What is the largest load you have towed with you duramax.


Mine was a 26 foot gooseneck with 12 sleds on it and 4 drums of fuel.

G/N ? 5000lbs x 1 = 5000lbs


12 Sleds 500lbs x 12 = 6000lbs


4 drums 325lbs x 4 = 1300lbs


1 D/A 7200lbs x 1 = 7200lbs


GCVW = 19500lbs guesstimate

Broker,


Looking at the miles on the LLY in your sig , do you refuel it by pulling a fuel truck up along side as it passes by on the freeway, and switch drivers then also? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif


Seriously, any major issues with the LLY as it approaches 100k?


Doug

Largest verified load:

30,200 GCVW, Pickup, G/N dump trailer, 8 tons of #3 limestone, me, and a helper. Ran it over the scales at the yard, but I question my 18ft dump G/N being 7000 lb. Minus me and the helper I guess it would be 6600.Edited by: Fingers

Small dually with 36' gooseneck loaded with equipment totalled 31000 lbs.

Was hauling some road base for my brother and was able to sneak off of the scale a bit so just the trailer and load was on there. 17,158 lbs. Didn't have to take it far and was able to go slow as the trailer was only rated for 10,000 pounds.

My D/A and 40' Sunnybrook Toy Hauler with electric cart in garage dressed out at 24,300lbs. Axle weights: 4400 front/7100 rear/12800 trailer axles (x3). JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

iv put bout 24'000 behind my 6.5

Mother in law here.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

Mother in law here.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif


Largest Intellectual load or weight? Man that's a big a$$!


Dennis

Not very intellectual......http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

Well, that only leaves one thing!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Yep......http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clown.gif

GCVWR ~21,000lbs double trailered. Truck, 5er, boat...71 feet long going down the highway.

I pull a 8.5 SC SS Camper in the bed, (3000 lbs) and a 35' bumper pull (14750 LBS) and the truck and gear 7500.


25250 Pounds Total


Pulls like crazy, i'm pretty low miles, 7500 miles. Almost all pulling this or a Cat Multi Terrain Tracked Skid loader. No problems, i run pretty close to stock. Stage 2 Air Filter from AFe.

Its not the heaviest but thought you might like to see it.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/234_2004_0917Image0109.JPG

now .. of you guys who pull a load of anything close to 20K or more... who really thinks that you are doing it safely in the truck that you drive... would trust your kids in the vehicle just in front of you in a panic stop...


Its not so much the abilty to pull the weight as to stop pulling the weight that concerns me..... anyone else ??





Pete


and just out of curiousity... how many people who are pulling over 10K have a CDL??

My trailer has 3 7,000 lb axles for 21,000 worth of stopping power by itself, I am very confident. Wouldn't have it any other way. Had the trailer custom built to my specs. It is, after all, the total braking power of the combination, not just the truck that stops the load. I also have the CDL.

now .. of you guys who pull a load of anything close to 20K or more... who really thinks that you are doing it safely in the truck that you drive... would trust your kids in the vehicle just in front of you in a panic stop...


Its not so much the abilty to pull the weight as to stop pulling the weight that concerns me..... anyone else ??





Pete


and just out of curiousity... how many people who are pulling over 10K have a CDL??











I trust pulling 15-16,000 w/ my dmax better than pulling doubles or triples which I also have a license for.


BTW our rear axle has a rating of 9500# which is also the brake capacity so our front axle wouldn't even need brakes but 4 wheel anti-lock brakes are a lot safer.


What about all the NAFTA mexicans w/o CDL or safe trucks roaming our country now.

Tim,


You do know however that the truck has the braking proportioned so that the rear brakes only do about 20 - 25% of the braking, so that means 75-80% of your braking is done with the front brakes. This is a rule of thumb for cars and trucks.


Also have you ever had brake fad on your truck or any truck you were driving... depending on what the load is it can be scary


On all types of brake systems, the brake force required at the wheels varies by the rate of deceleration, the weight transfer of the vehicle, the design of the suspension, and loads inside the vehicle.


You said you pulling 17 to 18K, and that seems fine for you, but would you pull another 5 or 6K more and still feel as comfortable ...


The right equipment for the right job... I have pulled 20 to 30K with my truck and others .. not a problem... I have loaded my S/A dump with 12 tons on it... sometimes you just ask when is enough enough.. before or after the failure....


Pete

gslamm78...


trailers have brakes too....

Its not the heaviest but thought you might like to see it.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/234_2004_0917Image0109.JPG


Excellent pic. . . What else needs to be said?http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif


Dennis

Grady,


Yes I am aware that trailers have brakes, but as the loads get heavier .. I prefer air over electric how about you?


