tractors, not campers

[dieseldummy]

It seems that most of the discussion here is about towing campers, i have no experience in this area as i don't have a camper to tow, but i do frequent tractor pull around my area. With my pickup, 24' gooseneck, and 2 tractors i weight in at 39,700lbs. When compared with most weights i have seen posted here this seems like way to much.(which i already knew) I was wondering what, if any, mods are available to make this a safer rig to run down the highway.

[LakeDaisy]

Now that's funny! You're almost double the legal weight limit of your truck. Maybe 2 trucks?

[dieseldummy]

I wasn't intending to be funny, that is just the reality of my situation. I thought that someone may have some tips which may help me out.

[letsgo]

I have heard rumours and read 2 articles, one from GOODSAM that the chassis of the 1 ton and less are flexing too much and are developing hair line cracks, caused by towing overweight 5th wheels. The positive note to the article was the recommendation of installing the "5th wheel pin box coupler with the air bag" which absorbs the initial down force of the trailers motion, It also is supposed to give a smoother ride. the down side $1079.10us.

I'm 16,800lbs with no stress and the knowledge I can!!! pull more.

good luck

[dieseldummy]

Where are these cracks forming, where the hitch hook on, or else where. Before i got my 3/4 ton diesel, i towed about half of that weight with my 1/2 ton gasser frequently and never had any problems, other than springs sagging. Have many people noticed these cracks? I i could afford a small truck i would buy one, but for now i have to live with what i have and rely on you guys to help me keep it going.

[Colorado Kid]

I pretty much alarmed to hear that you are pulling that much weight with that little a tow horse and you're doing it in my neck of the woods.

The wieght you are pulling is more than 3 times what your truck could have been rated for new. I'm not alamist about people towing or hauling slightly more than the rated weights, but you are not just slightly across the line.

Bandaids like heavier tires, lower gears and auxilary springs can only do so much. I expect that you will have problems with your transmission (whether it's an NV4500 or a 4L80-E), rear end, transfer case and more. You must already know that your 6.5 has worse than marginal cooling, even when used with loads it is rated to pull.
My tips, leave at least one tractor behind, and call and leave a message at my house if you're coming west, so I can get my wife and kids out of the way.

[letsgo]

From the info I have read all the fatigue cracks appear in the frame between the front and rear wheels.

That weight isn't a typo error is it dieseldummy????

good luck.

[Tractor]

LETSGO
That is what I,am wondering. If that amount is correct. A 24 foot gooseneck, so 12 foot per tractor. That is not a huge tractor, unless he is talking about crawler tractors. Just guessin with pickup and trailer weight that is about 13,500 or so per tractor. A 13 foot New Holland weighs in at 10,000, four wheel drive with cab and a 100 horse. He sure does need a big anchor to slow that down. I think that is out of line with a 3/4 ton of any make. Just my thoughts. Please be carefull
TRACTOR......

[moondoggie]

Good Day!

Deleted

Blessings!

Brian Johnson, #5044

[ 12-01-2003, 08:29 AM: Message edited by: moondoggie ]

[dieseldummy]

It seems that i have brought up a bad subject. Hauling this size of a load is fairly common where i'm at, hay, livestock, you name and it was probably done sometime today. If it would make you all feel better the load will be somewhat lighter next time. This was apparently not the right place to ask this question. On a side note however, i do enjoy this forum and respect the opinions of all here.
Thanks

[dieseldummy]

By the way, i do have enough power.

[Viking]

I do not know how you have "enough power" I had a 94 6.5 TD and was on the limit with a 9,000# 5th.

[Joe Duffiney]

Please don't take offense to the replies here dieseldummy. The people here are just lookin out for your safety and others. Most replies here are from 5ver's and travel trailers which have alot more wind resistance. I know from my experiences that open car trailers with double the weight of my travel trailer feel lighter than my travel trailer.

[Kidd]

Hmm... I regularly pull loads grossing 25 to 30k when hauling hay, have gone as high as 39k when hauling a backhoe with a 30 ft gooseneck.. triple 10,000 lb axles. And yeah, I am legal, the outfit is licenced for 41k.

