NA IDI Towing Test

Enginerd

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This ought to be interesting...
I've bought myself a backhoe. It's an old Hy-Dynamic Dynahoe 160 and I love it. It's got a Detroit 3-53 and I got it up and going yesterday. It sounds so sweet. This old backhoe has sat for 6-8 years, no one in town really knows. Anyways, I'm towing it home today if the weather permits. Or I'll do it tomorrow.
This puppy weighs 15,800 pounds, and the 35+5 gooseneck I'm using weighs 9,000 empty according to the books.
My truck now has a heavy flatbed on it. It's an F250HD 5 speed 4x4 extended cab so I'm assuming with the added flatbed weight I'm probably sitting at 6,000 pounds with fuel and tools and all that.
It's 10 miles away from me on one country highway stretch, no major hills, just some curves. I'm glad I swapped out my e4od for this 5 speed because it's much easier to control a load. I've got 325,000 miles on the motor, 150,000 on the transmission, so it'll be a good stretch of the lungs on me and the truck.
Just wanted to see what weights others have put behind their IDI? Looks like I might be grossing about 31,000 pounds..
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Enginerd

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My thought exactly. I'm not in a hurry. Just 10 miles and no one really is ever on that highway to get me worked up.
 

1992 idi 73

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I know that back when my truck was my grandpas farm truck with a bale bed on it, she could take a full loaded 28 foot stock trailer. Not fast but it would get up to 65 on the high way with my grandpa at the wheel.:rock: The IDI's will get you there, just not fast.
 

rhkcommander

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Going ain't the problem, stopping can be. If you got someone smart to drive in front of you like a pilot car to keep aholes from cutting you off you're golden.

I hope your trailer has brakes that work :angel:
 

Enginerd

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Going ain't the problem, stopping can be. If you got someone smart to drive in front of you like a pilot car to keep aholes from cutting you off you're golden.

I hope your trailer has brakes that work :angel:

Yes on the trailer brakes, maybe on the pilot car in front. I've fully rebuilt my brake system on the truck and it does great even by itself. I've got the 3" rear drum brakes now. Plus a manual transmission helps. Only one red light I will hit, and one turn onto our road.
And it's more of a country backroad than a highway. Not many people are ever in that road.
 

franklin2

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Only 10 miles and that nice trailer, you will do fine. I would put it in low range with the front hubs unlocked for any reversing maneuvers though. That's the one bad thing about the 5 speed, reverse gear is a little too fast.
 

Enginerd

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Only 10 miles and that nice trailer, you will do fine. I would put it in low range with the front hubs unlocked for any reversing maneuvers though. That's the one bad thing about the 5 speed, reverse gear is a little too fast.

I use that low range so much actually. Especially with backing up to trailers. I never realized how handy that would come in. In fact, even if I had a 2 wheel drive vehicle I would consider swapping to a 4x4 trans and transfer case just for that low range
 

chillman88

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With that much weight, if you pick it up tonight, you might make it back tomorrow morning LOL

I'm quite interested to know how it does. No hills is your big bonus point! I've towed about half that, and my truck isn't a big fan of it, but it gets the job done.
 

Enginerd

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With that much weight, if you pick it up tonight, you might make it back tomorrow morning LOL

I'm quite interested to know how it does. No hills is your big bonus point! I've towed about half that, and my truck isn't a big fan of it, but it gets the job done.

I'm thinking the right side of the backhoe will be painted black with soot by the time I get home haha, even this trailer is a definite load sadly. Not on the truck, just takes a minute to get up to speed.

It's storming still so it'll have to wait till tomorrow evening. But I'm hoping to get a good video that I can post to YouTube! That way all our Cummins, Powerstroke, and Duramax brethren will have something to reference when they say the ol IDI isn't worth anything. Slow and steady wins the race right?? :D
 

Black dawg

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Have done 30k with mine and was fine (with turbo) and braking was fine. Heard a story of some local scrappers going across the scales at 100k plus....said he would shift out of low range at 40ish.
 

lotzagoodstuff

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I think you'll get there, but I'd really consider having a pilot vehicle and a follower. It's literally free insurance towards all the idiots who could do something ignorant. Even at slow speeds, you don't have enough contact patch to slow down very quickly, even if you locked all the wheels on the truck and the trailer. If you have a pilot vehicle, worst case scenario your damage is kept to somebody who knows you are coming. CBs or two way radios help with communication and provides some added entertainment (throw in some Smokey and the Bandit lines for fun).

Be safe and congrats on the new backhoe. 31K on a normally aspirated 7.3 is pretty impressive!
 

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