Ptoughneigh

Lots of discussion about travel trailers, a little about boats. How about construction equipment? Specifically dump and equipment trailers, over shorter distances. How comfortable are you reaching the towing capacity limits? Is anyone using a WDH with an equipment or dump trailer? Or just ignoring the 500/5000 pound limit? Attached is a photo of a my truck towing a small mini excavator, weighing in at close to 6000 pounds including trailer. Towed very easy but technically above the non WDH limit. I'm curious if I could tow the next size up, which in this brand would put me at about 11,000 pounds with trailer. Generally I'll tow less than 20 miles, and only if I'm using it for multiple job sites. Otherwise, delivery is cheaper than my time to pick up and tow myself.

Joe Tom

Most people ignore the rating.

I swap them to something with a higher rating. 10,000/1,000 is about all you want to do with a larger motor optioned f150. Also swapping out the rear shocks to bilstein 4600 is a good improvement.

But yes all short distance towing.

I honestly think the stock hitch feels ok up to around 6-7k without wd. After that its a little sketchy..

dodgeman1

What axle on the trailer? Single axle seems unusual for something that heavy but it might be a 7000 pound axle.
A pic of my JD 2025r when I brought it home.

Joe Tom

8 lugs so it would be a 7k axle most likely. Saves the rental company a little money, they don’t have to back it up.

Steve83

I've towed that with my 6-cyl. Bronco, but I stay below the speed limit when towing that heavy with it.



I've rolled it towing...



But it weighs more now, and is on better tires. I also use a large, heavy, (homemade) hitch hauler for small stuff, including a riding mower, or sandbags. The bumper is also homemade, and has an integral receiver stronger than Cl.3.

Joe Tom

Hold on, you fixed that?

JaseBosto

Exceeding 500 lbs tongue weight isnt just about the hitch. Its also about the truck. F150's dont have big chunky full floating rear ends. You can overload the rear axle quick with too much tongue weight if you dont use a WDH.

That said, can it do the job? Will it do the job? Sure it will. Just know the rear end will probably be overloaded so how long it lasts will depend greatly on the how frequently its overloaded.

Ricktwuhk

Also keep in mind liability. If you knowingly exceed the limits (compounded by posting pictures of yourself doing it), and you have an accident, that kind of information will get found during discovery. You can't say "I didn't know" when you posted, or searched, all over for whether it would be an issue.

Recently a vehicle was towing a skid steer near us. As we went by the accident season (massive EMS response) we could see a mangled truck, with a skid steer implanted in it. Didn't look good for the driver. It appeared to be a single vehicle accident.

Joe Tom

The rear axle won’t be overloaded until you reach rear GAWR. 550 lbs on the bumper won’t do that, 1,000 wouldn’t either.

Its a frame/hitch design and insurance collision rating/cost thing that limits it.

There is provisions in the frame for a frame hitch that goes up into the frame a good 30 inches.

Steve83

I assume this is directed at me. Yes, I replaced the body tub. Later, I replaced the body again, and the frame, which is why it now looks like a '93 Bronco. It has the same '83 VIN, though.