Legally towing with a F-250

[Tj Krawler]

I really started looking for trucks recently and started thinking about the weight more, and what would be a legal setup.

We are looking at concession trailers, and one of the options is about 12k loaded. The other would be about 10k.

Assuming at least 10% tongue weight that's 1000-1,200 pounds on the truck. Which shouldn't be pushing the limits of the truck at all.

If a CC LB 7.3 F-250 is about 8,000 pounds with a full tank and has a GVW of 8,800 pounds, that would only leave ~800 pounds of payload/tongue weight. (Simple math, I know ) Now add in a toolbox, and 2 people, and you're within 400 pounds of the limit, and there still isn't even a trailer behind it. With a 5,200/6,084 pound axle rating (SRW F-350 is 9,900 GVW and 4,800/6,830 axles) that's over 11,000 pounds. What would DOT look at? We would be over the door tag, but under axle and tire limits. Couldn't I just get it registered at a higher weight? Last time I saw registration papers there was a box for the GVWR. I wouldn't care about paying a little extra to bump the weight to 10k, or even 9,900, because that still has to be cheaper than getting stopped by DOT.


I know people tow over 10k with F-250s, so based off the factory ratings, they would all be illegal, unless they had no tongue weight.

So how/what does everyone tow with their F-250s?

[Dietoremain]

ya the gvwr is so low its a joke, i've been over quite a few times, including weight in bed, and at least 10k behind me once in a trailer, oh ya my friend hauls a camper and horse trailer(with air bags) with her triton v10 f250(9.8 mpg LOL) but yeah we do as we please and since we arent commercial just pleasure we dont tend to get bugged..

[gabelnj]

With trailer I have been over 26K from Wilmington NC to CO Spgs CO. Trailer is in profile PIC.

[Tj Krawler]

Originally Posted by Dietoremain

ya the gvwr is so low its a joke, i've been over quite a few times, including weight in bed, and at least 10k behind me once in a trailer, oh ya my friend hauls a camper and horse trailer(with air bags) with her triton v10 f250(9.8 mpg LOL) but yeah we do as we please and since we arent commercial just pleasure we dont tend to get bugged..

In New York anything over 8,500 pounds GVWR is commercial plates, but you don't have to follow the same laws as as semi or hotshot trucks (also just commercial plates and the trailer plates all say "trailer" no matter what the weight is) I assume that a cop will really not even check your weight as long as you don't look like an accident waiting to happen, which I would never do anyways. Most of the hauling would be local, probably within 20 miles or so of the house, with a few father.

[6.0believer]

I have an 06 F250 with the 10k GVWR. I pull a steel 28' GN horse trailer with living quarters. Loaded with 2 horses, tack, 10 bales of hay and about 150 gallons of water, the trailer is probably 12k-13k. The 250 does it just fine. No problems stopping or going. Whats funny is that this trailer, being registered a travel trailer, is not commercial. Our much smaller and lighter 18' GN day trip trailer is about 6k fully loaded with 3 horses, tack and hay, but is registered commercial "because of the weight".

*Knock on wood* We've never been hassled by police, DOT, etc.

-For the record, the ugly green color is soon to be a nicer, less frightening beige..