Half Ton Pickup pulling a tractor to the pull

Anyone have any experience using a newer 1/2 ton pickup to pull his trailer? My old F350 is getting a lot of rust and I can almost see through the box from side to side. Almost time to look at new truck to drive off into the sunset with. Anyone use the turbo six cylinder F150 with the ten speed transmission? Mostly used to go to church on Sunday, but occasionally pull a trailer with a 6000 pound antique tractor on Saturdays.
 
Another older 3/4 ton or one ton truck for hauling and a new car for transportation and travel might get you the best of both worlds. The initial cost, operating costs and maintenance costs would all be lower with that combination.
 
I went to trade my 03 f250 for a eco-boost.f150. The 150 was just barely rated to pull my tractor but not two tractors. Dealer talked me into a f250. Only thing wrong is driving empty fuel mileag. But think eco-boost will do it. I pulled with a 89 Bronco injected 302. Had to have a equalizer hitch. Plus.sway control. Pucker factor was high sometimes. Son got a f250 powerstroke. It was a trailer puller! I would get E rated tires first.then airbags.
 
I would look at a 3/4 ton if your going to pull trailer a lot . I have a older K1500 GMC 4x4 truck with less than 74,000 miles and am going through a remanufactured trans and new pinion bearings ($5,000.00). My trailer weighs 4,200 lbs. empty and I haul one of two tractors and one is 6,000lbs. and the other is 8,000lbs. I am going to keep the truck when it's done but am looking at larger truck to pull trailer with hauling tractors.
 
Pull a 6500# tractor with F150 3.5 eco-boost. Better than small block v 8s, 65mph at about 1700rpm. getting up to speed,
only about 2500 and it will upshift. Rated at 11,700 tow capacity. Great tow vehicle.
 
I would go for heavier truck, if just for the better brakes. Horsepower doesn't help you stop. I learned the hard way.I had a wreck with my m and will not tow more than a couple atvs with halfton. Over cautious maybe? Just my 2 cents
 
(quoted from post at 11:45:06 01/21/18) Anyone have any experience using a newer 1/2 ton pickup to pull his trailer? My old F350 is getting a lot of rust and I can almost see through the box from side to side. Almost time to look at new truck to drive off into the sunset with. Anyone use the turbo six cylinder F150 with the ten speed transmission? Mostly used to go to church on Sunday, but occasionally pull a trailer with a 6000 pound antique tractor on Saturdays.

I took up antique pulling 3 years ago and wanted to make sure I liked pulling, before trading in my 1/2 ton for a 3/4 ton. After 2-1/2 seasons of towing nearly 12,000 lb every weekend with the 1/2 ton, the drivetrain was making a noticeable whine and the brakes wouldn't hold up all that long. The 1/2 ton truck just isn't a heavy duty enough truck for the hills of WNY and Central PA and was wearing out quickly. My trailer brakes work very well 99% of the time, but I have had them go out on a winding hilly section, wondering if I was going to get the whole thing stopped. So, I just traded for a 3/4 ton diesel, I didn't feel it was really that safe for others on the road with me using an undersized vehicle. We have grandkids and I think of the small SUV's coming around the curve with the soccer team, or the minivan stopped at the intersection with kids off to swimming, what if I couldn't keep my max'd out truck and trailer under control. For the long haul, I feel better towing with a larger truck.
 
I think the new 150 with the 3.5 ecoboost with the max towing package is rated to tow 13000lbs. My 2015 F150 with that package towed my 8500lb. tractor on a gooseneck and did very good both pulling and stopping. Chuck
 


What I was many times told, you DO NOT over-estimate what an AUTOMOTIVE Rear end (with NON-Floating Axles) can take...

IF an axle snaps, that wheel is GONE..

Traditionally, all 3/4 Ton P/U are Built with the safety of Floating Axles it IS a good idea..plus as stated, the Brakes are bigger..much bigger..
 
I've towed tractors with half ton truck.
Their ain't enough brakes to stop a trailer.


I've got a buddy that's got the ecobosts ford and towes a 30 something foot camper and he swears by it. He had to put heavier suspension and 10 ply tires just to help hold it in the road. I think he is crazy. I got a 3/4 ton and would not even think about towing his camper.

Please for your safety and everyone else safety please go with a big enough truck for the job.
 
Been hauling our 10,000 camper and 11,000lb pulling tractor/deckover combo since 06 with Dodge Ram 5.7. In our state trailer brakes are mandatory. Not one problem mechanically, always a fear of stopping the way some people drive these days just have to be on the lookout all the time.
 
