Max Towing within 1/2 ton Pickup Gas Trucks
7mopar
Well-Known Member
A Ford F450 isn't a half ton truck. Very few people buy them just to drive around. So I fail to see any comparison to a half ton F150 people mover with a bed.
sixpactogo
Active Member
I pulled my 26' enclosed trailer with a 70 Challenger inside from Wisconsin to Ohio and back a couple times with my 440 powered 78 D150 Club cab truck with zero issues. The key to the whole towing thing is to use an equalizer hitch that distributes the weight throughout. It makes all the difference in the world IMO.
Not all 1/2 tons are the same.
My current 85 d150 has a 4800 gvw.
I e had several 1/2 tons from that era with gvw around 6000. The gvw is gross weight of the truck but it also plays into tow rating. The biggest difference is the rear springs had 1-2 more leaves than the lighter version, but it isn't as simple as adding heavier leaf springs.
If you take a 4800 gvw version and simply put heavier springs in and you get in a wreck, the cops etc are still going to go with the lighter rating of your truck. They don't know if the mods you made (or claimed to) did anything for the trucks work rating to help or hurt. How bout heavier ply tires? Bigger brakes? If your overloaded for YOUR truck as originally built, you're still screwed. Have people pulled more weight than they were supposed to? Sure happens all the time.
But to be on the safe side call your max rating the same as what it was originally rated for.
I had an 83 d 250. (May have it back soon, another story) I remember looking into this when I had it and there were 3 different gvw packages for a d250 THAT YEAR. I had the middle one.
The lighter one had a 9-1/4 rear with 8 lug axles. The middle one had a dana 60 and the heavier one (basically a d350 single rear wheel) had a dana 70. I'm looking at getting my d250 back for exactly this reason. At 7500 gvw it's rated much more than my 85 d150 with its 4800gvw.
And it don't matter if I leave it a 318 or swap in a built 440 the tow rating for "that" truck is what it is. (There weren't any with a factory 440 that year)
My current 85 d150 has a 4800 gvw.
I e had several 1/2 tons from that era with gvw around 6000. The gvw is gross weight of the truck but it also plays into tow rating. The biggest difference is the rear springs had 1-2 more leaves than the lighter version, but it isn't as simple as adding heavier leaf springs.
If you take a 4800 gvw version and simply put heavier springs in and you get in a wreck, the cops etc are still going to go with the lighter rating of your truck. They don't know if the mods you made (or claimed to) did anything for the trucks work rating to help or hurt. How bout heavier ply tires? Bigger brakes? If your overloaded for YOUR truck as originally built, you're still screwed. Have people pulled more weight than they were supposed to? Sure happens all the time.
But to be on the safe side call your max rating the same as what it was originally rated for.
I had an 83 d 250. (May have it back soon, another story) I remember looking into this when I had it and there were 3 different gvw packages for a d250 THAT YEAR. I had the middle one.
The lighter one had a 9-1/4 rear with 8 lug axles. The middle one had a dana 60 and the heavier one (basically a d350 single rear wheel) had a dana 70. I'm looking at getting my d250 back for exactly this reason. At 7500 gvw it's rated much more than my 85 d150 with its 4800gvw.
And it don't matter if I leave it a 318 or swap in a built 440 the tow rating for "that" truck is what it is. (There weren't any with a factory 440 that year)
7mopar
Well-Known Member
I will just keep the one ton and not have to worry about it.
If that doesn't do it we always have this to fall back on. Half tons are for the look at me I have a truck crowd. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just remember the limitations.
If that doesn't do it we always have this to fall back on. Half tons are for the look at me I have a truck crowd. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just remember the limitations.
I have a situation here. Between my son and I we have everything to put my old 83 D250 back together. I loved that truck. Kicked myself for selling it. My cousin was about as smart as a wall with mechanical things. when the gas tank strap broke he parked it. "LMC dont have them, Im lost" Screw LMC. They cater to Chevy/Ford only like the rest. Anyway my son bought it back from him. He bought it for its engine of which I had put a whole new top end onto about 15 years before. He put alot of miles on that truck and knew how it ran when all was right with it. He bought it back for its engine and trans. a 318/727 that surprised a whole lotta folks when they saw what-all I did with that truck... how well it ran.
He had the body hoisted off and scrapped, between us we have a whole complete rustfree body to go back on..... gray cab. green bed, a choice of red, white, black, blue fenders/doors... a blue, brown or green hood.... green or white wheel wells...
a white or red radiator core support.... I have a guy lined up that said he would scuff and shoot all the pieces to match, we have a couple of possible engines between us....
Im wanting to put it all back together again "all 1 color/ originally it was marroon.... and build my own camper tow rig out of it.... I know my 85 d150, with its /6 won't pull my camper very well.... and my wife is wanting a different unit.... and I don't like the new trucks at all..... my solution to a D150 tow capacity is to put my old D250 back together....
He had the body hoisted off and scrapped, between us we have a whole complete rustfree body to go back on..... gray cab. green bed, a choice of red, white, black, blue fenders/doors... a blue, brown or green hood.... green or white wheel wells...
a white or red radiator core support.... I have a guy lined up that said he would scuff and shoot all the pieces to match, we have a couple of possible engines between us....
Im wanting to put it all back together again "all 1 color/ originally it was marroon.... and build my own camper tow rig out of it.... I know my 85 d150, with its /6 won't pull my camper very well.... and my wife is wanting a different unit.... and I don't like the new trucks at all..... my solution to a D150 tow capacity is to put my old D250 back together....
7mopar
Well-Known Member
Don't think this looks like a D150. But you wouldn't know by the title.
