Modern class 3 pickup durability?

[DM&RDBulldog]

Hi guys, Im entertaining the idea of adding a modern 2020 or newer class 3 dually pickup to my business for primarily LTL contracts and the occasional move of my 8 ton equipment. Im most concerned with the longevity of parts vs a larger class 7/8 chassis. 25,000-33,000lbs is what the the class 3 will be towing. I have zero experience using anything less than class 7 right now.

Ultimately cost is driving this decision and looking to find out if wear items on these smaller trucks are holding up long enough when used close to their max tow ratings?

 

[Shimmy1]

Hi guys, Im entertaining the idea of adding a modern 2020 or newer class 3 dually pickup to my business for primarily LTL contracts and the occasional move of my 8 ton equipment. Im most concerned with the longevity of parts vs a larger class 7/8 chassis. 25,000-33,000lbs is what the the class 3 will be towing. I have zero experience using anything less than class 7 right now.

Ultimately cost is driving this decision and looking to find out if wear items on these smaller trucks are holding up long enough when used close to their max tow ratings?

Well, unfortunately, you are not going to receive a favorable review from guys on here in regards to towing an 8 ton machine behind a one ton, even though the numbers are probably fine.

 

[CM1995]

Which models? 350, 450 or 550? There is a difference between a 350 and 550.

 

[DM&RDBulldog]

Im not all that convinced of the manufacturers tow ratings of up to 40k behind a dually pickup. You could say thats also part of my question for anyone actually doing it? Im looking at class 3 pickup trucks, Ford 350/450, GM 3500, and Ram 3500.

 

[BC Placer gold]

This Ram is a 2015 (14k GVW). Just got this truck in December as a support vehicle & for light hauling.

Photo was taken Monday at the Little Fort brake check (Hwy 24 here in BC).

Small (6200lb ASV RC50) on trailer, only a 10,000lb total load.

Very long (over 10km) continuously steep hill with several runaway lanes. 4:10 gears, 3rd gear 60 km/h and exhaust brake did not provide adequate hold back. Can't even imagine hauling a heavy load on this type of terrain...really shows the drawbacks of a light duty truck...

Have driven this same route many times with 'heavier' loads with this old International. No comparison safety wise...The 1 ton dually will, for us remain a light duty service type truck. Just my opinion, and I tend to be very conservative in regards to holdback on hills & braking.

The class 8 has been very reliable (C12, 13speed) for our light usage....

 

[DM&RDBulldog]

Thanks you. At this point ive already test driven all three brands. I was able to hook up my unloaded trailer 11,500lbs to both Ford and Ram, GM dealer wouldn't allow me to.

 

[crane operator]

I would prefer any of the 450/4500, 550/5500 over the 350/3500's. I think that step up gets you heavier tires , brakes, and axles. Or at least it used to. I don't have anything that new.

 

[DM&RDBulldog]

I would prefer any of the 450/4500, 550/5500 over the 350/3500's. I think that step up gets you heavier tires , brakes, and axles. Or at least it used to. I don't have anything that new.

The position im in right now is weighing the options against my already owned 1996 Mack RD. If there is no cheaper to operate option ill just remove the dump bed from my Mack and turn it into a tractor. Im just starting at the bottom of the list with the class 3 trucks since the tow ratings exceed what ill need to tow. Getting up above class 3 adds back a lot of the insurance, registration, and tax that I can save running a pickup truck.

 

[crane operator]

Buying a $80,000 pickup, to save on the taxes and insurance for a 1996 Mack , doesn't make sense in my world, but maybe you want a new pickup. I would rather pull around 30,000 lbs with the old Mack.

 

[DM&RDBulldog]

My Mack is do for an engine rebuild soon enough as well as wear parts are double the price of a class 3 pickup. Just crunching numbers according to the Mack's maintenance history, needing a rebuild, and then resale, if I can get the same lifetime out of a class 3 trucks wear parts, get better fuel economy, pay less for annual ins/reg/tax, a new $60,000 truck makes sense.

 

[skyking1]

So you are hauling 8 tons on an 11,500 pounds empty trailer with electric brakes?
I just want to get the numbers right.

