question about towing with a new Diesel- any brand

[ford_truck_guy]

The question I have is how many of you tow your trailers as soon as you take delivery... As apposed to those who wait the 500 or 1000 miles to break in ??

If a new vehicle comes in sooner or later than expected and you have a trip planned , what do you do ? cancel the trip... tow with it ...??

I have always been in the break it in like your going to drive it camp and that has worked so far..

[thomasmnile]

Ric Flair wrote:
I bought my truck on Friday, my toy hauler on Saturday morning, my mule Saturday afternoon and was camping before dark.

The only damage done was to my credit rating

Nah, not your credit rating, that's how you got all that good stuff! :B

Funny comment just the same............:C

[NC_Hauler]

Don't know about construction, but I DO know what I paid for MY personal truck to be my daily driver and to tow my 5th wheel with...rest I don't care about. I care about how I treat "MY" personal truck that I sunk a chunk of money in and will try to adhere to what the manufacturer recommends for their truck. Figure if anything goes wrong then, it's on them. I've never had the first issue with any vehicle I've towed with since 75 and a PILE of those were brand new and I followed the owners manual as to how to "break them in", or when to tow or how to tow with them...never had the first issue either....Figure the warranty is worth something, so I'll try to abide by the recommendations to keep mine:)

[AH64ID]

joshuajim wrote:
...and how many contractors vehicles are loaded with a ton of tools and hooked to a 5,000# trailer and sent out to start producing revenue the day after they are bought. I've been in the construction industry for over 40 years and I can count on one hand the number of differential failures any of my subs have had during the life of their trucks. I'd say about the same average as the babied ones.

I'm not suggesting that you go against the manufacturers recommendations, just stating facts.

Around town may provide the same, or greater based on driver, initial torque but the sustained torque thru the diff is greater on a long heavy haul. Most contractors don't run for hundreds of miles at a time.

[ford_truck_guy]

I agree with this as was wondering myself.... BUT with that said ,I have the time , so I will follow the directions..( maybe for the first time of my life !! )

[joshuajim]

...and how many contractors vehicles are loaded with a ton of tools and hooked to a 5,000# trailer and sent out to start producing revenue the day after they are bought. I've been in the construction industry for over 40 years and I can count on one hand the number of differential failures any of my subs have had during the life of their trucks. I'd say about the same average as the babied ones.

I'm not suggesting that you go against the manufacturers recommendations, just stating facts.

[FLY_4_FUN]

The break in period is not for the engine, its for the transmission and diff so I have no issue spending a tanks worth of diesel fuel doing it according to the owners manual.

Daryll

[kennethwooster]

My 2011 Foed diesel was bought while I was already towing. Old truck had bad problems so ask dealer and they said not a problem. Pulled about 500 miles into Colorado right off. Did not hurt the 6.7. Just bought a 2014 Ford and put about 1800 miles before pulling a load. I do recommend at least 500 miles.

[bfast54]

Ric Flair wrote:
I bought my truck on Friday, my toy hauler on Saturday morning, my mule Saturday afternoon and was camping before dark.

The only damage done was to my credit rating

OK........And not being a Smart alec,,,,,,,,,HOW DO YOU KNOW?????:h?????

Do you have 100,000........200,000 miles on it now???????

A modern truck, should last a Long time,taken care of Properly.


For the O.P.,your plan.......sounds like a good one.....with the cost of New Vehicles......Do it right.....:W

[4x4ord]

I hooked up to a 19000 lb trailer with mine the day after I picked up the truck and towed it from Texas to Alberta.

[stro1965]

goducks10 wrote:

stro1965 wrote:
My '12 Ford manual suggested waiting 500 miles. My '14 Ram manual says no need to wait at all, and actually recommends towing heavy within the first few thousand miles to help break it in!

The 500 mile break in is in the manual. It's in the 1500/2500/3500 section. Only the diesel supplement has the no break in-tow heavy for 6000 mile part.

True, mine is a diesel. I should have mentioned that.

[mrkoje]

Like others have mentioned here it is best to get the miles on the truck before towing. It gives the truck time to make sure all the seals are set before being put under a hard load. When I got my 2013 Ram 2500 it was very specific to drive the truck 500 miles before hooking up to ANY load.

For me it wasn't a big deal as my family and I already had a planned vacation/road trip shortly after I took delivery of the truck. Instead of taking the wife's Jeep we just took the truck to put on some miles.

[Ric_Flair]

I bought my truck on Friday, my toy hauler on Saturday morning, my mule Saturday afternoon and was camping before dark.

The only damage done was to my credit rating

[ford_truck_guy]

rhagfo wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:
The question I have is how many of you tow your trailers as soon as you take delivery... As apposed to those who wait the 500 or 1000 miles to break in ??

If a new vehicle comes in sooner or later than expected and you have a trip planned , what do you do ? cancel the trip... tow with it ...??

I have always been in the break it in like your going to drive it camp and that has worked so far..

Come on 500 miles! That would be a 10 to 12 hour trip and about $150 at most worth of fuel. I would take a trip to the Oregon south coast without the 5er, mix of flat and hills Highway and city. If only a single drive spend the night a reasonable cost Hotel.

That's funny !! We have a few facilities around that I workout of with a few being in that 300 mile range ( CT ).. but I will be in Baltimore Maryland the last 3 days of next week so that will not work..

[IDman]

We have a Dodge Big Horn and manual said 500 miles before towing. We just went away (300 miles) for the weekend WITHOUT the trailer. Gave us a chance to get the feel of the truck, break it in, and have fun!