Your towing rigs and trailers

[nisaacs]

I think those Fast Tracs are very cool. If only they had more crank surface area! Seriously though, a turned down 5.9/6.7L Cummins will last about forever.

As mentioned, I have several newer Ram 2500/3500 diesels for tractor delivery trucks, but owning a Raptor as my daily driver has given me a ton of respect for the twin-turbo 3.5l Ecoboost. I think each has its place. I won't tow heavy or often with the Raptor, and I won't jump the 3500 dually.

My brother had a Raptor with the 6.2? He hooked it to sled at the truck pulls a couple of times and gave my '75 F-250 with a tuned up 428 fits, Lol My class was 6500 lbs and that Raptor was so heavy he had to remove the spare and tail gate to make weight. He traded it on a '20 F-250, 6.7 with the 10 spd, he says that is one fast rig and tows like no tomorrow. He said when you nail it to pass someone you better change lanes first or you will hit the vehicle in front of you, even loaded. He said you do have to keep the rpms up on the exhaust brake to get any hold back.

 

[Hay Dude]

Dang! That is a bad azz tractor. Does it have both pto speeds or just 1000 rpm? I would also guess with 200 hp it will be the large pto 1000. My Case/IH 995 only has 104 hp with the 540/1000 small.

One is a 185/65 and the other is a newer 3230. Those tractors have just about everything you can imagine. Funny thing is, they arent really technically a tractor. They are a truck with military grade truck front and rear differentials, front & rear driveshafts, air ride suspensions and air brakes on all 4 wheels. :thumbsup: They have double front PTOs spinning in either direction with both 1000 or 540 interchangeable stubs. Back is 540/1000.
The older one was less refined, but pretty simple to work on. The cabs are amazing.

 

[groundcover]

See a lot of them snow plowing in Europe. Wonder why they haven't gained a larger following here, price , dealer support ? Pretty slick setup !

 

[Hay Dude]

See a lot of them snow plowing in Europe. Wonder why they haven't gained a larger following here, price , dealer support ? Pretty slick setup !

They have gained slow growth. More popular in Europe because tractors are roaded there a lot more, so higher speeds are needed to get from one field, down the road and to the next. They dont have the huge farms we have here in the US. Also, if youve ever been to Europe, you’ll notice tractors are used a lot more like trucks are here. They pull loads of lumber, dump trailers as well as farming.
I have a lot of territory I cover with tractors so higher road speed was great, but the repair costs on them were high. I replaced the JCB with a road speed MF7495. Itll do 35MPH. Not as fast as the JCBs but still about as fast as you want to go in a tractor. :steeringwheel: The JCBs had a nicer ride and stopping power with 4 wheel massive disc air brakes was sick.
I could have easily plowed with it. They even make large snowblowers. We just don’t get the snowfall here to justify the expense.

 

[Bearsixty7]

... He traded it on a '20 F-250, 6.7 with the 10 spd, he says that is one fast rig and tows like no tomorrow. He said when you nail it to pass someone you better change lanes first or you will hit the vehicle in front of you, even loaded. He said you do have to keep the rpms up on the exhaust brake to get any hold back.

I thought my 06' studded and tuned 6.0L F350 CCLB 4x4 was a pretty stout engine and pulled like crazy but our 2019 6.7L F350 CCLB Powerstroke stock is even better!

The exhaust brake works really well I thought, It down shifts as needed and holds speed very well at any rpm down to about 1000, then it down shifts. But our heaviest trailer only weighs just over 15K. Maybe that's the difference.

 

[Hay Dude]

Heres some loads I pulled with the 5500 6.7 Cummins late this summer. My empty weight is about the same as a 3/4 ton pickup towing at max capacity.

 

[USMC2001PSD]

I was going to help my father in law haul an old work van this morning but got postponed. 2001 F250 7.3 and my dad’s 25+5 14k gooseneck.

 

[dodge man]

Pretty clean truck, very nice. I had to look where you were from because if that was in the north half of Illinois it would be full of rust holes.

 

[USMC2001PSD]

Pretty clean truck, very nice. I had to look where you were from because if that was in the north half of Illinois it would be full of rust holes.

