well i towed a 1990 ford f1-50 decked out to be a f-350 to maine(300 miles) total guestimate wieght is about 11k i was told many of times 12-13k but i think my gues is the better one. it towed great other than way to much toung weight. it bounced allot. i pissed allot of people off because my head lights where blinding them but after i hit the high beams they stoped quick.


now this is a regular car trailor with no and i mean no brakes at all. it was a bumper tow trailor and pulled fine.


we where stuck in traffic for 2 hours on 495. once trafic got going my truck smoked like you wouldnt believe. after about 2 miles it cleared up.


all was going good untill i moved over from the high speed lane to the middle one. i was way behind the little toyota truck and this grade A jerk slows down for absolutly no reason then he slambs on his brakes hard. mind you i now got to stop 18k. well i swerve just in time to miss him i lay on the horn and look down quick 30 mph i am going because so jack a$$ hits his brakes i give hime the finger and am swearing my head off at this looser. the truckers are blowing their horns and are complaining over the cb about this jerk. he guns the gas and i do to and wouldnt you know the big d-max kept right up with him and i cut in front of him and didnt see him again. the truckers where making jokes about my truck. thay asked several times if i was burning coal. and said i ruined a perfecly clear night with nothing but black smoke. mind you my truck smokes worst than a forest fire. anything over half it smokes and full throttle watch out its probly as bad if not worst than a juiced d-max. the truckers where impressed with how well it took off.


all in all i got about 14 mpg probly would of gotten 15-16 if we didnt have the traffic stop and go. hurry up to 35 and slam the brakes hard.


my uncle was really impressed when we got the this one hill where his 7.3 down shifted every time with any type of load. he told me to slow down to 70 and set the cruise to go up the hill. it didnt down shift. i was one pround owner of a d-max then. he was even more shocked that it didnt down shift than i was.


all in all i am impressed with the d-max and hope to have some cool duels and a tts tow tune very soon.


also is the new tow tunes removeable? so i dont need to dish out abouther 400? and will removing the cat and muffler though any codes?

Nice to have some truckers on your side. If I was you and I had some
insurance and no trailer I woulda rear ended the guy Shows him
for trying to stop a 3/4 ton chevy. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif

YG, always good to hear testaments on how well the duramax's get the power to the wheels. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif


That being said, I'm not a flamer on this site and go to great lengths to not insult or piss anyone off. However, in this case ole JJ is going to gently lay into you for a few seconds, sort of a father/son tongue lashing, an old fashioned trip to the wood shed. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley22.gif


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley7.gif The conditions you describe, squirrel hunting lights, too much tongue weight, bumper mount, no brakes, on interstate are a prescription for disaster. While I'm so glad you were able to avoid a catastrophy, you my friend were very, very lucky! When your front wheels are compromised by too much tongue weight you lose steering and braking capacity, big time! Thank God you didn't hurt yourself, yeah that idiot in front of you, as well as those around you. Truckers to boot? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif


When we hit the roads with rigs in tow we have an added responsibility to compensate for the conditions and vehicles around us, idiots included. While your encounter may have boosted your testasterone(?), you could just as easily have made the headlines as a major accident with multiple casualties, one of them your own! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley7.gif


Please take the time to cruise the trailer/towing forum and other towing websites to gather intel on safe towing/trailering. Don't come back with I've been towing for years, been there/done that http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley35.gif because ole JJ ain't ever, ever, ever, ever going to buy it! Bottom line is it was irresponsible and dangerous and someone could have been killed. This is why I'm posting. I could have PM'd this to you, but just in case there are any others out there that think their trucks can compensate for improper loading or thinks their truck brakes will do the job under these conditions since you LUCKED OUT I decided to post for all to see.


Nuff said! YG, if I sound a little angry, GOOD! In my years of towing heavy I've seen many bad accidents, 80% of them met your criteria, many with a sheet draped body on the side of the road. Yeah I'm a bit sensitive to this stuff.


Be safe, enjoy your truck, look forward to seeing you on other posts. Can you feel the love? Not trying to embarass, just educate.


BTW, I noticed 108 others viewed this posting and not a word was said about this. You guys are part of my DP family, if you ever see me posting something I'm doing that is dangerous or http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif please do not hesitate to let me know. JJhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gifEdited by: JJs DuMax

Before I saw JJ's reply I was going to mention that one should NEVER tow a load over about 3k without trailer brakes. I've towed trailers with and without and the times when I was towing without working trailer brakes, I was nervous. I think what started it for me was the time I was towing and I "thought" the trailer brakes were working. They weren't. Barely got stopped in time. That mushy no stop feeling is awful.


Since then, I have switched to brake controllers that display wether they are working. (Most newer controllers can detect if there is a load on the brake circuit)


I probably even run my trailer brakes on the strong side, I'd much rather replace trailer brakes than the front end and rearend of someone elses car.


No scolding here from me, just another DP member reiterating what has already been said. Please be responsible.

