How much can I tow?

[Spooled-up]

I'm looking for the max travel trailer weight for my truck and I can't seem to find it in the owners manual and the Dodge website says I can tow 15050, but I'm assuming this is for the dually version of my truck with a gooseneck or 5th wheel. Here's what I have:



2007 3500 Mega Cab

5. 9L Cummins

Single Rear Wheel

3. 73 gears

G56 6 speed manual

Towing Package

Weight distributing hitch



The Dodge website says "Towing capacities may vary. Consult your dealer to for full details on the towing capabilities of the vehicle. " but since I knew about the 6. 7 long before they did, I'd rather hear it from someone on here that I can get an accurate answer from. I remember my '03 2500 long bed quad cab had a sticker that said I could tow 12500 or 13500 I can't remember which.



I'm looking for the weight the truck is legally certified to tow, not what it is capable of towing in an overloaded state.



Here's what the Dodge website says:



With 3. 73 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 15050 lbs

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR)=10500

Payload=2690

Curb Weight=7810

Curb WeightFront/Rear=4470/3340

GAWRFront/Rear=5200/9350

Gross Combination Weight Rating(GCWR)=23000



Look for the Equipment Identification Sticker to identify your vehicle's Axle Ratio. If you are unable to determine your vehicles axle ratio, assume you have the numerically lower ratio and can tow the lesser of these ratings.



While it's not listed in the charts, tongue weight is also an important consideration. The recommended tongue weight is between 10 & 15% of the trailer weight. However, the maximum tongue weight on Class III (The bumper ball) is limited to 500 lbs, and Class IV (The receiver hitch) to 1200 lbs.

This requirement overrides any recommended GTW rating, between 10% and 15% of gross trailer weight (GTW). Additionally, the GAWRs and GVWRs should never be exceeded.

 

[seemore]

Well, Dodge says :Gross Combination Weight Rating(GCWR)=23000"

That is the weight of you, fuel, dog, everything. If you want a exact figure load your truck up, weight the truck without the trailer and subtract your truck's weight from 23,000 lbs. For example my truck weighs 7090 lbs with me & tools & cap, so I could tow 15,910 lbs & be within Dodge's rating!

 

[Spooled-up]

My problem with the 23000lb figure is that I think it is for a dual rear wheel truck. I need to find the exact weight for my truck with the single rear wheels.



Thanks for the reply.

 

[ENafziger]

I may be wrong, but I was under the assumption that the 23,000 gcwr would apply to the DRW or SRW 3500. I remember carefully studying the charts before ordering my '06 3500 SRW. It seems that the GVWR was actually higher by a few hundred pounds for the SRW than for the DRW... because the DRW is a few hundred pounds heavier than the SRW.



The same thing applies to the GCWR. The SRW can "tow" slightly more weigh than the DRW simply because the GCWR's are the same between the two, and the SRW weighs a little less. From my understanding, the towing advantage comes in with the DRW for stability with longer trailers, cross winds, slide-in campers, etc.



If you care to really get picky, the base level trucks (ST, SLT) can actually "tow" a little more than the Laramies as well. Again, this is because the GCWR is the same across the board, but the more optioned trucks weigh more, and thus can't have as much weight in tow (or payload) and still stay within the GCWR.



Look at this link: http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2007/docs/dr/mlup.pdf



Scroll down to the 3500 series, find your truck with your cab configuration and engine and transmission and trim package, and it should have what you're looking for (maybe Page 26?). From looking quickly, it looks like your max trailer weight is 15,450 lbs. assuming your trucks weighs exactly as it came from the factory.



Hope this helps, Eric

 

[seemore]

My problem with the 23000lb figure is that I think it is for a dual rear wheel truck. I need to find the exact weight for my truck with the single rear wheels.



Thanks for the reply.

Try going to Dodge's website & build your truck, near the top on the right it will give you the tow rating. When I did it it looked like the rating was a couple of hundred pounds more for a single rear wheel!!

Be sure to choose the single rear wheel option in the build.



Also if the dealers have the new 2007 brochures look in there. My 2006 brochure had all the tow ratings!

 

[Jeepstang]

Keep in mind that the DRW is the standard on the 3500 truck

SRW is an option

 

[Cattletrkr]

The legal limit on a 1 ton truck is determined by your tires and stopping distance. I have no idea what formula is used for the stopping distance, but DOT says they never check that. Look at what your tires are rated for and that's your legal limit. 3/4 tons are a whole different story. There you're limited to the mfg rating.

My LEGAL GCW is way higher than what most here would say it should be. I go by what MNDOT tells me is legal, not what I read here. Check you state's requirements. Dealer's generally know less than you or I do. That includes Dodge and whoever sold you your 5'er. Very few dealers ever call DOT and ask what's up.

Also your insurance Co. might have a say in this too.

 

[Spooled-up]

Thanks for the replies guys.

ENafziger,

That PDF file was very helpful, but those weights I'm sure are "properly equipped" meaning that I could tow a 15450 lb 5th wheel or gooseneck. Does that also mean that I could tow a travel trailer style toy hauler that weighed 15000 lbs with the factory class IV hitch?



