15000 lb mountain trailer towing

[JOHN MALONEY]

1993 d350 dually.
Wanting advise on a build for towing a 15000 lb rv through the mountains of Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, washington and Canada.
Thanks.

 

[AH64ID]

Get an exhaust brake!

Otherwise, it depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[JOHN MALONEY]

If I buy a 2019 it will cost 40k.
That is my budget.

 

[JOHN MALONEY]

Looking for total build recommendation.

 

[SnoKing]

Looking for total build recommendation.

Manual transmission?

Those 1st gen autos did not play well with Exhaust Brakes, ask me how I learned that? NO LOCKING TC!

15K trailer, sell the first gen and buy the right tool for the job.

 

[AH64ID]

15K trailer is big for a 1st gen, so if that’s the route you’re going to take I’d be going thru the suspension first. Then brakes, steering, and the motor last. Very likely everything is worn out if they are still OE.

No reason a HX35, small injectors, and a little VE tweaking can’t drag that around at speeds appropriate for the frame.

Get some good seats and enjoy the ride.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Manual transmission?

Those 1st gen autos did not play well with Exhaust Brakes, ask me how I learned that? NO LOCKING TC!

15K trailer, sell the first gen and buy the right tool for the job.

It’s easy to install a lockup converter, just costs money.

 

[JR]

Agreed on the suspension and brakes (and steering). The engine would be the last thing I'd touch, personally.
Since you apparently have a healthy budget I would buy a 6 speed manual, NV5600 or G56 and add an exhaust brake. You can get a good reman through Midwest or Standard Transmission for around 3k give or take last I checked. Not having a core could get a little pricey but you can buy your way out of that, too.

 

[SnoKing]

I towed a 9K 5th wheel with my auto 93 4x4 and overheated the brakes coming down the Westside of Stevens Pass in Washington.

 

[Tuesdak]

1993 d350 dually.
Wanting advise on a build for towing a 15000 lb rv through the mountains of Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, washington and Canada.
Thanks.

DON'T DO IT!!!

11700 lb trailer is your 1993 truck's trailer weight limit. https://trailers.com/tow-capacity/1993_Dodge_D350_Pickup_4x2_Dualie_755.html

Here is what will happen to you if you wreck with the overloaded combo in Arizona: AZ's Stupid Law applies where you get nailed for Gross Negligence due to overloading the tow vehicle. Your insurance company can walk away and no matter who is at fault for the wreck: you own it due to the overloaded condition. Don't take the advice off the internet for it: ask your insurance company if an overloaded condition is covered and your attorney who will have to defend you.

If I buy a 2019 it will cost 40k.
That is my budget.

Buy a lighter travel trailer (or 5th wheel) or get a tow vehicle that can handle a 15K LB trailer. IMO it would be cheaper to get a new or used RV that's light enough for your 1993 and spend the rest on travel. Also note that out west camping spots (aka in the National Park Service) are easier to get if you are 27' or less bumper to hitch on the RV trailer.

 

[DHayden]

I'm not normally a huge weight police guy, but in this situation your are not just pushing it you are WAY over. I can also tell you that you will not be happy with how it handles and will be uncomfortable in a lot of cases.
I have a 2001 that has lots of power, NV5600, exhaust brake, bigger pads and rotors. I lost my trailer brakes on a long hill in CO years back, it was not pretty. I had my family with me as we were moving, I did a lot of re considering after that trip. I've been driving and towing since a young age, take it for what its worth.

 

[EDankievitch]

I towed 18,000 lbs many times an many miles with my 89. I had the trailers rigged with Vacuum over hydraulic. In the hills best she’d do was 45-48 uphill WOT. I moved one boat that tipped the scales at 24,000 lbs. it took a full mile to get up to 50 on flat ground. Had a brake line fail on that trailer life got very interesting really quickly that day. Never again with that heavy a load.
Can the first Gen trucks do it .... yes. Would I do it today with the lawyers the way they are... Hell No.