Yes I’m very grateful to not have to worry about vehicles rusting out here. Closing in on 300k miles and runs great, it’s my daily driver for an 80 mile round trip commute.

 

[nisaacs]

I thought my 06' studded and tuned 6.0L F350 CCLB 4x4 was a pretty stout engine and pulled like crazy but our 2019 6.7L F350 CCLB Powerstroke stock is even better!

The exhaust brake works really well I thought, It down shifts as needed and holds speed very well at any rpm down to about 1000, then it down shifts. But our heaviest trailer only weighs just over 15K. Maybe that's the difference.

He said it works good just not as good as a Cummins, maybe he just needs to learn it. Here is his '19 F-250 w/27k gcw. I sold him my grader and flatbed and met him halfway to Montana. We towed the load with a '19 F-350 dually w/4.10s and on a 6% grade it dropped to 5th and 55 mph. His pulled the Raton, NM. pass (6%) in 4th @50 mph w/3.55 gears. He loves his Fords

 

[Scar0B2150]

My "heavy" tow rig.
1997 Ford F-250 HD 4x4, 7.3L Power stroke. 80,500 miles on the clock.
With a 1994, 16' Wilson custom trailer. Use this for the Kubota B2150.
This was the day I picked them up.
Pic1: I was dropping off the rotary cutter so I could go get the rest of the stuff.
Both had been sitting for about 3 years when I acquired them. That's why all the dust on the front of the truck.
It was a package deal; Truck, trailer, B2150, Rotary cutter, Box blade, Tiller, Pallet forks, Chains, binders, etc...
Pic 2; Picking up the rest.
Pic 3/4; My other towing rig; 2007 Dodge Nitro 3.7L 4x4 Manual trany, and home made 5x12 trailer. I used this for most other things.

 

[civilian]

What is the story behind obtaining the truck, trailer package? Friend or family member cleaning out the garage? Just wondering. Looks like nice rigs. Jon

 

[Scar0B2150]

What is the story behind obtaining the truck, trailer package? Friend or family member cleaning out the garage? Just wondering. Looks like nice rigs. Jon

Thanks Jon.
Someone I had worked with numerous times in the past running the tractor among other things. I had borrowed the tractor in the past a few times. I always took good care of the tractor and oohed and aahed over how well it could do things. So when he no longer needed it, he offered it to me, knowing I would take good care of "His baby". Then he said "You know, you need some way to move the tractor. And since I don't drive the truck much anymore. How about a package deal?" I won't talk price, but it was to good a deal to pass up.

Both truck and tractor needed some work, since they had been sitting for a few years. Batteries, starter relay, brake calipers on the truck, and of course mouse nests, that kind of stuff. But over all both are in great shape.
The trailer had original 1994 tires on it . It's got new ones now...

 

[USMC2001PSD]

Replaced the 2014 Expedition with a 2017. So far very impressed with the 3.5 Ecoboost. I’ll hook it up and do a test run with the tractor later this week but I expect it will be a significant difference over the 5.4 V8

 

[gatorguy7]

I recently swapped out my 2014 2500 for a 2021 3500 C&C. The 3/4 ton treated me very well over 7 years. It hauled everything I ever asked of it, even though I was a little overweight sometimes. My wife's horse trailer puts the rear axle of a 3/4 ton within a few pounds of the limit so I decided to go dually on the next truck as horse trailers never get any smaller... I am really pleased with how well it drives. It is not as rough riding as I thought it would be compared to my 3/4 ton, even with the tires inflated over 85 psi by the dealer. The CM bed has a few blemishes here and there but I'm pretty happy with it. It looks really good.

So far I have had Cooper St Maxx tires installed, had the bed sprayed with Line-x, mounted the steps from my last truck after having them sprayed with Line-x as well and I just mounted my Buckstop bumper over the weekend.

I've hauled a few loads with it already and all I can say is WOW! What a difference compared to my '14. I'm not sure if its the 4.10s or the Aisin's low first gear, this truck will flat out move a load. We loaded up the equipment beside the seller's house and I had to do a three point turn beside his house to leave. I'm used the the 3.42s and 68RFE having to get wound up kinda like a CVT before it would move much. This 21 would start moving the load in sugar sand with a feather amount of throttle over idle. It was really impressive.

