How much can I pull ?

[RSeymon]

Greetings one and all.



Trying to find out the maximum weight I can tow with my truck(legal).



I have the 3:54 rear end.



Thanks in advance

 

[DBF]

This has been discussed a lot in the past. One thread that contains the Dodge numbers is here:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...61518&perpage=15&highlight=14000&pagenumber=2

and the numbers are in the second-from-last post.



The search tool will lead you to many other threads discussing tow ratings.



Basically, your truck will pull a whole bunch more (at least for a little while) than Dodge rated it for. But you know how the brakes are in these things - not great.



From the above thread, you can tow GCWR 12,000# or 14,000# if you have the trans cooler under the bed.



DBF

 

[Greenleaf]

GCWR is what?

Gross COMBINED Weight Rating? Tow vehicle PLUS the trailer??????



The truck weighs 6,000(?)lbs so you can only tow 6,000 lbs??????. I'm concerned cuz the boat/trailer I will begin towing this month is 10,000 lbs plus.



Something don't sound right but hey what the heck. My Dad had his boat behind a 1/2 ton Chevy and it pulled it well.

 

[DBF]

GCWR is what?

Gross COMBINED Weight Rating? Tow vehicle PLUS the trailer??????



The truck weighs 6,000(?)lbs so you can only tow 6,000 lbs??????. I'm concerned cuz the boat/trailer I will begin towing this month is 10,000 lbs plus.



Something don't sound right but hey what the heck. My Dad had his boat behind a 1/2 ton Chevy and it pulled it well.

Correct. GCWR = tow vehicle + trailer.



I know it looks ridiculous, but Dodge was very conservative (probably Chevy was, too, if we looked it up). I know even a stock 92 Cummins would pull more than this (after waiting a week for the turbo to spool up); mine did.



But the ratings also take into account whether or not you can STOP the darn thing. With the added hp my truck has, I know I can pull more uphill than I can stop going downhill with only the truck brakes. Especially a long hill.



So, like everything else, it's up to you to decide what you want to do.



DBF

 

[Greenleaf]

I understand. Good thing the boat is setting on a new trailer with brakes and I just installed a new (updated) brake controller.



I don't think stopping will be an issue as much as the dern transmission temp will .

 

[rlyons]

My GVWR is 15,000 lbs for the 92 D-250 standard transmission. My truck will weigh about 6,000 lbs so that leaves 9,000 lbs for the trailer. My present trailer is about 7,000 lbs and I don't even know it is back there. My truck will stop better with the trailer due to the addition of four wheels with excellent brakes on the trailer. Your D-350 should tow 10 or 12,000 lbs with ease I think.

 

[1stgen4evr]

In Georgia, legal is what you tag for. I have a 26k lb tag. I have pulled close to that in the mountains. I have adequate brakes so that is not an issue. Still going down is more chancy than going up. The Cummins will take you up if the transmission holds. The transmission temp definitely has been issue. I have observed that if I can keep the transmission in OD, the temp does not go as high. If the grade is such that I must drop back to direct or worse, second, the temp goes off the chart real quick. If your route is mountainous, you are going to need a 4. 11. If I had a lot of that to do, I would get a gear vendors OD to supplement the transmission OD and change the rear to 4. 11. With that I would have about the same engine speed on flat ground double OD and would be able to pull the steep hills without punishing the transmission. But a 4. 11 by itself will eat your mileage to heck.



As the others stated, pick your poision.



James

 

[Greenleaf]

And manual transmissions can overheat too. Eaton Fuller twin countershaft has an ideal operating range (over the road trucks). I suppose a Getrag would be similar.



-S