F350 Dump Towing Capacity

[mytoys]

Hi folks,

This will be somewhat of a dumb question but i'll ask anyway. I saw a 1990 F350 dump truck advertised locally for a nice price (3500). It's a 5.8 gas engine with an automatic. I know i'll have to look at the plate on the doorjamb but does anyone know what the towing capacity might be for this? I'm wondering if i'll be able to legally tow my 10,000 trailer.

Thanks much

 

[Builder]

Hi folks,

This will be somewhat of a dumb question but i'll ask anyway. I saw a 1990 F350 dump truck advertised locally for a nice price (3500). It's a 5.8 gas engine with an automatic. I know i'll have to look at the plate on the doorjamb but does anyone know what the towing capacity might be for this? I'm wondering if i'll be able to legally tow my 10,000 trailer.

Thanks much

Yes, you will. With the proper tow hitch installed properly, that won't be a problem. The towing capacity won't be on the door jamb. You'll need to phone a helpful Ford dealer or find archived Ford information to get the exact figure, but my '91 F-350 4x4 pickup with a 460 was able to tow 10,000 or more. Common sense would tell me a F-350 dump, even with a 351, should be able to tow the same.

 

[Ductape]

My 97 F350 pickup (standard cab , 4x , single rear wheel) has the towing package with 4:10 gears..... my owners manual says tow rating is 13,900. I suspect your dual wheeled rig will have no problems towing 10K.

 

[Builder]

Remember: 5th wheel/gooseneck ratings are much higher than aft of axle or "bumper pull" ratings.

Since he's talking about a dumptruck, he would be talking aft of axle ratings so I suspect they'd be lower.

 

[Dmace]

I have been looking for the same info for my 94 F-350 dump with the 7.3l diesel. I know the GVWR is 12,000lbs and that is what the local Aggregates/Quarry uses to judge how much gravel they can load in the dump but the towing capacity is not listed on the truck.

I do know I hauled a 9,000lb mini-excavator on a 2,200lb 5-ton trailer with no problem. I am sure it is easier to pull with the diesel, but the rear end and the suspension is the same as it's gas equivalent.

It huals the little Kioti real well, I just need a longer trailer...

 

[Builder]

A big majority of less experienced guys think the power of the engine is what determines towing capacity, but actually engine power is lower on the list of priorities.

Brakes, wheels/tires, suspension, gearing and even the parking brake are more important factors.

DOT doesn't really care if you're going slow when towing due to lower power under the hood, they want to make sure your chassis has the braking power and strength to hold the weight securely & stop it quickly.

 

[Blk88GT]

Depending on the year of truck you guys are discussing, there is some info at: https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/rv_trailer_towing/

I don't think it goes back quite as far as some of you are hoping for though.

 

[mytoys]

All,

Thanks for your replys. I have no doubt that the truck would tow my loaded trailer, but before i purchase i want to be sure i'm legal. I very seldom get on the highway but the DOT occasionally does random weight checks with their portable scales. Also, god forbid, i was ever in an accident, and someone was hurt...yikes. I've been looking online for archived info but no luck so far. There are many variables that come into play...gross vehicle weight, weght of the vehicle, blah blah blah, i wish they would make it easier. I suppose i could buy a truck that is extremely beefy but then i'd have to drive that around all the time...not to mention the expense. Ok, now i'm rambling. Again, thanks for your replys. If anyone else has thoughts please share.

Regards.

 

[mytoys]

Wow, I just looked at the link to the web site on towing provided above (thanks) and was shocked. An f350 DRW cab/chassis with a v8 can only tow 7000 or 8500 lbs, depending on gear ratio. Not only that but the specs are for 5th wheel towing which are always higher than bumper towing. Hmm

 

[Builder]

Wow, I just looked at the link to the web site on towing provided above (thanks) and was shocked. An f350 DRW cab/chassis with a v8 can only tow 7000 or 8500 lbs, depending on gear ratio. Not only that but the specs are for 5th wheel towing which are always higher than bumper towing. Hmm

That is shocking. Like I said, I had a 10K trailer behind my '91 F-350 4x4 SRW pickup constantly. The dealer actually installed the hitch !