 

[DMiller]

A Class 7 or 8 will gain Safety levels will not ever see with the Class 3 to class 5, Is Doable yes, Longevity is NOT there where will be trading a trashed out Class 3-5 long before a Well Worn Class 7 or 8 needs major work PROVIDING is maintained appropriately.

 

[CM1995]

Im not all that convinced of the manufacturers tow ratings of up to 40k behind a dually pickup. You could say thats also part of my question for anyone actually doing it?

Oh I'm sure people are doing it but should they be? Big difference in 25K lbs and 40K lbs behind a 550 sized truck. The 25K is doable but as others have said it's going to wear the smaller truck out pulling that load on a regular basis.

40K behind a 550? No way Jose. That's begging for a disaster. It'll pull it but stopping..

 

[92U 3406]

This Ram is a 2015 (14k GVW). Just got this truck in December as a support vehicle & for light hauling.

Photo was taken Monday at the Little Fort brake check (Hwy 24 here in BC).

Small (6200lb ASV RC50) on trailer, only a 10,000lb total load.

Very long (over 10km) continuously steep hill with several runaway lanes. 4:10 gears, 3rd gear 60 km/h and exhaust brake did not provide adequate hold back. Can't even imagine hauling a heavy load on this type of terrain...really shows the drawbacks of a light duty truck...

Have driven this same route many times with 'heavier' loads with this old International. No comparison safety wise...The 1 ton dually will, for us remain a light duty service type truck. Just my opinion, and I tend to be very conservative in regards to holdback on hills & braking.

The class 8 has been very reliable (C12, 13speed) for our light usage....

Highway 24 is probably one of the worst hills in BC. You know it's a slow go when there are places to pass trucks when going down the hill lol.

 

[hvy 1ton]

Im not all that convinced of the manufacturers tow ratings of up to 40k behind a dually pickup. You could say thats also part of my question for anyone actually doing it? Im looking at class 3 pickup trucks, Ford 350/450, GM 3500, and Ram 3500.

There's a guy out around Grass Valley, CA that will haul his 10 ton Mecalac with his 3500, but most of the time he uses his 5500 for his heavier stuff. Having a trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes makes a big difference in my opinion. I can't remember what he says in this video, but it'll probably help.

 

[MG84]

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but using a class 3-5 truck like your talking is about the most expensive cost per mile option out there. Tires, brakes, u-joints, suspension components, are often the same price if not more expensive than the big trucks and they last a fraction of the mileage. Also fuel mileage isn't nearly as good as everyone thinks.

Get a newer, fresher, lower mileage class 6-8 truck with air brakes, whatever fits your budget. As far as safety goes there is no comparison. If you've spent all your time driving big trucks, put that load behind one of these new class 3-5 trucks and you'll immediately realize how unsafe it feels. My 2019 F250 is rated to tow 15000lbs, I rarely do it because it feels unsafe, when I do I drive slow and use an abundance of caution. The thing these pickup mfgs can't escape with their huge tow ratings is physics. At some point you just don't have enough truck....

BTW that guy in the previously posted vid is an idiot, I can't believe he's been promoting that crap on youtube as long as he has.

 

[CM1995]

BTW that guy in the previously posted vid is an idiot, I can't believe he's been promoting that crap on youtube as long as he has.

IMO most of them are.

 

[DM&RDBulldog]

Appreciate the feedback. I wasnt quite sold on it myself but I have seen enough of it going on around me to at least question if pickup trucks have come that far. Im just now coming out of the 90s so am a few decades behind anything modern. I have no issue keeping the Mack as its in great shape and just needs an engine overhaul in the near future.

Numbers looked good on paper but I don't personally know anyone who keeps anything new long enough to run the numbers out over say a half million mile life or more.

 

[skyking1]

here is the deal. If your truck weighs ~9000 or so and you put 27000 pounds behind it, you are betting everything on one blue wire. 1 to 3 truck to trailer ratio.
The loaded trailer is just going to own you if that connection fails and you crest a hill and find out the hard way. it is a sickening feeling.
I think weights like that need air brakes, and that is not popular in many lightweight circles.
It has nothing to do with modern truck advancements in the light trucks, and everything to do with the failure modes of air brakes.

 

[DM&RDBulldog]

I do agree, and like the default safety of the air brakes in event of failure. Ill just stay with my Mack and tag trailer.