Highway speed of 5ton

[JSGAuto]

Hi Everyone,

I am considering a 5ton for a tow truck for my race car. Total weight of trailer is 7K lbs. The track is 250miles away, and I do it once a month.

I was looking at the deuce, and the highway speeds are just to slow. What safe speeds can I expect out of a 5ton?

I really want a military truck (because they are cool) that could do 70mph or so.

Thanks much.
Jim

 

[panzerwillie]

I just drove back from columbus OHIO to MIAMI FL 1300 at 50-53 MPH tops , to do 70 safe it would take a lot especialy to keep that up plus even 7000lb trailer the trucks weigths about 18k you need good brakes on the trailer , you will not be able to carry a conversation unless you intercome , if it rains they are not happy, it think 60-65 MPH its negotiable with super singles and some modifications depending on the model i got a M52A2 with LDS 465 1A the cummings is a little faster with the OD 5 spd you can put the tranny on the multifuel and with maybe some G20 tires may be able to maintain 60-65MPH maybe you can regear the rear end but will be expensive, i'm sure there other people here with more experience in the subject than me maybe able to guide you

 

[drgreg]

M800 series top out at 56 mph. Bigger does not mean faster unless you use bigger tires, but 70 would be tough to get.

 

[M215]

Our M813 @ max 2100 RPM 1100x20 tires = 52 MPH empty. When towing our 7 ton track loader on a tag trailer 45 MPH on the level, 25 MPH any hill.
If you want to go fast and on long trips you may want to purchase something else.

Just my $.02
Karl

 

[Coldfusion21]

That trailer sounds like it could easily be handled by a one ton civvy pickup truck. it would do 70 and you could carry on a conversation too.

This idea has been discussed before. These trucks are not meant as long haul OTR trucks but can be used as such provided you don't mind taking your time getting there.

 

[emr]

U do not want one, these are tactical vehicles, u can make it go a little faster, But it was never designed to do it, U would be a danger on the road, Really please do not think i am being anything but honest, but looking at them u should know from your vehicle experience this is a no go, they require alot of maintenence, they are NOT over the road trucks, Now if U had to cross a mountain and a river to get to the track u would be at the right place...There is a reason trucking companys do not use them, think about it...

 

[Hammer]

Sheesh, IF, and I mean IF the truck is in good condition, and maintained well, it will cruise at 65 mph without too much troubles with the 16.00r20 super singles.
I maxed out at 71 mph, but that was downhill with no real power behind it.
This is my 818 btw.
Drove it to WA for the convoy, empty. Ran great.
Did the convoy with a m105 trailer. Ran great.
Towed the M1009 home from WA. Ran great, but definitely slowed down in the last hills. I will be changing the fuel button very soon. Need to install the EGT first though.

 

[Hammer]

Oh, I do agree with EMR though, these are NOT OTR trucks!
There is no real comfort, safety, features, etc.

 

[m109]

fuel button? care to inform?

 

[steelsoldiers]

Best bet would be a M915A3. They are basically a militarized Freightliner. Too bad they are so expensive and WAY overkill for a 7000 race trailer!! A M931A2 or M932A2 with the 8.3L Cummins, a 5-spd Allison, and 14R20 Michelin's might get you 65 mph, but that's really pushing it. I didn't like running 65 very long in my 923A2. 60 felt a lot safer.

How about an 80's Air Force Chevy 3+3 crew cab truck with a big block or a 6.2L with a Banks turbo? That would be military and a heckofa lot better on those 500 mile round trips than a 22,000 lb 5-ton.

 

[Hammer]

fuel button? care to inform?

Basically a simple part that sets the fuel pressure the pump puts out (which can be fine tuned with shims).
It basically nothing more then a plug with a hole in it.
You really should have an EGT gauge setup before messing with this though.

 

[91W350]

Pick up a 1995 to 1998 Dodge Cumins 12 valve extended cab 4x4 and paint it OD green. You can run 70 until the sun comes up and with fueling and exhaust improvements, you may not realize your trailer is back there. My old Dodge would run 78 in air conditioned comfort pulling a heavy trailer and a 6800 pound Kaiser M-715. On top of that, we could talk to each other and have energy to do something when we got there. You really would be happier with it in the long run. 250 highway miles is an adventure of its own in about any military truck. Glen

 

[Keith_J]

I do not recommend a deuce or a 5 ton for such use. They do not have the brakes for high speed, even if you have the required trailer brakes. Bad things happen when you push it.

Now one M35 I drove in the Army had a bit more performance and would do 70 MPH. But it would also drain the tank very fast. Under 200 miles.

A used 7.3 PSD in a 10 year old F250 is what you need.

 

[Driver523]

The Ace of Spades will run 65 or 70 all day long and even hit 80 if you lean on it, and been doing it for 10,000 miles since it has been built, shes got good steer tires on the front, I think the tranny number is 6453 ( its the Mack tranny behind the Multi fuel ) and turn the fuel up just enough to carry the truck, there is a big gap between 4th and 5th if I remember right ( 5th is now 26% overdrive ) and we havent pulled a trailer much, although Sammy did pull his M-37 to Pigeon Forge last year on one of his constuction trailers (one old heavy trailer)---We have done two tours over 2000 miles each and only threw the belts once, that truck runs unbelievably great, I'd take it anywhere anytime-----Driver----oh yeah--in the photo notice 5th is up thats the Mack tranny------again----Driver

 

[Floridianson]

How about an 80's Air Force Chevy 3+3 crew cab truck with a big block or a 6.2L with a Banks turbo? That would be military and a heckofa lot better on those 500 mile round trips than a 22,000 lb 5-ton.

80's IH Air Force Crew Cab 4x4 9L. Internationl. Just happen to have what you need.

 

[Driver523]

Sorry----Tack and speedo is what I ment for all to see----I remember the first time we passed a car on a two lane road---I told Sammy I was gonna go around and he said go for it-----what a blast to drive----Driver

 

[jasonjc]

Here is some thing eles to think about. The Michelin XL 16.00R20 have a MAX SPEED rating of 56MPH. Its no fun when one of those blows out on the front of your truck. Just some thing to think about.

 

[Driver523]

He's right--ALWAYS use speed rated steer tires on the front----Next year its Fort Bliss from Tenn.----our old unit The 523rd trans is being reactivated---we'll be driving that old 523rd Ace truck to the cerimony----Driver

 

[m109]

one thing about the speed rating is its for the speed that its rated at that LOAD or amount of weight on it at that pressure. I have always wondered how does that effect it when you got maybe 1/4 the weight on it?

 

[Driver523]

Good point--I don't what pressures he runs, but the truck weighs 28,000---Driver