How heavy can I "reasonably" tow?

[Horsepuller]

My truck below, last time I checked the Dodge towing guide, states around 12. 5k lbs. I tow a GN trailer now that is around 10k lbs loaded, no problems.



Trailer we are looking at is around 11. 5 empty, with three horses and all my tack it will be around 15k lbs. The first thing I will be adding is an exhaust brake. Any other upgrades you recommend.



What do you think of the wieght? Anyone pull this now, or more? What's the max these trucks can pull safely? What's your experience?



Safety is my #1 concern.

 

[klenger]

Here is a link to the 2001 towing numbers. The 2002 did not change very much, if at all. Hope it helps some.



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/2nd-gen-reference/towing-charts.html

 

[Horsepuller]

Thanks Klenger. I'm aware of how much Dodge states I can tow. In my opinion, this is a very conservative number to keep Dodge's liability low and doesn't reflect what these trucks can really tow, without being dangerous. Maybe I'm wrong. I more interested in what other people really tow, and how comfortable they feel doing it. From reading some of the various other posts, I know guys are pulling much heavier loads than this.

 

[Ross]

towing heavy

Well, I jumped off and bought a new JD Sutherland last year (12/03). It's a four horse with a 16 foot short wall, about 34 feet on the floor, over 40' overall. She weighs 15250 empty. I figure 4200 for four horses, 700 pounds for 10 bales of hay up top in the pod, 600 pounds water, 320 pounds gasoline (40 gallon fuel tank for generator), and 700 pounds for saddles, blankets & tack. That brings my estimated loaded total to 21,700. It's possible that I can go over this if I really load up on groceries, ice, clothes, grain, etc. , but 21,700 is a reasonable "nominal" max weight.



How does the truck handle it? The Dodge (bombed to slightly over 425 hp) had enough power to go as fast as I wanted, but was severely stressed from a structural perspective. I installed air bags and that helped a lot, but the trailer has a 5000 hitch weight, so I had to run the air bags at 95 psi, just to get off the overload springs. The exhaust brake really helps the stopping. I wouldn't be without one. Plus, the trailer has elec-draulic disks, so stopping was fairly decent. However, loaded this heavy, I was always having to run it hard, and always had to be careful about exhaust temps. I had the power to go up hills at the speed limit, but my temps would get high fast, causing me to back out of the throttle. Running 70 into a headwind was also a fight, but the truck has been a real Gem. 170,000 miles of running hard, and the oil analyses still look great. Fuel economy ranged from 7. 5 to 8. 5 mpg. I'll say again, my truck is bombed with big injectors, large turbo housing, TST powermax, FASS, heavy duty clutch, Standard Transmission transmission. . on and on the list goes. I ran this way for a year and a half.



Well, long story short, I recently bought a Volvo VNL610 in April to do the towing chores. It's got a N14 500hp Cummins and a 10 speed eaton Autoshift. I'm no longer overloaded!!!! Here's a link to my new tow truck My new volvo



Still have the Dodge, and use it as a daily driver.



If your trailer weighs 12,000 or less (empty), I don't think you'll have any problem.



I may be selling my pacbrake off the Dodge, since I don't tow the monster with it anymore. If you're interested, send me a PM.

 

[Horsepuller]

Thanks Ross, Wow, that's a load. I will not buy a trailer that gets me that heavy. So, I'm starting to feel better.



Nice new rig. I don't need the Pacbrake just yet, but will keep it in mind when I get ready.

 

[JRhinehart]

I weighed my 32' living quarters trailer with a 69 D200 pickup in the back, and it came in at 11,140 lbs. I added another 1000 lbs in the bed of the truck, plus probably another 6-700 lbs of residuals in the trailer after weighing. I have no mods except for air bags, and it towed and stopped great on my last 5,600 mile trip. My truck is a 3500 SRW shortbed. I feel completely safe with the combo, but with the headwind in Nebraska I was only managing 65 mph and the truck got 9. 5 mpg for the whole trip.

 

[FourBarR]

dont want to throw cold water on this subject, but has anyone thought about what happens in case of an accident. could be big liability problems if your found overloaded especially by that much. think the lawyers would have a field day .

 

[Ross]

Fourbar:



Yup. The liability discussion has been beaten to death on this and other similar truck bulletin boards. That is one contributing reason I purchased my Volvo. At 80,000 rated gross (before the single axle conversion), I'm in good shape now!

 

[bmoeller]

At 80,000 rated gross (before the single axle conversion), I'm in good shape now!

That would explain the frame length behind the axle.

 

[FourBarR]

way to go Ross your a smart man. sounds like you have a super truck. all the best with your new ride.

 

[Ross]

"explain the frame length behind the axle"



Actually, the conversion process goes something like this:



1) Remove front axle.

2) Move rear axle to front axle hangers.

3) Cut excess frame off behind existing single axle.