Pete

Air scales up much better than electric, but both perform well in thier range. Air is a little twitchy without enough load.

My dad started driving a double axle dump truck, with the dolly wheels. About 80,000 LBS (the load itself, I think) The truck brakes CAN NOT stop the truck alone. Has to use the gears in the trans.

Truck is with its design spec, though.

If you don't have to push anything, then why? I wouldn't be impressed with myself if I killed a family out for icecream, if I were overloaded. Had an accident.

Tim,


You do know however that the truck has the braking proportioned so that the rear brakes only do about 20 - 25% of the braking, so that means 75-80% of your braking is done with the front brakes. This is a rule of thumb for cars and trucks.


Pete





When the new 1999 trucks came out they changed the brake balance to give the trucks level stopping (remember the big ads and commercials).


So if I remember correctly it's closer to 50-50 and seeing how they have the close to same brakes front and rear we don't see the front wearing out before the rears.


BTW do u own or ever driven the newer GM trucks?Edited by: Dmax Tim

[QUOTE=gslam88]


now .. of you guys who pull a load of anything close to 20K or more... who really thinks that you are doing it safely in the truck that you drive... would trust your kids in the vehicle just in front of you in a panic stop...





Pete


and just out of curiousity... how many people who are pulling over 10K have a CDL??





Question 1.Yes


Question 2. Yes


Question 3. Yes

Tim,


I have driven a dmax once... it is currenlty out of the budget... will be keeping the 6.5td that I have since it is paid for....


Pete

Max, <?:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><O:P></O:P>


Most states do not allow over 80,000 GVW due to the bridge formula. There are some that go more than that, but most of the time it is by permit. As far as the truck not being about to stop with the brakes alone... most truckers use the gears to help slow down not to chew up the brakes in the truck.. a typical brake job on a tri-axles is about $2K... or at least around here it is...


One of the other reasons is with a full load and the brakes hot.. it is very difficult to stop, and with that weight they don't stop on a dime...


It does not take that much for that to happen... <O:P></O:P>


Pete



Edited by: gslam88

We live in Ontario. Maybe my dad was over loaded. He made
mention of people pulling out in front of him all the time (while
loaded) I say lean on the air horn. He can't because he's
working the brakes and gears. Not enough hands.



???

My truck,trailer and excavator is approx 22,500,no big deal do it daily.The other day went for some gravel and wasn't paying attention and ended with close to 6 tonhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley7.gif.The total was 20,800, and the trailer was homehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif .Michelins XPS's still had 3/4 inch of space between themhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif.

Bull.... nobull... bull ... nobull... awww.. just like the name.. although it does sound like a SNL skit


Now.. with that kind of weight on your truck.. would you put another 2.5 to maybe 3 tons on there.... there was


I think everyone missed my point just a bit... maybe I should have asked at what point is enough is enough on how much weight will you put on your rig and realize it just too heavy... that if you regularly put that much weight would you say maybe I should step up in platform to a heavy duty truck and not risk the rig, the driver ... others...


You can put almost 6k and you fine with it.. what about 8K, what about 10K... what is your limits that changes your mind... how far are you willing to push it on a regular bassis... all of have overloaded 1 or 2.. but try not to push it too much...


I have spoken with someone who was almost 10tons over weight... and he was screaming at the guys who loaded him... because that 20K would come out of his pocket...


Some who pull RV dont think about the overload fines... but get hit or know someone who does get hit with a $4 - 6K fine and it might just change your mind... or run with a heavy load on back roads and get your brake heated up and them see if you run as often and as heavy


just my .02


Pete

gslam88


get some fines?


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif

Pete


My truck with trailer at 22,500 is safe IMO due to 4 wheel disc brakes on the truck and brakes on both trailer axles.By the way this is right around what GM says is capacity for this truck.I have drove a few trucks that I considered unsafe at these weights mainly because of lack of brakes.The upper amount of weight I normally carry w/o the trailer is 2~3 tons which gives me a gcw of approx 13,000 which IMO is safe with a experienced driver, and just around GM capacity for my truck.I think that 20,800 is dangerous and can cause problems driving,stopping and possible damage to the truck.The only reason I had it was because of a smart a$$ loader operator and my inattention.If it was not for only having to go around the corner I would have dumped it right there and made a scenehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley7.gif.Now I must say you wouldn't have thought it was that much if not for the scale, and it handled it without much problem, braking and all,I also carry 80 lbs all tires.Now I do this for a living which IMO gives me a edge in what is a fair amount to carry, and I treat it with respect.In hindsite I should have probably dumped it but would have caused grief for the operator,and he has a long memory.The big problem I see is the weekend warriors with their S10 c/w single axle trailer no trailer brakes or lights,c tires at 28 lbs loaded with 3 tons of gravel uncovered,hammer down.These people have little or no experience hauling heavy loads and couldn't stop fast if they had to.Those are the people the police let go and don't hasslehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif.I think it is something about not picking on stupid people.

