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Is a dual tandem trailer too much for a 3/4 ton?

G

Gwiz

Member
I"d like to get a gooseneck trailer sometime. I"ve got a "96 F250 with 7.3 diesel. I"m always hauling misc.-70 horse tractors, hay, scrap, etc. I don"t haul for a living, just miscellaneous. Question is: Would a 20-25 foot trailer with dual tandems be too much trailer? Should I stick with a single wheel tandem with 7000 lb axles?
Would I end up overloading the single wheel trailer? Is the tandem dual trailer too heavy for the truck, or is it a waste to be hauling the weight of the trailer around without ever hardly using it to capacity?

Thanks, any opinions or DOT concerns?

James
 
We haul a 24ft behind a 3/4 ton dodge diesel,trailer has 2 7000lb axles, and to be honest it"s all the trailer i need... I"m pretty sure if you go with a dual tandem set up all you will do is lower your maximum legal load, as you gross vehicle weight is set by the truck not the trailer... sure you can load more on the trailer and not run over weight on the trailer axles, but you will on the rear truck axle.

Having said that, if you"re not worried about maximum load, a dual tandem set up probably will get you a more reliable and better ride over long distances... just the same as a dually pickup rides better pulling a trailer than a single tire set up 1 ton...

just my 2 cents... oj
 
I have a 26' tri-axle trailer that I haul misc farm equip. on just for myself.I pulled it with a Dodge one ton daully and much of the time I had the truck over loaded, so now I use a GMC 6500 Top Kick for trailer pulling and that works much better.The reason I bought the tri-axle instead of the tandem dauls is that the tri-axle pulls lighter.
 
Lots of issues.........including the DOT; weight of trailer, type of transmission in your truck, how you're licensed, etc.
 
In my opinion its too much. Its not the pulling its the stopping. I did it for years but I also had a few close calls. Thats when I decided to go to a dually. My 3/4 ton pulls a three horse just fine. But when you put it on the 20,000 lb gooseneck and loaded with tractors it just wasn't enough brakes to be safe.
 
I see it done all the time but its way too much trailer for any single rear wheel truck.DOT is starting to crack down.
 
I have been looking at this too,with my 3/4t 2X4 Chevy and a 7000# bumper pull it weighs 8500# now. With a 14000# dual wheel trailer I will be over my 12000# plate on the truck but a 14000# single wheel it should be a 1000# lighter.(still heavy but not as bad)
 
Even if you don't plan on heavy loads, I'd still go with the dual tandem. With a lot of trailer companies, the construction of the trailer is the same for both axle setups, so the empty weight will be close to the same. Bearings are bigger, brakes probably better, and if you blow a tire, you can keep going till you find a good place to stop. Resale will be better also.
 
I have a 25,000 lb.dual tan. 28' long I pull it with a F350,but my friend borrows it all of the time and pulls it with a F250,he has a 24'14000lb.but a lot of times it is just not enough trailer.
 
I hauled my two tractors plus weights on a single wheel tandem axle 26 foot gooseneck (22 foot deck 4 foot beaver tail) with a HD 4x4 3/4 ton 2000 dodge. Total gross was a little over 21,000 lbs. It worked the truck hard and I was always concerned about the ability to safely stop. I went to a 1 ton daulley, that added a little over 2,000 lbs to total gross. I no longer had any problem with pulling, braking, or control. As for a trailer, if you need a tandem daul wheel trailer because of the amount of weight you haul, in my opinion you need even more then a one ton truck.
 
A dual tandem pulls hard. Kinda feels like there's a brake dragging when it's not. And there are twice as many tires to go flat. Last week I hauled a front assist Maxum that was in the 85 horse range with a dual tandem behind my Dodge dually. The Dodge took the load OK and the Cummins had fairly reasonable power but it felt like I should have had a bigger dog in front of the cart. I was also way over my 8 ton license. The DOT would have hit the jackpot if I'd have been caught. Jim
 
I have a 20+5 tandem single GN that I pull with my '96 F-350. I wish now I'd gone with a dual tandem. Yes, you can't load it to capacity and legally pull it with a regular pickup, but it is nice to have the ability to load it up if the need be. Having only a 3/4 ton is definitely pushing it, but better to have the extra tires and bigger brakes to compensate for being a bit light on the pickup.

Just don't overload it, and maybe you'll find your way into a bigger tow rig.

Ben
 
Have two goose neck trailers, one a 16 ft.with singles and a 26 1/2 foot 20,000 lb with duals. we use them mostly to deliver hay, I wanted the duals so I could turn right around in someones yard and not leave ruts. The 20,000 lb. one weights 7650# empty and the 10,000# one weights 3400# empty. that big one pulls hard even empty, the small one even loaded you don"t know it"s behind you, I pull with a one ton dually, would hate to have anything less. I think there is a safety factor that comes into play with that kind of weight. Would hate to blow a tire on a single wheel pickup flying down the freeway.
 
