Towing this with 3/4 ton

Steve O Reno wrote:
I was out in Silverton CO on vacation with my truck which most on the thread would likely say my truck is overkill. Anyway while coming down one of the long 6-7% grade hills off on the side of a run off was a 5er with a 3/4 ton truck. We stopped to be sure he was ok. The brakes on his truck were smoking and I could smell the trailer brakes when I walked past. What made the impression on me was his wife cumpled up on the curb crying and shaking holding a crying kid. The guy was pretty shaken and at least they did not crash. He said that 1/2 way down the brakes were getting weak (glazing) and the truck started gaining speed and he could not get it slowed down and opted to go into the sand trap. We stayed for a while until he had confirmation of a wrecker coming. He said he had that set up for a few years and all service was up to date.
The set up was just fine until it wasnt.....

My 2cents...

Most of the time I tow a 13,000+gvwr and 2000+hitch weight TH, with a 3/4t new 2013 Ford ps. I know its close to max tow capacity, but still under the max. I have towed it with a drw new Ford also.
While it tows ok, the stability is no where near that of a drw when encountering side winds, or semi trucks passing, etc... It just isn't close.
Towing with a drw is a lot less tiring imo. The same level of concentration and driving corrections for ambient conditions is not needed.

But,,, in the op's case, coming down steep grades in control, is more about the driver knowing how to use his truck and all its features correctly, than truck load tow capacity, imo.

If used right, on the new Fords, don't even have to touch the brakes.
Put the cruise control on and set it for say 45mph(or whatever is appropriate), and in combination with the exh brake, no need to ever glaze the brake pads.
I've come down long long steep grades fully loaded like this with out ever having to touch the brakes. The ecu continually downshifts automatically to the exactly right gear, and uses exh brake to keep speeds exactly where you set them.It works great.
In fact, its really impressive how well the new fords do this imo.

For those that know how to use their equipment and drive/load it correctly, the days of glazed brakes from going down steep grades is a thing of the past with these new trucks.

jmo