Replies

1. 
   gdcarpenter | May 04, 2006 08:06am | #1

   This 6x12 trailer beefs out over 4,000 lb. The box is probably about 850 lb. and the trailer around 1,000 lb. Ergo the tools would run around 2,000 lb - but that's a lot of tools.

   Let's not confuse the issue with facts!

   
1. 
   jolsenami | May 04, 2006 06:58pm | #12

   I have seen your trailer in a previous thread, pretty great set-up. What do you tow it with? I noticed your phone number on the trailer, are you in NC? My wife and I are moving back there at the end of the summer, hence the need to reoutfit my life. The first task of my new trailer will be huling our stuff from LA to Durham.

1. 
   gdcarpenter | May 04, 2006 07:45pm | #13

   I run a Toyota Tundra Step Side with a 7,000 lb. towing package. And yes I am in Raleigh, for now. Be relocating to the Nort East in a month of two. The trailer started off with 3,000 lb axles, no brakes. Quickly upgraded to 5,200 lb axles with electric brakes. Hate having something as heavy or heavier than the truck 'pushing' me whem I'm trying to stop.Let's not confuse the issue with facts!

2. 
   txlandlord | May 04, 2006 08:22am | #2

   Save on fuel and drive a beast. Ford F350 / diesel crew cab / 6 speed manual / 4 WD / highway rear end gear / 20 + mpg

   Tow a 9000 lb tool trailer and still get 16-18 mpg

   Diesel is also cheaper than regular gas now (as it used to be).

   Money problem? Buy used.... 70,000 miles on a Ford diesel is just a breakin period and still have 30,000 miles on the drivetrain warranty.

   35 gallon tank topped off Hungerford, TX  to Memphis, TN 650 miles and no fuel stops....rolled into Mom's house in Memphis on one tank

     

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/4/2006 1:38 am ET by txlandlord

1. 
   jolsenami | May 04, 2006 06:54pm | #10

   I have actually given some thought to getting a diesel. My main hesitation is that this vehicle has to perform a number of different duties, only one of which is pulling the trailer and the size is a bit of a factor for city driving, although God know these 90lb blonde women somehow drive their Hummers all over place around here so maybe I am just a sissy. Is the general consensus here that I need a truck that is rated to tow more than 6500 lbs for a standard 6 x 12 trailer?

1. 
   txlandlord | May 04, 2006 07:45pm | #14

   You get used to it, and typically a lot of respect in traffic. Parking is the worst problem, especially with a crew cab.

   Seems real to me, as I have owned a Toy and 3 Nissans, but if you lived in "good ole boy" Sherriff rural Texas like I do, you can expect less traffic stops that with a jap model. 

1. 
   JasonPharez | May 05, 2006 04:21am | #15

   I, like Tex, drive a diesel, a Ford F250, with a 7,000 lb. GTW, 7x14 tandem axle enclosed trailer (w/ brakes) attached 7 days a week. I've often wondred exactly whatr my trailer weighs, but between approx. 20 framing guns, 10 various saws, 6 ladders, and enough nails to build a 4,000 SF house, I'm sure it's fairly heavy.

   It's never groaned, however, and I've burned the back two down with the diesel. I also tow this at 70-80 MPH on the interstate every day without any complaints and pretty good MPG. Between the engine braking of "Tow/haul" mode and the trailer brakes, I don't use the truck's brakes very much.

   Also, like TX said, you can find good values on used ones...when I bought my 1999 SR5 Tacoma, the sticker was $25K, and that was in '99. I bought my Ford last year, it was an '03, for $29K.

   I used to tow a 6x10 (no brakes) enclosed trailer with a reg. cab 1999 Chevy Z71...it wouldn't do over 75 on the interstate, and constantly ran hot trying to do so in 3rd gear...that was a 5,000# trailer!

   I knew then I needed a diesel, and I didn't ever want to have to "trade up" again.

