So what truck is equipped to pull a 25000lb + trailer?

Big truck! GM or Dodge 4500/5500; Ford F450/550; International, etc.

You will find guys pulling that much weight and more with their 2500's and 3500's, and the truck will pull it, but there is much more to the equation than just getting a mass moving. You must allow for stopping, emergency maneuvering, etc.:confused:

What kind of loads and rig are you pulling? JJ :)

2500 just barely. 4000 lb tongue weight (axle rating minus empty rear truck weight from door sticker) at 15% gives 26,000 gross trailer. If you use the trailering spec, it is 3000 tongue weight at 15% so 20,000. IMO too close to the limits. It would be difficult to keep from overloading the tuck axle. Actually, the tires are the limiting factor here.

3500 has ~1500 lbs more cargo capacity/axle rating so 5500 at 15% or about 36,000. The trailering section says only 3,500 lb tongue which only get you to about 23,000.

DOTs only care about the axle ratings. Trailers over, I think, 20,001 lbs must have Maxi so you will probably end up with an air brake system.

4500 and higher, of course, can be equiped with even higher tongue capacities.

GradyGhost, before you go strapping that 25k lb trailer behind your 3500 please tell us you have considerable experience towing heavy already! While I do agree with Fingers from a "technical" standpoint:confused: , the idea of most guys/gals towing this much based upon anybodys recommendation without knowing their driving/towing experience gave me a sudden pucker affect, if you know what I mean? ):h

Do yourself and favor and do a search on the DP, there is a wealth of good information and constructive dialogue to chew on. Safety first, always!

Still would like to know what you are towing? Later! JJ :)

Looking at your sig I'd ask why are you asking considering you list a Freightliner in your arsenal?

My trailer has 2 10,000# axles with a GVWR of 23,520. Since I pull commercially I have to plate the truck for 34,000#, which is very expensive and B.S:mad: :mad: . As far as pulling 25,000# I've done it, but wouldn't suggest it for inexperienced drivers or for a long distance.

Looking at your sig I'd ask why are you asking considering you list a Freightliner in your arsenal?My gooseneck 36' weighs 9000 lbs empty and I run about 14ooolbs equipment inside.
The freightliner is just a box truck.
I have been pulling the gooseneck with the reg cab 3500

One should follow the GCVWR.. gross combined vehicle weight rating... when selecting a truck to tow with.. the GCVWR rating of my 3500 truck is only 21,500 lbs TOTAL... thats truck and trailer... please tell me that you are not going to tow a 26,000 lb trailer with a 2500 or 3500.

Look at the chevrolet site and check out the medium size trucks to see if the GCVWR matches something in your weight rating needs.

VR :D

And have you had any problems?

My gooseneck 36' weighs 9000 lbs empty and I run about 14ooolbs equipment inside.
The freightliner is just a box truck.
I have been pulling the gooseneck with the reg cab 3500

No problems at all...but I am thinking of upgrading to a larger truck!
THE 3500 pulls the weight no problems. And stopping is incredible. The trailer has tri axles. The brakes on the trailer can literaly stop the whole load on a dime if I just use them alone. Not on a dime but you know what I mean.
The last time I ran across the scale at the truck stop the total weight was around 24000lbs. But I have been trying to make the load lighter.

GradyGhost, before you go strapping that 25k lb trailer behind your 3500 please tell us you have considerable experience towing heavy already! While I do agree with Fingers from a "technical" standpoint:confused: , the idea of most guys/gals towing this much based upon anybodys recommendation without knowing their driving/towing experience gave me a sudden pucker affect, if you know what I mean? ):h

Do yourself and favor and do a search on the DP, there is a wealth of good information and constructive dialogue to chew on. Safety first, always!

Still would like to know what you are towing? Later! JJ :)Yes I have experience and a CDL but I am concerned of being to heavy!
I have posted pics of the rig here on the dieselplace.
The way the gooseneck is setup all the weight is on the axles...my kingpin weight is not an issue...

