Expected Performance While Towing?

[opiefire]

My truck is a 2500 CTD HO QC LB 3. 73 with a 48 RE. I have recently purchased a 2002 fleetwood triumph 33 1/2 5'er. I bought it from a family member, however I won't be picking it up until April. I recently installed all my gauges( EGT, transmission Temp, Boost). I have the AFE torque tube and the rest is stock. The GVWR of the 5'er is 13,700 lbs, and the hitch weight is 2212 lbs. The dry weight or the 5'er is 10,325 lbs. I have owned rv's in the past (but not this large) and am aware of how easy it is to over load (which I aready am). I am concerned about already being over the maximum weight limit. By my estimate I am 3100 lbs over weight (given 400 lbs for occupants and honda eu3000is) Does anyone have a similar setup? I live in the Idaho, and I wonder:

#1) What speeds can I expect while pulling 5 to 6 percent grades?

#2)Will I be able to set the cruise on 68 mph the interstate, and will my truck maintain it?

#3) Would the Edge EZ 40 to 70 HP box help me while towing?



I know my truck can tow this, but I also don't want to get so over weigh that I am extremely unsafe. I have read multiple posts that discuss the repercussions of being overloaded, and it scares me. I don't want to get to the top of the hill the fastest, but I also don't want to hold up traffic going 35 mph up the hill. I value all opions, and appreciate your input.

 

[Wardog]

Do a search of this site for specs re: tow limits. You will find that you're over in the pin weight department. I don't think you'll be holding up traffic with your cummins, though. My rig is 35' and my combined GCWR is 16520 (measured on a scale). I had no trouble going over the rockies (I-70) using cruise control. I rarely went past 60, though(I passed many cars and other rigs with ease). If you're as concerned about safety as your mail indicates, I wouldn't be pushing 70 mph with that weight.

 

[johnt1]

I have an 03 SO, 3. 73 with a 48re. I'm pulling a 33ft 5er. There is a big difference with the EZ installed, well worth the money. I can pull a 6% to 7% grade at 45 to 50mph. No trouble running 65mph up slight grades in OD. You can use cruise control on the flat but it will downshift on small grades.

This truck pulls 10X better than my 98. 5 with a Banks.



John T

 

[The Sequel]

I don't think pulling it will be any problem. I pull a similiarly sized fiver and did it with my stock '01, which had much less power than yours, and it had no problems at all. Went from Phx. to Mount Rushmore last summer and had no problems anywhere. Pulled over Raton Pass and up into Silverton from Montrose. As far as the overweight factor, I figure I was 1000 pounds over my GVWR and about 2500-3000 over my GCWR. I don't know what the long term ramifications would have been as far as wear on the truck, but it felt great and didn't seem to mind. That being said, my next truck is a one ton dually and I feel better about towing with it as I know I will be well under the weight limits.

 

[opiefire]

That being said, my next truck is a one ton dually and I feel better about towing with it as I know I will be well under the weight limits. [/QUOTE]







Sequel,

I hear you there! After all the research I have done the past few days I'm definitely getting dually. I have read many posts about how the guys with the dually trucks enjoy the increased stability while pulling heavy loads.

 

[opiefire]

I have an 03 SO, 3. 73 with a 48re. I'm pulling a 33ft 5er. There is a big difference with the EZ installed, well worth the money. I can pull a 6% to 7% grade at 45 to 50mph. No trouble running 65mph up slight grades in OD. You can use cruise control on the flat but it will downshift on small grades.

This truck pulls 10X better than my 98. 5 with a Banks.



John T

John,

Do you own a dually? What EGT do you see pulling the 6 or 7 % grades with the EZ? What setting is the EZ on while towing?

 

[CLAYTON]

Throw some airbags on there and put the EZ on level 1 or 2 and you'll be fine. Depending on how you came up on the hill you should be able to keep egts in check and the egt's will determine your speed. You won't be slowing down traffic with these trucks :-laf

 

[johnt1]

I have the EZ on level 4. On long grades the EGTs are around 1200. If you really get your foot into it or lug it they can hit 1400. As soon as they reach 1300 I back off or down shift and have no problems keeping at 1200. With level towing the EGTs are around 9500.

I have a 3500 SRW and carry about 500lbs in the bed while towing, A generator, a trail bike and tools. No problem with the weight.

John T

 

[CLAYTON]

With level towing the EGTs are around 9500.

9500 that is pretty hot :-laf

 

[y-knot]

Congratulations on the recent purchase, i hope you enjoy it. I personally have a pet-pev about people towing or hauling large loads with a single rear wheeled truck, i just don't think it makes for a very safe package. if I were you, I would run the heaviest rear tires I could find, and pay attention to them at every fuel stop, checking for condition and air pressure. I know many pull long and heavy trailers like you plan too, and never have a problem. But I also know that I have never seen a DRW (Dually) on it's side and wrecked while traveling on the interstate. The stability and added traction the dual rear tires provide is the most important reason I bought a DRW, they were built to pull those types of loads and nothing can beat them!

Getting back to your truck... . I personally think the 3. 73/automatic combination is a poor set-up for pulling that much trailer. The auto is already over taxed , and putting that much weight behind it and using 3. 73 (city gears) is a rebuild waiting to happen. The transmission is simply to weak to effectively tow that much weight and live. Sure you will be OK for a while, or so you think, but wear will take place and before you know it your trany will be slipping on the hills, and any time you need to get on it. Once the slipping starts it goes pretty quick, trust me, I've been there. Before you start to even think about more power, look into a good auto trans cooler, this will help, but if will not prevent disaster. The best way to keep your trany in it's original state is to for get power adders and drive smoothly. Easy into and out of the throttle, get a run on the up coming hills and avoid UN-necessary stresses like backing up-hill and stop and go traffic. The cooler should be in addition to the stock cooler, not in place of it. This will help keep that fluid in check, which will help the trany live longer. Also maintain the trany, filter changes and band adjustments. You should do fine on the inter sate, it is very flat out where you live, and 68mph is no problem. The hills will give you a fit, there is nothing you can do to help with it. You have a weak trany and a heavy trailer, so just get use to it. I would start a "New trany Fund", and be saving for a ATS or similar replacement transmission, you'll need it pretty soon. Once the factory stock trany pukes, then you will be able to increase the power and feel what a transmission is suppose to feel like.

