Towing with 6.0

[new2deisel]

I have a Weekend Warrior LE3305 that I tow with my 05 F250 CC SB 4WD on 35" tires. I took my rig to a scale at a Pilot and weighed it. 23,600 lbs. I would love to have a 37' 5'vr, but afraid that is too big for my truck. My question is what are you guys towing? How does your truck handle it?

[superDF350]

Im 22,800lbs combined and i tow the steepest grades to get home. 8-16% grades. The truck tows fine. What i worry about is if i get into a reck your insurance wont cover it. Being over the legal limit of the truck. The only reason I bought this trailer was it said by the weight of it, it would not go over my gross. Until I loaded it and weighted it. Now if you weight any tow box 33 ft or more I bet you 90+% are all over weight.

[jetratt]

I have a raptor 3612 I think it is 38' overall length. I havent weighed it but the sticker says 15,500 gross weight. It tows fine, I take it easy going up hill trying to keep the EGTs at 1200 or below. I have a 4" lift with 35s and air bags

[new2deisel]

Did you regear?

[leros]

Did you regear?

I did, but I'm only towing around 9K behind my Ex. I changed to 4.30's and it tows great, unfortunately when flying to the River not towing the gearing is too low for 80+ mph. I'm thinking of going with 37's to get some gearing back. If you are running 35's I think a good choice would be 4.11's, good power for towing and good drivability when not.

[jetratt]

i put 4.30s in. Puts me right at 2k rpm at 60mph

[Tom]

i put 4.30s in. Puts me right at 2k rpm at 60mph

Indicated, yes.

Actually, you're going faster at 2k RPM.

My 245/75-17 tires with 4.30 gears are 60 mph actual at 2k RPM (62 indicated).

You're probably about 65 at that rpm (due to the tire size change)

[deb0650]

www.gounitrax.com has some good tire size/gear converters

[thetonka]

Another thing to keep in mind guys is your license. If your trailer is a tag and has a GVWR between 10K and 15K or if it is a 5th/GN between 15K and 20K you NEED to get a class A license by law. You can get a non-commercial class A like I did, and it is really not that hard.

I know several people who have been stopped and cited. They are cracking down on this in California, and they can impound your rig and trailer.

Just an FYI.

[Tom]

Another thing to keep in mind guys is your license. If your trailer is a tag and has a GVWR between 10K and 15K or if it is a 5th/GN between 15K and 20K you NEED to get a class A license by law. You can get a non-commercial class A like I did, and it is really not that hard.

I know several people who have been stopped and cited. They are cracking down on this in California, and they can impound your rig and trailer.

Just an FYI.

GVWR on the truck? or the trailer?
My truck is 13000 GVWR, but my trailer is only 3500 lbs GVWR.

[thetonka]

GVWR on the truck? or the trailer?
My truck is 13000 GVWR, but my trailer is only 3500 lbs GVWR.

Trailer. Also for many be careful of what the CHP considers commercial or for hire. In a number of cases they have considered trophies from even amature races to be compensation enough to qualify you for having a commercial DL. This is a world you want to avoid if you can. The CHP is out there and I have heard from friends(some in the CHP) that they are cracking down state wide on this issue.

Also I know at least one guy who was stopped for speeding, got a warning until the officer crawled under his trailer to read the rating on his axles and wrote him up for not having a class A because he had 2 7500 lb axles under a tag trailer. My hauler has 3 5200 lb axles and the tag lists its GVWR as 15000 lbs. I have a non-comm class A M1.


http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#noncommercial

A noncommercial driver license is issued in the following two classes:

• Noncommercial Class A
• Noncommercial Class B

A Noncommercial Class A license is required if you tow:

• a travel trailer weighing over 10,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) which is not used for hire.
• a fifth-wheel travel trailer weighting over 15,000 lbs. GVWR which is not used for hire.
• a livestock trailer that is not for hire, weight over 10,000 lbs. GVWR but not over 15,000 lbs. GVWR, and is operated within 150 miles of the farm by a farmer to transport livestock.

A Noncommercial Class B license and endorsement is required if you operate:

• A housecar over 40 feet but not over 45 feet. Exemptions: Holders of a commercial Class A or B license, a noncommercial Class A license, and all fire fighter license classes.

