Can my truck tow this?

twodownzero wrote:


Uh, no I didn't. It's simple arithmetic. GCWR - GVWR = 8k pounds. It's in the specs for the vehicle.

And .2 lower gear ratio magically gives it 2000lbs more gcwr, but whos counting. Also payload considers 2 - 150lb passengers PRIOR to deducting anything from payload number and the heaviest publihsed curb weight is just over 5klbs, 5008 lbs, for the highest zooted RST 6.2L 10 speed. Granted the 5.3 crew cab is probably still 4700lbs easy.





Oooh, good one. What percentage of full size pickups come with gears that high? Does Ford even offer a 3.23 on an F-150? Even within GM sales numbers or on a dealer's lot, what percentage of trucks do you think come with 3.23 gears? I bet it's not many.




Ooooh, you're speculating again... This aint about F150s, but you're absolutely right, they don't offer a 3.23 gear truck. But they do have 3.15s, 3.31s, 3.55s and 3.73s.
And the GM twins only have 2. The little motors and the 5.3s with the old 6 speeds get 3.42s, as do the max trailer package 5.3 8 speeds and max trailer 6.2 10 speeds. The bulk of the trucks are the 5.3 8 speed trucks with 3.23s and the 6.2 non max tow also get 3.23s.
I've been looking at them. Hard to get a 3.42 with the bigger engines = high $ trim packages that come with the high $ engines and trans.
But whatever.




Where you get the gear reduction is a big deal for the transmission if you want it to last. I'm sure rebuilding that 8 speed transmission isn't cheap.

I will agree 100% that the rear axles haven't gotten basically any stronger or beefier on the GMs. Ford offers a heavier duty rear semi floater in the half tons.
But, in the million miles plus I've put on mostly half tons working them as construction trucks and the equivalent 10s of millions of miles on the same trucks doing the same stuff, just for the companies I've worked for, AND the millions of trucks passed on the road over the course of years, I'm not sure I've seen 1 single newer 1/2 ton pickup with a busted rear axle and can only think of maybe a few that have needed rebuilt, ever.

So aside from you penchant for spewing the mfgs ratings.
How many real world incidents have you experienced or seen that you attribute to (not driver error, not road conditions, not a blowout from a nail, screw, cactus thorn, beer bottle or some other road hazard) being at, near or slightly over some published rating?


The best part of these discussions is getting insight into how others think.