   Just think about it!Jason Pharez Construction

       Framing Contractor

3. 
   MikeHennessy | May 04, 2006 03:04pm | #3

   FWIW, I have a Tacoma and love it. One of the selling features was the composite bed -- on my previous truck, the bed was the first thing to go from rust and that's what eventually killed it. However, I haven't been able to locate any source for a ladder rack for the Tacoma. Everyone says they won't work with the composite bed. So, if you need a rack, you might want to consider a different truck. If you don't, a Tacoma is a nice ride.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   jolsenami | May 04, 2006 06:55pm | #11

   Do you tow anything with the Tacoma on a regular basis?

1. 
   MikeHennessy | May 05, 2006 03:40pm | #22

   "Do you tow anything with the Tacoma on a regular basis?"

   Not yet - just got it. I can tell you it has a lot more ballz than my old 4-Runner that I used to tow a lot with. The new Tacomas are closer in power & handling to a full-size truck than the old ones were. Take one for a test drive - I bet you like it.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

4. 
   Dinosaur | May 04, 2006 03:43pm | #4

   Just remember there's a reason you see contractors driving around those beasts. Even if you found a small pick-up with enough engine to haul all that weight, the last experience you wanna have while wearing clean shorts is to try to stop 2½ tons of tools and trailer with what is essentially an overpowered shoebox. Especially goin' downhill....

   (Yeah, I know. 12' trailers have electric brakes. You never saw a power cord come unplugged...?) <:o(>

   Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
   low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
   foolish men call Justice....
   

   

1. 
   RalphWicklund | May 04, 2006 04:23pm | #5

   I don't know what my old, dearly departed E150 van weighed but when fully loaded - tools, no material - the lift at the tire store couldn't get it off the ground.

   Wouldn't stop on that dime, either.

1. 
   BossHog | May 04, 2006 05:00pm | #6

   When I saw the title to this thread, I thought it was gonna be a "My trailer is bigger 'n yours" kinda thing...
   Bumpersticker: I wasn't born a bitch. Men like you made me this way.

2. 
   Dinosaur | May 04, 2006 06:16pm | #7

   The Big Blue Beast is a K1500, so it's rated at half a ton. On occasion I do concrete work and I've had to carry 30 sacks of pre-mix at 30 kilos per sack, plus hand tools, concrete mixer, etc. etc. I figured one time that came out to just a hair under 2000lbs dead load. Too much for more than a short trip driving real careful....

   Standard load is about a half ton, mostly tools plus a few sheets, 2x's etc. Add $150 worth of gas in the tank (dammit!!), and it's up to it's limit. She drives and stops okay that way. If I do overload her, she lets me know by butting me in the bum everytime I hit a cigarette some litterbug dropped on the road.

   But she'll pull a 4x8x2 free-wheel trailer full of sand, gravel, or stone on top of being loaded to her limit without complaining.

   Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

   Edited 5/4/2006 11:18 am ET by Dinosaur

2. 
   txlandlord | May 04, 2006 06:22pm | #8

   there's a reason you see contractors driving around those beasts. Even if you found a small pick-up with enough engine to haul all that weight, the last experience you wanna have while wearing clean shorts is to try to stop 2½ tons of tools and trailer with what is essentially an overpowered shoebox. Especially goin' downhill....

   Great post, and some issues I have experienced, thus the post refering to the F350 diesels I use now.

   Tacomas are great trucks, but do not seem to do well with the motor lodeged between you and your helper in the front seat.

    

1. 
   Dinosaur | May 04, 2006 06:30pm | #9

   I gotta keep reminding myself why I have that big monster every time I go fill it up....Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

5. 
   RW | May 05, 2006 05:16am | #16

   Recent subject of interest. If you want the back story, look at Photo Gallery "trailer" maybe a month ago.

   So the new one, with bigger axles, is an 8x20, and now I've scaled truck and trailer, so I can tell you that the two together (truck is 350 crew diesel long box) were right at 10 tons, or 20,000 lbs. I'm tagged for 11, so a little room left for weight.