Requirements for a Noncommercial Class A driver permit

To apply for a Noncommercial Class A permit, you must:

• Visit a DMV office (make an appointment for faster service)
• Complete application form DL 44 (An original DL 44 form must be submitted. Copies are not acceptable.)
• Give a thumb print
• Have your picture taken
• Verify your birth date and legal presence (you may use your California driver license)
• Pay the application fee
• Pass a vision exam
• Submit a Health Questionnaire (DL 546) dated not more than two years prior to the date of your application
• Pass the traffic laws and sign tests for the class of vehicle you currently have and also the Noncommercial Class A Vehicles test

Note: To allow you sufficient time for testing DMV will not be administering written or audio exams after 4:30 p.m.
Once you have completed these requirements, you will be issued a permit. You can only drive with a person who has a California driver license in the same class as your permit and meets the age requirements.
Requirements for a Noncommercial Class A driver license

To obtain a Noncommercial Class A license you must:

• Have completed all the requirements for a Noncommercial Class A permit
• Call a DMV CDL office and make an appointment for a driving test (Cannot be made for the same day) (Noncommercial Class A driving test appointments cannot be made online)
• Bring the Noncommercial Class A vehicle with you
• Pass a pre-trip inspection
• Pass a skills test
• Pass a driving test

After you pass your driving test, you will be issued an interim license valid until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Verify your address before you leave DMV. Notify the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect. If you have not received your photo license within 60 days, call 1-800-777-0133 to check the status. You will need to provide information from your interim license.
Requirements for a Noncommercial Class B driver permit

To apply for a Noncommercial Class B permit, you must:

• Visit a DMV office (make an appointment for faster service)
• Complete application form DL 44 (An original DL 44 form must be submitted. Copies are not acceptable.)
• Give a thumb print
• Have your picture taken
• Verify your birth date and legal presence (you may use your California driver license)
• Pay the application fee for a 5-year license
• Pass a vision exam
• Submit a Physician's Health Report (DL 546A) dated not more than two years prior to the date of your application
• Pass the traffic laws and sign tests for the class of vehicle your currently have and also the Driver's Examination for 45' Housecars test

Note: To allow you sufficient time for testing DMV will not be administering written or audio exams after 4:30 p.m.
Once you have passed your test, you will be issued a permit. You can only drive with a person who has a California driver license in the same class as your permit and meets the age requirements.
Requirements for a Noncommercial Class B driver license

To obtain a Noncommercial Class B license, you must:

• Have completed all the requirements for a Noncommercial Class B permit
• Call a DMV CDL office and make an appointment for a driving test (Cannot be made for the same day) (Noncommercial Class B driving test appointments cannot be made online)
• Bring the housecar with you
• Perform a vehicle safety check. NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with air brakes, you are not required to pass an air brake law test or perform an air brake system check.
• Pass a skills test
• Pass a driving test

After you pass your driving test, you will be issued an interim license valid until you receive your new photo license in the mail. Verify your address before you leave DMV. Notify the DMV representative if you have moved or if your address is incorrect. If you have not received your photo license with 60 days, call 1-800-777-0133 to check the status. You will need to provide information from our interim license

[sdford]

I have a 2004 crew cab short bed 4 inch lift on 35s what should i re gear it to for better towing

[leros]

4.30's if you primarily use it to tow with. If you fly on the freeway without the trailer your RPM's will be a little higher than you want them to be. If you do alot of freeway driving without the trailer then go for a set of 4.10 or 4.11's whichever is available. I was running 35's, changed from 3.73 to 4.30's and towing was/is great but when I would take it without the trailer to the River or on a hunt trip, doing 75-80 the RPM's were singing. I recently put on 37's and it's much better but I haven't towed with it yet. Flying the freeway is much better though!

[jetratt]

If I was to do it over I would go 4.10s.

[94prez]

On CDL, do what is right and stay safe and legal but remember that if you are borderline, and can avoid it the CDL then means you are 0.04BAC for DUI and may not qualify for traffic school on citations.

Disclaimer, I do not advocate breaking the law or drinking and driving, but be aware that this may make a big difference in how you roll. So if you are able to be legal otherwise, it may be good. Also, check insurance - may be an advantage there for coverage since you are appropriate class - but don't know this one.

Fud for thinkin.

94prez