Large Load/ Long trip....

[Bartman#1]

Hello Everyone,



Is it fesabile to tow roughly 15,000lbs on a long trip with my 98. 5 single axle 2500 4x4??



I have a Heavy Duty transmission with deep pan, plenty of engine power, great brakes.



I would be doing it for my work, we build boats and my boss asked me if i wanted to take my big billybadass diesel for a road trip to deliver a boat on a big tri-axle trailer.



Its a long trip,ME to WY but i would love to do it!!!



Does anyone have any advice for me??? i don't want to do anything crazy, but i value everyones opionins...



Thank you all very much!!

 

[jnelson]

This must be one hella-of-a boat. If the you aint got to much tongue weight so your not coon huntin, and your within legal width limits - go for it. 15,000 lbs aint nothing for a goat. As long as you got good brakes. Your under the 26,001 so I wouldn't worry about a thing.

 

[RustyJC]

In addition to my reply in the other thread, your factory hitch is rated 500/5000 dead weight and 1000/10000 with weight distribution equipment. If you're thinking about pulling 15000 on the stock receiver, you might want to take a look at Recall #872 and be sure that it's been performed on your truck at a minimum. Having said that, if this is going to be a "bumper pull" load, I'd strongly consider upgrading to a suitably rated, top-quality Class V receiver.



Rusty

 

[NVR FNSH]

I want to see pictures of the boat/trailer.



Brian

 

[RVPILOT]

heavy haul

I just delivered a 16,000 lb trailer 525 miles, not a big deal but my truck

has 806,000 miles on original motor, heated up to 230 + on cajon pass,

found out the hard way, fan clutch failed. still running ok. waiting for

1 mil. or mechanic. stormy

 

[Bartman#1]

It's a $1,000,000 Hinckley, Tri-Axle Trailer. Kind of a big deal... .



Am i crazy??



It's 2500 miles 1 way...

 

[mberry]

I would definitely upgrade the factory hitch to a better aftermarket one if it were me. I towed a boat for a fellow member from Maryland to here. 5,772 miles in one week, alone. Nowhere near as heavy, but it was a fun trip and I think you can do it with the proper precautions.



One question you need to seriously consider is how good are the brakes on the trailer. If they are surge brakes, I would'nt even consider it.

 

[CHinton]

I would want to know who provides insurance and not bumper pull it.

 

[NVR FNSH]

I tow a 14K 36ft 5th wheel toy hauler and have no problems doing it - I'm ~21. 5K lbs going down the road.



However, given the value of what you're looking at towing I'd be asking some hard questions about insurance/liability/commercial license requirements. What are the quotes to have the boat transported by a commercial hauler? Sounds like your boss is trying to get by on the cheap.....



Brian

 

[klaybus]

Isn't your GCWR like 16k? I have a 99 QC 4x4 with the auto and 3. 5s and mine is 16k. Yours might be higher with the standard cab but to me it seems as though you would still be over DC's weight ratings. Not that your truck couldn't pull it but with that expensive of a boat & if something went wrong, Am I missing something?



Clay

 

[boatpuller]

You shouldn't have any trouble if your hitch is up to it, like was posted earlier you need to upgrade to a Class 5 reciever that has the towing capacity you will be towing, the rest of the truck should be fine.

My 93' can haul that much weight and it's old

 

[J.Keith]

The truck will pull it fine. I'm with the other guys on the receiver hitch upgrade if it is indeed a bumper pull.



I would be FREAKING out over the insurance/liability thing. You may not be the guy that wrecks it but you DAMN sure don't want to be the guy paying for it if somebody else hits you.

 

[MAshley]

Other items besides Ins, and hitches you need to look at are.



1 Are you going to drive past scales or stop?

2 Is there any advertising on your truck or the boat?

Is the boat going to be covered, like a factory looking cover that you cut off?

3 What are you licences for in weight? truck tonage... .



Basicly your towing comercially..... your over 10K lbs, and hauling items that are not yours.



If you look comercial; advertising, boat with advertising, and or plastic wrap on the boat, temp licences plates on the trailer... ETC then you better cover your but, and run comercially.





If your under 26,001 lbs which you will be then you need the following



truck

USDOT # $$ Free

MC # $$ Don't know I dont' haul other peoples stuff

Weight to cover your scale weights. Tonnage $$ not a lot of extra money on your tabs.

I assume you have electric brake controller, verify it will run a 3 axle. .



Trailer

Permits and or Lic plate

electric brakes, adjusted





You

Medical card

Drivers log

CDL -a only required if you go over 26,001 lbs with a trailer.







Personaly if you boss is going to pay you well enough then go ahead and do it, under a few restrictions



#1 He buys insurance for the trip, and or you get a specific rider for the big boat.

#2 Buy enough tonnage for your truck, so if you do get stoped you have enough to cover you but

#3 get a medical card

#4 make sure you don't look comercial at all

#5 hook up to the boat before you say yes and see how the truck handles the boat

with a lift, and bigger tires you going to have a lot on the back end, I bet you won't like the feeling

#6 Find something to haul back and make a few extra $$$ on the way back.



Experiance:

06 4x4 DRW, quad cab 3500, towing about 15K worth construction equipment, total weight about 25K lbs accross the scales.



I know its a different truck, but the CTD will pull 15K with no issues... stopping is the bigest thing...

 

[MMeier]

Other items besides Ins, and hitches you need to look at are.



1 Are you going to drive past scales or stop?

2 Is there any advertising on your truck or the boat?

Is the boat going to be covered, like a factory looking cover that you cut off?

3 What are you licences for in weight? truck tonage... .



Basicly your towing comercially..... your over 10K lbs, and hauling items that are not yours.



If you look comercial; advertising, boat with advertising, and or plastic wrap on the boat, temp licences plates on the trailer... ETC then you better cover your but, and run comercially.





If your under 26,001 lbs which you will be then you need the following



truck

USDOT # $$ Free

MC # $$ Don't know I dont' haul other peoples stuff

Weight to cover your scale weights. Tonnage $$ not a lot of extra money on your tabs.

I assume you have electric brake controller, verify it will run a 3 axle. .



Trailer

Permits and or Lic plate

electric brakes, adjusted





You

Medical card

Drivers log

CDL -a only required if you go over 26,001 lbs with a trailer.







Personaly if you boss is going to pay you well enough then go ahead and do it, under a few restrictions



#1 He buys insurance for the trip, and or you get a specific rider for the big boat.

#2 Buy enough tonnage for your truck, so if you do get stoped you have enough to cover you but

#3 get a medical card

#4 make sure you don't look comercial at all

#5 hook up to the boat before you say yes and see how the truck handles the boat

with a lift, and bigger tires you going to have a lot on the back end, I bet you won't like the feeling

#6 Find something to haul back and make a few extra $$$ on the way back.



Experiance:

06 4x4 DRW, quad cab 3500, towing about 15K worth construction equipment, total weight about 25K lbs accross the scales.



I know its a different truck, but the CTD will pull 15K with no issues... stopping is the bigest thing...

About sums it up. . I'm sure there are lots of PD's along your route that would love to have a new $1,000,000 Hinckley in their fleet!!:-laf

 

[jnelson]

Batman - just hook up and go.

 

[Katman]

The truck should be able to do it with the right hitch, but what is someone going to do with that boat in WY? Just bring it by my place and we'll drop it into the Chesapeake.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Batman - just hook up and go.

:



Mr. Nelson, You got big ones and your OK in my book:-laf