Hauling Rigs

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hinkle

hinkle

Member
Jan 3, 2013
81
Portersville, PA
What is everyone using to haul your pellets around with? I moved from a 2500 6.0 Chevy to a Dodge Ecodiesel. Wasn't excited for the down grade, but needed a new daily that got better than 8 mpg. Almost 27 with the eco so far on long trips, 23 average on the commute to work with city driving. Been looking into an airbag system for the rear axle to compensate for the weight.

ram.jpg
chevy.jpg
 
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Your hauling with a much heftier truck than my father used (and essential I will be using).

He has hauled his with his 2005 dodge ram 1500 (5.7) and I plan to haul mine with my 2008 dodge ram 1500 (5.7).. both trucks are advertised as having the factory installed towing hitch and I've read that this means the truck was built a bit beefier than one without it? I somehow doubt it, maybe if anything a better standard gearing option in the rear ends was used with the idea the truck might see more hauling use.

A ton of pellets squats my fathers truck down pretty good. If I had a trailer, I'd be using that instead. He has probably hauled about 15 to 20 tons of pellets using that truck over the years.
 
I don't haul that much, but when I do, my 1996 Jeep Cherokee does just fine...

That Ram truck is real nice. Congrats.
 
I used a 2009 Escape over the last 4 years, it did a great job 20 bags at a time, although the saggy rear end did complain over bumps.....upgraded to an F150 this summer, brought home 40 bags last weekend, still a couple hundred pounds under the stickered payload capacity. You knew the load was there but truck handled just fine :)


2018 Pickup Day.JPG
 
Battleman13 said:
Your hauling with a much heftier truck than my father used (and essential I will be using).

He has hauled his with his 2005 dodge ram 1500 (5.7) and I plan to haul mine with my 2008 dodge ram 1500 (5.7).. both trucks are advertised as having the factory installed towing hitch and I've read that this means the truck was built a bit beefier than one without it? I somehow doubt it, maybe if anything a better standard gearing option in the rear ends was used with the idea the truck might see more hauling use.

A ton of pellets squats my fathers truck down pretty good. If I had a trailer, I'd be using that instead. He has probably hauled about 15 to 20 tons of pellets using that truck over the years.
Click to expand...

I'm using the same 1500 body Ram as you and your father. Seems to do fine. The last ton I brought home was the most unexpected as it was two pallets stacked that were not stacked square. Didn't realize until we got home as saw that it was two pallets that were twisted just enough to let the pallet rock around when we unwrapped the pallet. Other than than as long as it is loaded far enough forward seems to be good.
 
Battleman13 said:
Your hauling with a much heftier truck than my father used (and essential I will be using).

He has hauled his with his 2005 dodge ram 1500 (5.7) and I plan to haul mine with my 2008 dodge ram 1500 (5.7).. both trucks are advertised as having the factory installed towing hitch and I've read that this means the truck was built a bit beefier than one without it? I somehow doubt it, maybe if anything a better standard gearing option in the rear ends was used with the idea the truck might see more hauling use.

A ton of pellets squats my fathers truck down pretty good. If I had a trailer, I'd be using that instead. He has probably hauled about 15 to 20 tons of pellets using that truck over the years.
Click to expand...

I've always been a two door guy and if you wanted 4 doors get a van, but I'm eating my own words now. The interior is huge and could only imagine what a mega cab model is like. I would assume similar to a 30ft camper. HA
 
Daveman said:
I used a 2009 Escape over the last 4 years, it did a great job 20 bags at a time, although the saggy rear end did complain over bumps.....upgraded to an F150 this summer, brought home 40 bags last weekend, still a couple hundred pounds under the stickered payload capacity. You knew the load was there but truck handled just fine :)


View attachment 229581
Click to expand...

That blue is nice, nice looking pickup.
 
vinny11950 said:
I don't haul that much, but when I do, my 1996 Jeep Cherokee does just fine...

That Ram truck is real nice. Congrats.
Click to expand...

The wife has a 2012 wrangler but it only has the slap on hitch with around 200 lb capacity. It just connects to the back unibody rail. I know a ton of pellets would be overkill.

*edit after looking at the specs - 250 tongue weight and 2000 lb hauling, but I'll stick with the ram.

Think it is one similar to this.

https://www.quadratec.com/products/...MI-tnqj4-83QIVwUCGCh3HUABkEAQYASABEgJmc_D_BwE
 
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My first pellet hauler was my Jeep Patriot that I could haul 1/2 ton at a time. She squatted pretty good, and was just a bit over weight (not much), but lI only had to move pellets about 2 miles on decent roads.

Half ton Pellets.jpg


Next was a 2004 Explorer in which I could just fit 1 ton in (the front, passenger seat has 6 bags in it). The truck handled it fine but I only had to travel about 4 miles on good roads. When I bought the pellets, I thought I would haul 1/2 ton at a time, but when I saw how much room was left, just kep loading.
Back door 1 ton of pellets.jpg


My latest hauler, 2014 Explorer, that I got this past spring.
2014 Ford Explorer XLT on lot.jpg


She's only had 1/2 ton in it so far. But with the tow package and push-button load management, she breezed thru hauling them for 20 miles down the highway. Got this load for $50 off CL. We'll see later this year if she can hold a ton - which will only be hauled 4 miles from the local TSC.

