tow 318bhs w/ modified 1500?

[robm]

looking to purchase 318bhs next coming year. Was looking to see if anyone has towed this with modified half ton. Currently I have a 2003 5.3L pushing 350hpw/ trans and upgraded brake mods. I realize the factory tow rating would be violated however not sure if I am up to making another payment on another truck (2500 w/ 6.0) since my other one is paid off.

[Ford Idaho]

So what have you done to the rear end, axel bearings and springs?
It takes more than HP and brakes to tow.

[Platokidd]

Originally Posted by robm

looking to purchase 318bhs next coming year. Was looking to see if anyone has towed this with modified half ton. Currently I have a 2003 5.3L pushing 350hpw/ trans and upgraded brake mods. I realize the factory tow rating would be violated however not sure if I am up to making another payment on another truck (2500 w/ 6.0) since my other one is paid off.

It would tow it but in the end I would think you would be trucking up 3/4 ton.
Thats 8000 lb unit and 840 lbs hitch weight EMPTY. add about 250 to 350 lbs to the hitch weight and 500 to 750 lbs over all weight.
Imo that's not enough truck. 2500 w/ 6.0 would do a much better job.
These threads usually spark a debate.
Carl

[Twisty]

That's a lot of TT for a 1/2 ton.
Big incentives on 2013 trucks now.

[ironj]

Originally Posted by robm

looking to purchase 318bhs next coming year. Was looking to see if anyone has towed this with modified half ton. Currently I have a 2003 5.3L pushing 350hpw/ trans and upgraded brake mods. I realize the factory tow rating would be violated however not sure if I am up to making another payment on another truck (2500 w/ 6.0) since my other one is paid off.

well, for this year my 318 was right around 9800lbs loaded and the tongue weight was 1120

I just really don't see how others are towing with 1/2 ton trucks (save for an ecobeast with max tow) and enjoying it in any way what so ever??

I have my wife son and daughter with me almost always so that's my incentive to not outright tempt fate by overloading/overworking my tv

the other real issue you have to look at is longevity of your current truck...I don't know how much towing you plan on doing or on what terrain, but if you start racking up miles with that kinda weight on your tail, its surely going to increase the rate of wear on your truck.....?

im sure you will get those on here who say you are absolutely nuts for even thinking of doing that.....and im sure you will get those on here who are doing exactly what your thinking about and will say its ok because they have done it and nothing has happened...?

in any case the 318 is a great trailer.....we love ours!

[Blackrock]

HP wise you can probably do it. But some good LT rated tires and airbags would help a bunch. Replace the hitch to frame mounting bolts with new grade 8 hardware and torque to spec. Rear end gears of 3.73 or lower is almost mandatory plus a HD trans cooler.

I am pulling close to the same load with an 01' F150 5.4 but have LT275/85R16 10 ply tires, air bags and 3.73 gears.

[checca]

I tow fine with my tundra.

[OldCoot]

So far, so good with my 05 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab 5.3L with 3.23 rear end, airbags, LR E 10 ply tires towing 2012 Flagstaff 8528RKWS approx. 10,000 miles. May blow this yr on the way to FL, but it's done a terrific job so far.

[ironj]

thing is POWER WISE these newer trucks will pull pretty much anything u hook em too...I mean the motor in my 250 is no diff than the F450 I'm going to....the diff is the frame/brakes/dually axles /u joints ect.....

power does not negate the effects of wheelbase/curb weight/braking power/cooling capacity and such which all have an impact on SAFE towing....I wish it did tho. ..lot cheaper than buying a new and proper TV for the trailer I'm getting next...

