your opinions- towed a dump trailer last weekend- PICS

[DZink24]

I had some scrap steel at my parent's house that needed to be taken to the boneyard, since steel prices are at an all-time high. Due to the weight, quantity and fact that I didn't want to double-handle the steel, I used a co-workers dump trailer since he didn't have a roof tear-off on saturday. This is the largest thing I have had the opportunity to tow with this truck, so I wanted to show you guys what I did, and if this was a no- no to do without weight distribution. He tows with his '02 F-250, with the V10 of all things. And gets single digits MPG when loaded up with shingles. And some people don't think diesel is justifiable... but thats not for this post:-laf.



My numbers were 12,700 gross, 11,040 tare. My truck, full fuel and me weighs 7,150. (I weighed it a week after I bought it)



From you guys with similiar truck models, and similiar towing expirience, does everything look ok? I still need to use the trailer one more time, to bring back some of the really heavy, dense stuff that is even more valuable than the tin i took in saturday



I figured, if he can tow it safely with his Ferd, my Cummins can do it too! My numbers were about 5550 total weight of trailer and steel, and I reset the overhead when I was loaded, and got between 11-13 MPG. And boy would she smoke when I let into it on grades! That 2 5/16 ball is rated at 26,000 lb, and I forgot what it says, but I believe the 4" drop is rated for 12,000 or so.

 

[JDiepstra]

I see no problem there. How are the trailer brakes?

 

[ParsonsDRW]

i have a 12ft PJ dump and have been on the scale loaded with sand at 25,500. I made it to where i was going.

 

[MA2LA]

Your fine, I have had about 12k on the back of mine with out any problems except that the dump trailer wouldn't dump the load that was in it.

 

[PToombs]

Dan, why didn't you fill the trailer up? You loaded like you're driving a chevy! :-laf

 

[jelag]

I've got a 12K lb dump trailer that we tow as well... we have often had it over the 12K but at slow speeds... it tends to pull the truck around more so than a 5er or goose neck that's overloaded... .

With one of our 3500 duallys we've towed a gooseneck at 24K with no problem...

We do have PacBrake air bags on the trucks to level them out... we add air as needed to level the bed...

What I do see that would give us a ticket here... . is a load that is both not covered or secured... . in either case we'd be stopped and issued a ticket, and since we tow commercially we'd drag in the commercial enforcement guys who'd go over our truck and trailer with a fine tooth comb... .

What I also don't see is the connection for the break away cable... . all trailers in our state that have brakes must have a break away system installed and functioning... the battery on the trailer must be able to power up the breaks when the cable is pulled and stop the trailer... on commercial tows this cable must be separate from the safety chains and connected to an independent location so that if the ball and chains break and the trailer runs loose the connection on the break away cable won't be damaged... .

I see your from NY... . I can only assume that the break away system must be installed and function... . did you not make the connection??

 

[SOLER]

You might want to check the ratings of the drop hitch. Most I see have low ratings unless you are using a weight-distributing hitch. I could be wrong, but I'd double check it just to be sure. You're only hauling 5500lbs, so you should be ok. Any more and you might need a WD hitch.



SOLER

 

[DZink24]

JD- the brakes worked good. i took it to a grocery store parking lot and worked out the sensitivity and the sync with the brakes. i checked the manual squeeze switch, i was shocked at how you can stop a truck and trailer with only the switch! i drive tractor trailer for a living, i know what the spike brake can do in an air brake system, i couldn't believe how aggressive electric bakes can be.



Pete- that was the "junk" steel. the mother load has yet to be delivered. i have to spend some time with dad's saw and cut some of the rebar down to about 3 feet, i am going to wait it out a few weeks, see if clean, short, steel can hit $400 a ton. and to think dad used to be happy to get $60 a ton. THANKS CHINA.



jelag- i see your point about covering the load. absolutely, NY has laws on the books about unsecured loads, but i checked it over before i left, nothing was moving. good point on the emergency brake. to be honest with ya, i dont even know where it would be hooked to. i will definitely have to remember that the next time i hook up.



soler- i went out and checked, 12,000 lb drop, 1,200 lb tounge

 

[PToombs]

Dan, the cable on the break-away needs to be hooked to the truck. Some people fasten it to the hook on the safety chain, some to the pin, etc. I hook mine directly to a point I made on the truck for it. If you get pulled over by a cop, you can be in deep doo doo if he knows what he's looking at and it's not on.



I was just poking you on the load.