The truck rode great. Having some weight on the truck definitely smoothed out the ride. I still haven't noticed a need for air bags but we shall see.

 

[Bearsixty7]

I recently swapped out my 2014 2500 for a 2021 3500 C&C. The 3/4 ton treated me very well over 7 years. It hauled everything I ever asked of it, even though I was a little overweight sometimes. My wife's horse trailer puts the rear axle of a 3/4 ton within a few pounds of the limit so I decided to go dually on the next truck as horse trailers never get any smaller... I am really pleased with how well it drives. It is not as rough riding as I thought it would be compared to my 3/4 ton, even with the tires inflated over 85 psi by the dealer. The CM bed has a few blemishes here and there but I'm pretty happy with it. It looks really good.

So far I have had Cooper St Maxx tires installed, had the bed sprayed with Line-x, mounted the steps from my last truck after having them sprayed with Line-x as well and I just mounted my Buckstop bumper over the weekend.

The truck rode great. Having some weight on the truck definitely smoothed out the ride. I still haven't noticed a need for air bags but we shall see.

With the 3500 Dually, I doubt you'll need air bags unless you haul a front heavy 5th wheel.

Or if you want to make it ride really soft by removing a spring or two and using the air bags for loads.

 

[gatorguy7]

With the 3500 Dually, I doubt you'll need air bags unless you haul a front heavy 5th wheel.

Or if you want to make it ride really soft by removing a spring or two and using the air bags for loads.

I know it would ride a lot better with air bags. Also, I don't have a lot of clearance between the bed and the tires. Air bags and an onboard compressor would help me adjust the ride height as needed.

 

[blee03]

My snowmobiling setup (2012 Cummins - 23’ lightning 3 place)
Need to find an equipment trailer so I can take the tractor up north...

 

[nikerret]

I recently swapped out my 2014 2500 for a 2021 3500 C&C. The 3/4 ton treated me very well over 7 years. It hauled everything I ever asked of it, even though I was a little overweight sometimes. My wife's horse trailer puts the rear axle of a 3/4 ton within a few pounds of the limit so I decided to go dually on the next truck as horse trailers never get any smaller... I am really pleased with how well it drives. It is not as rough riding as I thought it would be compared to my 3/4 ton, even with the tires inflated over 85 psi by the dealer. The CM bed has a few blemishes here and there but I'm pretty happy with it. It looks really good.

View attachment 695386

So far I have had Cooper St Maxx tires installed, had the bed sprayed with Line-x, mounted the steps from my last truck after having them sprayed with Line-x as well and I just mounted my Buckstop bumper over the weekend.

View attachment 695391

View attachment 695387

View attachment 695388

View attachment 695390

I've hauled a few loads with it already and all I can say is WOW! What a difference compared to my '14. I'm not sure if its the 4.10s or the Aisin's low first gear, this truck will flat out move a load. We loaded up the equipment beside the seller's house and I had to do a three point turn beside his house to leave. I'm used the the 3.42s and 68RFE having to get wound up kinda like a CVT before it would move much. This 21 would start moving the load in sugar sand with a feather amount of throttle over idle. It was really impressive.

The truck rode great. Having some weight on the truck definitely smoothed out the ride. I still haven't noticed a need for air bags but we shall see.

View attachment 695392

View attachment 695393

View attachment 695394

That’s a really nice setup. The CM truck beds are some of the absolute best off the shelf flatbeds available.

I, too, doubt you’ll need airbags. How many leaf springs do you have, in the rear? On most pickups, they have three or four leaf springs. When you move to the C&C, you get nearly a dozen. It’s one of the biggest differences between a pickup and C&C. There are others, but not relevant to this discussion.

If it’s anything like my truck, it rides much better, with a trailer on it.

 

[two_bit_score]

I know it would ride a lot better with air bags. Also, I don't have a lot of clearance between the bed and the tires. Air bags and an onboard compressor would help me adjust the ride height as needed.

Very nice rig! Congrats!