I have had a couple 96 3/4's I would put air bags on your truck and if you feel good about stopping your load I guess it wouldn't bother me to pull it.Since I have went to a DRW truck,I wouldn't go back to a SRW for towing.
 
The DOT website has a facility for "contact us" also "regulations". that is where I would direct the question,I would not rely on what other people do.Horses head mate,not the ....
 
Brother in law took his 40 foot tandem gooseneck from MN to Washington to Northern California and back again.

Didn't have a heavy load, was more just long, didn't run into any issues.

This was on a 3/4 ton single rear pickup.

I think way too much trailer, but my brother in law doesn't always think of preportions right....

--->Paul
 
A tandem gooseneck (singles) will gross at 14,000 and your pickup is what, 9500? thats, putting you pretty close to 26,000 which is the magic number for DOT. Any time you add duals, either on the pickup or trailer it will put you over. I have a buddy that pulls a tandem dually with his 3/4 ton Chevy but he is always borrowing one of my trailers because they pull so much easier. So I'd say no, unless you really need to consistently haul over 10,000 lb payload, I'd go with something lighter.
By the way, the DOT gives a rats you know what for your gross weight (unless you are over capacity) They look at POTENTIAL gross weight. I can hook both my trailers together empty and be underlength, but it puts my GVW over 26,000 as the trailers are 14,000 and 10,000 + the 8600 gvw pickup.
 
What happens if you blow a tire on a single axle trailer, loaded up with a 5000 lb tractor?

Do you have a CDL, and if not are you prepared to get one?
 
YES you can pull trailer with dual tandem wheels.
The sticky question is what is the weight capacity of the trailer? I have a dual tandem 20 foot flat bed with tilt and a winch, capacity is 19,000 lb. Payload plus trailer weigh to 19,000 lb. I have had it loaded to capacity and pull it with a Chevy 2500HD with Duramax--no problem.
As far as the CDL is concerned ti seems to depend on the state you reside in. In Virginia the number is total, tow vehile and trailer, 29,000 lb. and there is a length limit (which I don't remember). I have had zero problem with this trailer, the first couple of times I crossed the scales cause I thought I had to and there was NO issue. Then I stopped crossing the scales and again NO problem. I think it's because I'm pulling with a pickup.
I also have a 1994 F250 with the 7.3 and would willing to use that truck on this trailer just haven't spent the effort to get the gooseneck hitch.
 
I"ll second the comment, it not what you weigh, it"s how much you could weigh. If you pull a trailer that is rated for more than your truck + trailer can legally hual, the DOT is waiting with fines, even if empty. In my state, my guys have been ticketed with a load less than 26,001 pound, the magic number. This is becuase the GVWR of the trailer and the truck exceeded 26,001 lbs, even though the load did not. Your mileage may vary.

Thanks,

John B MacLaren
 
One little thing we learned here in Nebraska. We have farm plates and for farm use the weight is all on the towing vehicle. It has been standard practice for years to put 16 ton plates on our pickups as it did not cost any extra for the extra weight. But with DOT that's a big no no. So now we buy 13 ton plates. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
 
I think a lot depends on your state and how it view licensing. If you plan on crossing state lines I'd say no way. Dual anythings call attention to you. Most of the scuttlebutt I've been hearing is that dual wheels on a pickup or trailer are what DOT looks for at a distance to see if you are worth stopping for a closer look. Thats one reason I only run single wheel pickups. My D2500 Dodge is set up with D3500 leaf springs, torsion bars, etc. My F250 is set up as a regular F250. I run a 14000 pound trailer, 20+4, with tandem single wheels on the trailer. I've pulled a 26 foot dual tandem and its a lot more dead weight to pull. I've decided its cheaper for me to hire any really heavy hauling. As to licensing, a Kentucky farm plate is rated for 38,000 pounds so my license plate is way more than my allowed GCVWR.
 
I have a 30 ft. tandem dual that I pull with max load with my SRW F-350 diesel with no problems. The elec. brakes won't lock up the trailer wheels with the trailer empty but the trailer tow package on my 2006 provides engine braking adequate for panic stops. Like JBMac says it's not what you weigh it's what you could weigh, and it's not what you can drive by or get away with it's who is living in your house 6 mos. after an accident. I would consider a triaxle trailer. Tires are all at full width for greater stability, ride is much smoother. There are no inside tires to change. There are fifty % more brakes. triaxles will scrub the tires of the front axle in a tight turn but you can replace twice the extra front tires you will need with what you will save in purchase price.
 
If you aren't going to upgrade the truck, I would stick with a single axle setup if I were in your shoes and go slow.
I have a F350 dually that I use to pull a 32ft dual tandem gooseneck. I was amazed at how heavy it pulls empty. Granted, I have an older truck (89) but it is diesel and has a turbo. When trailer is loaded with an 85 hp tractor and 8 ft cutter, it is a lot of weight and doesn't want much more. I go very slow for stopping purposes.
Wishing now I had gone with a shorter trailer as I don't feel comfortable pulling 2 tractors.
 
