3500 D/A vs F-550 F**d???

[TBC]

Below is part of Brokers post on Happy Holidays. Something that caught my attention is that the D/A 3500 are pulling the same trailer that the F-550's are pulling. Does this mean that a 3500 is equal to or better at towing than an F-550 F**d? Are the tow ratings that close that they can haul the same load. Same car hauler trailer means same load I would guess.

01 D/A K3500 LT(sold at 483,500mi)
02 D/A K3500 LT&Ullhaul 53'
03 D/A K3500 LT&Ullhaul 53'
03 D/6 K3500 LT&Ullhaul 53'
99 TAHOE LT,S/C,BOAT PULLER/Touched by LINGENFELTER!
03 H2 Adventure series
02 Z06
02 PSD/M F-550 Lariet&Ullhaul 53'
03 PSD/M F-550 Lariet&Ullhaul 53'
03 PSD/TS F-550 Lariet arrived excel ez loader 53' out back

What do you guys think about that?

Tom

[JoeyD]

I would bet the 550's are loaded heavier.

[bluenote]

Maybe Broker can chime in if he sees this thread again, but I don't believe he loads the Chevy's any different than the F550's. I remember him saying that the first Chevy/Duramax had a 4.10 rear end and he installed 19.5" rims. Most likely he's done the same with the other Chevy's. I would hazard a guess that these beef-ups enable him to handle a load as heavy as he wants to put on his car-haulers. The F550 doesn't have any bigger engine or tranny than the F350, just heavier rear end gearings and a beefier frame and springs. The Chevy 3500 is rated a ton higher GCVW than the F350, so his upgrades would put him into the equivalent of the F450/550 range.

[SoCalDMAX]

I had actually made a similar comment a few months ago on a Ford diesel site, to kinda infer that the 3500 was equal to the F550. IIRC, BROKER chimed in and stated that the Fords are loaded a little heavier, something to the effect that all of the trucks are loaded near capacity but not over capacity.

I agree with Bluenote, if you're in the market for a 1 ton truck, the 3500 is rated higher than the F350, which is definitely a more apples/apples comparison than to an F550.

Regards, Steve

[Maverick]

His GM trucks are registered for 25,999 lbs GVW and his 550's are registered in the low 30's. He pulls heavier with the 550's.

I have been in the low 30's GVW with my 3500 and towing 2 ECSB and a Sub. It can do it but not recommended.

[03DMAX]

It is a tough comparison. A F550 can be purchased from the factory with a GVWR of 17,500 lbs. The 3500 comes in at 12,000 lbs GVWR. Tow ratings for the F550 are 16,200 to 18,200 lbs maximum trailer weight. A 3500 2x4 is the highest rated at 16,000 lbs. One big difference is the F450 and F550 can be ordered with much lower gear ratios.

We should be comparing the 4500 and 5500 to the F550. Unfortunately, these models are not available in 4x4 yet. Anytime now GM!!!!

[Bobcat698]

This probably isn't much but I've run 25,000 GCVW when I went out to Colorado elk hunting.

We weighed the truck & trailer at a Certified scale & the total weight was 25,000lbs.

The truck handled it quite well & a lot better than our old 2500LD 6.0L Gasser with the 5 speed & 3.73 rear end.

We were probably 4,000lbs lighter, but we still had problems keeping in 3rd gear in the mountains, & overdrive was out of the question on the flats.

The Duramax took everything in stride, holding overdrive on all but the biggest of hills.

We could also maintain 55MPH using the grade breaking in the mountains, we hardly used the brakes at all...

Anyway

Happy Holidays!

Garrett

[BROKERS]

The F-550's run at 32,000 lbs. they run a heavier load than the D/A's.My newest 03/6.0/TS will be hauling a new style 53' trailer.www.excelezloadtrailers.com i'm hoping to work this four place trailer into a fast delivery combo. :eek:

[ 12-29-2002: Message edited by: BROKERS ]</p>

[Maverick]

Broker,
I'd like to take a look at your new trailer but the link in your last post is a dead end.
Thanks Jeff

[BROKERS]

Sorry Jeff. I posted it wrong.Take a look and see what you think.


Later Tom.

[JoeyD]

Broker, That is a nice trailer. Maybe a picture of your fleet could be shown in the readers ride section.

[Maverick]

Nice trailer Tom. I remember seeing it now that I can see it. I remember the 4 car trailer being pulled with a FL50 or 60. How is the clearance from the gooseneck to the top of the bed? It should work good for you. How are the hydraulics run? Self contained or PTO?
I just ordered out a Gertzen 32' with triple 7's. I will sell the 25'er when it gets here. I am going to put a Hiab 045-3 knuckle boom crane right behind the gooseneck. Should take up 2 ft so I'll have 30ft of deck and more load capacity with the triples. Need a 20hp Honda to run the pump as it will be self contained on the trailer so I can switch trucks if I have too.

http://www.gatewayequip.com/hiab045.html#

Should be the ticket for bigger bucks next summer.

[BROKERS]

Maybe soon Joey D.

Jeff , i'm getting a WesternHauler painted on monday and install on friday.There should be no clearance issues.

I like your crane idea .I hope it will bring some bigger dollars for you.Will you need a hydraulics license ?

[ 12-29-2002: Message edited by: BROKERS ]</p>

[Maverick]

Hydraulics license???? Whats that? I will have to have the crane inspected for OSHA reasons but thats it that I know of. Tell me more.

I love the western hauler bodies. The new 04 3500 Duramax will have the stock box left on this time. The new gooseneck is taller so a flatbed won't be neccessary. Will be able to get a CC this time also. In early 01 it was hard to find a Dmax so I bought what I could find.

[Bobcat698]

Tom, do you run Air or hydraulic brakes on your rigs?
I know a guy that runs a 98' & a 96' Chevrolet Dually. He pulls 40 foot quad axle trailers & his max GCVW is 46,000lbs, his truck & trailer run 17,500 empty together. Runs a 454 in both rigs with a manual 5 speed in both. He hauls junk, cars, etc. & runs Hydraulic brakes.

By the way, in the future, do you think you will be looking for more drivers?

Is there quite a demand for your services out there?

Garrett