   I'd die in bliss if I even approached 18 mpg. It varies so little with or without trailer, honestly, the weather impacts it more than weight. I'm about 13mpg in the summer and I can drop to 11 when it gets cold. But I think I could lose both trailer axles and still pull it across a muddy field. Which is kind of nice, since there's always a number of jobs every year where thats basically how you get there.

   "Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton

1. 
   segundo | May 05, 2006 06:21am | #17

   is that a gas or diesel RW? i have the ford f350 as well, 2004 model crew cab, short box, 4wd, 6.0 diesel, torque shift auto trans w/tow haul mode, 40,000 miles i will sell for 26K. about 18 mpg mixed driving.

   my wife talked me into the auto, shes 90%deaf and can't hear the engine to shift, well she NEVER drives it. the transmission works allright i just dont like it, i much prefer the manual. this is my daily driver, its a pain to park but thats the only drawback, and it has the back up sensor alarm so you know if you are close.

   i am located in NC if you are interested, i have been planning to trade it in but dealer will only give me 22K, i said no thanks. i know im gonna take the hit but i have to get the manual. there are two types of people in the world, dont get an auto if you are a manual, or vise versa. 

6. 
   Gunner | May 05, 2006 06:59am | #18

     My work truck is a 97 ford f 350 Diesel. It'll pull whatever I get into. 5,000 lbs. safe plus the hydraulic steel trailer. Probably around 8 to 10 thousand pound total at times.  I go everywhere 70 to 75 MPH. And it had over 260,000 miles on it.

     Like the other guys have said. Get the big truck and never have to wish you had more.

    

    

    

    

   Doo Dah, Doo Dah.

1. 
   jolsenami | May 05, 2006 07:08am | #19

   Yeah, I think you guys have me convinced. I am looking at the diesels, but damn if they ain't expensive.

1. 
   Gunner | May 05, 2006 07:11am | #20

     Yea but you won't need anything else for years. And years.

    

    

    

    

   Doo Dah, Doo Dah.

2. 
   McDesign | May 05, 2006 12:54pm | #21

   I've got a 78 GMC 1/2 ton with a 250 six, and I often go to the dump with 2000-4000 added to my 4200 lb normal weight.  I actually have a weight slip at 8600 lbs.  All I added were $200 JC Whitney air bags in the rear.

   Stops fine with weight, pulls our #2200 camper around ; bought it for $400 13 years ago.

   What was the question?

   Forrest

3. 
   RW | May 05, 2006 09:57pm | #23

   Well, hmm, there's always a way . . . some thoughts. First of all the markup on a 150 is way more than the super dutys. Supply & demand. More people want the half ton. So you probably don't have as much negotiating room, nevertheless. Last thing you want to do is go to a dealer. You get into the four hour long "4square" pricing garbage and dealing with a kid who cant tell you anything without "talking to my manager" first. Wouldn't you rather just go to the "dealer only" auction, pick what you want, and pay the auction price? Yeah, you pretty much can.

   First, the pricing on a new truck, it gets looked at about ten different ways. The MSRP, which is pretty much the dream sticker. You get into the "net" which is what the dealer wants you to think the net is, but it isnt, (but they'll sell it to you for that, smiling, and you'll both look at the other guy ans say sucker) then the double net, which is where he isn't getting all of the incentives, and triple net, which is basically what it really costs them to have it on the lot. You won't get a triple net deal, and I don't think anyone should, any more than any of us want to work for no profit. But this isnt remodeling. It is widgets that are more or less identical across the supply board. So a little competitive pricing is fair game.

   Find a broker. Maybe a guy who has a small lot just to have the dealers license, but he doesn't really do all that much selling to John Public. You say this is what I want. He finds it. He charges you for paperwork. So if the auction price was 27, instead of 37 at Bubbas Big Lot, it might be 28. You can save yourself a bundle working the back roads in that market. "Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton

1. 
   jolsenami | May 06, 2006 05:56am | #24

   Good advice, thanks. I actually have a friend of a friend who owns a dealership, so I may be able to swing a deal that way. I will keep your info in mind.