(quoted from post at 01:28:32 01/23/18) I think the new 150 with the 3.5 ecoboost with the max towing package is rated to tow 13000lbs. My 2015 F150 with that package towed my 8500lb. tractor on a gooseneck and did very good both pulling and stopping. Chuck

I believe the most equipped F150 Ecoboost is rated for 12,200 lbs max towing.
I don't see how you could ever do that with a truck with 7700lbs GVW. I think these companies are in a drunken competition craze when they are rating these tiny trucks to do so much.
With a 12,200 lbs trailer your pin weight is going to be close to 2000 lbs if not more.
It wouldn't be hard at all to vastly overload the truck with such a heavy trailer. If you have the balls to tow that, I would sweep the dust off the floor first.
 
(reply to post at 16:23:22 01/23/18)
Actually it is rated to tow 13200 with the max tow and payload (over 3200lbs) and comes with the 9 3/4" rear gear set. This truck will have no problem towing and stopping a 6500lb. tractor and if this is all he is going to tow it would be crazy to by a bigger and more expensive truck, and you will not get 22mpg with any 3/4 ton gas truck, maybe 16mpg!! I have had 2 of these trucks with no problems.
 
Light brakes on 1/2 ton. May pull it but, what about stopping? Tow on Saturday and go to church and pray you made it on Sunday. I haul everything with 3/4 or 1 ton trucks. YMMV. My 25 cents worth.
 
As has been said. Yes the new half tons have plenty of power BUT much less braking ability.
My local truck dealer doesn?t stock 3/4 tons anymore. The price difference between 3/4 and 1 ton are too close. IMHO bigger is better.
 
ok, bought a '17 F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost/ ten speed engine in sept. it is legally rated at 12,500 the way mine is set up. it has no problem, hauling my Oliver Super 88 which is right at 5800$#s. it goes, and stops way better than my 3/4ton with the 7.3L.
i would not hesitate to haul the full 12,500 AS LONG as the trailer brakes worked. anything without brakes is just plain stupid.
 
!/2 ton pickups transmission and brakes are not for pulling heavy loads a lot. Ford has a recall out for 30,000 2017 F150 with 6 speed
trans and 15,000 of the 2018 F150's with the 10 speed trans. I have used my GMC K1500 for 6 years and it is in now getting a remanufactured
trans and new bears in rear end and only has 74,000 miles on it.
 
(quoted from post at 22:44:53 01/23/18)
(reply to post at 16:23:22 01/23/18)

That's nuts in my book.
I would tow that across town but on a longer distance trip....no effin way.
Tiny semi floater rear end, small frame, small brakes and a light truck towing 13k...what could go wrong?
 
Slightly off topic but I wonder why Ford won't put the 3.5 Ecoboost in a F250? I would think that would be a nice tow rig for us weekend big riggers. Heck you used to be able to get a 300 six in a F250/350.
 
Depending on what terrain you will cover. All flat ground and lower speeds, you will likely get by with a half ton. Hilly or mountains and highway speed is flirting with disaster. You can pull with about anything. A friend and I once hauled a John Deere 440 dozer on our single axle trailer with a CJ3A Jeep. Never was able to get out of low range.
 

The point was, that the rear axles on a 3/4 Ton carry NO Weight and still will be heavier than skinny Automobile Axles (Carrying the Weight)..

3/4 T..break an axle, you roll to a safe stop..
1/2 T..break an axle and probably Die or kill someone else...your choice..
 
From what I've seen, the earlier 3.5 Ecoboost has a lot of timing chain issues. The little turbo charged V6 engines make impressive power and torque for the occasional user, but there is a reason they do not put them in a 3/4 ton truck. Because they will be shot in 50,000 miles because people use 3/4 ton trucks for more than driving to work and pulling a boat. Local bobcat dealer bought several ecoboosts, and did not keep them long. They do not hold up towing all day, every day. Even though they are within the manufacturer ratings.
 
I cant believe there aren't lawsuits going on. They don't advertise the truck as being able to tow that much on occasion. They imply it can do it 7 days a week 365 days a year.

We all know that's not the truth, or there wouldn't be "3/4 ton" trucks with full floater rear ends, beefy transmissions, cast iron motors with significantly less power, etc.
 
I hear you but it does not happen often enough to make it a concern. These trucks are rated to haul that weight hopefully talking about it does not jinx the operation. I wanted a 3/4 ton truck but no one offers a standard cab shortbed.
 
