Pulling my mower

37chief

Well-known Member
Location
California
My 96 Dodge 3500, I pull my JD 401, and flail mower is starting to have transmission problems. Doesn't slip, just doesn't always shift to higher gear stays in low range. I started using my 05 F150 with a V6. It seams to pull the tractor and mower ok. Just a little soft on the rear springs. I can up grade the springs, and get better load range rear tires, or have the 96 Dodge repaired. I may be wrong but with the weight of tractor, trailer, and mower. Maybe around 7,000 lbs. Is this too much for the F150? Not in a hurry to fix the Dodge, I am close to finishing my mowing work. By elimination the dodge I will save a lot just in insurance, and license fees plus the V10 is a gas hog. Stan
 
Can you pull that with a 150? Yes, BUT if DOT catches you it would be cheaper to rebuild the Dodge.

I have an 04 Tundra with 6200 pound towing capacity. Was going to pull my trailer with a 9540 Kubota on it, fluid in rear rims. Will it do it? Yes, except for DOT issues. DOUG
 
Fix the Dodge! especially if you have any hills. I would imagine you have brakes on the trailer. I put a picture on Tales for you to look at, but it's probably on page 2 or 3 by now.
 
Stan,
Watch the YT DOT scream at me when I say I have a full size GMC 1500 work truck with V6. It can easily pull a 10k dump trailer, total weight 9000#, providing I center the load right.

I also have a 20 ft implement trailer. Trailer weighs a tick over 3k, Ford Jubilee and 6 ft woods mower might weigh close to 4k. My truck handles it easily. No white knuckles.

If you don't have mountains to climb. Use your 6 cylinder. I've used mine the past 11 years. Have 100k on truck, no issues. However, pulling any trailer full or empty sucks gas, 12-13 mpg. No trailer 18-19 mpg.
 
DOT would not have much business around here. Mostly old pickups with a couple mowers in the back. What people fear around here is license, insurance, and sobriety check points, that turn up just about any time, or place. I do keep my trailer in good mechanical shape anyway. Stan
 
If your F-150 had a V-8 or the BIG EcoBoost, transmission cooler, the right axle ratio, and the heavy springs & shocks, Yes, you could pull 10,000# trailer and cargo. Probably not much difference between your brakes and the brakes on an F-150 equipped to tow 10,000# trailer.

My new RAM 1500 has all the options to pull a 10,000# trailer. I think it would tow it really well.
 
Buy the time you upgrade springs upgraded or get air bags and better tires you can probably fix the dodge . Usually when they won?t shift out of low it?s the trans pressure transducer but there are other things to check to it?s been a long time since I?ve played with one of those . The 96 3500 is rated to tow 18,000 pounds . 20,000 max gcwr. This is my 94 at just over 28,000 gvw. I don?t think the big Eco boost will cut the mustard
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I would either fix the one ton pickup or sell the two pickups to buy one that fits the job.
 
Look at the specs for The 05 F150 if properly set up.

https://www.fordf150.net/specs/05f150.php

My 13' F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost will pull over 11,000 it is set up with the heavy tow package.
 
Even in commercial work, the factory ratings have NO LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS. It's all about how much you register the truck and trailer for. If you pay the license for the weight you will be moving down the road, you can pull it with a Smart Fourtwo for all the DOT cares.

As long as you look safe going down the road, the law won't pay you any attention. You'll be dealing with local police and county sheriffs, not "DOT" anyway. They're only going to stop you if you're driving erratically, or something is dragging.

I don't know how they license in your state, but in NY it's by gross weight on a per-vehicle basis. The truck is registered for what the truck will weigh when loaded. The trailer is registered for what the trailer will weigh when loaded. I think some states you need to get a tag on the truck for the total gross weight of the rig? Not sure.
 
Here in Iowa the DOT will pull over any vehicle pulling a trailer and they will go over that vehicle with a fine toothed comb. However, we don’t have a DOT around every corner so most guys pulling an illegal trailer can get away with it.
 

Most posters on this thread apparently have a head on their shoulders. A couple, well probably they do but you don't know it by their posts. Load capacities are determined by multiple elements of the truck/trailer design. You think that you know better than the designers? Well perhaps you do, but the crux of the matter is that lawmakers were convinced to approve and pass laws to govern the operation of trucks, and when some little old lady pulls out in front of an overladen truck, the court is much more likely to go by the laws than by what some YTDOT barnyard engineer tells them is safe. Do you want to be living in your house next year?
 
That?s how it is here to I license for 30,000 gvw on my one tons I try
to stay around 24 or 25000 gvw unless i am going a very short
distance Some people shouldn?t or couldn?t pull an 8 foot dingy with a
class 8 Mack , and that my friend was the reason the ytdot was
formed . Just because the truck is capable of 90 mph doesn?t mean
you should be doing it pulling a loaded trailer . I think 37 can probably
hold his own and be ok . Myself I?d fix the one ton
 

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