I have an old Fastenal truck. Doing fine. Wish it was a hemi though instead of the 4.7 that it would is
Well my turn.
My wife is wanting a different camper.
We found one that we really like, biggest problem is that the seller is in a battle getting the title. (Mechanics lien situation, at a storage unit where owner hasn't paid storage on it in I guess, years
It's dang near double, both the empty weight and the gross weight once water tanks are full and camping gear is loaded.
We're wanting to put money down on it while the storage unit owner gets the title done.
In the meantime I've looked into the tow cap of my current truck, the 12, 1/2 ton. Apparently my configuration has the best tow capacity of all 12 Dodge 1/2 ton trucks / I have a 2wd long bed reg cab. 4 doors or 4wd have lower ratings.
The only thing holding that truck back, is the engine. My 4.7 is rated to tow about 700 lb more than the empty weight of this camper. The same truck,(still a 1/2 ton ) only with the hemi, is rated at almost 2000 more lbs. But across the line of the chart for that truck and that year, and my rear gear ratio, the reg cab long bed wins for tow cap. I wasn't expecting that.
All "1/2 tons" all 2012 dodges. Huge range on capacity based on truck options.
My wife is wanting a different camper.
We found one that we really like, biggest problem is that the seller is in a battle getting the title. (Mechanics lien situation, at a storage unit where owner hasn't paid storage on it in I guess, years
It's dang near double, both the empty weight and the gross weight once water tanks are full and camping gear is loaded.
We're wanting to put money down on it while the storage unit owner gets the title done.
In the meantime I've looked into the tow cap of my current truck, the 12, 1/2 ton. Apparently my configuration has the best tow capacity of all 12 Dodge 1/2 ton trucks / I have a 2wd long bed reg cab. 4 doors or 4wd have lower ratings.
The only thing holding that truck back, is the engine. My 4.7 is rated to tow about 700 lb more than the empty weight of this camper. The same truck,(still a 1/2 ton ) only with the hemi, is rated at almost 2000 more lbs. But across the line of the chart for that truck and that year, and my rear gear ratio, the reg cab long bed wins for tow cap. I wasn't expecting that.
All "1/2 tons" all 2012 dodges. Huge range on capacity based on truck options.
7mopar
Well-Known Member
Well its a wide open topic. What it all boils down to, will the engine, transmission and rear axle handle it.
All the air bags and stabilizers in the world will not make an inadequate truck adequate.
All the air bags and stabilizers in the world will not make an inadequate truck adequate.
7mopar
Well-Known Member
There are lots of tow spec's out there on new and slightly used vehicles I find as hilarious. 1/2 ton pickups with more tow capacity than my 1 ton. Really, who comes up with that stuff anyway.
Show me a 1/2 ton with a 4500lb front axle and a spicer 70 in the rear on overloads. Even being a dually gross is 15800. Heck even the lift gate weight is well over 500 lbs. I have had 2000 on the gate alone. Try that one with a 1/2 ton truck.
I have had people try to tell me it needs an equalizer hitch to pull the 33' travel trailer. Why? 900 lbs. of toung wt causes no defection or lift.
I just simply have a hard time wrapping some of this.
Show me a 1/2 ton with a 4500lb front axle and a spicer 70 in the rear on overloads. Even being a dually gross is 15800. Heck even the lift gate weight is well over 500 lbs. I have had 2000 on the gate alone. Try that one with a 1/2 ton truck.
I have had people try to tell me it needs an equalizer hitch to pull the 33' travel trailer. Why? 900 lbs. of toung wt causes no defection or lift.
I just simply have a hard time wrapping some of this.
I'm looking to either buy or build an 80s d250 for just that reason. I have most of my 83 here in pieces, a truck that I sold and kicked myself ever since to a relative that knows as much about cars and maintenance on them as a brick wall, and no desire to learn, just expects everyone else to do everything for him.... Not at any cost to him either.... . my son bought that truck back from him for it's engine and transmission for an old fury wagon project, and we stripped it to a rolling frame. I have several rust free doors fenders, hoods a cab and a bed all from the south. Just all different colors right now.... I have a couple of possible engines that could go back in, that truck was a beast for towing and hauling.
I was talking about buying another from someone in here that (it looks like) he's decided to hang on to and fix the body on instead. That's alright if that's the case.
My son sent me info on one Friday at my lunchtime set up just how I would (except for id have to delete the TBI and put my 4bbl on) even has the 5 SPD already, like 1 want. By the time I got home to call, it was gone. So it must have been good truck.
I don't want a black box, (or several)
I'm tired of this '12 reminding me about the seat belt every time I stop at a red light, and I'd rather have wing windows, dimmer on the floor, cowl vents, a wiper switch by itself on the dash and such plus a stick, none of which I can get on a newer truck. And I'd avoid a payment this way too.
I was talking about buying another from someone in here that (it looks like) he's decided to hang on to and fix the body on instead. That's alright if that's the case.
My son sent me info on one Friday at my lunchtime set up just how I would (except for id have to delete the TBI and put my 4bbl on) even has the 5 SPD already, like 1 want. By the time I got home to call, it was gone. So it must have been good truck.
I don't want a black box, (or several)
I'm tired of this '12 reminding me about the seat belt every time I stop at a red light, and I'd rather have wing windows, dimmer on the floor, cowl vents, a wiper switch by itself on the dash and such plus a stick, none of which I can get on a newer truck. And I'd avoid a payment this way too.
7mopar
Well-Known Member
You want a manual transmission its best to start with a manual transmission truck cab. I imagine the floor tunnel could be modified for the adaption. But just something else to do.
These trucks are still out there and do pop up occasionally.
Sorry as was said above and F450 is NOT a "1/2 ton truck".