ONE insurance company that was willing to insure it.

Just as bad as trying to insure my new motocycle and the east indian woman on the phone kept asking me if it goes on water? I said "lady, if it goes on water, I'm having a really bad day", LOL

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Welcoming all opinions. I currently have a newer RAM 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi. Out of the book it says it can pull 17k with a gooseneck. I am looking at purchasing a gooseneck trailer in the future for transporting tractors to shows and such. Currently have a Farmall H and a styled JD "A". I expect both of these tractors to add up to 4.5-5.5 tons worth of cargo weight but I'm wanting to get a trailer that has the potential to carry 8 tons worth in the event of getting a 3rd tractor. Obviously this has the potential to be more than the 3/4 ton gas truck can safely handle. What is everyone's opinion on towing with duallys and single rear wheel trucks? I would be buying it as a weekend tow rig / daily driver. Any advice/input is appreciated.

Just going by the numbers you quoted here, there is NO WAY you can haul 8 tons of cargo. 8 tons is 16,000lbs. That only leaves 1000lbs for the trailer.

Even if you don't believe that your truck will turn into a pumpkin from towing 17,001lbs, with 8 tons of cargo you'll be around 22,000lbs with the trailer, or 5000lbs over the theoretical advertising capacity. The truck may do it, but you're not going to like it.

The "turn into a pumpkin" number is not legally binding in any state in the United States, by the way. What you register the truck for is what's legally binding, up to the limits imposed by the Federal "Bridge Laws."

Really the most practical thing you can do if you are adamantly opposed to a dually, is MAKE TWO TRIPS, or pick and choose which toys to bring. There is no free lunch. You can't have your cake and eat it too. If you MUST have all three tractors and it's too far to make two trips, you need a 3500, 4500 or preferably a 5500 to tow it.

 

[42FarmallMatt]

Thank you everyone for your input. I have a Class A CDL. Always keeping an eye out for Road tractors. My only concern would be getting one insured for private use though I found that Hagerty will insure older trucks.