Well being as I only have about 3 posts and my words would have been
less kind I chose and hoped someone here would give the lashing it
deserves. I've been towing for years but this is my first diesel and
have only had it for a couple days now. Seeing how some tow around here
it makes my blood boil like the other day a little honda suv of some
kind pulling not one but two horses. In defense of the truckers they
probably thought he had brakes altho i've talked to a couple truckers a
few times and i've heard more than once how they're scared of how many
idiots are getting behind big rigs these days.

My post was not only for YG but anyone else out there that might think of towing in similar conditions. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley20.gif Like I said, while I don't know any of your personally, we are much like a family in that we share a common interest in our trucks. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gif


AF, I also like to feel the trailer brakes grab just before the trucks do. I find it helps eliminate a lot of sway when braking and provides a much cleaner feel for braking capacity.


If this post turns into a "how to tow safely" there will be some benefit for all. Just concerned about yours, your family and those around you on the road being safe. JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

jj no affence taken and you are 100% right. it was very stupid to do this. no arguments at all. i new from the get go that i shouldnt of been doing it but on the other hand i had my uncle calling daylie to see if i will tow his truck up. try handleing that for 2 months. at that point i would of hook a chain to it and pulled the damn thing up their.


i really wouldnt but i new what i was getting my self into thats why i kept very safe distances between me and the other guys. i new i was way over loaded. also my head light are so high because my t-bars are cranked up 1.5 inchs.


i new as soon as i submited the post that i was gona get bashed for it. i aint no pro at anything i do. i am good at some bad at others but in any case we all do stupid things. i accually think i was allot safer towing the trailor than most people out their. not trying to change my story but look at these rice burners out their. they fly by us like they are so much better but most of them are 17 and dont know left from right.


i was wrong i admit that and i am also very lucky but i still dont think that i was the most dangerious person on the road.

YG, I'm so glad you didn't take any offense. Sometimes I can come across too direct. My friends will tell you I would have chewed them out just as quickly, not because I'm a know-it-all, just a firm believer in keeping the roads as safe as possible and for their safety as well. JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

JJ, from the looks of your signature, it looks to me like you may be overloded with the trailer you are pulling. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley9.gif 18k, even for a 1 ton, is a lot to ask. I think we all think our trucks are 10 foot tall and bullet proof, but we just need to be careful when we are pulling large trailers. I have a 37 foot Raptor, and when she's loded, I know I am over tongue weight by about 600-700 pounds. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif Happy trucking!

JJ, from the looks of your signature, it looks to me like you may be overloaded with the trailer you are pulling. http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley9.gif 18k, even for a 1 ton, is a lot to ask.


Bartman, good observation. Has JJ been punked? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif I do exceed GM's GCWR when I load my 5ver for a business run, usually about 24k GCW, so on the face of it one could say ole JJ is speaking with forked tongue and should live by what he preaches. Turns out I really do.


Can someone exceed the GCWR safely, of course. However, each of us has our own skill and comfort level with towing with our trucks. There's plenty of lively discussion on the trailering/towing forum regarding GVWR/GCWR, axle ratings, etc. Good intel as well.


The scenario YG described was a disaster waiting to happen and something needed to be said. He agreed, class act! Stay safe! JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif

shouldnt pull a trailer over 8 ft empty without brakes

Don't get too complacent with electric trailer brakes. All my trailers have had electrics, and IMO, they are primitive. When they work, it's nice, but I've come to the point where I drive like they aren't there.


When you least expect it, they will not work. They may work for 5 years straight (if you are VERY lucky), and suddenly not work. Maybe I should diassemble/inspect them every day, maybe I should solder all the connections everywhere each time I hook up, but that ain't me. I check the connections, test them with manual overide, and cross my fingers that they will continue to work until my next stop.


So instead of getting nuts with preventive maintenance, I just drive like they are disconnected, and use them as "insurance". I don't trust them.

Sage advice McRat. Ever wonder why they have those runaway truck ramps in the mountains folks? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif JJ

Make sure to tighten them up alittle bit more when in the mountains . I didnt know that and thought i had the trailer brakes working/adjusted just right but when the brakes started fading while going down a 10% grade for 5 miles and i was redline in 2nd gear , i bout had to clean my shorts out. Turned out that the trailer brakes (which i could feel braking and thought were tight enough) were NOT adjusted tight enough for that circumstance. The truck was doing MOST of the work evidentlly. I smoked the trucks brakes and redlined 1st gear to get it pulled over !! Let me tell ya, I would have never made it to the sand pit (runaway truck pit) as it was another mile and 3 more hairpin turns away. FYI , be careful cause i really thought i had my shiat together and even driving with the big bad Allison it couldnt help me . WHeeeeewwwww.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley3.gif

I am curious how you came up with the weight figures a f350 super cab only weighs 6k if it is 4x4 straight pull trailer weighs at most 4k I would say you were around 10k at most. The law here is that any trailer with a weight rateing of 3k or more must have brakes Edited by: elkhunter01

your forgeting about the plow plaow frame and the rest of the weight in the back of the truck. their was at least 1500 pounds again guestimate

JJ, WOW! Didn't know you had it in ya.