NoBull... by the way.. what model is the GMC 3600?


And also do you visit


http://www.snowplowing-contractors.com/forums/ (http://www.snowplowing-contractors.com/forums/)


just wondering?


Pete

Pete


Don't quite know what you mean by what model?But yes I do visit and post once in awhile at snowplowing-contractors.

3600 is a chassis cab. Not a big denotion difference... Most people don't notice.

NoBull,


I reread you post. So you pulling 7.5K + a little on your trailer and that is your comfort level. I do see that you agree with me on that point by


" I think that 20,800 is dangerous and can cause problems driving,stopping and possible damage to the truck


I would also guess that adding another 5K over that you would never think of as others have stated.


In my opinion it's asking for trouble.


Just my .02


Pete

I really don't want to get into what other people on this forum should haul or carry as I think that is a individual choice.What bothers me with heavy weight is breaking something like axle,springs, clutch etc.The other thing is stopping,not being able to stop in a save distance in a emergency situation is just using bad judgement.Experience,knowing your truck and common sense is what is important.As I said before I have hauled some loads that were just too much but due to the distance they had to go I was sort of ok with it.Saturday I was at the gravel yard and seen a guy with a old 3/4 ton dodge truck with insert dump body.The loader operator was being carefull not to over load buddies truck.The guy was waving for him to keep dumping till it was 3 feet in the center above the sides.So I go over to look and one guy is saying oh we could take more yethttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif .I figure the gravel and insert probably weighted at least 4 to 5 tons.Now this is on a single wheel truck remember.I myself wouldn't take that truck out of the yard but the owner just laughed and took off.

I've hauled some very heavy loads with my rig.



http://photos.imageevent.com/texasdutchman/pickupsetc/websize/DCP01052.JPG





That is at least a 30.000 lbs load as those bags are filled with at
least 2500 lbs wheat seed each. Is that too heavy? You bet your a$$ it
is.

Would i do this for a long haul on major roads? no way. This is a short
haul only mostly on county roads. Traffic is non extisting just about.
I normally only haul 10 of them but we were in a bind and needed 12
that time.



I have hauled a 14000 lbs forklift over a 100 miles and that is the very limit I would do. That was to and thru a major city.



Trailer brakes are in good shape and will stop the truck without using the trucks brakes.

Saw a nice load coming to work this morning in front of the chevy dealer. A dually DMax with a flat bed with 2 trucks on it, both where crew cab short bed dmax. Didn't have the camera or would have taken a picture. Figure it was about 22k for the trailer and trucks. and then the tow rig. Looked cool!

I hauled 10 yards of dirt on my pintle. Weight indicator said to heavy for stock hitch. I mainly knew this because it was pointed down about 45 degrees below level. I put a new hitch on and hauled 13K lbs of 3/4 minus, total scale weight was 26,500. I definately do not recommend it, the D/A will handle it but I am not so sure about the suspension and brake longevity. Makes for alot of pucker factor.

That would be my longest one; about 74 feet and 20,200 gvw



http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/Maxter/2004-10-23_194909_DSCN0006s.jpg



And that would be my heaviest and highest one; 23,600 gvw and 13'5" high



http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/Maxter/2004-10-23_194940_Img2004-08-31_083255s.jpg



And that was lightest but most stressing one because there was only 8" of
clearance between the pole of the trailers on my flatbed and the front
of the enclosed white one. They all made the 600 mi. trip without
a scratch.



http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/Maxter/2004-10-23_200037_Img2004-06-30_101007s.jpg




I do the same 600 mi very hilly and curvy road from may to september
all the time with those loads. The 2500HD handles just fine with
brakes on all 12 wheels! The trailers in the back are always
empty except when other trailers are in them. The black gooseneck
is mine.


Edited by: Maxter

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif Never seen doubles behind a pickup before!

I try to haul like that whenever I can. It provides the few hundred$ more to make it worthwhile.