I requested 36" of frame behind the rear axle to be left intact so I could have room for nice storage boxes in the hauler bed I will have made next year. Leaving 36" behind the tires still requried cutting about 3 feet of frame off. The wheel base is only 21" longer than my current Dodge Quadcab, but believe it or not, it turns shorter! Loving it, so far.

 

[MMeier]

Fourbar:



Yup. The liability discussion has been beaten to death on this and other similar truck bulletin boards. That is one contributing reason I purchased my Volvo. At 80,000 rated gross (before the single axle conversion), I'm in good shape now!

So what is it rated at now with just one axle, surely not 80k#!!

 

[Turbo Thom]

I tow a 15K lb fiver and have been for 6 years. Towing is not a problem, and as long as you are mindful of the weight, stoppong is not either. The exhaust brake is a have to have. I bought the fifth wheel I have because of the weight of the next larger one. I just didn't want to chance a heavyer one with this truck.



. . PT. .

 

[Ross]

Didn't mean to imply that it's now rated at 80,000. That's why I said, "before the single axle conversion. " The engine and transmission were designed and built into a truck intended to run at 80,000 pounds gross combined, just like all over the road tractors. This gross is now less, because of one less axle.



Here's how it specs now.



Front axle 12,000

Back axle 21,000



It's registered with a gross weight of 32,000 #, tractor only. It's registered as a motor home, no CDL. I do have a non-commercial CDL drivers license, however. Makes me "legal" to drive any unit over 26,000 (up to 80,000) for non-commercial purposes. This provision is typically used for farmers and large motorhome drivers. Around here, farmers towing large cotton trailers daisy chained together get way, way over 26,000.

 

[RJOL]

Thanks Klenger. I'm aware of how much Dodge states I can tow. In my opinion, this is a very conservative number to keep Dodge's liability low and doesn't reflect what these trucks can really tow, without being dangerous. Maybe I'm wrong. I more interested in what other people really tow, and how comfortable they feel doing it. From reading some of the various other posts, I know guys are pulling much heavier loads than this.

This topic has been covered over and over again. The CTD will certainly tow/hual more then it's rated for, but how much and when and if it will fail is nothing but a guessing game. Personally I think if your close to the CGVW or GVW your going to be okay, but who knows. On the other hand, I don't know why people feel better if they see others towing grossly overweight. I guess it's the "if he is doing it, I will be okay too" mentality... Have fun...

 

[Horsepuller]

Rick, thanks for your comment. However this comment: "On the other hand, I don't know why people feel better if they see others towing grossly overweight. I guess it's the "if he is doing it, I will be okay too" mentality" doesn't apply to me. That's not the reason I'm gathering info. I'm gathering info so that I can form my own opinion. I know the truck will haul more, I know Dodge underates them for liability reason. I'm trying to find a happy medium for a decision that I must make and bare the resposibility for.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Unless you are a very rich man, you cannot bear the responsibility. I know I can't. If sombody dies, you are into the millions and the insurance co won't be with you.

 

[RJOL]

Rick, thanks for your comment. However this comment: "On the other hand, I don't know why people feel better if they see others towing grossly overweight. I guess it's the "if he is doing it, I will be okay too" mentality" doesn't apply to me. That's not the reason I'm gathering info. I'm gathering info so that I can form my own opinion. I know the truck will haul more, I know Dodge underates them for liability reason. I'm trying to find a happy medium for a decision that I must make and bare the resposibility for.

Not trying to "dump" on you or anyone else that has asked this question, but here are the facts... You are either within your allowable tow weights or you are not. In the worse case scenario you could be involved in an accident. Hopefully no one is hurt, and hopefully they don't decided to check to see if you were towing over your maximum. If they do, and they decide to press the matter, you will have to live with the consequences.



I went through a lot of what you're thinking when I had my 2001. No matter what I did to convince myself I was okay, I knew I was over my GVW while towing my 5th wheel with a 2500. That's why I spent the money to buy a 3500. If I had been within my GVW I would still own the 2001... .

 

[Horsepuller]

TurboThom, how much does your 33' trailer weigh, unloaded and loaded? 5th wheel or bumber pull? I assume you know your exact weight and are under your max. What are you rated to pull?



And Rick, what's your 5th wheel weigh?

 

[RJOL]

. . Rick, what's your 5th wheel weigh?

Just over 12K loaded, but that wasn't my biggest concern when I had my 2001 2500. The pin weight on this trailer, empty, is 2400lbs. When loaded for a trip it weighs in at just over 3000lbs. With a 4X4 2500 I was over the max for the rear axle, and, more importantly, pretty close to being over weight for the rear tires, depending on my load. I was well under what a lot of guys on the TDR were carrying, but I just wasn't comfortable with it. A rear tire blowout would have spoiled my whole day, while cruising down the freeway at 65mph.



Most of us will go through our whole life, pulling trailers, and never have a significant problem. I just wanted to have a little more chips stacked in my favor. Whatever you decide... Have fun... .