On my return from Powell last month, coming down I-17 on 8% section, boat in trail, 5-6K load. I was remarking to my Uncle how this road gets shutdown at least once every weekend for hours due to people in such a rush to return to paradise. This was within a few minutes of a trooper flying by. Just then, lot's of RED pointed uphill at my eyes.. I hit the brakes hard, Big Rig to my right is laying on the horn, I look straight at the panicked look on his face, he's trying to warn everyone in the right and breakdown lane accident scene that he IS coming through. I hit my brakes as hard as I can, and open up about 200 ft in front of me, with a line of cars tucked in right behind me. And that rig is now smokin big time. He sees the opening and swirves in.


After clearing the air a bit we go by him. What a happy face he had when we passed him. Think he was cleaning up the coffee spill, or maybe changing his pants.

I have really enjoyed this thread.


YG's experience is not unique, we have ALL extened ourselves. He was very lucky there were no consequences; however we can't discount that conciderable SKILL played a major part to the sucess of the incident.


JJ's coments and statements are all valid and germaine and welcome. Each reader will take away importmant information and ideas for their own use. Thank you JJ for "Kicking" the ball.





Idahofox

I have really enjoyed this thread.


YG's experience is not unique, we have ALL extened ourselves. He was very lucky there were no consequences; however we can't discount that conciderable SKILL played a major part to the sucess of the incident.


JJ's coments and statements are all valid and germaine and welcome. Each reader will take away importmant information and ideas for their own use. Thank you JJ for "Kicking" the ball.





Idahofox





alright guys you want a shocker?


try this i am a 17 year old kid who pays 600 a month for a d-max. insurance is 500 a month but i get a little help with my dad on that. i work 2 jobs to pay for my truck and still go to highschool! i work one full time job and a part time and still work for my dad to make up on the insurance. i bust my balls for my truck so i would apresiate it if i didnt get the bs that i didnt pay for it and all this stuff thanks in advance.


a skilled driver- i do not considered my self skilled. i only had my liecnce for 1 year 3 months and got about 55,000 miles under my belt. not much but more than most drive in 5 years. when i drive i drive full allert. i am very defenceive(sp) i will swearve and do what it takes to avoid an accident. i keep my distance from all cars and watch out more for other stupid people than my self. i look at it this way. i care more about my 41k truck than any one on the road. their for if i keep my truck safe i keep evry one else safe. thats for me alone. it worked so far. when i tow things i am more alert than a deer in hunting season. i watch everything.


the reason i bought my truck was i was brought up in the constrution buisness so i figuared get a truck that will last me 10 years and get good gasmilage. i aint flunking school i am a average. i kid get in trouble once and a while. no biggy


i dont want people to hold my age against me. i work just as hard if not harder than some to pay for my truck. not saying you guys jobs are easy but i go to school workl a full time job and a part time job and still do odds and ends for my dad. i also dont want people to think that i am better than what i am. the only differnce between me and you guys in my eyes are age and i live with my mom! we all got same interests our trucks!!


thanks

Your truck is very fortunate to have youhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley19.gif. Are you available for adoption?


I wish I had the reaction time I had at 17. Of course if I had to pay 6 grand a year for insurance, I'd be making darn sure I avoided the common cold, nevermind wrecks.


Some advice, get a 3rd job and get the truck paid off, pay less in insurance, and then you will be able to afford to pay for your own dates, and maybe a big mac or 2.


(sorry, tragedy has plagued my life and turned me into an angry cynical foolhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif)

Gosh, that was unkind. YG thanks for being transparent, not a common quality any more.

i no what you where getting at. it really wasnt unkind its kinda true. i dont got a pocket full of money. i get by but i aint out spending 50 bucks likenothing either. i can live of of 20 bucks a week for personal use and 30 for other stuff ie fuel and other little things the truck needs. i got it pretty down packed on wat i need to do.


i dont take affence to much. i can take jokes and laugh about them. i just dont like people holding my age against me. thats why i never said it before untill now after a few of you guys know me a little.

JJ's back from a business weekend at Daytona Beach, turns out it was Biketoberfest there. Thousands of bikers out there trying to become hood ornaments for the beast. Fortunately no takers! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley36.gif


YG, when I said a "father/son talk" I had no idea I was old enough to be your daddy. Always wanted a son! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif Sounds like you have one hell of a work ethic. JJ at 17, lets see that was 197? Where did the time go! Everyone one of the guys on DP started right where you are at in terms of driving skills. Granted some of them are here by the grace of you know who! Yeah, JJ to. I can't speak for anyone else but if there is any assistance or questions you have regarding safety with your truck, towing, etc., kick me a PM and I'll get back to you.


BTW, while taking the 5ver to the RV shop to get a new roof I came upon a Jeep Cherokee that had just jackknifed, went over the exit embankment, and came to rest straddling the exit lane and guard rail. The guy had a 20 foot open trailer behind the Jeep and was pulling at least 5000 pounds of broken up concrete. What an idiot! Those blocks of concrete could have become projectiles and killed some people.


Glad you are back safely Topo. JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley4.gif