Pulling a trailer

[RLC]

I was just worndering what you guys pull your trailers with . I got a Dodge dakota right now but I'm looking at a Ford F 150 with a 4 sp in it . Do you think it's better to get and auto than a 4sp.This truck is real nice but I don't know about the shifting all the time ,if it would be good on the trailer and mowers back there. It's 2 wheel drive so I won't be pushing any snow or pulling out any trees with it . Let me know what you think .

[LJ lawn]

forget that ford. go buy a DODGE with a Diesel 5 spd. you'll wonder why you didn't buy one sooner.

[MOW ED]

Until your tradin it in for a Chevy.

[Randy Scott]

In my opinion and experience, shifting is a pain in the a$$. Auto for me and that's final. Just my opinion. It's nice to have one hand free to unscrew the Gatorade cap!

[summitgroundskeeping]

I got a 3.0 Ranger, decked out. Most underpowed V-6 I have ever driven. However, it pulls my 5X13 trailer just fine in the city and country roads.

[mowerman90]

I've got the 3.0 Ranger too. The BIGGEST:mad: mistake of my life, but I'm stuck in a lease with 2 years to go.

[summitgroundskeeping]

Now I'm thinking of getting a diesel dump truck 2wd (hear better for towing) and plowing snow just put about 600lbs in the bed. 4WD not a neccessity if you got a dump truck.

[LoneStarLawn]

Go with the Dodge if you want the transmission to fall out in the middle of the road. Go with the Chevy if you plan on selling it after a year. I would stick with a Ford. We have a 2000 F-150 V8 auto and it works fine. We plan on getting a F-250 after the lease is up.

[75]

Since I drove big trucks for a few years (BEFORE new innovations like Eaton's Auto-Select came out!) and I drive a 4-speed equipped welding truck now, shifting doesn't bother me at all. (I catch myself quite often in automatic-equipped vehicles reaching for the stick, clutch or sometimes both!) Some people find shifting all the time to be a nuisance, especially in stop & go traffic, so a lot depends on your own personal preference.

Unless you're driving like a maniac and crash-shifting every gear, shifting won't have any effect on your trailer and equipment.

I admit that I'm not very familiar with clutch/transmission choices and durability in Fords, so I'll let others more qualified speak on that topic!

I would think that the 4-speed should work OK for you, your clutch will probably be the "weak link" in the chain.

An automatic will be a little easier to drive, (no shifting) your biggest enemy there will be heat: Make sure it's equipped with a good transmission fluid cooler! And don't neglect the fluid/filter changes either, towing qualifies as severe service.

Summit - yes, you can plow with 2wd and most of the "two-wheel" trucks I see plowing are the duallys that can carry plenty of ballast. Having said that, keep in mind that "ya gotta stay within your limits"! 2wd trucks are best suited for plowing open lots where you can use momentum to your advantage. Driveways and awkward, cluttered lots with plenty of stop/start/manouver around obstacles are more of a pain in the............ Stacking piles is another area where you can get hung up easily, since the front wheels don't provide any motive power.

Mine's got a winch on the back and it's been to put to use a few times for a little "tug" back off a pile.

[Currier]

I had a ranger years ago, weak, broke down, not enough truck for the job. Switched to a 1/2 ton chevy, stronger but still not enough truck it was only 6 cylinder.
Finally bought an automatic f-250 2 wd smaller engine (351) it does great. I've had it loaded to the limits and it never slows down. It is real plain Jane. no auto windows/doors. It does have air cond. (important) Until this truck I had always used standard transmission but I really like tha automatic. This truck has held up great for the last 3 years and hopefully will keep going!

[P&J Lawncare]

I got a 2000 f-250 super duty 4x4 its a great truck but my v10 is getting really costly (8.3 miles per gallon is killing me)

[KirbysLawn]

1999 Ford F250 SD. Depending on what you are pulling consider a diesel.
Love that diesel!

http://unionturf.com/truck__trailer_3.JPG

[Keith]

I have a 95 F150 302/5speed that I tow my 16 foot open trailer with. It works fine. Sure I'd like to have a diesel, but I can't justify it. The 302 gets 10-11 towing, and none of our accounts are that far away. I almost bought a F350 Powerstroke 4x4 XLT Crew Cab three weeks ago. It stickered at 40K and I could get it for 35K with Ford X Plan. But I stepped back and decided that was more of a pleasure vehicle rather than a work truck. But it sure was a nice truck :) I would be afraid to even use it as nice as it is. I tend to get in a hurry and my truck has scratches and dings around the bed because of it.

[Russ]

We have 3 trucks one 250 auto and two 150's manual. We tow with the 250 super duty but I wish it was a manual. I perfer a manual for towing.

