aarondeere
Maryland
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Joined: 12/15/2005
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Anyone with a 2wd large medium duty truck like a FL or International (not the 450/4500 Ford/GM/Dodge offerings) with a hauler bed.....how are they when off the blacktop? Are they easy to get stuck? I know in mud a no brainer but what about wet grass/loose gravel? I use a semi for my business and when unhooked without any weight on the back it takes about a second for it to spin out if its off the pavement. I'm just wondering that with all this new emission stuff coming out it might make better sense to look at a older one of these trucks instead of this new stuff and would have more truck to pull with. Just wondering. Thanks.
Wife - Mindy
Nathan (2)
Cadence (1)
2005 F550 flatbed
2005 34' Citation
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blt2ski
Kirkland, Wa
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Joined: 03/15/2001
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While I will not say I have not been stuck, but overall, it has not been a real issue. Then again, I do have a detroit no spin in my navistar, traction tires......it is not too bad. Gravel on any slope is not too bad. Grass up hill depending upon the wetness etc. Even mud is not too bad.
Marty
05 Chev CC D/A LS Dooley
92 Navistar dump truck, 7.3L 7 sp, 4.33 gears with a Detroit no spin
00 Chev C2500, V5700, 4L80E, 4.10, base truck, no options!
92 Red-e-haul 12K equipment trailer
3 Single axle utility trailers
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BruceStarkey
Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 05/02/2004
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In a word, YEP to all of your situations mentioned. Wet grass where the truck has been sitting overnight and perhaps "settled" a bit is a no-go even with my Detroit No-Spin. There's just not enough weight on the rear even with the trailer's 3400lb pin weight and my Harley in the barn behind the cab, it still has a tough time pushing those tiny little 19.5's with over 8,000lbs over the front axle out of any depression at all. I generally avoid any soft or slick situation for that reason. The ABS makes drivability while bob-tail easier but as you've mentioned, you gotta be careful not to swap ends when on the slippery stuff.
I carry a 4800 watt genny between my rear frame rails and tools enough in my cabinets to perform a major overhaul while on the road which all helps but costs fuel to move it all as well.
Today is just the tomorrow you worried about yesterday!
'04' International 4400 LoPro 310Hp/950FtLbs 10Spd Harley/RV Toter
'05' Mobile Suites 38RL3
'01' Harley Ultra in the bike barn.
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coolbreeze01
Redding, Ca
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Joined: 08/24/2006
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Single drive axle tractors have never been worth a hoot empty when traction is in question and not a whole lot better loaded.
2008 Dodge 3500 CTD LB SRW 4X4 6-Speed Auto
P3 Blue Ox Sway Pro
2007 Komfort 212
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Gunship Guy
Florida
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Joined: 08/09/2003
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Our HDT (Volvo 770) got stuck at a campground after a heavy rain. At 19,000 lbs it settled right into the wet ground. Took a large wrecker to pull it out the next morning. Good Sam ERS covered the $700 bill for 5 minutes on the hook.
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avan
Sioux Falls, SD & Livingston,TX
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Joined: 11/02/2002
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I've not had problems with gravel but but wet grass or mud are a problem if unloaded. Some better with another 5000 lbs on the pin. If I'm to park unloaded on grass, I position the truck, if there is any incline at all, so it is heading down. If I can't I will park with my drive wheels as close to the gravel or paved surface as possible.
Though traction is a problem, in the nearly 10yrs that I've towed FT with this rig, I've only gotten stuck once and that was in a parking lot when my bumper hitch went up on onto the curb leaving my drive wheels pushing air. I had to have someone with a p/u give me a little tug to get off the curb and we shared a bit of a laugh when I offered to take a picture for him that he could use for bragging rights at the bar.
Click for more pics of our FT home, our snowbird digs and our summer trips
The puller - International 4700LP (530E) - Wiers Towmaster; Trailer-Saver Air Hitch
The pusher - 40' Travel Supreme Fifth
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Delaine and Lindy
Linden Tn. (The View) /Gulf Shores, Ala.
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Joined: 02/20/2005
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I agree with the above, and my add MDT's aren't designed for off roading. Just not enough weight over the drive axle. However we owned several Trucks that were 4x4 and never used the 4x4 option. We owned a Chevy Kodiak 4500 and now have the Freightliner and really have no need for the 4x4. But we do no boondocking. I do have to pay attention when bob-tailing on wet roads or dry roads its very easy to slip the rear tires. GBY...
2006 FreightLiner M2
Trailer Saver Air Ride (TSLB2H)
Pressure Pro System
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 C/C (Grocery hauler)
2009 Chevy HHR LT 2
2010 Mobile Suites 38 RSSB 3/4
www.webspawner.com/users/lnhdch
We are BLESSED!!!!
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tnance
Nixon/Texas
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Joined: 02/10/2002
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I have never gotten my truck stuck even though I go off pavement often. One of the reasons for my added traction is that when I built my truck bed I added counter weights to the rear of my truck frame. In addition my custom truck bed is made out of steel. When bobtailing my front axle weighs only 500 lbs more than my rear axle. This empty weight distribution is better than my old dually pickup.
2005 Freightliner M2 106 class 7 HDT
2004 Teton Sunrise Grand
Jeep Wrangler toad
...PICTURES...
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blt2ski
Kirkland, Wa
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tnance brings up something I was wondering about reading the other replys. What are all of your FA vs RA wts? wheel bases? as I have a 188" wb with 5900 lbs on the FA, and 5600-5900 on the RA when empty. RA depends upon how many tools in the under bed tool box, along with how many of the 50 gals are in the fuel tank.
I find this rig does pretty good compared to pickups to a degree too, just as tnance does. I have to admit, my K3500 dually is pretty good......
Marty
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tnance
Nixon/Texas
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Joined: 02/10/2002
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My truck weighed in very close to 14,500 lbs. This was with about 2/3 fuel. The front axle weight was approximately 7,500 lbs with the rear axle near 7,000 lbs. There was no cargo in the truck bed.
The trucks wheelbase is 174 inches.
Front axle is rated at 10,000 lbs.
The rear axle is rated at 21,000 lbs.
Trucks GVWR is 31,000 lbs and 80,000 lb GCWR.
Since I own a ranch my truck gets its tires dirty a lot. On the other hand I don’t take the truck to the ranch when it is muddy! If you need to drive in the mud get a four wheel drive, don’t get a dually
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