heavy towing with f450
 

Has anyone towed more than 21000 punds with the new 2008Ford f450? How does it tow heavy weight (acceleration, stopping, control, distance, inclines, declines, etc.)
Also, does anyone know of an under bed frame mounted hitch to distribute weight between the axles like a fifth wheel without tying up the pickup bed? Thanks!

Not even rated for that much weight. Most you can go is 26,000lbs GCWR. That would leave 5,000lbs for the truck weight. Not even close to happening. You need a Freightliner for that kind of weight.

2008 ford f450 with 4.88 rear is rated for 33,000 gcwr

I have been asking the same question. It would be nice to have input from someone who actually HAS ONE and knows how it tows heavy weight

I bought one to try with out 45' Apache. I have not tried it under load yet because I need to either swap to a hauler bed or modify my gooseneck trailer to work with the truck.

When the trailer is on the truck I have only 5-6 inches of clearance between the top of the bed rail and the trailer. I had the trailer on the truck to go get the boat and try it out, but the trailer is too close to the top of the bed and even touched the bed when going from my driveway to the street. I was just inching along to see if it would touch or not and it did. No marks and no damage though. I backed the trailer back up the driveway and that was the end of the trial.

This trailer worked with my 2002 F-450, so I could not figure out why it would not work with this truck. I called the dealership for some ideas and after doing some research they called me back and said that the bed of the new trucks are deeper than the older ones. I have not measured it for myself, but this is what they told me.

Once I change the truck or trailer to make it work, I will post a report on how it handles the 21K pound load. Until then the Pete will be pulling the boat.

No one in their right mind would try. The 450 is a nice, tough LIGHT DUTY pickup. A 21,000 lb boat would toss it around like a rag doll.

That's why I think mfg's are over rating their light duty trucks in the interest of selling more trucks.

Why do you think the f450 is overrated?

You're absolutely right. And, there's so many different tow-load configurations to consider and many of them tow way differently that some of the others. Towing a 50 foot long boat with a high center of gravity is one hell of alot harder than towing a small bulldozer on a 16' low-deck trailer.

The 450 isn't much heavier than the 350, which isn't much heavier than a 250. Park a 550 next to a medium Pete, FL or F650 and look at the differences in running gear. Then, ask yourself how your 450 is good to go with 33K GCWR and my FL70 is at 26K Even the CDL mediums max typically at 33K.

The laws of physics apply universally.

If the law of mass action is applied to vehicles directly it would imply that a 3000 pound Yugo towing a 6000 pound boat and trailer is much safer than a 17,000 pound Peterbilt 379 towing a 63,000 pound trailer