[mdb landscaping]

i dont want to ad salt to the wounds, but chevy outsold the fords by a big margin this year and had the motor trend truck of the year. i wouldnt by a dodge either like lonestar said. i have heard from so many people with dodges who have gone through trannys and transfer cases. ford has a well built truck even though im a chevy guy, but id jump up to at least an F-250 for heavy landscaping.

[sgreanbean]

we have 2 f250's and 1 f350 dump at the moment. we plan on trading in our mini van on a f450 quad cab dump

[jdseven]

Check out the trailer load rate between the manual and auto when I checked this out on the ford f150 the auto could tow a higher weight. I have a 1987 f150 4x4 with the trailer towing package and the rate is 5500 lbs.

[Esby]

I have a 94 dodge Dakota. Its been a great truck, other than the tranny. Just like others of you said, dodge trannys are JUNK! It pulls well, runs good, but you just need to take it easy on the tranny, if thats possible in this business, I dont know.

[Foz]

1. Auto or manual? it is ultimately up to you, but most manufacturers recommend the auto because there is no variable, the computer controls the shift, the clutch is always the weakest link in a manual

2. We have a F350 crew cab & F550 dump, both with auto & diesel, very pleased with both but also haul +/- 11,000 Lbs of backhoe

3. If looking at a dump with 2wd, you can get a chevy for a lot less than for if you go with 3500HD which is comparable to F450, but the towing capacity is much less

[racerdave]

RLC, I would really recommend you go with the auto. As far as pickups go, I strongly recommend that you get at least a 3/4 ton. As you can see, we are kind of split between the makes and I feel they would all do you well as long as they are maintained. If you think you are going to do alot of maximum pulling, then maybe a manual tranny should be used.
David

[AltaLawnCare]

I like my 00 Dodge 2500 Cummins. I think fighting a 16' trailer in a tight spot is easier with an automatic!

My truck gets around 18 MPG empty with 4:10 gears. Other than the expense and noise I think diesel is the way to go.

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

You peoople talking about the tranny's falling out of their dodges, I have 2 2500 Ram's now...one has 190K on it, diesel, the other 80K, 360 gas, that normally never sees the road without a trailor. Neither has ever had a tranny problem. Now you guys pulling your rigs with a Ranger.....I do hear your pain.

Scott

[Pauls Mowing]

We use a '92 C-3500, 2wd dump. 454/auto. It has a 9'platform dump bed. I like the short wheel base, makes backing and getting into tight spots much easier.

Paul

[jones]

Have you seen the new F150 independent crash tests?
YIKES!
Trading mine in soon.

[TLS]

Paul,

Nice truck! But its just crying out for a nice set of wheel simulators!

[moonarrow]

Just a word of warning, I used a Dodge Dakota for the last three years with a 318 engine and standard trans.plenty of power to pull my 16' trailer. Three weeks ago I learned a lesson, the truck was to small to be pulling the load we pull, while going to work one morn. I rounded a downhill curve and there sat a logging truck dead stopped in the middle of the road. So naturally I hit the brakes and begin down shifting, but with all that weight behind that small truck all I did was slide. I hit the rear end of that big ole truck and then went in the ditch and took out a culvert and a big ole Pine tree. Luckily I was not enjured but the truck was a total loss. I took the insurance pay off and bought a 3/4 ton Dodge Desiel camper special, 5 speed tranny ($26,688). I love the truck, can't even tell the trailer is back there, 18 miles per gal, better than I was getting with the Dakota. So, my advise is to get at least a 3/4 ton truck of your preference, tranny is also a preference. Good Luck.

[The_Outlaw]

I use a 1/2 ton 1999 Chevy Z-71, and it works well for me. However,
I pull a 6x12 trailer (rated for 3500lbs), a Grasshopper 720K, and
a Dixon 4423, plus all my weedeaters, blowers, gas etc... in the bed of the truck. (probably a lot less weight than most of you) I've found that when fully loaded the truck rides kind of low in the back.
(I'm thinking about getting helper springs, or air bags...) The motor pulls it very well, and it is an automatic (which is great in tight spots) When I first started I had a Mazda B2600i 4x4... I think I killed that poor truck:D

[mdb landscaping]

hey outlaw. if you want to jack the rear end up a little check out aw directs website at www.awdirect. they sell a kit for front ends or rear ends that goes by the name of TIMBREN LOADBUSTERS. i put some on the front of my 1500 for plowing and now the front end barely dips. its made specifically for the use you specified.

[John DiMartino]

The reason manuals are rated lower on the 1/2 tons is the first gear is too high for launching heavy boats with 2wd's.The truck will smoke the clutch on the launch ramp,so they give it a low tow rating.Most 3/4 ton and larger have a granny low 1st gear and there tow ratiing is the same usually.I heard this from 2 relioable sources when I was in coolege,we used to visit manufacturers,and venders of the factory equipment.