 

[opiefire]

y-knot,

I appreciate your honesty and reccomendations. Just a little history for you... . I purchased my truck almost two years ago, already owning a 20ft travel trailer weighing 6500 loaded. When I purchased my truck I thought... I would never have a fifth wheel let alone a 13000 lb fifth wheel. I would have never bought my truck knowing what I know now. Well along came this unbeliveable deal that my uncle gave me on the fifth wheel. He bought it two years ago new. It has only 2000 towing miles on it and still smells new! It such a great deal on the fifth wheel that it would be cheaper for me to upgrade my truck than to pass on the fifth wheel. Yea its that good. Anyway I have looked into the new Mega Cab 3500 six speed! With that truck I would be ok (from the info that I have read). Thanks again for your remarks.

 

[SnoKing]

Hold it a minute. Only SWB SRW Mega Cab coming next year. And if they carrry the same 9900 GVWR you will still be over weight. I have a 2001. 5 with Cardinal 29WBLX and 2200 lbs of pin weight and hit the scales at 92-9400 for truck weight. I looked at a new 2004. 5 SRW quad cab and figured out the truck would weigh about 700 lbs more than my Std Cab 2001. 5 and that I would be pushing right at the 9900 GVWR with little room to spare. If you are going to get a new truck, look quickly for a 2004. 5 or early 2005 3500 dually that has the NV5600 6 speed and not the new G56 6 speed that has less OD in 6th gear. I would get the 3. 73 gears, install an exhaust brake and hit the road! SNOKING

 

[Rosco]

y-knot,

I appreciate your honesty and reccomendations. Just a little history for you... . I purchased my truck almost two years ago, already owning a 20ft travel trailer weighing 6500 loaded. When I purchased my truck I thought... I would never have a fifth wheel let alone a 13000 lb fifth wheel. I would have never bought my truck knowing what I know now. Well along came this unbeliveable deal that my uncle gave me on the fifth wheel. He bought it two years ago new. It has only 2000 towing miles on it and still smells new! It such a great deal on the fifth wheel that it would be cheaper for me to upgrade my truck than to pass on the fifth wheel. Yea its that good. Anyway I have looked into the new Mega Cab 3500 six speed! With that truck I would be ok (from the info that I have read). Thanks again for your remarks.

I already looked at some payload #'s for the Mega Cab and they're pathetic. A Mega Cab 3500srw has about as much payload capacity as my 2500. The bottom line is that the Mega Cabs are not fifth wheel friendly.

 

[opiefire]

Looks like I would need a dually with out a doubt to be in check with everything. I have read some very interesting discussions about the pros and cons of a dually. One thing that is very consistant with dually owners is they like the substantial increase in stability while towing down the road. Sounds like it would be the best set up for me. Thanks.

 

[TRLRTRSH]

Unsafe SRW towing

y-knot, NOT flaming you for your opinion, but it's just that your opinion.

FORD built a 1 ton SRW years before Dodge ever thought about it. Dodge was loosing a lot of business to Ford for just that reason.

I remember reading an article in one of the popular truck mags about the reason Dodge built the SRW 3500, to compete with FORD and because pulling 5th wheels does not require the stability of driving a 3500 DRW with a gazilliion ton slide in camper. After thousands of miles between my 95 Dodge and my 03 Dodge SRW I have never had a stability problem. I will agree with you that one must ALWAYS spend a little extra time inspecting the tires on a SRI, BUT IMHO it's not an unsafe practice



"I personally have a pet-pev about people towing or hauling large loads with a single rear wheeled truck, i just don't think it makes for a very safe package. "

 

[RustyJC]

The greatest difference between 3500 SRW and DRW trucks is the GVWR. This comes into play pulling heavy 5th wheels (see signature :{ ) that can carry 16%-20% or more of their total weight on the truck as pin weight. When dealing with large 5th wheels, a SRW truck will invariably run out of GVWR before it runs out of GCWR.



Yes, stability, etc. are subjective benefits, but the numbers are objective.



Rusty

 

[jandtjil]

If it was me, I would consider a mixture of the earlier suggestions +

-Slow down

-Watch tire condition and inflation

-Keep revs up

-Keep your 2500

-Use some of the "saved money" on a towing bomb (exhaust, air filter, EZ)

-After pulling the trlr a few times maybe keep an eye open for a deal on a 3500

just before the 06s hit the lot

-Enjoy your new 5th wheel !!!



JJ

 

[SnoKing]

Your rear springs are going to need some help. SNOKING

 

[johnt1]

You won't have any problems towing with a SRW. I've pulled 13,000 lbs all through Baja with a 98. 5 2500 and through the Rockies with a 2003 3500 SRW and have never had any stability problems.

John T

 

[opiefire]

You won't have any problems towing with a SRW. I've pulled 13,000 lbs all through Baja with a 98. 5 2500 and through the Rockies with a 2003 3500 SRW and have never had any stability problems.

John T

John T,

Is your 2003 SRW all stock? Do you have air bags or any performance upgrades? Thanks to all for the input! David