[robm]

I have the 3:73 rear end and was going to do the air bags and wd hitch, i was going to even replace the current hitch on the truck as well. It is a Z71 with the towing package. I could add a larger cooler, already had the tranny reworked in addition to deeper pan and built torque converter. Currrently not looking to go far from home and don't plan any mountain passes, mainly about 150 mile radius around cincinnati for now. I have just ran into a few dodge 1500 owners with the hemi that have positive comments and I just can't beleive how there truck with just a hemi is so much better than a built engine. I would consider adding another spring and or air bags...I will have to research more on advantages of each. Keep the posts coming...thanks

[dtaber8604]

I have the same trailer. I also have a 04 crew cab 2500 4x4 with 6.0. I primarily pull with the 3/4 ton but have also hooked up to my 05 1/2 ton chevy ext can z71 (all stock aside from k&n and programmer) to tow locally. There is a big difference in towing ability and the tranny temp climbs fast in the 1/2 ton but the major disadvantage is stopping. I have my controller set at 15 on the 3/4 ton and using the same controller (nice thing about Chevys is that the pigtail is easy to swap over) but on the 1/2 ton I have to set it at 30. Putting a lot more stress on the camper brakes. It's scary when you have to reach for that red button to lock everything up on a four way you see a mile away. Will it do it? Yes. Is the 3/4 ton a much better investment? With out a doubt!

[gimp425]

I have a 2012 F-150 ecoboost with the max tow and max haul. Came from the factory with the LT tires and 7 hole wheels. I have a 2900 BHS and it pulls like a dream. The 2900 BHS is usually loaded to around 6500-7000 lbs and a couple hundred more in the bed with coolers and bikes. I had 2008 Chevy 4 door 4x4 3/4 6.0 and traded it for the ecoboost. Best decision I made last year. It puts that, i hate to say, Chevy to shame. It gets better mileage and tons more power then that 6.0. We're planning a trip from West Texas to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota this summer. Can't wait to see how it does in the mountains.

[Twisty]

One man's pleasure is another man's pain.
Molly Hatchet

[kempoman]

I tow my 318 with a Toyota tundra limited with tow package. Propride P3 hitch. Tows great never a moments trouble only upgrade is airbags for the ride.

[kozzy]

I used to tow mine the a 1500 ram outdoorsman. No issues at all. Here to Florida several times.

[leencharlotte]

Originally Posted by checca

I tow fine with my tundra.

I used to tow a similar size /weight trailer with mu old Tundra as well. That 5.7 was a beast however with the limited cargo capacity I was 200# over. So I jumped to a SRW 350 diesel and well that lasted 8 months before I traded in the TT for a 5r.... Anyway, many 1/2 ton engines can tow the heavier weights but they are limited by cargo capacity.

[mb2011]

[QUOTE=leencharlotte;531253]I used to tow a similar size /weight trailer with mu old Tundra as well. That 5.7 was a beast however with the limited cargo capacity I was 200# over. So I jumped to a SRW 350 diesel and well that lasted 8 months before I traded in the TT for a 5r.... Anyway, many 1/2 ton engines can tow the heavier weights but they are limited by cargo capacity.[/QUOTE




You are right on about the Toyota Tundra Payload capacity. I had a 2012 SR5 Double Cab 4x4 TRD package with the 5.7 v8. I had a great towing capacity of 9600 lbs. I took my truck to the Town dump since they don't charge you if you live in town and got on the scales. With a full tank of gas and nothing else in the truck my payload capacity was 1280 lbs. I was also near or over payload so back in November I bought a new 2013 GMC 2500 with the 6.0v8. I can't wait till spring to start towing my TT with my new truck!

[Long Islander]

Look at my Sig for my setup. I havent pulled it yet, very soon. But I've pulled a 29 Orbit no issue. Funny though,I just got delivered the Firestone air bags which I will install in the coming weeks before I pick up my new camper. Ive been reading that the shock mounts might be the weak point so, why not add bags to offset the stress on the shock mounts.

My TT is the same weight as yours. I'm scheduled to pick it up the last weekend in March

If you are looking for air bags, check auto anything website. I saved 50$ on my bags and it was drop shipped from Firestone.