Always glad to see discussions on towing heavy, the caution expressed, and the experience of others that tow heavy. For even the best prepared rig there exists the wrong set of conditions that could result in disaster. Some are not comfortable towing more than 20k, while others tow 30k+ with no concern. Maxter, your testacles must drag the ground when you walk brother! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif That is some rig you tow.


Bottom line is we are all responsible for educating ourselves on our trucks capabilities, the load we are carrying, the conditions before us, and staying alert and being prepared for evasive action.


Before I purchased my bubble butt dually I researched various sites and read the pro's and con's of each truck and trailer to gain as much insight into the rig I was going to pull as possible. I have no doubt that the wrong conditions could arrive in front of me at any time and I drive very defensively to compensate for it. I've had cars swirve in front of me and slam on their brakes to get into the McDonalds drive-thru where I just knew I was going to nail them. So far I have been lucky enough not to.


Keep up the discussion, ask questions so that you are in your comfort zone when towing with your trucks. Ignorance is bliss! It is the educated people that know just how dangerous they are on the road. Be safe! JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

<span ="bold">JJs DuMax: I'm going to take that as a compliment...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif
Actually, when your second trailer is a few 000s pounds, I
found that it is actually more stable and lowers the "rocking" motion.
I rarely go beyond 22,000gvw and whern I do it's only by one or
two 000s. But when I'm over 20,000; I prefer to have 12 wheels
breaking than only 8 for the same weight. It IS impossible
to back up however http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif and you absolutely need to know in advance how you're going to get out of a place before you go in.



The dmax and alison can take on alot of work when you're prudent.
I justify my weekly drag strip appearances by saying to myself that
it's alot less stress on the truck to do a few 1/8 in one night than to
drive one of those monster loads on 600mi of hellish country
road. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif Of course that explanation suites my needs http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif

</span>

Maxter,


In Connecticut where I live you can not leagal drive that rig here... too long... single trailer limitied to 53' and dobles are limitied to twin 28. I think the only place in the us that you could drive something that long is Alaska. Anything above 53' in most parts of the US get tough to drive legally... most states frown on it





Pete



Edited by: gslam88

Maxter, no cheap shots on my part, just stating that you have more balls than I do when it comes to towing that rig. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif I kinda figured backing up wasn't much of an option. I've seen rigs like yours before on the road, mostly a small dinghy boat though versus anything of significant load on the tail end.


Stay safe on the roads. JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

<span ="bold"><span style="font-weight: normal;">gslam88:
Since we were talking about gvw, 74 feet represent the total lenght of
the convoy. So if you remove the 21 feet of the dmax, you're left
with 53. You're twin 28 would be ok.</span><br style="font-weight: normal;">
<br style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">In Québec, we're limited to 23 or 25 meters wich is about 76 or 82 feet.</span>

</span>

Well I dont haul much wieght with my trucks.I pull a 40'gooseneck 102"wide.I carry alot of standard empty containers.usualy 2 20'at about 5,500 each.I haul some trusses and some pipe and anything else I can get that wieghs under 11,000lbs.The trailer wieght is approx 8,000,and with two containers on board it puts me at about 18,000lbs.

I guess with the truck added it puts my combined vehicle weight at 25,000

Maxter,


In Connecticut where I live you can not leagal drive that rig here... too long... single trailer limitied to 53' and dobles are limitied to twin 28. I think the only place in the us that you could drive something that long is Alaska. Anything above 53' in most parts of the US get tough to drive legally... most states frown on it





Pete











Pete, I don't remember the website, but there is an rv site that lists state by state. Most states are 65' some go as high as 75'. Colorado allows 60'





Howard

Try this one, it has some info on it:



Towing Laws (http://www.rvsafety.com/state.htm)

Heaviest is 33,100 on the Scales at Santa Nella, CA on I-5. Pulled it from San Diego CA to Bend Oregon. 2002 GMC 2500HD CC LB 4X4 SRW with 305x16E tires with 85 lbs. Pulling a 24 Pace Triple Axle Triple Brake enclosed trailer with 18,000 lbs rating. Loaded with tile and some household goods. Way too heavy for braking capabilities. Left at 1am to avoid LA traffic and tried to keep 1/4 mile clearance in front. Pulled well, even up Grapevine. Going down Grapevine started out a 20 mph in truck lane in 2nd gear, tapped brakes to hold rpm down, shifted to 3rd about 2/3 down at about 40 mpg or better. Stayed off brakes. Do not want to ever do it again. Normally tow up to 25,000 lbs total weight.

How much payload to make the axle hit the bumper stops (when sitting)? Im guessing 4500 lbs?

Been there.