This is the first truck I've had that didn't have a weight rating sticker right on the hitch.



Here's what makes me question that 15450 lb rating:

From the first post:

"The recommended tongue weight is between 10 & 15% of the trailer weight. However, the maximum tongue weight on Class III (The bumper ball) is limited to 500 lbs, and Class IV (The receiver hitch) to 1200 lbs. "



1200 lbs is 10% of 12000 lbs.

Is the factory class IV hitch rated at only 12000 lbs?



Is this the reason for the Class V Titan hitches I read about - to take you to the full load rating of your truck using the receiver hitch and not a gooseneck or 5th wheel?

 

[jelag]

My stock 04 3500 dually towed a trailer that weighed 20-22K lbs most of the time and we just took it out of service with 240K miles... . to make a flat bed out of it and use it in town.....

Towing wasn't the issue, this trailer had power disc brakes and stopped in about 60% of the distance the same trailer would stop with electric brakes... but still it worried me in that in heavy traffic some fool would move into the safety spot in front of the truck and we'd have to stop fast and we'd rear end someone.....

We did this with a gooseneck hitch in the bed rated at 30K lbs... . Hope this helps...

 

[jnelson]

The legal limit on a 1 ton truck is determined by your tires and stopping distance. I have no idea what formula is used for the stopping distance, but DOT says they never check that. Look at what your tires are rated for and that's your legal limit. 3/4 tons are a whole different story. There you're limited to the mfg rating.



My LEGAL GCW is way higher than what most here would say it should be. I go by what MNDOT tells me is legal, not what I read here. Check you state's requirements. Dealer's generally know less than you or I do. That includes Dodge and whoever sold you your 5'er. Very few dealers ever call DOT and ask what's up.



Also your insurance Co. might have a say in this too.

I agree. My truck weight rating of 11,500lbs and my trailer is registered at my max tire rating, around 22,200lbs. My gross being 33,700lbs combined.



I have been in the chicken coop in Falfurias TX when the inspector told a DOT Trooper the truck he was weighing was fine on his registered weight but over on his tire weight rating. And yes, the driver got a ticket. Exceeding manufactures tire weight rating.

 

[Cattletrkr]

And yes, the driver got a ticket. Exceeding manufactures tire weight rating.

To add to that. The legal limit your tires can carry is 500lb for each inch of mfg stated tire width. Doesn't matter what your tire measures, but what the width is stated as. I'm not sure how they factor the weight rating into that though. I know my pickup tires that are 245/70/19. 5 are rated much lighter than my trailer tires that are 235/75/17. 5. All 16 ply. It's all too confusing and DOT relies on that when they give you a ticket.

 

[CCahill]

Kinda curious... . what is the weight limit on the trailer hitch that DC put on your truck . . ??. . I know the one on my truck is rated well below what the truck can pull...

 

[Spooled-up]

Kinda curious... . what is the weight limit on the trailer hitch that DC put on your truck . . ??. . I know the one on my truck is rated well below what the truck can pull...

This is what I'm trying to get at with this thread, but I can't seem to find a solid answer.



I appreciate all the replies though.

 

[LesStallings]

If the max tongue weight is truly 1,200 pounds and you need 15% on the tongue for proper trailer loading, then it seems your loaded trailer weight can not exceed 8,000 pounds (8,000 x 15% = 1,200 pounds).



Obviously all the other considerations need to be followed. My observations of bumper pull trailers running down the highway in cross-winds seem to indicate a need for caution, especially with high profile trailers.

 

[JRMora]

I'm looking for the max travel trailer weight for my truck and I can't seem to find it in the owners manual and the Dodge website says I can tow 15050, but I'm assuming this is for the dually version of my truck with a gooseneck or 5th wheel. Here's what I have:



2007 3500 Mega Cab

5. 9L Cummins

Single Rear Wheel

3. 73 gears

G56 6 speed manual

Towing Package

Weight distributing hitch



I'm looking for the weight the truck is legally certified to tow, not what it is capable of towing in an overloaded state.



Here's what the Dodge website says:



With 3. 73 Axle Ratio You Can Tow 15050 lbs

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR)=10500

Payload=2690

Curb Weight=7810

Curb WeightFront/Rear=4470/3340

GAWRFront/Rear=5200/9350

Gross Combination Weight Rating(GCWR)=23000

I'll take a stab, but I'm having a problem figuring out if you are looking at towing a fifth wheel or travel trailer.



If you are towing a fifth wheel, you're going to run in to a little problem. Either the SRW or DRW has a max GCWR of 23,000 lbs. The problem is with your pin wieght ( and to some degree, your tongue weight).



Using your example from above, if you had a 13,000 pound fifth wheel (and an empty truck, you'd be at:



Truck: 7,810#

Hitch: 250#

Extra passenger: 125#

Total Truck: 8,185#



Payload remaining: 2,315# (10,500-8185)



Trailer: 13,000#



Pin Weight: 2,600#



GCW: 21,185# (13,000 + 8,185) - This is UNDER the GCWR by 1,815#



Now - the problem:



Pin weigth must be added to the truck weight: 2,600 + 8,185 = 10,785# - This is OVER the GVWR of your truck by 285#.



