Can a semi-floater rear really tow weight consistently?

[vandelay industries]

Can a semi-float rear (10 and 12 bolt) really tow considerable weight consistently?

i want to tow up to a 16' enclosed tag along trailer and up to the downsized monte carlos (78-88). So, total weight no more than 6500lbs. (?) and tongue weight no more than 650lbs, i'm guessing?

Can semi-float rears such as the 10 and 12 bolt really handle this kind of weight on a regular basis? Not just every now and then?

2) What about the 9.5, 14-bolt?
a) What year did they start putting this in trucks/suburbans instead of the full floater 14 bolt?

 

[HankScorpio]

I have a buddy with the 9.5 sf14 in a factory 90's 3500 4x4 single cab. He tows a car hauler quite a bit and it has been fine.

 

[obijuank5]

It's direct weight on the bearings that kill em. Pulling 6500 is a truck problem but the tongue weight is barely loaded.

 

[vandelay industries]

It's direct weight on the bearings that kill em. Pulling 6500 is a truck problem but the tongue weight is barely loaded.

The thing i'm concerned about is while 650lbs tongue might be ok, it's when you go over bumps is when i think that 650lbs could get multiplied many times over. Do that enough times and..................?

 

[K5wrench]

Replace the axle bearings.
Maybe the axle shafts too if they are pitted.
I put Yukon axles in my 12 bolt.
They are harder steel than stockers.
Since that axle bearing rides right on the axle shaft, it's not a bad idea to upgrade.
Timken bearings too.
I've seen some 10 bolt axles begin to leak and pulled the shafts to reseal only to find at least an 1/8" groove had been worn into them by the axle bearings.

Once put a set of brakes on a friends ford that had a semi floater axle.
There were no bearings left!
The axle was just running on the empty race.
He was cheap.
Put a set of axle bearings, seals and brakes on it and called it good.
I bet it leaked soon after due to the slop created by those grooved axle shafts.

Other problems i've seen with semi float style axle housings is sloppy silicone jobs on thr rear diff cover.
Silicone can block the axle tube oil return passages.
Keeps diff lube from circulating back from the axle bearings.
Causes crud and wear particles to build up around the axle bearings.

I don't know that a semi floater would be my ideal choice for towing.
But if it is what i had; i'd use it but change those bearings and seals up front, inspect and replace the axle shafts if neccesary, replace the carrier cross pin lock bolt, and change diff lube at least every 15,000 miles.
You gotta get those wear particles outta there.
Towing a lot with a semi floater is bound to create some metal.
Change oil often.

 

[obijuank5]

Shock loading the bearings is probably not near as bad as the heat generated from prolonged overloading. I r not engineer

 

[76zimmer]

My sf14 has over 240k on it and has had much of its life towing including 5 th wheel and have no problems.
Ideally a full floater is the way to go but I’ve have two trucks w the sf14 w no issues

 

[ktmoutfront]

I ran a 78 2wd 1/2 ton for years on 240 mile one way trips to the river for jet skiing and water skiing. 2 550 Jet Skis on a lumber rack over the cab. 50 gallons of race gas in the bed. And a 16 feet long 1974 travel trailer on the hidden hitch. Don't know the weight of all of it, but never had an issue. I made the trip twice a month March to October. For 3 years.