You'll just have more trailer than what the truck can handle if you have it fully loaded. I have a 20+5 14,000lb trailer, and I put 11 1,200lb bales on it behind a 3/4 ton. It's about all the 3/4 wants at that point. Friend had a 20+4 dually 20,000lb trailer and his 1995 1 ton dually really struggled with it fully loaded. Newer trucks, probably not the case.
 
2 years ago I researched the same issue. Here's what I came up with:

I have a 06 3/4 Dodge mega cab with he 5.9 Cummins. My truck is rated for about 21K with truck, trailer, passengers, and cargo. I went with a 20+5 deck over gooseneck with 14K capacity, 2 single wheel axles. Trailer weighs about 5000lbs empty, truck weighs about 7k. I'm at 12K of my 21K capacity and I haven't loaded the trailer yet. I have hauled 2 Farmall H's and definately didn't want any more. It handles comfortably with about 6k on it. At 6k payload + 5K trailer + 7K truck I'm now at 18,000lbs.

I believe that you can't/shouldn't use the capacity of a dual tandem trailer with a 3/4 ton truck. If so then it doesn't make sense to have the added maintenance of the extra tires,bearing's, and lost fuel mileage dragging the extra weight that you can't use.
 
sure a srw pickup with handle that trailer, but a dually sure feels better. much more stable. however your state's and state's you will be traveling laws will have more effect on what you can do. I can think too many states will still legally let you have that kind of trailer on a F250. here in PA it wouldn't be legal that I know. you would have to have combination registration which you would (or shouldn't atleast) not get approved for as the manufacturer did not rate that truck to pull that much.
 
I think it is to much, I would stay under the 26000 gvw. I have a 15000 trailer with 7000 torsion axles and a srw F250 It is a good combo. I haul a 480E Case backhoe 10000 around home. and a 4040 JD. Hauled 5000 to Tunica Ms for the big pull, 350 mi. . There were 500 rigs there more or less. I would say this was the most popular. We just cruised past All the scales and the ports of entry. Vic.
 
well lets put it this way one time i pulled a dual tandem 30 footer, this trailer was usually assigned to a c-70 chevy, but me and my ford were feeling cocky, ford was a f350 dually 4x4 fi, 460 with a 5 sp manuel trans, we live in the mountains and i can truefully say the trailer alone was all i wanted,even with exelent trailer brakes the trailer had the tendency to push, and push hard in the corners,steep hills had that 460 working hard, it did not feel 'right' at all and i was glad i didnt have a load on it, i was just moving the trailer from 1 plant to another, so if i was to buy a 24 footer id want a whole lot more than a 3/4 ton in front of it with a load on the trailer
 
When we bought or trailer we only had the 1 ton dually truck so got the tamdemn dual trailer because the tires and rims could interchange and we never had to worry about overloading the trailer.
Then later on I also got a HD 3/4 ton now wish the trailer was only a single wheel model as it would pull easier.
 

Couple of years ago I hauled a JD 720 D (Loaded Rears I didn't know about) from Ind. Ind, to Delaware Ohio on a 2 axle Bumper trailer with NO trailer brakes, with my '79 Ford 3/4.
Had NO trouble, except for keeping it slowed down going up hill..!
Darned thing always seems to top the hills at 65, when I wanted 55..(460 Auto).
If it had been a goose-neck, there would have been NO Problem..
Yep, it was not a good set-up, the trailer was marginal and I even had to bind the side rails, to pull them in all I could to keep the tires from rubbing..even had to put a large amount of tongue weight on the pickup to get some weight off the trailer..!!
Hauled it home on Sunday Morning..
Fella I bought the Pickup from used it with his goose neck and could get it to 26,000# .
Not proud of that trip, but I did get it home without crushing the trailer...!!
Ron.
 
I have a 97 F250 extended cab with the 7.3 engine in it, and I pull a 20+5 gooseneck with dual tandems on it. I have no problems, and wouldn"t want to use anything else. The combination seems to work good for me.

I have hauled all over the mid-west and have never had a problem with the DOT. When I have stopped to ask them questions, they have consistently told me I am legal and don"t need to worry about stopping at the scales. I have never been pulled over. My truck has no problem stopping and the trailer has been easy to haul. I do not have farm plates on the truck, but do have "not for hire" in big red letters on the trailer. Don"t know if that helps, but no tickets in the past 15 years. Can easily haul two mid-sized tractors (H, DC, 77, etc.)
 
Gwiz I think you should check with your locial State Patrol or Police and see what your laws are on the truck and trailer in your state. In Ohio a 3/4ton truck pulling a bob-cat on a trailer is a real good way to get a ticket. I have even seen the DOT make someone unhook a gooseneck to check the ball and have the scales under the trailer legs to check the weight on the truck. Its not worth a ticket to find out what the laws are. Bandit
 
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