Dodge 3500 or Ford F450

[Steve #1]

When do I need a Texas CDL instead of my regular Texas Drivers License?
A Texas CDL is required if you operate any of the following CMV's . . .
1. A vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 26,000 lbs.
2. A vehicle towing a unit with a manufacturer's GVWR of more than 10,000 lbs. when the GCWR exceeds 26,000 lbs.
3. A vehicle used to carry 16 or more passengers (including the driver).
4. A vehicle carrying hazardous materials in amounts requiring placarding.

 

[3Hummers]

Most of the used 650s I have seen in good condition and reasonable mileage were in the 50-60K range.

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

So If I where to get an F650, and tow around 24,000 lbs., would I need to get a CDL?

 

[3Hummers]

Depends on the state Olan. Two H1s and a trailer probably get you to or past the GCWR of the truck by themselves for a Texas requirement. With the truck you would surely be over the limit. Not sure how it works in your state.

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

F650's maximum GVWR towing seems to be around 26000-29000 lbs. So it would leave a little wiggle room. Im just concernd that if i where to buy an F650, that I would have to get a CDL to drive it when Im hauling something, and for a full CDL, you have to be 21.

 

[3Hummers]

Two H1s would be approximately 17,000 pounds and could be up to 20,000 depending on how they are set up and loaded. The trailer will be 5000 pounds. That means that your F650 can only weigh 4000- 7000 pounds. By the time you throw spares, gear, etc into the mix you are very, very close if not over.

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

I would put my money on being over. I highly doubt an f650 would weigh less than 7000 lbs., but u never know!

 

[seventwozero]

I would put my money on being over. I highly doubt an f650 would weigh less than 7000 lbs., but u never know!

Curb weight of 5.2 tons! ... This was just some quick Googling and it could be off, but it sounds about right.

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

:HOLYont know about an F650 anymore :gaah:

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

But I guess i't could work for now, because we only have H1. But then why not get the Ford or Dodge? ( I know, I know, F650 can be to cool sometimes to pass up.

 

[seventwozero]

But I guess i't could work for now, because we only have H1. But then why not get the Ford or Dodge? ( I know, I know, F650 can be to cool sometimes to pass up.

Well. My train of though is that you spend the money once on a rig that is big enough to do what you plan on doing. I'm in the mindset that if you are seriously considering a 2nd H1, or even a trailer with your H1 and H3, it would be silly to buy something thats just big enough to handle the job. During the winter months I regularly take our 2000 F350 right to the brink of overloaded, and probably over loaded at times, and it is not an enjoyable experience. I would feel a lot better about a towing a loaded 40' trailer through the Black Hills with 5.2 tons of truck in front of it.

As far as a F650 being a daily driver, it's absurd. But is it any less absurd than a F450? The 650 is taller, and a little wider, maybe a little longer too, but it really isn't going to be that much worse to drive around town than a F450.

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

Well I know that if we got a 40 ft. trailer, we would tow the Jeep along with the H1.

 

[MaxPF]

Once you're in the realm of F-650's, you might as well start looking at other brands in the same weight class: Freightliner (aka FreightShaker, preferably with an 8.3L Cummins) or International (aka Thirteen-letter sh!t spreader, with the DT466E) would both be good rigs for that load. So would a Chevy/GMC C6500 with a Duramax.

While not recommended, hotshotters sometimes pull 30k+ GCW loads with 1 ton pickups on a routine basis. Whether it's legal depends on your state, but it seems to be awfully common in many states. I wouldn't do it, but it is frequently done.

 

[seventwozero]

Once you're in the realm of F-650's, you might as well start looking at other brands in the same weight class: Freightliner (aka FreightShaker, preferably with an 8.3L Cummins) or International (aka Thirteen-letter sh!t spreader, with the DT466E) would both be good rigs for that load. So would a Chevy/GMC C6500 with a Duramax.

While not recommended, hotshotters sometimes pull 30k+ GCW loads with 1 ton pickups on a routine basis. Whether it's legal depends on your state, but it seems to be awfully common in many states. I wouldn't do it, but it is frequently done.

Ha! Up here in Fargo we call that Billy Big Riggin

There are plenty of other trucks in that range, I merely threw the F650 out there because they seem to be the most 'affordable' of the bunch. I have seen some Chevy/GMC's in the 45k range, but the number of conversions seems to be a lot fewer than the F650.

Since we've already pushed the OP this far, just order up a P4XL and be done with it! http://sportchassis.com/component/o.../cat,overview/model,11/type,sp-Overview-P4XL/ FWIW, make sure your seated, there is a little sticker shock.

 

[Mb30sdl]

pen: Oooooooo yea.