2008 Ford F-450 tows 24,000 pounds!

2008 Ford F-450 tows 24,000 pounds!

First off, I want to say that this blog is not paid advertising space, and is not meant to sell anything. We just want to share what we find on the web that you might find interesting, and let you make up your mind on whether to look further at it or not. After posting about the new Chevy Silverado last week, I thought I would make it fair by talking about Ford today. A quick search came up with more than I had been expecting–the new 2008 Ford F-450 just unveiled at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) blew my mind with it’s 12-ton (24,000 lb) towing capacity. It has three engine choices (5.4L Triton V8, 6.8L Triton V10, and 6.4L Powerstroke Diesel), and all are available with electronic shift-on-the-fly and Torqshift (TM) Transmissions. When properly equipped, the F-450 has a payload of 6000 lbs and, as mentioned before, can tow 24,000 lbs.
The F-450 has several great features for towing the heaviest of loads, be it on a rear-mounted trailer hitch or on a gooseneck trailer hitch. It has an enlarged radiator to keep things cool when towing uphill, and is equipped with a factory-installed Trailer Brake Controller (TBC). the TBC is “…integrated with the anti-lock brake system and synchronizes the vehicle and trailer brakes for seamless braking while towing even the heaviest loads.â€? This optional feature also includes telescoping trailer tow mirrors.
So, whether you want to see what your Class V trailer hitch can really do, or you need to tow the biggest of trailers around with your gooseneck trailer hitch, this beast might be right down your alley!

I found this great pic at blogs.cars.com:

Road Trains?

I love running across interesting and surprising things on the net, so when I found this article about road trains on automotiveblogger, I just had to post about it.

Road trains are huge semi trucks pulling anywhere from 3-6 trailers along barren roads. In barren places like central Australia, road trains are a fairly common sight as rail lines are often not an option. Lumbering down miles of flat dirt roads at slow speeds, these road trains can often be quite a hazard to drivers, who find it difficult if not impossible to pass. In Australia, a road train with up to 6 full sized semi-trailers is road legal, while in the United States only 3 (or 2 in some states) are allowed. According to Wikipedia, The Guiness World Record for longest road train clocks in with 104 trailers in Queensland, Australia.

As far as trailer hitches go, the first trailer is obviously attached to the tractor, while each successive trailer is attached to one of a few different dolly setups. The dolly is attached to the rear of the leading trailer, which give the trailing trailer a place to hitch. No word yet on whether anyone is making trailer hitch covers for these beasts.

Chevrolet Silverado wins NATOY, tows 10,500 pounds

The newly redesigned 2007 Chevrolet Silverado was named the North American Truck of the Year on Sunday at the opening of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Silverado, which has also been named the Motor Trend 2007 Truck of the Year, is priced starting at $17,860, and is a stout rig for towing. Several engines are available, from the base 195-horsepower V6 to the Duramax turbodiesel V8. All engines come equipped with four-speed automatic transmissions with tow/haul mode. According to the Silverado website, the “ Tow/Haul mode enhances performance while pulling a trailer or hauling heavy loads. When activated, this feature reprograms the automatic transmission shift schedule and helps reduce throttle pedal activity by the driver while traveling over rolling terrain. A lighted icon on the instrument panel indicates when Tow/Haul mode has been activated.� Towing capacity of the Silverado maxes out at 10,500 pounds with the optional Max trailering package.

For more info on the NAIAS, click here.

The 2007 Chevy Silverado

Volkswagen Touareg Tows 747!

I ran across this post yesterday on MotorAuthority.com - Apparently to show off the incredible towing power of the Volkswagen Touareg, Volkswagen staged an event in which a 747 was actually towed (with the help of a custom trailer hitch, of course) across a runway in the UK. From the article:

“Volkswagen’s mighty V10 Touareg TDI managed to pull a Boeing 747-200 jumbo jet, weighing approximately 155 tonnes, across a runway at Dunsfold Aerodrome in the UK. Fitted with a special towing adaptor to connect it to the jet’s undercarriage, plus almost 4.3 tonnes of metal ballast, the Touareg itself weighed in at over 7 tonnes.”

Find the rest of the article here.

Using Your Trailer Hitch - Towing Safety

There may be no better feeling than heading out on the open road pulling your RV behind you. But towing a trailer is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. It means changes in acceleration, braking, and handling. Successful and safe trailering takes proper towing accessories that must be used properly. If you do not use the correct towing accessories and drive properly, you can lose control when you pull a trailer. For example, if your trailer is too heavy, the brakes may not be able to handle the load. If the trailer is not properly attached to the trailer hitch, it could become separated from the towing vehicle. You and your passengers could be seriously injured; you could also cause serious damage to your vehicle. But, by being aware of a few basic rules of towing safety you can avoid being a part of potentially hazardous conditions.

Trailer Hitches

First, you need to make sure that you have the correct trailer hitch, and that it is securely attached to your vehicle. Strong cross winds, large semi trucks passing, and rough or uneven roads are just a few reasons why you need to have the right trailer hitch installed on your car or truck. If your vehicle did not come with a factory installed towing package, be certain to use a reputable trailer hitch installation center.

Safety Chains

Once you have hitched your trailer to your vehicle, you should always attach safety chains between them. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer to help prevent the tongue of the trailer from hitting the road in the event it becomes separated from the trailer hitch. Do not attach the safety chains to the bumper of your vehicle. Always leave just enough slack in the chains so you can turn the rig, but not so much that the chains drag on the ground. Instructions about safety chains and other towing accessories should be available from the manufacturers of the trailer hitch or the trailer.

Trailer Lights

After hitching the trailer to the vehicle you must hook up the trailer lights. Before starting out on your trip, do a visual check of the trailer lights by having someone stand behind the trailer as you step on the brakes, turn on the turn signals, etc. The brake lights on the trailer should light up when you depress the brake pedal in the vehicle and the signal lights should respond to turning on the blinkers. The arrows on your vehicle’s instrument panel will flash each time you use the turn signal. If your trailer lights are properly connected, the trailer lamps will also flash, signaling to other drivers that you are about to change lanes or turn. However, the arrows on the instrument panel will flash even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. It is important to do an occasional check of the trailer lights during your trip to be sure the connection is still secure and the bulbs are still working.

Driving

Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience, so before setting out for the open road, take some time to become familiar with driving your rig. Keep in mind that the combination of your vehicle and trailer is much longer and less responsive than your vehicle by itself. Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle in front of you as you would when driving without a trailer. This practice will help you avoid potentially dangerous situations that would require hard braking and sudden turns. When passing another car or truck you will need to keep in mind that your rig is significantly longer, and allow more passing distance ahead. In addition you’ll need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before returning to your lane.

Finally, during your trip take the time to check occasionally to make certain that the load is secure, the trailer hitch and towing accessories are working properly, and that the lamps and trailer lights are still working.

Enjoy your trip!