GG, sorry I just noticed the pictures link on your initial post. I like the winch setup. Down to business!:D

Your last post answered my question: "I am concerned about being too heavy". You don't sound like you are in your comfort zone towing this heavy with either of your 3500's. While others might strap that load onto either of those 3500's without hesitation, you along with several others that have posted have doubts, and when in doubt, go with your gut! Back to my original post then. ;)

BTW, I heard the tax laws are changing January 1 regarding being able to deduct the sales tax on vehicles being used for commercial purposes. Looks like you are a business owner and this may be of interest to you. Check with your accountant, tomorrow just might be new truck day! :ro) My buddy is a Chiropractor and he bought himself a new truck today and turned in a lease. JJ :) Call it a belated Christmas present!):h JJ's out!

Yes I have experience and a CDL but I am concerned of being to heavy!
I have posted pics of the rig here on the dieselplace.
The way the gooseneck is setup all the weight is on the axles...my kingpin weight is not an issue...
With most of the weight on the trailer and a third axle to give you added braking power I'd be tempted to run what you got. It all depends on how far you drive and in what kind of traffic. What makes you uncomfortable? The GVW of the truck or how it handles?

The issue is "safe" operation, not the testicular fortitude of the driver and/or the truck.

The DOT and manufacturers realize that these vehicles are capable of doing quite a bit more than their "rated" weight capacities, in most optimum conditions. But they must calculate in certain margins for safety. Such as, the loss of brakes (plugs can and often do "slip out" of their connectors), slippery conditions, high wind conditions, mountainous roads, etc., that can present hazards that the Light Trucks (LTs) could not handle.

I have experienced a few of these problems with HDT's, and I have chewed up seat cushions to prove it. Luckily, the truck had enough weight to handle the "wagging tail" behind it. I would not be here to provide this information would I had a 7K lbs. truck to try and stop a runaway 13'H x 40'L x 102"W empty drybox trailer down an icy pass last year....there would have been way too much wagging tail for that dog to handle, and with the trailer so "light", all the brakes did was lock-up all the wheels and increase the problem. Fact is, I started down at 35MPH (the icy condition warning came on in the cab, so I was being careful), and quickly increased to 55MPH when I applied the brakes....that's when I started chewing the vinyl off the seat cushion.

Perhaps you Light Truck operators are all much better drivers than I am, and I should be listening to yall instead of taking the time to type all this out, but my instincts tell me that a 21K GCW rated truck should not be used to tow 25K anything. The physics involved just don't add up when the conditions are less than perfect. Most of those that have tried and failed are just not around to give you their advice, and the few that have tried and barely succeeded usually get dismissed as whinners and doomsayers by those with "testicular fortitutes".

Good luck. Post your route, so that I can take my family the long way around to avoid you comming at me.

RF states "The issue is "safe" operation, not the testicular fortitude of the driver and/or the truck."

Well stated! Nuff said! GradyGhost, most dealerships open at 9 a.m. Todays the last day for the tax advantage. JJ :)

Your right RF.

Hey everyone! Gotta turn in your toy haulers and heavy trailers! The DOT was WRONG to allow you to yank those things behind your truck. I know, I know, but that's the goverment for ya. Oh and you 4500 guys, you have to turn yours in too. See the manufacturer says, even with all the options, your GCVW is 26,000 and you weigh in over about 8,000. So you can't pull the 18,000 lb trailer either. In fact the 5500 has the same limitation. How odd.

Bottom line here should be safety, right? :confused: Various trucks are designed for varying purposes. There is a reason manufacturers place weight restrictions on these trucks. Don't think for a moment that GM, Ford, Dodge, etc., wouldn't place heavier weight limits on their trucks if they thought they could safely get away with it. :rolleyes: Our issue is towing though, not how much they can haul on their chassis.

There comes a point in the physics of it all that you can exceed one mass's ability to control another, this is why we have the big rigs towing the really heavy loads. Lest we forget we're playing with light duty trucks, not heavy haulers, not framed or suspensioned for heavy towing on a regular basis. I like RF's analogy about the tail wagging the dog, seen that many times in the median with the wrong tow vehicle and trailer combination. :eek:

There are so many variables in addition to the tow vehicle that determine what you can tow safely. Load 10k lbs improperly behind a 3500 and you are an accident waiting to happen. Simply having enough truck isn't the cure all! :o

Exceeding the manufacturers GVWR/GCWR within reason on a properly loaded/equipped trailer and experienced driver, no problem, I do this quite often. But starting out knowing your going to tow 7-8k lbs more than the vehicle is rated for would cause me to bump up to a heavier frame, suspension, brakes, etc. Call it JJ's margin of safety! JJ :)