From: GOTAM35 (gotam35@sc.rr.com)
Date: Tue Aug 12 2003 - 19:15:04 PDT
Allow me to seize this opportunity to flap my chops.
For the last 6 months I have been hauling our 8500 pound excavator (which
can be seen at www.joetrapp.com ) on our 5 ton bumper drawn trailer with
great success except for the tires. The combined weight of the trailer and
machine is too close to the limit and the cheap tires we put on it just
didn't hold up. The truck we use is an F-350 (Ford rules) with the power
stroke and an auto with overdrive. Truck works great. We have purchased a
gooseneck trailer with 6000 pound axles and better tires we plan to start
using next week. We expect this to be a great improvement over the bumper
set up. This trailer is rated at 6 tons.
I am not familiar with Brian's GMC, but I would expect something equally
equipped to my Ford to handle something as light as a deuce on a gooseneck.
I wouldn't put it on anything with just 2 wheels on the rear axle. My F-250
is our back up truck and it is quite a load on it when we haul the trackhoe.
I would trust the power stoke and one ton axle to travel indefinitely, but I
would be afraid anything smaller might burn up an auto (except the
exceptional C-6). A good manual trans would work well to, but who can eat
and shift gears?
BRAKES
BRAKES
BRAKES
Make sure you have good trailer brakes. The only thing worse than going
slow is not stopping. Get one of the newer brake boxes. I have an old one
in my F-250 and when you hit the brakes it jerks. Once you set it, it's
either open or closed. The new ones somehow apply the brake gently. Once
you set it to your load, you forget the trailer is back there.
Have fun and drive safely. Always follow the factory's recommendations.
Joe Trapp
----- Original Message -----
From: "F. Brian Mead" <brian@hardscrabblefarm.com>
> Esteemed list,
> I've currently got a GMC 2500HD with the Vortec 6000 engine. (300 HP @
> 4400 rpm, 360 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm) (stats from the GMC website)
> I'd like to be able to tow my 1942 deuce to events (up to 800 miles away),
> so I'm afraid I'm going to have to upgrade to a 1 ton truck with a diesel
> engine. (not to mention the fact that the diesel will get better mileage &
> longer life) From what I can tell, just the weight of the deuce is more
> than the recommended towing limit for my current truck.
> Does anyone have any recommendations of the minimum truck to look for when
> planning on towing a deuce? Also, if anyone would like to say what they
> tow, what they tow it with, and the good/bad of towing that specific
> combination.
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