Power is not an issue, I can get the load up to highway legal speed in one mile, which is what the regulations here require. With the huge brakes on the trailer, it stops quicker than the empty truck alone.

I doubled the truck frame from front to rear of the rear axle, also added two extra channel crossmembers.

As long as you don't exceed the tongue weight rating of your truck, should be ok. I hauled the same loads for 18 years with a 1980 C3500 with no problems.

I don't exceed 2100 rpm when hauling heavy, and everything stays nice and cool.

KD

[CareyWeber]

To the law the legal limit is what you licence it for.

Now could you be sued if you hauled more than what the manufacter designed the truck for and caused an accident? YES

Is it wise to tow this much only you can answer this.

Carey

[dieseldummy]

Legal? Safe? these are all questions that each of us can only answer for our selves. Why don't we just leave it at that. Some have no problem with hauling large loads, some do. The DOT sets up ports for two main reasons; to inspect equipment and to keep the roads from deteriorating under large loads. As long as a person keeps an eye on their equipment than there isn't going to be a problem. Things that cause accidents don't just happen in 100 miles or so. I'll do my thing and you can do your's. Also, Colorado Kid i really think that i should be the least of you're worries although i'm sorry you feel that way, as is the same for the rest of you who think i need my head examined. Well, i always enjoy a good argument, now i know where to get one.

[CleviteKid]

If you look at a map, DieselDummy in Sterling, CO is in the nice flat northeastern corner of his state, not the mountainous west. He also asked a legitimate question, what can he do to tow his load with reliability.

Some of the answers he got were on point - doubling the frame rails, bigger stronger tires, cooling mods, etc.

The other unsolicited advice was relevant also, that he is taking a calculated risk. We don't know about his braking set-up, trailer balance, if it is a tri-axle trailer, what it's load capacity is, or even how fast he drives or where he drives.

I hope DieselDummy doesn't write us off entirely, we all want him to have excellent experience with his GM diesel truck. If you want a more actively moderated exchange of information, DD, post your next question in "Ask Dr. Lee" and I will edit any replies that I think are out of line.

Dr. Lee

[moondoggie]

Good Day!

Please accept my sincere apology for my previous post. In spite of all the evidence to the contrary, I still think I pretty much know everything.

Blessings!

Brian Johnson, #5044

[Turbine Doc]

DD,
I'm more or less in same boat as you with a need to occasional short haul 200 mi, tractor and accessories, to date biggest haul 18,700 GVWR pulling 9T capable GN dovetail trailer (top of the line new everything dual axle trlr).

I upgraded my truck springs www.activesuspension.com also hi perf shoes/pads and cross drilled rotors, 30K rated strong GN hitch Putnam Lock & Load www.putnamhitch.com, and best brake controller I think on the market Prodigy. Uprated tires and rims to 3300lb rating, have a backhoe I'll need to move as well I have some more mods to finish before that pull.

I'm way over factory rating, but am not a factory truck anymore and know legal risks but I also keep eye open, run with a escort and CB to know what is going on ahead mitigating risk as best I can. No real grades to speak of mostly rural low speed driving.

Upgrade your cooling to 97+ config., I had HD clutches added to my L480, remote trans electric cooler, and deep aluminum finned trans pan, just added new Hp injectors, and soon to be dual parrallel fuel pumps.

I feel I'm falling short on fuel delivery with a big load press to IP falls to 2 psi from 4 and engine not up to full potential for want of more fuel.

I also think dual oil filts a good idea aid in cooling some, as there is extra oil to be heated and passive cooling on oil filt bodies no longer beside the engine.

[letsgo]

Every now and then I forget to plug in the electric brakes when moving my 10,000lb trailer around the property, let me say it is one hell of a pig to stop and I'm only travelling 10mph or less. I also towed the same 10,000lb trailer with a 1/2 ton GMC which was real scary. So towing 20,000 to 39,000lbs with fading brakes, and they have to overheat because the truck bed weight towing a 5th wheel is in excess of 15% = 3000 to 6000lbs (holy smoke) my calculator must be wrong.

There has to be a typo error.

anyway good luck to the other driver