Note, also, that I didn't include any accessories, extra passengers, etc in your truck (I routinely have several hundred pounds of tools, a tool box, nerf bars, etc). And three more children. I have a dually (12,000# GVWR) and I'm within a few hundred pounds of my GVWR when I go for a long trip with the family (My fiver grosses at 13,800#).



Now, I have seen a huge number of trucks towing above their GVWR. Just today, as I was getting one of my propane tanks filled at the campground, I saw a third gen 2500 pulling a 34' HR Presidential with a Chevy HHR in to behind that. He admitted to being over weight (and over length for Colorado), but he just came in from California. "Ran great!". Jelag is not unique in towing well above GVWR, but all of these folks are running commercially and are licensed and registered appropriately.



So, you original statement was that "I'm looking for the weight the truck is legally certified to tow, not what it is capable of towing in an overloaded state", so if you are planning on towing a fifth wheel, you may want to look very carefully at your weights. With a Travel Trailer, you'll probably be more in the ballpark (though if you are going above 12,000#, I'd seriously consider a Titan (or similar) Class 5 hitch installed.



Anyway, it's your call. Hope I've helped with the facts.



Juan

 

[Money Maker]

As you can see by this thread this is a confusing subject. That kinda makes for some murky water and as a result the dealership will be of no help. Even the DMV will get it wrong if you give them a call. The DOT or any weigh station should be able to give you the answer but don't count on it. The answer your ? is use your tire ratings. That is the only thing you can be ticketed for. Also since your hitch (like mine) has no weight rating on it you won't get a ticket for it. I ran an enclosed stacker bumper pull trailer for 200K, tongue weight was 3600-5400#'s depending on load. The hitch barely shows any wear. I have since switched to a gooseneck that puts about 8k#'s on the ball. My trailer is registered for 21K #'s the truck is registered commercial with a GCVW of 40K #'s. I never get that heavy though most I have seen was 34,000 #'s. I was originally going to use a different trailer and it would have put me up around 38K #'s



I run across the scales all day long and have never had an issue with DOT. I am occasionally over on my tire weight on the rear axle tire ratings but they don't ever look at it because the law they are following is "no more than 20,000 pounds on a single axle" if I had dual rear axles my limit would be 34,000 #'s on the rear. See why I told you if you called the DOT they would probably get it wrong.



If you are a camper you won't get hasseled so don't worry about tickets for weight.

 

[Spooled-up]

O. K. , let me clarify things a little. I'm looking to haul a bumper pull toy hauler that could weigh as much as 14500 lbs. This is the trailer gvwr. The highest rating I can come up with for the class IV hitch is 12000 and LesStallings even pointed out that if I use the 15% number I could be limited to 8000 lbs! I'm not commited to this trailer or anything, my buddy and I just got into a conversation about how much our trucks can pull.



He called his insurance company and they told him if he bought the 5th wheel he was looking at and overloaded his truck (rear axle weight rating would be exceeded) that he would NOT be covered in the event of an accident. I guess insurance companies will thoroughly research your setup when you crash it, but the salesman at the trailer dealership says "as long as you have the towing package on your F250 you're fine hauling that 40' fifth wheel!"



I guess the way to haul the maximum amount of weight with this truck is to run a gooseneck or 5th wheel.



I sure would like to find out what the weight rating of that class IV hitch is though!



-Dave

 

[BHolm]

First off, if you can avoid that large of a bumper pull trailer, I would do so. I pulled a buddies 28' car hauler, empty and loaded cross country last winter with my Mega SRW. It was a nightmare even with the dist hitch. I believe the factory bumper hitch is rated for 10,000 lbs. You would need to step up to a class V hitch to pull the 15k, and I would NEVER even consider such a thing without a DRW truck.



If you go with a gooseneck trailer, the pucker factor goes way, way down. I have been far safer and more comfortable pulling a 20k lb load on a gooseneck than a 10k load on a bumper hitch. That is the best advice I could give, I hate big bumper pull trailers and would never own one.



As mentioned, the SRW can tow as much or more than the DRW trucks. What the dually gets you is the ability to put nearly twice as much wieght in the bed of the truck (more tires). I have pulled heavy with both over the years and the SRW trucks are very capable, very stable when hauling even and overloaded gooseneck. They are no fun however with a bumper pull over about 24'. Spend the extra for the gooseneck trailer, it is very worthwhile.

 

[MA2LA]

Ok its time to bring this back up, I'm looking at dump trailers that are rated at 14k and have been wondering what the factory hitch is rated at. I've had 12k behind the truck many times and the handling and all is fine but i've been wondering how much it will take before it calls it quit. When I had my 99 they had a recall on the hitch to add extra suport brackets due to cracking, but mine never showed any signs.

 

[MA2LA]

well I looked around a little and found putnam class 5 hitches. they are rated at 15k and 1500 tw and up to 16k and 1600 tw with distribution. I think that is the way to go and it uses 2" recivers still. but it would be nice to know what the factory setup is rated at.