Can you tow 38,000lbs with a F350?

[upflying]

Originally Posted by TowPro

I am surprised this lynching thread has not been closed yet.

Wasn't originally intended to be a lynching, just a real life event of what can happen when towing illegally.

[Mike134]

Originally Posted by upflying

Wasn't originally intended to be a lynching, just a real life event of what can happen when towing illegally.

Instead it turned into a "I know-it-all about towing" and this is what happened as he went downhill. Each poster trips over the previous one to share their wisdom.

[PodGeek]

Originally Posted by Mike134

Instead it turned into a "I know-it-all about towing" and this is what happened as he went downhill. Each poster trips over the previous one to share their wisdom.

Yeah, don't you love the internet. Rank speculation as sport. Well, there is some information available, so maybe it's not as rank as one would think

[upflying]

Originally Posted by PodGeek

Yeah, don't you love the internet. Rank speculation as sport. Well, there is some information available, so maybe it's not as rank as one would think

Yep, some of the thread was informative and educational, there is a valuable resource in this forum that has a lot of experience with heavy towing.
I took an interest in it because I am a retired LEO trained in collision reconstruction. This type of crash would have been my call if I was still working.
I'll sign off for now and update if more news comes in.

[mtnlvr]

Yes, I do find a lot of value in these forums. As a mechanically challenged single female rv owner, I have learned so much from you guys over the years. Thank you all!

Something else not mentioned is there are so many crazy speeding drivers going through these windy steep Mtns. A young inexperienced driver could easily get intimidated by all the impatient jerks riding his tail or trying to pass him.

[D W]

Originally Posted by AlaskaErik

The parking brake can hold a stationary vehicle in place, but in no way can it stop a runaway vehicle moving at a high rate of speed. It wouldn't even slow it down.

X2 with today's disc brake set up. I do recall an occasion while in high school when I was driving home from work and my brake pedal went to the floor when the master cylinder failed on my 62 Chevy Impala. I had to drive about 5 miles holding the hand release for the emergency brake while depressing the emergency brake pedal to slow down and stop. It wasn't a fun ride, but it got me home.

[n1acguy]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

For some here a 100# generator weighs a ton

It might as well. People think they're OK lifting that kind of weight in their yonder years, and they usually are, until something goes "pop"

[n1acguy]

Originally Posted by Tabasco_Joe

Too many drivers don't understand the key to a safe decent starts before the crest of the hill. Not half way down.

Can't emphasize that enough. Too many people don't seem to understand it has to be slow, and in a gear that can hold it without being on the brakes continuously, at the top.

[PodGeek]

Originally Posted by n1acguy

Can't emphasize that enough. Too many people don't seem to understand it has to be slow, and in a gear that can hold it without being on the brakes continuously, at the top.

Yup. I was descending the west side of Wolf Creek Pass (US 160 in south-central Colorado) with the R-Pod this past summer and was behind a large Class A flat towing something who kept his descent at maybe 15 mph.

Didn't annoy me in the least because even though my 1/2 ton could handle a somewhat faster descent towing < 4500 lbs I knew why the Class A guy was so slow, and explained it to my companions who were wondering.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by n1acguy

Can't emphasize that enough. Too many people don't seem to understand it has to be slow, and in a gear that can hold it without being on the brakes continuously, at the top.

What you said PLUS the fact that most steep downgrades have a "Brake Check" area just before the grade begins. The idea is to stop, make sure all connections that make your brakes work are connected (electrical or air) and even go so far as activating the trailer brakes, trying to move trailer with them activated, and if all is well THEN start down the hill.

Too much trouble you say? Take the time and trouble at the top and the likelihood you'll have a BIG problem at the bottom of the hill is greatly reduced.

On the long steep grades I like to just stay behind a big truck that's slowly descending the hill. Not only easier on MY brakes going that slow, but if they do heat and fade I can use the rear of the big truck to slow/stop me rather than gaining speed and have a much bigger accident farther down the hill.

[Lincman983]

You can tow and move 38K with the F-350 but stopping it; that's where it becomes problematic. I towed a 36' Travel Supreme 18K with an '09 F-350 and you could feel the big girl back there. Used to pull with a '97 F-350 with the 7.3L PSD and it did well, but the hills in Kentucky and Alabama made that diesel rev a bit higher than I would like

[PodGeek]

Originally Posted by Lincman983

You can tow and move 38K with the F-350 but stopping it; that's where it becomes problematic...

I know I'm being a bit pedantic, but it appears from one of the linked articles that the 38K is the total weight of F350, trailer, and boat. The tow weight was probably closer to 28K.

[Palinduff]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Where are the anti-weight police commenters now?

Big difference between this and a 7000 lb trailer behind a 1/2 ton. My experience in the RV industry has always been that the 1 ton folks were the most careless.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by Palinduff

Big difference between this and a 7000 lb trailer behind a 1/2 ton. My experience in the RV industry has always been that the 1 ton folks were the most careless.

I will have to agree. While there are some terrible big rigs the hotshot / small load guys are the worst. We get a ton from defunct ussr countries that don't speak any English, rarely have a license and just haul until they are shut down then start over again.

[lesptr]

Originally Posted by Palinduff

Big difference between this and a 7000 lb trailer behind a 1/2 ton. My experience in the RV industry has always been that the 1 ton folks were the most careless.

I whole heartedly disagree.
100% opposite.

[5er_tom]

My observation is the F250/2500’s are the biggest offenders. I have seen so many 13,000#plus fifth wheels being towed by these. Most of these folks think they are just fine and will say it tows no problem.
Wrong!

[lesptr]

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

My observation is the F250/2500’s are the biggest offenders. I have seen so many 13,000#plus fifth wheels being towed by these. Most of these folks think they are just fine and will say it tows no problem.
Wrong!

Also true.
I tow a 12,200 pound 5r behind a 350 srw 6.7.
That is the max without exceeding something.
Actually, that puts me 200 pounds above GCWR.

[PodGeek]

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

My observation is the F250/2500’s are the biggest offenders. I have seen so many 13,000#plus fifth wheels being towed by these. Most of these folks think they are just fine and will say it tows no problem.
Wrong!

Yikes! A 20% pin weight would be 2600 lbs. That plus a driver puts you at/over payload in many cases...most cases?

[lesptr]

Originally Posted by PodGeek

Yikes! A 20% pin weight would be 2600 lbs. That plus a driver puts you at/over payload in many cases...most cases?

Maybe, maybe not. With a diesel, probably. Gasser, maybe.

[PodGeek]

Originally Posted by lesptr

Maybe, maybe not. With a diesel, probably. Gasser, maybe.

I checked out a 2018 RAM 2500 6.7L Cummins diesel last weekend. Payload a tad over 2000 lbs and the previous owner had put an auxiliary fuel tank in the bed and was set up to tow a fifth wheel. No, he wasn't over payload at all...

Most RAM gassers I've checked out lately are around 3000 lbs.