 

[skipmarcy]

My 2000 F250 Super Duty 4x4 is rated to tow 12,500(has the factory tow package w/4.11 gear). The factory hitch was only a 5k hitch, had to install a Class 5 hitch rated for 12,500 (14k w/equalizing hitch, which I don't have). I've towed thousands of miles with both my trailers loaded up to 13k. I haul commercially with it and have been over the scales hundreds of times to verify this. I keep my trailer brakes checked & adjusted and adjust my brake controller to fit the load and all is well and legal. Surely your F350 is rated at least as much as mine and should be a little more if logic plays a part in it.

 

[tractorsanmore]

I have a 1992 f-350 dump with the 5.8 and auto and 4:10 gears . Not sure about the tow rating but the gvwr is 11,000 . I find the 351 lacks power on the highway . The cab shield doesn't help ( wind drag ) . This truck will haul more in the bed than it will pull , it also drives very good when loaded .

 

[skipmarcy]

My 2000 F250 Super Duty 4x4 is rated to tow 12,500(has the factory tow package w/4.11 gear). The factory hitch was only a 5k hitch, had to install a Class 5 hitch rated for 12,500 (14k w/equalizing hitch, which I don't have). I've towed thousands of miles with both my trailers loaded up to 13k. I haul commercially with it and have been over the scales hundreds of times to verify this. I keep my trailer brakes checked & adjusted and adjust my brake controller to fit the load and all is well and legal. Surely your F350 is rated at least as much as mine and should be a little more if logic plays a part in it.

I failed to mention that I found my towing capacity from a Ford dealer, they used my VIN to determine it. As far as I know, this is the only reliable way to tell the capacity of a particular vehicle as it comes from the factory. The GVWR rating on the truck is the max. capacity on the axles of the truck itself. This would include everything on the truck including the tongue weight of the trailer which under ideal loading conditions would be 10% of the total trailer/load weight. So theoretically a 10k trailer load would be putting 1k weight on your truck. I put my truck on the scales right after I bought it as it has a fiberglas cap on back and I had the normal tools I always keep in there which all added up to several hundred pounds. It's amazing how just moving the tractor a few inches on the trailer changes the tongue weight dramatically which also changes the way the truck handles & brakes. Was a learning experience how to load depending on what implement was on the tractor.

 

[Builder]

I failed to mention that I found my towing capacity from a Ford dealer, they used my VIN to determine it. As far as I know, this is the only reliable way to tell the capacity of a particular vehicle as it comes from the factory. The GVWR rating on the truck is the max. capacity on the axles of the truck itself. This would include everything on the truck including the tongue weight of the trailer which under ideal loading conditions would be 10% of the total trailer/load weight. So theoretically a 10k trailer load would be putting 1k weight on your truck. I put my truck on the scales right after I bought it as it has a fiberglas cap on back and I had the normal tools I always keep in there which all added up to several hundred pounds. It's amazing how just moving the tractor a few inches on the trailer changes the tongue weight dramatically which also changes the way the truck handles & brakes. Was a learning experience how to load depending on what implement was on the tractor.

Not always.

You'll find many trucks front & rear axle ratings add up to more than the GVWR on the door jamb sticker. That's because they're several other factors that might limit the trucks GVWR. The "weakest link" determines max GVWR.

You could have 2 axles that add up to 11,000 GVWR and still have the GVWR limited by the capacity of the tires, brakes, wheels, parking brake, etc. In any case, the lowest capacity component is the determinant of GVWR.

 

[mikegt4]

MYTOYS,
Before you buy a dump truck for personal use, talk to your insurance agent. A dump truck can be pretty expensive to insure.

 

[Builder]

MYTOYS,
Before you buy a dump truck for personal use, talk to your insurance agent. A dump truck can be pretty expensive to insure.

Naaaah....they're very cheap to insure. Both of mine were less than a pickup truck to insure and worth $30-40,000 each!

 

[MarkV]

I find this subject so frustrating. I bought an 88 Chevy C30 diesel dually with a 12’ stake bed that has an electric/hydraulic dump system. How much can it legally tow, what a mystery. GM can’t or will not help because it was originally sold without a bed. Nor would they give me a rating without a bed installed. Talked to state DOT and was told they could not help nor did they know where I could find the ratings. When I ask how do I know if I am within legal towing limits if stopped, I was told that was my responsibility to know. Great, my responsibility to know and there is no way to find out. Talked to a DOT enforcement officer and he told this comes up all the time. So I ask if I don’t know the rating how could you know the rating to give me a ticket. He said they would weigh each axle to determine if any were over loaded and that the total did not exceed my license rating. (no CDL) Then he told me even if each axle weighed in OK that does not mean I haven’t exceeded the manufactures towing limit. Think liability in an accident case.

