Can You Tow Too Early?

[ERohloff]

Need some expert advice - Got a 3500, CTD, 4x4, 48RE, 3:73, QC coming in hopefully next week. Am also looking at buying a used travel trailer some 600 miles away. TT is 24' and about 4400 # actual wt. Would like to be able to pull that guy home end of next week or maybe the following week.



The Question is - What do you think of gently (keep it under 65 and vary the speed some (45 to 65 when able to )) pulling that weight with so few miles on it? Expect should be able to have 800-1000 miles on the truck empty before it gets the load attached. Need to not only think about the start of engine break-in but also of transmission and rearend break-in as well... ... ... If too early what miles before tow is suggested. Your's and the BOOK opinions?

PS: Not worried about the universals - Sounds like you can expect them to go to **** before sundown anyway!!! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

bob r...

 

[klenger]

The CTD does not require a break-in before towing. Dodge recommends not towing for the 1st 500 miles (see owner's manual) to allow the rear-end gears to seat. Since you need to drive 600 miles to get the trailer anyway, you have no problem. Go get it.

 

[CLAYTON]

I think Dodge recommends 500 miles or so before you tow. With 800-1000 miles on the clock I'd say drive it like you stole it Enjoy the new ride Oo.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

Here is how my break in period went on BOTH my 04. 5 and my 05.



Flashback to feb 04. Getting ready to head to AZ with my 93 and three gooseneck trailers, total weight 32,000lbs. My convertor starts spinning freely. I pull into the area's largest dodge truck dealer, pick out a truck, throw in a b&w hitch, brake controller, pull my 93 out of the way and hook up to my 04. 5 Rolled from there to Phoenix, then up to Lake Havasu City. Change oil upon return home. I'll turn 156k miles today on the way home.



Jump to feb 05, going into OKC with my 04. 5, my clutch lets go on me. Creep into the dealer and they lay it out that I need a transmission rebuild due to an input shaft failure. I had three goosenecks on this load also and was about 3000lbs more on the trailer weight. I was on my way to a show and not a whole lot of options. Found a truck, got a b&w hitch put in, hooked up and went.



Neither of my trucks have showed a bit of engine distress. I'm sure that companies don't put freightliners, pete's, etc through a 10,000mile break in process before they use them.



My 04. 5 had 56 miles when I got it, and the 05 had 88 miles.

 

[TSpecht]

I believe my owners manual (2005) says no towing for the first 500 miles, and after that, keep speed at or below 50mph for the first 500 miles of towing. I believe it's not for the engine but rather for the differentials, and other drivetrain components...

 

[macdaddy]

Need some expert advice - Got a 3500, CTD, 4x4, 48RE, 3:73, QC coming in hopefully next week. Am also looking at buying a used travel trailer some 600 miles away. TT is 24' and about 4400 # actual wt. Would like to be able to pull that guy home end of next week or maybe the following week.



The Question is - What do you think of gently (keep it under 65 and vary the speed some (45 to 65 when able to )) pulling that weight with so few miles on it? Expect should be able to have 800-1000 miles on the truck empty before it gets the load attached. Need to not only think about the start of engine break-in but also of transmission and rearend break-in as well... ... ... If too early what miles before tow is suggested. Your's and the BOOK opinions?

PS: Not worried about the universals - Sounds like you can expect them to go to **** before sundown anyway!!! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)

bob r...

I believe the factory recommended break in is for sake of the AA axels not the CTD. Mac

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

With my '91, and then the current '02, I started towing as soon as I could get the hitch and controller installed - and THAT was fast! Very low miles, and headed up the Sierra with the 5er in tow - 120,000 trouble-free miles on the '91, 35,000 on the '02 and counting!

 

[TX Gooseneck]

I'd rather have a Dana

 

[BStoecker]

I couldn't agree more with the Dana thoughts...



I had I think 227 miles on mine when I hooked a 18' car hauler on to the truck. Then about 300 miles when I loaded my big Jeep, my tools, spare parts, camping gear, and 2 guys. Total weight was about 18k. We took off to VA for an off-road event. I took it easy the first 200 miles and stopped to let the diff cool off while we ate, etc... Then once we hit the mountains around West Virginia and Maryland I drove it like I stole it. I just changed the diff fluid last weekend. I had almost no metal shavings in the oil. I should have changed them around 15k, but just never got around to it.



Just drive it easy and stop once in a while and feel the rear diff. If it is too hot to leave your hand on it, then let it sit and cool off for a while. Keep doing this until it doesn't get that hot and you are good to go. I only stopped once to check it and it wasn't hot at all. So far so good.

 

[doldenburg]

I live in mn. I got my 04. 5 from tommygun in st. louis. I drove my 98ctd with my trailer to st louis, hooked the trailer to the new truck in the dealer lot and loaded the 98 dooly up and drove back to mn. I guess I broke it in on the way home

 

[Sled Dog]

I live in mn. I got my 04. 5 from tommygun in st. louis. I drove my 98ctd with my trailer to st louis, hooked the trailer to the new truck in the dealer lot and loaded the 98 dooly up and drove back to mn. I guess I broke it in on the way home

DITTO! And pulled 80-85mph. 22 miles on odometer, 412 miles at the house.

If your gonna baby it, baby it. If you are going to drive it, DRIVE IT! Oo.

 

[Tim]

I'd rather have a Dana

Why?



GM has been using AAM axles for years without issues.

 

[10.5 Dave]

My truck was pulling a 10,000 lb gooseneck with 500 miles on it. At 1100 miles I loaded the race car up and made a 2200 mile round trip at 23,000 lb gross. Ran 70 mph for the first couple hundred miles of that trip than creeped up to 75-80 mph with no ill effects.

 

[DPKetchum]

All diffs. need break in no matter who makes them. Dana corp. was a PAIN in the butt. Their quality control was the pits. Hence they lost the D. C. contract. At dealer level we had Dana's apart,replaced,repaired every day and sometimes several a day. D. C. gave them MANY months(more then a year) to correct problems with warnings of dropping them.