Vermont Pellets - half ton 55 dollars.jpg
 
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MVIMG_20180301_162537.jpg
My all purpose hauler. I can haul a ton on the trailer and pull it with my Jeep liberty and both handle it no problem.
 
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I got a bunch of funny looks when I hauled with the wife's Lincoln mkx last year. We upsized it to a Ford Expedition recently and now can haul 2 ton at a time with the trailer.
 
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hinkle said:
What is everyone using to haul your pellets around with? I moved from a 2500 6.0 Chevy to a Dodge Ecodiesel. Wasn't excited for the down grade, but needed a new daily that got better than 8 mpg. Almost 27 with the eco so far on long trips, 23 average on the commute to work with city driving. Been looking into an airbag system for the rear axle to compensate for the weight.

View attachment 229540 View attachment 229541
Click to expand...

I've had an Ecodiesel for 3 years. So far, it is the best truck I've owned in terms of fuel economy and reliability. No repairs, just normal maintenance over 45,000 miles.
 
Three tons on a 16 foot tandem axle trailer. They are still sitting on the trailer in the barn. I think I may try to get away with leaving them on it for the winter and transferring a ton at a time to the garage, but with my luck I will end up needing to use the trailer for something else.
 
Usually, pick up a ton on way home from town on my old faithful … '77 F150 4x4

110215%20a%20ton%20loaded%20at%20frt%20leveled%2077%20%20800x492_zpshzgsat3w.jpg
 
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fedtime said:
I've had an Ecodiesel for 3 years. So far, it is the best truck I've owned in terms of fuel economy and reliability. No repairs, just normal maintenance over 45,000 miles.
Click to expand...
Just drove from Pittsburgh to the outer banks in north carolina. Averaged 29 mpg. Very happy so far.
 
klincker said:
Nice! Please tell me you have an add a leaf or something in the back. My 94 F150 xlt sags more than that with half a ton. been looking into some 250 springs for it.
Click to expand...
Nope … sorry.

I've had her since 1986, all stock springs. When I bought her, parked next to brother in law's '77 F-250 4x4 and crawled under them each and measured things, compared others, same rear springs. She has a drop in under lip liner, and a sheet of 11 ga steel under that over top of oem floor. Hauls a good load of mulch when needed.

When I get a ton, I go to Co-op, they use fork truck and set pallet up on rear of bed as far as fork will let them, then back up and pick up a empty pallet to use as a pusher between forks & loaded pallet to push to front on slick bed liner.

Once hauled 3,200 pounds (what they charged me for) of crusher run stone home from quarry, she sagged a little then. I shoveled it on and just stopped when she looked heavy.

I have a '07 too but I am hesitant to haul as much on her. If ever need to, I have a 4x8 trailer I built with a 3500# drop axle to use.

I have new bedsides, doors, Ford tailgate (not Taiwan) in basement for the '77 as well as other things like weatherstrip, lights, and a 400 on a stand already built and for a short time, offered all for sale in one lot … found many who wanted just the truck at a giveaway price, so I instead decided she was worth more to me … and soon I put in a new Red Head steering box, new bucket seats, steering wheel, XM radio dock, and upsized brakes using many F-250-350 items …. I like my old girl. 351m ain't no powerhouse, but I just mash her about 1/2 throttle and she catches up soon enough. C-6 trans I kitted years ago, oem AC too.

10-12 mpg.
 
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Ram 3500

Ram 3500

Small PU Truck
Ram 3500

Ram 3500

Small PU Truck
I have small little Ram. 3500 with 6.7L Diesel. It can handle 1 Ton easily. More on towing. But I am just going to let them deliver it. Wife can unload it easily enough in a few minutes. (Forks on Tractor) It gets 22mpg around town if you don't peel out everytime.
 
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vinny11950 said:
I don't haul that much, but when I do, my 1996 Jeep Cherokee does just fine...

That Ram truck is real nice. Congrats.
Click to expand...

I also have a 1996 Jeep Cherokee. I use it to tow my 2000 Haulmark 5x8 enclosed trailer. It just fits a ton on a pallet, and is just rated for it. I bought that trailer new and it's easily paid for itself over all these years.
 
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Just a reminder and maybe a learning moment for those new to hauling/towing. While it's good to check your axle/vehicle weight rating, it's important to know your tire ratings, especially on trailers.

I see small trailers with boats, campers, general haulers going down the highways at speeds above 70mph all the time. There are very few tires made for smaller trailers that are rated above 60mph and the ones that are are expensive and usually not mounted on occasional use trailers.

So checking your suspension regularly, tire speed and weight rating, proper inflation and take an extra minute or two on the road will help everyone get their load home safely.

I use my old 2004 F-150, with the compete tow package, Bridgestone Dualer tires rated for 3500#'s each. Easy enough to haul well over a ton at a time in the bed of the truck itself. I usually get about 2600#'s in a load of corn and probably would not go much over just for handling. I've never bothered with using a trailer to haul the corn in a trailer with it, but have pulled many a camper with no problems. Even had the State Patrol pull me over a few years back while hauling corn and he checked my tire weight rating and then had me go over their scale. Gave me a thumbs up and down the road I go.
 
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