Safely towing a dump trailer

[NO3PUTT]

Looking for advice on safely towing a dump trailer I want to buy. It's a 6'x12', curb weight of 2650lbs. I'll be using it to almost exclusively move firewood. We don't have hard wood up in my area so a full cord would weigh at most 5000lbs. Total weight of load and trailer being no more than 8000-8200lbs.

My truck - 2022 XLT V8 with stock receiver. Payload is 1700lbs. I have trailer brake controller but don't have max tow package. I believe that is good for up to 500lbs tongue weight. Very rare for me to have anyone other than myself(185lbs) in the truck. I'd estimate another 100lbs of stuff in the truck.

Is a heavy duty receiver hitch all I need? I'll be getting a trailer hitch rated for 10k or 12k as well.

Any advice is appreciated.

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[Davexxxx]

Before we get to the truck stuff, how far will you be moving this wood?

Many states, don't want firewood moved more than 50 miles, due to pest infestations. Might want to check with your Province, Forest Service etc.

Does your truck have the tow package, just not max tow?

If so, you'll be set for more than the 500 lbs.

This is the sticker from my hitch, on a truck with tow package but not max tow. As you can see, to get the most, you'll be needing a weight distribution hitch. I really like my WeighSafe, because I can know the tongue weight of each load and easily adjust it.

Suggest looking through the 2022 tow guide and don't forget the footnotes.

 

[Buyer2021]

This is the sticker from my hitch, on a truck with tow package but not max tow. As you can see, to get the most, you'll be needing a weight distribution hitch.

Please note that sticker reflects the receiver's rated capacity only, not the truck's rated capacity which may be (most likely is) lower.

The attached guide or this online VIN-specific towing calculator may be useful for determining the truck's rated capacity.

 

[Davexxxx]

Please note that sticker reflects the receiver's rated capacity only, not the truck's rated capacity which may be (most likely is) lower.

The attached guide or this online VIN-specific towing calculator may be useful for determining the truck's rated capacity.

Yep, thats the ultimate info source, on an existing truck.

 

[NO3PUTT]

Before we get to the truck stuff, how far will you be moving this wood?

Many states, don't want firewood moved more than 50 miles, due to pest infestations. Might want to check with your Province, Forest Service etc.

Does your truck have the tow package, just not max tow?

If so, you'll be set for more than the 500 lbs.

This is the sticker from my hitch, on a truck with tow package but not max tow. As you can see, to get the most, you'll be needing a weight distribution hitch. I really like my WeighSafe, because I can know the tongue weight of each load and easily adjust it.

Suggest looking through the 2022 tow guide and don't forget the footnotes.

I live in a remote city in northern Canada. The wood is not moving more than 40km from original source spot but even then that is the odd trip. 90% of the fully loaded trips are 5-10km at max 80km per hour.

I do have the tow package.

 

[ChemGuy]

Hook it up and go.
Standard tow package w/ trailer brake controller. 7x14 dump truck handled it just fine.

Edit to add: no pic of it loaded but heaviest trip was 7,480 lbs according to the scale at the dump. Not firewood but a random assortment (old foundation, building materials, fencing etc) of junk from a piece of property we bought. Without trailer brakes it is a different story, I wouldn't want to do it at all.

 

[NO3PUTT]

Hook it up and go.
Standard tow package w/ trailer brake controller. 7x14 dump truck handled it just fine.

Edit to add: no pic of it loaded but heaviest trip was 7,480 lbs according to the scale at the dump. Not firewood but a random assortment (old foundation, building materials, fencing etc) of junk from a piece of property we bought. Without trailer brakes it is a different story, I wouldn't want to do it at all.

How often are you towing that weight at stock set up though? At peak season, for about 3 months I would be hauling between trailer and load, about 7,700-8,200 pounds. I'm estimating I would be selling around 50 cords over those 3 months. So 50 trips.

 

[ChemGuy]

How often are you towing that weight at stock set up though? At peak season, for about 3 months I would be hauling between trailer and load, about 7,700-8,200 pounds. I'm estimating I would be selling around 50 cords over those 3 months. So 50 trips.

I wouldn't hesitate to tow it daily if I had to. The truck has plenty of power to do it and now with helper bags would feel even better. I think if I was getting into a business knowing that I would be towing ~8k on a regular basis I would start looking at 3/4 ton trucks, though. There is no comparison between them when towing heavy is your main use case.

 

[NO3PUTT]

I wouldn't hesitate to tow it daily if I had to. The truck has plenty of power to do it and now with helper bags would feel even better. I think if I was getting into a business knowing that I would be towing ~8k on a regular basis I would start looking at 3/4 ton trucks, though. There is no comparison between them when towing heavy is your main use case.

You make a fair point about going up to a bigger truck. Unfortunately, that's not an option. This is a side business/fun hobby. I don't want to make it a 'job' and by buying a bigger truck it would become that. I would rather just not start selling cords than buy the bigger truck. Wood bundles by itself has been a good business for me.

 

[ChemGuy]

You make a fair point about going up to a bigger truck. Unfortunately, that's not an option. This is a side business/fun hobby. I don't want to make it a 'job' and by buying a bigger truck it would become that. I would rather just not start selling cords than buy the bigger truck. Wood bundles by itself has been a good business for me.

I think as far as safety goes that is more up to the way you drive with the load than the truck. You just have to be aware of how much longer it will take you to stop, merge into traffic etc. I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. I was mistakenly thinking you were transitioning it into being your main business.

 

[madsend81]

You'll need a WDH to haul that load. Towing specs for all F150's is 5000lb max with no weight distribution hitch, irregardless if you have Max Tow, towing package, or just stock frame.

If you're going to be hauling that load regularly, it's a worthwile investment.

 

[JumboJVT]

No idea how you're prepping this wood, or what your occupational condition is, but 4+ cords a week IS alot like having a job. Must be you're younger and sprier than I. Of course I fell it, limb it, skid it, buck it, split it and stack it. Poured into the trailer from a processor to be delivered? That's the retirement job I'm looking for.

 

[NO3PUTT]

No idea how you're prepping this wood, or what your occupational condition is, but 4+ cords a week IS alot like having a job. Must be you're younger and sprier than I. Of course I fell it, limb it, skid it, buck it, split it and stack it. Poured into the trailer from a processor to be delivered? That's the retirement job I'm looking for.

I buy semi truck loads(20 cord loads) and have them dropped off. The wood is already split and ready to go. I then bundle the wood or sell it by 1/3 of a cord. No felling or bucking for me. I have to resplit about 1-2 cords from that 20.

 

[JumboJVT]

I buy semi truck loads(20 cord loads) and have them dropped off. The wood is already split and ready to go. I then bundle the wood or sell it by 1/3 of a cord. No felling or bucking for me. I have to resplit about 1-2 cords from that 20.

Gotcha. You delivery to Vermont? LOL.

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