Right or wrong you see people doing it all the time. Its all personal preference and using common sense in the matter. Todays half ton is your everyday grocery getter with enough under the hood to put a smile on your face when u put your foot into it. In my opinion go with a 3/4 ton u will be much happier and peace of mind goes a long way when you have a trailer on hauling your tractor.
 
You better hope you never snap a axle with a 1/2 ton pulling a trailer with tractor on it because you are going to go for one hell of a ride.
 
I sure wish you guys would stop focusing on breaking an axle. I'm well aware of what could happen if an axle breaks also well aware of what could happen if someone crosses the centerline or pulls out in front of me and all the other issues of hauling heavy loads. But honestly how many times have you heard of axles breaking and think about how many people doing the same thing.
Finally there are no 3/4 ton trucks available in standard cab short bed.
 
I am not nearly as concerned about breaking an axle as I am blowing a rear tire, If you blow a rear tire in a curve at 55 MPH and pulling a loaded Gooseneck, I'd say the ballgame is about over. I'll Stick to my 3500. I like my dual rear wheels.
 
I am saying from experience that a 1/2 ton truck is not cut out to pull a 6,000lb. tractor and trailer. My GMC K1500 4X4 with only 75,000 miles on it is in shop right now getting a new remanufactured trans and complete rear end rebuild ($5,600). The only heavy thing this truck hauled or pulled was tractors to 10 or 12 antique tractor shows and pulls a year. The truck was serviced every 3,000 miles and GM dealer contributed failure to pulling trailer and tractor. I am right now looking for a 1 ton or heavier to pull trailer from here on out.
 
Nothing wrong towing with a 1/2 ton pick up as long as the load being hauled is reasonable, you can over load a 3/4 or 1 ton truck just as easily.
 
(quoted from post at 11:21:19 01/29/18) I am saying from experience that a 1/2 ton truck is not cut out to pull a 6,000lb. tractor and trailer. My GMC K1500 4X4 with only 75,000 miles on it is in shop right now getting a new remanufactured trans and complete rear end rebuild ($5,600). The only heavy thing this truck hauled or pulled was tractors to 10 or 12 antique tractor shows and pulls a year. The truck was serviced every 3,000 miles and GM dealer contributed failure to pulling trailer and tractor. I am right now looking for a 1 ton or heavier to pull trailer from here on out.

The last K1500 GMC 4x4 was in 2000.
The max. FACTORY tow rating was 6000lb.

Now you can get a 2017 with tow rating twice as much.
Your statement does not appy to current model 1/2 tons.
 
The trucks after 2000 used the same identical engine and automatic transmission as the trucks prior to 2000.
 

They are not going to listen to Reason...someone will need to Die, for them to Smell what we are Shoveling..

'Course, we arent exactly dealing with "Rocket Scientists" here, are we...!!
 
(quoted from post at 19:47:05 01/29/18) The trucks after 2000 used the same identical engine and automatic transmission as the trucks prior to 2000.

Does not matter what engine and tranny combos were offered when.

The fact remains the factory tow ratings of the current GM 1/2 tons are twice what they were back in 2000.
 
Now here we are starting to get a little heated over what we use for trucks to haul our equipment. Sorry if you certain few do not approve but it happens to be the choice I made since there are no shortbed standard cab 3/4ton trucks available. No matter I appreciate your concern it will not change the way I have done things for the last 12 yrs or so with the same 1/2 ton truck. Really looking forward to this coming season the 70 is getting a new pair of shoes 16.9 Firestones. We have a Farmall Super M that is making waves and needs to be made nervous.
 
I've pulled my 7000 lb rated bumper type hitch trailer with a 6200 lb. John Deere G on it to several shows for the past 11 years, Truck max. Tow rating is 8000 lbs.. it's a '95 F-150 XLT 4 wheel drive SWB with the 5.8 engine and AOD tranny, now has 192,000 miles on it. I always make sure the trailer brakes are working properly. With around 500 lbs tongue weight the load on the trailer axles is right at 6900 lbs according to the local elevator scales. It's been a good fairly decent handling trouble free rig, but I'm always very careful with it, never following close and never over 50-55 mph even on Interstates. I would never consider using it in heavy traffic areas, extremely hilly areas or in winter like conditions. I guess all I can say is so far, so good. I guess I should mention I have quite a bit of medium to heavy straight truck driving experience...up to 60,000 gross. (10 wheeler with tag axle).
 
Same here our Ram 1500 has been doing a great job since 06 hauling our 7500lb Model 70 and our 10klb camper. I too have a truck license drove bucket trucks and tractor trailer most of my life. Equipment is always maintained meticulously.
 

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