[LJ lawn]

AHHH YES, i see H&H is another satisfied DODGE owner.eventually others will come around and see the light.

[FrankenScagMachines]

To all repliers:
I notice alot of you are bashing brands, other than the ones you own. And also, most of you haven't even owned a truck of that brand. Like the Dodge for instance, most of you only heard that a friend's cousin's dad's brother, etc. had troubles with it, and only a handful of you owned one yourself. Dodge has been working on that, and it should be better on the new ones. The trannys on the older vehicles were only going out because of misuse, neglect, etc., and the fact that the Cummins diesel engine is too strong! My dad works for Cummins at the plant where they make that engine, and he knows alot of people who are really glad they finally got rid of that Chevy, Ford, whatever and got the Dodge. Most of them said that it did seem to pull better also. I have not owned a Dodge deisel, with the Cummins, and openly admit that. I am just saying a lot of people i know of love the truck and engine, and have not had problems with it. So maybe there's just too many rumors, and people should not bash a brand because they don't like it, because they feel they're protecting their brand, and people should only give their view if they have owned/used that particular vehicle , or other product for that matter. Some people have had problems with the Dodge transmission i am sure, but i also think some anti Dodge people have exagerated the amount, and made the 1 out of 10 into 7 out of 10. I have a friend who has the Cummins 2500 truck with 5 or 6 speed manny tranny, and has never had a bit of a problem with it pulling a trailer or otherwise. Just my honest OPINION on the matter. Sorry for offending anyone, but that's the way i feel, obviously. People should only give their opinion on a product if they have used/owned one before, and if you do without having used one, please state that you haven't, then people can at least "get the facts straight". An opinion is ok, good, but IMO, a biased report on a product without the person having used it is just not very imformative. I think you get the point, and i now feel like i have repeated myself many times, but i really hate this problem, or the way people mis inform other people in this way.
Eric

[shorelinelawn]

You will have a higher tow rating for a given truck with an automatic.
Because the torque converter multiplies ( ???? ) the power, from what I understand. My 1999 F150 extd 4x4 with 4.6 auto , will pull 6600 lbs. with the factory tow package, The same truck with a stick, will only tow 3000 lbs. This is right out of my owners manual , that is in my hand. Just got thru with a 10 day vacation, pulling my 5500 lb travel trailer from Illinois to Ohio, and back. Averaged betwen 9-10 mpg, at 60-65 mph, with the air on. Yes I am amazed !!!!

[Pauls Mowing]

I use a '92 Chevy C-3500, 454/auto to pull a 16' tandem axle trailer with a JD 1050 tractor on it. Does great, just gets thirsty often.

Paul

[doublesharp]

I use a Chevy 1/2 ton 2WD 350 auto with Timbren load levelers, which I highly recommend. Still get the soft ride when you're not towing but really beefs up a 1/2 ton under load.

Doublesharp

[LoneStarLawn]

Did you forget that you had already posted your pic and specs of your truck?

[75]

One thing to keep in mind - towing capacity is important, but STOPPING capacity is really important! The bigger brakes on 3/4 & 1-ton trucks are a good "safety margin" IMO. Don't forget to have the trailer brakes working properly too!

[roscioli]

My GRANDFATHER (NOT ME PERSONALLY!), had a dodge the first week the new style came out, a 2500, with the 5.2? Did they still have the 318 then? Doesnt matter, it wasnt a diesel anyway. One day driving down the road, (in the first week owning it), clunk, it wouldnt go anymore. Got a new truck (under warantee) within 4 hours. Dodge knows their trannies are junk, they have been for almost a decade. They even used to be able to produce good engines, but realized that it would be cheaper to buy mitsubishi engines, which suck. Dodge is not a smart company. And neither is ford or chevy. I own 2 fords, but if i could afford it, I would drive a new Tundra. Has anyone here test drove one yet? Talk about a different league, what a truck. Its what an american truck should be.

[Grasshog]

Backing is a pain with a stick. Lot easier with a auto.

[CSRA Landscaping]

Ford F350 to pull a 7x16 enclosed Haulmark tandem axle trailer, with a C6 tranny that needs a rebuild.

Don't pull trees or stumps or shrubs, etc. with your truck at all if you want to keep it.

[little green guy]

I have a 94' 1 ton k-3500 chevy siverado 4x4 pickup with a 350, that truck is great. Over the winter I pulled a new holland lx865 skid steer on a trailer up a hill while plowing 8" of snow that the county hadn't got to yet.

I'm also planning on buying a mason dump or rack body soon too. I think that u need at least a 3/4 ton truck.