New Truck Considerations

[Cummins12V98]

Problem with class 4 is you are now in commercial territory in some areas. So licensing and insurance may suffer.

Ratings are there to abuse! Seriously how in the HE!! can I have 5,250# unloaded front axle and RAWR of 9,750# and NOT be 1,000# over the mystical 14k GVWR???

I am under GCVWR and under my all tire ratings. I am licensed for whatever I am in SD. Perfectly legal. Yes technically I am overloaded here and there but no way am I unsafe.

I did recently remove 3,000 rounds of something so I am sure I am under the RAWR now.

 

[AH64ID]

I thought I wanted a Laramie with leather. Sadly I sat in my Dad's LongHorn.......no comparison.

Funny, we sat in a Longhorn and said NO. The seats felt too soft for anything other than grandpa and grandma going to the RV park. I was amazed how fragile that interior felt.

 

[Wayne M.]

Wayne I bet the rigs you work with aren't very high mileage, but boy do they probably have some hard hours on em!

Yes. They’re either idling on standby or overloaded and pushing a plow. I do give the transmission lots of props, but I’m not buying Ltng’s engine claims.
Until I see a wave of F’s doing OTR hotshot work AND looking like they’re earning their keep, theres no match between the two 6.7’s stoutness.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Yes. They’re either idling on standby or overloaded and pushing a plow. I do give the transmission lots of props, but I’m not buying Ltng’s engine claims.
Until I see a wave of F’s doing OTR hotshot work AND looking like they’re earning their keep, theres no match between the two 6.7’s stoutness.

So, you're saying that I'm lying???

 

[Wayne M.]

So, you're saying that I'm lying???

Not calling you a liar, but now that you’re coming back at me, prove it.

 

[DavidC]

"Ford is number 1 on the Planet for a reason, I guess"

So is McDonalds.

Can't say on the first but the second is a quick acting laxative. No waiting all night.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Not calling you a liar, but now that you’re coming back at me, prove it.

Sure sounds to me like you're calling me a liar.
What kind of "proof" do you think I need to provide?
I haven't had my F250 in nearly 6 years.
Screw you, how's that for proof???

 

[dieselshadow]

Easy guys. It’s not that big of a deal. We’re all friends here, right?

Personally, I don’t see many Fords running around here as hotshotters like I do the Rams. In RV parks it’s pretty much a Ram/Ford split with GM in a distant third. I run the roads daily, lots of miles, but not on my personal truck. I pay attention to what’s around and who’s using and doing what. I have a lot of HD customers. I see HS’rs everyday. I’m also in a pretty big hot spot for RV’rs.

Either way, I wouldn’t let someone’s opinion online get you riled up. It’s just an opinion. Take it for what you paid for it.

 

[gsbrockman]

In my travels along the I-75 corridor from say London, KY to Atlanta, GA....I have noticed a few more F450’s and F550’s on the road. Most of those were somewhat eye catching as they were pulling 7-car tri-axle haulers.

 

[Cummins12V98]

West Coast I have seen a few Fords and GM’s but still no comparison to the RAM’s helping people make a living.

 

[Tuesdak]

GM is rare, yes. We ran a 2008 GM Duramax hauling RV's and later auto parts. Given the Cummins emissions problems for those non-DEF years we likely got a more reliable rig. One person who started in our 'class' hauling RV's had their new 2008 Cummins blow up so badly on their first trip that the dealer bought it back.

 

[NIsaacs]

The pic above is loaded properly and will stand a better chance of a successful tow VS the other pic.

My truck is SAE rated to carry 9,750# on the rear four tires. Not sure your point??? It also sets perfectly level and maybe a touch high in the rear. It also handles the load extremely well in severe side winds.

Pics don't lie. Nor do scale tickets.

My point is, take a good look at the two pictures, open your eyes. Have you ever pulled a gooseneck with a heavy, low profile load? Other than the fore and aft push/pull, it is like it is not there. With all the pin weight on the bed floor, the side stress is like a sheet of lead lying there, none.