What a frustrating system. There really needs to be a revision to the laws dealing with towing and ratings to make them more user friendly. It seems like a simple matter to require the manufactures to add the CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/ The rating for truck fully loaded plus trailer loaded) to the door tag.

Sorry for the rant, too much coffee this morning.

MarkV

 

[mytoys]

Mark.....I agree completely!

 

[machmeter62]

I find this subject so frustrating. I bought an 88 Chevy C30 diesel dually with a 12’ stake bed that has an electric/hydraulic dump system. How much can it legally tow, what a mystery. GM can’t or will not help because it was originally sold without a bed. Nor would they give me a rating without a bed installed. Talked to state DOT and was told they could not help nor did they know where I could find the ratings. When I ask how do I know if I am within legal towing limits if stopped, I was told that was my responsibility to know. Great, my responsibility to know and there is no way to find out. Talked to a DOT enforcement officer and he told this comes up all the time. So I ask if I don’t know the rating how could you know the rating to give me a ticket. He said they would weigh each axle to determine if any were over loaded and that the total did not exceed my license rating. (no CDL) Then he told me even if each axle weighed in OK that does not mean I haven’t exceeded the manufactures towing limit. Think liability in an accident case.

What a frustrating system. There really needs to be a revision to the laws dealing with towing and ratings to make them more user friendly. It seems like a simple matter to require the manufactures to add the CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/ The rating for truck fully loaded plus trailer loaded) to the door tag.

Sorry for the rant, too much coffee this morning.

MarkV[/QUOTEMARK: If you have towed either your L-39 or B-21 with a prior vehicle without problems; I would initally base my decisions on that if there wasn't any issues. I don't know how steep/narrow the mountain roads are there, but I would think the vehicle is very capable, if it is in mechanically good shape? I tow a large boat and a L-35 Kubota with a 92 Ford F-250 dually/diesel with no problems, even over the Sierra Nevada Range; each trailer has a 10,000# capacity. Good trailers give one "piece of mind!"

Also, I would take the truck to a weigh station, and get a written statement from them for your own protection in case you are pulled over? Tell them what you will be towing, etc; and put "the ball in their court!" I believe a "one ton" truck is very capable for your tractors. If they won't give you an answer; go to the next level. Remember, your taxes pay their income/retirement funds, and you need an answer NOW!

 

[Builder]

I find this subject so frustrating. I bought an 88 Chevy C30 diesel dually with a 12’ stake bed that has an electric/hydraulic dump system. How much can it legally tow, what a mystery. GM can’t or will not help because it was originally sold without a bed. Nor would they give me a rating without a bed installed. Talked to state DOT and was told they could not help nor did they know where I could find the ratings. When I ask how do I know if I am within legal towing limits if stopped, I was told that was my responsibility to know. Great, my responsibility to know and there is no way to find out. Talked to a DOT enforcement officer and he told this comes up all the time. So I ask if I don’t know the rating how could you know the rating to give me a ticket. He said they would weigh each axle to determine if any were over loaded and that the total did not exceed my license rating. (no CDL) Then he told me even if each axle weighed in OK that does not mean I haven’t exceeded the manufactures towing limit. Think liability in an accident case.

What a frustrating system. There really needs to be a revision to the laws dealing with towing and ratings to make them more user friendly. It seems like a simple matter to require the manufactures to add the CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating/ The rating for truck fully loaded plus trailer loaded) to the door tag.

Sorry for the rant, too much coffee this morning.

MarkV

here's what you do, my friend. IF you can find out what brand of body is on the truck, go to a local installer that installs that brand of bed. Like let's say it's a Galion. Then go to a local Galion installers. If they are not too busy, slip the guy a $20 and ask him if he can help you certify your truck's GVWR. He might even apply a new door pocket sticker to help you when you get pulled over by DOT.

The important thing to remember here is that the BODY INSTALLER determines GVWR and, if he installs a towing hitch, he also sets the GCWR and the trailer tow capacity, too!

Too many people ask DOT. They don't know a Chevy Cavalier from a F-350. Don't bother with those bozos, just go to a body installer, decribe your situation and be nice, give a few bucks and you might get some help.