Starting hot shot trucking with half ton ford f150

Maybe, but probably not. Maybe deliver empty utility trailers or horse trailers, that sort of thing.

Never know until you try.

Good luck

 

I've got a 5 point slow as well. I towed a loaded 14 foot cargo trailer about 2,000 kilometers last summer. Probably close to 5k lbs the first trip and about 6k the next trip. If I had to do that more than twice a year I'd buy a real truck. Its not meant to tow regularly or heavy.

 

Not a "V4" an Inline 4. Only Outboard boat motors, old Volvo cars, and some British Fords from the 60s' had a V4. GM will be buying a lot of those iron duke powered trucks back.

We used to call those "Big-10"(Chevy) and "Heavy Half" (GMC)

A Gas Promaster has a Dodge Caravan Minivan powertrain. It is Front Wheel Drive. The only FWD vehicle capable of hauling 12,000LBS is a 73-78 GMC Motorhome and they don't make that transmission anymore.

Yup.
I pulled a 6,000Lb Travel trailer with a 7,000lb rated half ton. Couldn't pull the hills without overheating.
Not Fun. I don't do it anymore because if I did, the truck would be dead.

Listen to these guys here. They know what they are talking about. The manufacturers are selling you a load of $#!+. But hey, it's your money.

One last thing you need to understand:

Gasoline is a Solvent.
Diesel is a Lubricant.

Think about that.

 

I wanted to do the same , I have a 13 eco boost. I wouldn’t mind hauling light loads until I can save up for a 350

 

Tuff time not

 

I just want to touch on those two parts, for anyone thinking about hotshot.

As a very tenured light duty towing & recovery man - you know, the guy that cleans the chaos after medics & coroner leave with the dead & injured - the issue of vehicle type & power is not if it can pull it, the issue is CAN YOU STOP IT?!

An F-150? ...... single axle mesh steel trailer for the Cub Cadet or the quad.

I highly recommend no less than an F-350/3500, simply for the sake of maintaining proper control of an ensemble.
As well as, with a power train more suitabe for hotshot loads, with proper throttle control and the nack for 'looking far ahead' as to keep a smooth throttle, your fuel & repair costs can be reduced to help cover the initial cost of a larger truck.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

 

Its amazing how many times this same subject comes up and how that dang uship show/website has every Joe Blow with an F150 thinking they can strike it rich out there.

No, you won't make any money with a gas engine hauling loads (unless its a 7.3 Ford or an 8.1 GM in the right environment).

No, your 10,000 lb tow rating isn't for day in, day out hauling... its for the annual camping trip with the family and the travel trailer. Any more often, and you'll be eating parts for breakfast.

No, you can't do this part time. The insurance requirements alone, if doing it legally, will take all of your income (yes, you need a commercial liability "Inland Marine" policy and cargo rider, you can't do this with your regular car insurance).

Finally, if you like your vehicle, you don't want to use it for this. In the end, you will have a worn-out truck in 1-2 years with minimal resale value, as it will be roached and have an insane amount of miles on it.

As for cargo vans? That's a totally different market, best leased on with an expedited carrier or under contract with a broker. I made decent money with an older, pre-emissions Sprinter that I modified to get 30 mpg empty and 24 mpg loaded. You can get 4 pallets in sideways, and carry up to 4,000 lbs of freight. The insurance on an older Sprinter is also only 1/4 of the rate for a truck and trailer... but if you can't diagnose and repair a Mercedes Turbodiesel, your profit will go out the window the first time you take it in and see the $185 diagnostic fee... or have to replace the injectors at $450/each. Or cook an engine because you went cheap and got ebay injectors, so now its $9,000 for a remanufactured engine (plus installation and core).

 

I'm considering getting into hotshotting because I like being self employed and traveling and what I currently do is dieing down. I have an f150 ecoboost with 14k lbs "towing capacity", which is enough for hauling light skidsteers, compact tractors, etc. It has a trailer brake controller and tow mirrors already installed. I dont have the money for a new truck right now, or a trailer. I have enough to cover the first month's operating costs though. What are my options for bare bones entry level work into this field?

I really need to get a new gig within a month and I would rather do this over class A CDL driving. If I do start by getting the CDL first and drive class A for a while, wouldn't that lower my insurance should I decide to do hotshotting later?

 

@dosel
Bennett Motor Express might hire you with that setup.
Drive for Bennett | Bennett Family of Companies

 

Some guy named Diamond, no kidding was working on a load with them and the guys name was Diamond.