Now take a good look at the load of the grader. Most of the weight is about 6 feet tall or less. The cab don't weigh anything. Now look at the width of the grader, 6.5' wide/20' long, so all the weight is placed above or inboard of the trailer tires. No overhanging weight at all. You couldn't make that trailer sway even if you tried. Wind will play a very small role here. About 27k gcw.

Now take a look at your load. The fifth wheel base is about 3' square and about 16" tall. Your pin weight is about 13' tall and about 8' wide. A lot of physical stress here in all directions. Then you have about a 35' load that is 8'+ wide/12' tall, so a lot of weight outboard of your trailer tires, especially during a lean, such as going around a corner. Now add the overhanging weight, about 8'. Then the wind, huge role here. Could sway be induced? Yup, to the point of loss of control even with a Ram Dually, Aisin transmission and airbags. Not to mention the best 8k axles and suspension ever devised for a trailer since the invention of sliced bread. About 34k gcw.

 

[JR]

Experience spoken here.

 

[RammerJam]

Easy guys. It’s not that big of a deal. We’re all friends here, right?

Personally, I don’t see many Fords running around here as hotshotters like I do the Rams. In RV parks it’s pretty much a Ram/Ford split with GM in a distant third. I run the roads daily, lots of miles, but not on my personal truck. I pay attention to what’s around and who’s using and doing what. I have a lot of HD customers. I see HS’rs everyday. I’m also in a pretty big hot spot for RV’rs.

Either way, I wouldn’t let someone’s opinion online get you riled up. It’s just an opinion. Take it for what you paid for it.

I've never looked at the 2wd drive models but in the 4wd models, the Ford is significantly more expensive. By a lot. Really a lot. It's the main reason I'm driving a Ram right now. Happy about it, though.

When a businessman buys a tool, he looks for the most cost-efficient tool he can find. He's not gonna pay 7 or 8 thousand dollars more for that tool unless it is seriously justified.

And Ltngdrvr can take care of himself but in the almost 4 years I've communicated with him and posted alongside him, I have NEVER seen him lie. Or even exaggerate. About anything.

 

[Cummins12V98]

"Have you ever pulled a gooseneck with a heavy, low profile load? Other than the fore and aft push/pull, it is like it is not there."

Only gooseneck I have towed is my Son's 21k dump with a combined weight of 26k or so. It felt rock solid and not a bit different than my RV that's 13' 4" high, 8' 6" wide and 41' long. Didn't tow it in high winds but am sure it would be rock solid as my RV is.

His truck is a 15 LB SRW with rear air, AISIN.

 

[RammerJam]

It's hard to find but here's the numbers.

Ford is clearly numero uno in diesel sales, generic motors, when you combine cheby and gmc, are a close number 2 and Ram is last. By a goodly margin

Make of it what you will but, IMHO, it's the new transmission that is the deciding factor. or not

YMMV

https://www.dieselforum.org/vehiclesales/u-s-vehicle-sales-dashboard#:~:text=Sales of commercial diesels represented,percent of total vehicle sales.

 

[NIsaacs]

with rear air, AISIN.

Nice!

 

[Wayne M.]

Ford is always the sales leader in many segments. Thank fleet and rental sales for that.

 

[dieselshadow]

Ford is always the sales leader in many segments. Thank fleet and rental sales for that.

I kinda thought the McDonalds reference earlier was appropriate. Just because they are number one, doesn’t make them the best.

Doe to my job and schedule, I eat out a lot. But I don’t frequent Mickey D’s.....

Your money, your choice.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I kinda thought the McDonalds reference earlier was appropriate. Just because they are number one, doesn’t make them the best.

Doe to my job and schedule, I eat out a lot. But I don’t frequent Mickey D’s.....

Your money, your choice.

ZACTLY!