Can I tow???

[rmcnamee]

Hello all,

I have a 2004 3500 SWB/SRW 4x4 HO/Auto and I'm looking to rent a John Deere 110 TLB backhoe for a day or two. According to the John Deere site, the tractor weights approximately 7,600 pounds (without a trailer). Will my truck handle this load around town safely? BTW, I don't have a brake module.



Thanks

Ryan

 

[RustyJC]

Hello all,

BTW, I don't have a brake module.

Most states require trailer brakes over either 2,000 or 3,000 lbs trailer weight. There's a good reason they do. I'd highly recommend getting a trailer brake controller before you try this in city traffic.



JM2CW



Rusty

 

[Jengle]

I sometimes tow a hay trailer of about 8500#, and have no trouble at all with it. Truck acts like there isn't anything behind me. I have the 3. 73 rear, and 6spd, and start the trailer rolling in 2nd, since 1st didn't help any more. I normally start in 2nd and with the trailer, can't tell a difference in takeoff speed. No lugging or slipping the clutch either. I do have the trailer brake controller, tekonsha Prodigy. Easy to install and works great, since I don't even feel the trailer back there on braking. I wouldn't tow something this big, without a brake controller. Just my . 02.

 

[JHardwick]

The truck will handle towing it no problem. Under ideal circumstances the trucks brakes should handle it too ... ... ... ... but I'd hate to see an emergency stop with no brake contoller!

 

[JohnCooper]

A brake controller is cheap insurance!

 

[GerryDrake]

Brake Controller

A brake controller is a good investment to allow you to tow. For this instance, I would suggest finding what trailer you will be towing the JD upon. It may have surge brakes, which don't require a brake controller. I just hate to see you go through all the hassle in a hurry getting a brake controller in the truck, then when you pick up the trailer, find you didn't need to... .



I have the Tekonsha Prodigy, by the way, and love it... .

 

[rmcnamee]

Thanks for all the input everyone. The rental center supply's the trailer, so I'll have to give them a call in the AM and ask about the trailer brake issue.



Thanks again

Ryan

 

[PJereb]

If the rental company supplies the trailer most likely it will have hydraulic surge brakes.



If that is the case you will be fine without a controller, because the trailer self brakes from inertia compressing a master cylinder on the trailer, actuating the trailer brakes

 

[OHale]

I bought a Tekonsha Prodigy brake controller for $109 and $10 for the Dodge adapter. All I had to do was mount it and plug in the connectors. No cutting or splicing at all. The last step was to drive the truck and trailer and adjust the gain.



My point is that it is so easy to install a brake controller these days you really should have one for that kind of towing. When I am moving the trailer around without the trailer harness connected I can really 'feel' the trailer back there (no trailer brakes. ) I would hate to have an emergency stop without it.



Also, if you get in an accident, even if it really wasn't your fault the 'other' insurance company will probably make an issue of your not having trailer brakes. All this JMO of course.

 

[PaulG]

god i tow to the drag strip a 30' enclosed trailer weight 4,600lbs plus a vette 3,400lbs and two bikes roughly 1,000 for both and i have a 2500 and my truck is a 2000 so no HO motor only the wimpy 220hp 420 tq. !!! can your truck tow it..... is this a trick question???? but i would have to say i wouldn't do it without a brake controler just asking for trouble unless you live like 5 min from the place and no steep hills then i'd consider it but brake super early so to avoid heavy braking, like OHALE said for the $150 well worth having one never know when you'll need it

 

[CChase]

The truck will handle towing it no problem. Under ideal circumstances the trucks brakes should handle it too ... ... ... ... but I'd hate to see an emergency stop with no brake contoller!

I gotta go the other way on this. I towed the excavator in my sig about five blocks when I bought it to go to Napa and get the parts and pieces I needed to get the trailer adapted to my truck. I was doing 15 MPH max going this distance and because it was totally flat town driving, I wasn't too concerned with it. I was wrong. That trailer kept pushing me around but between engine braking, mashing on the brakes and paying very close attention to what was happening on the road ahead, I had no incidents but will never even attempt that again. Once I had the trailer plugged in and the my Jordan adjusted, didn't even know it was back there (other than a couple extra seconds to bounce through the gear)





OK, that was long winded for get a controller. The Jordan is fairly cheap and works well..... my $0. 02