I'm not normally a huge weight police guy, but in this situation your are not just pushing it you are WAY over. I can also tell you that you will not be happy with how it handles and will be uncomfortable in a lot of cases.
I have a 2001 that has lots of power, NV5600, exhaust brake, bigger pads and rotors. I lost my trailer brakes on a long hill in CO years back, it was not pretty. I had my family with me as we were moving, I did a lot of re considering after that trip. I've been driving and towing since a young age, take it for what its worth.

 

[NIsaacs]

1993 d350 dually.
Wanting advise on a build for towing a 15000 lb rv through the mountains of Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, washington and Canada.
Thanks.

What are the current specs/condition of the truck? Is the RV a fifth wheel?

The '93 is the best of the 1st gens and a (D-350) is a serious truck. I tow 15k with my '91 D-250 regular.

 

[Mark31]

John M, I want to join the "naysayers", though I won't put it in capital letters like Tuesdak. Chopper John says enjoy the ride. How much stress can you and especially your wife (If she doesn't have a good time, for sure you won't) have and still enjoy your vacation? What about when you get on a hill steeper than you thought and your speed is too high, a curve too tight, a sudden cross wind, a panic stop, a tire blows, A marginal truck in a "situation"? Nick, who I believe has skills, finesse, experience to rank him in the very top % of operators, pulls 15k loads on FAMILIAR territory. A 15k load and 15k unaerodynamic barn door rv ain't the same thing. What is your skill, experience level? Re read EDank's post. A local man caused a wreck and was underinsured. Maybe he can keep his house and one car. The safety of others and you are #1. Notice who I put first. Wishing you the best

 

[Jim W]

John, hi and welcome to the forum first!

Now if your budget is $40 K max, which I understand. Than I would look for a slightly used 2004.5 through a 2006 truck with the 5.9L Cummins and a manual transmission. You can than add an engine brake to the truck and this will tow your 15K trailer. I am sure they are out there but you may need to search for one.

 

[DonFitzwater]

1993 d350 dually.
Wanting advise on a build for towing a 15000 lb rv through the mountains of Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, washington and Canada.
Thanks.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...e-ultimate-first-gen-pics-and-history.226964/

 

[HPSimpson]

I agree you will be far exceed your limit for 1993 Dodge Dually with mere 15000 lb were is Common sense at!

 

[NIsaacs]

What are the current specs/condition of the truck? Is the RV a fifth wheel?

The '93 is the best of the 1st gens and a (D-350) is a serious truck. I tow 15k with my '91 D-250 regular.

Maybe the OP just wants/has a 1st gen. Sounds like he has the opportunity to buy a '19 somethin, for 40k.

He is asking how to build it to tow/haul 15k. I could build a tow monster out of that '93 1-ton, for 10-15k.

What do you suppose my '74 F-350 dually is rated at?

Seattle, Washington to Lakeside, Arizona not exactly familiar territory, lotsa mountain ranges on the way. Still a gasser here, a little over 15k....

Same deal here, Redding, California to Lakeside, Arizona...Cummins powered this time, same weight...a little over 15k.....

 

[Jim W]

Side Bar!

What brand of skidder is in the first photo (white paint?) It looks like a Timber Jack to me! Is the second skidder a John Deer? Or where you just the guy hired to do the hauling of the machines?

 

[NIsaacs]

Side Bar!

What brand of skidder is in the first photo (white paint?) It looks like a Timber Jack to me! Is the second skidder a John Deer? Or where you just the guy hired to do the hauling of the machines?

The white one is a Mountain Logger ML130, with 453 Detroit power and 4spd Clark power shift transmission .

The yellow one is a 508 Cat.

We had a two year contract with the Sunrise ski resort to expand the lift and runs. This was at 9-11k feet, the Detroit wouldn't hardly pull itself so we had a new 453T installed with HD converter. Now it would spin the tires in 2nd gear. Excellent machine, we ended up with 2 of them.