Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Question about towing capacity

[badams1]

I have a 2001 quad cab, auto, 2 wd, with 3:54-1 gear and have added a 4" exhauast, K&N, Diablo power puck, a big perma cool transcooler with fan & thermostat, guages to watch egt & trans. The truck pulls great in Texas (flatlands). The GCWR is 16,000 for this truck according to the manual. I'm pulling total 10,500 LBs trailer which gives me a total gross weight on the scale of 17,500, which is 1500 over. I plan on going all over the country high and low. With these mods(previously mentioned) do I really need to go to a 4:10 gear??? It seems to run ok like it is, what is the experts opinion? Thanks Wild Bill Ok got some good advice thanks. But what transmission mods are you refering to? It's sounding like a 3:73 gear would be a good alternative because I don't live in the mountains, plus I am concerned about staying in the sweet spot at 65mph. please reply.

 

[klenger]

Can you try the combo in the hills before you make a decision?



I'd offer to trade axles with you if I end up selling my 5er, but you don't have a front axle.

 

[chuck3]

You need a 3rd option, upgrade the transmission. And then stay with the 3. 54's. my 2 cts. and my vote.

 

[SEmerson]

I agree with chuck.

 

[CCBrady]

Wild Bill,

If your going to stay in the flat lands stay with the 3:54s, if your going into the mountains then get a set of 4:10s or maybe a set of 3:73s. Where I live every place is up hill and I know that I spend way to much time out of OD, and down around 50-55MPH. If you stay with the 3:54s you might look into one of the over/under drives. But what ever you do, most definitely upgrade your transmission. Thats my Penny for what its worth.

 

[SEmerson]

When I was stock there was several hill in the area that my truck would down shift on in od. With a few power mods now it will pull right through them with out down shifting. And I still have the tall gears for milage.

 

[me4osu]

Towing

I like the 3. 54 better, but I have a five speed. A 4. 10 may work fine with a six speed. Check your latest issue of the TDR magazine, it has a large article about tow ratings.

 

[Ramboy]

Call Bill K. and upgrade your transmission, keep the 3. 54 and don't worry about it. I tow with a GCW of over 24K with no problems--even in the mountains out west. Also get 11 - 12 mpg.

 

[BigMike]

I believe you're GCVWR of 16000 lbs is wrong. My stick said the same thing and my manual didn't cover my 3. 54 rear axle. I called DC, gave them my VIN # and they told me my GCVWR is 20000 lbs. Bet your's is too.

 

[klenger]

badams1



Here's what you need to do. When you are satisified that you have a large enough poll, count the votes for each option, and calculate your new axle ratios based on the poll results. Example: Right now, there are 5 vots for changing to 4. 10's and 13 for keeping the 3. 54's. Based on that, 28% feel you should switch. Adding 28% to the difference between the 3. 54's and 4. 10's yields a nex axle ratio of 3. 70. It looks perfect to me.



I are an en-ga-near.

 

[kprice]

why not tires

If your just worried about one trip why not go to a smaller diameter tire size. I dont remember the math but I believe if you drop two sizes in diameter you would have the equivilant of 4:10.

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

Wrong question. If you have an automatic, the obscene 0. 69 overdrive ratio is such a big step that towing with an automatic should always get the 4. 1 ratio. If you have the 6 speed HO get the 3. 54 unless the GCVW is 20,000 or over.



My next rig will be the 6 speed with the 3. 73 gears.

 

[coreyallan]

Big Boat towing

"Towers" I am planning a trip from Chicago to Maine towing a 38' Cigarette, trailer boat combo weighing 12k. I have a 00 QC srw 4x4 5spd short bed. What do you think? I dont have to use my truck but I would if I thought it was feasable. What is the rated towing cap of my truck? I put 14. 5 behind our shop truck same configuration and it was squirrelly. I had good toung weight and all that stuff, it was just heavy... I kinda want to take a QC or 4dr 8' bed duelly. I just want to maintain good speed and not get pushed all over the place. The trailer is a tripple axle w 6 wheel brakes. Thanks for the help... .

 

[16919]

I would go for the dually if you had it...

 

[johncameron]

I believe you're GCVWR of 16000 lbs is wrong. My stick said the same thing and my manual didn't cover my 3. 54 rear axle. I called DC, gave them my VIN # and they told me my GCVWR is 20000 lbs. Bet your's is too.

No. it's right. It is lower just because of the auto transmission#@$%!

 

[Loren]

"Towers" I am planning a trip from Chicago to Maine towing a 38' Cigarette, trailer boat combo weighing 12k. I have a 00 QC srw 4x4 5spd short bed. What do you think? I dont have to use my truck but I would if I thought it was feasable. What is the rated towing cap of my truck? I put 14. 5 behind our shop truck same configuration and it was squirrelly. I had good toung weight and all that stuff, it was just heavy... I kinda want to take a QC or 4dr 8' bed duelly. I just want to maintain good speed and not get pushed all over the place. The trailer is a tripple axle w 6 wheel brakes. Thanks for the help... .

coreyallen,



My 2000 truck was a 2500 model that had:

1. Quad Cab

2. short bed

3. 4x4

4. six-speed manual transmission

5. 3. 54 differential ratios



The sticker on the truck said that the GCVWR was 16,000 pounds. That is the rated combined load of the truck plus the trailer.



My truck weighed just about 8000 pounds with all the junk in it that I normally carried. The trailer weighed just a bit under 10,000 pounds.



The rated capacity (trailer weight) of the factory hitch on our trucks is 10,000 pounds. This limit applies ONLY if you use an equalizing (weight distributing) hitch. If you do not use an equalizing hitch, the factory hitch trailer weight limit is 5000 pounds.



To be "by the book" you must not exceed ANY of these limits. I obviously did when I towed my 10,000 pound trailer behind my 8000 pound truck.



In spite of being above the rated limit, the trailer towed beautifully once I found the right hitch. For me that was an Equal-i-zer (brand) hitch. With two different hitches prior to the Equal-i-zer, I had minor problems with sway.



While you may be over the limits, and may get in SERIOUS trouble in case of an accident, you can probably tow the 12,000 boat trailer behind your truck. This does not constitute an endorsement, nor approval of this practice. Tow at your own risk.



Good luck,

Loren

 

[johncameron]

My 2001 truck is a 2500 model:

1. Quad Cab

2. short bed

3. 2x4

4. six-speed manual transmission

5. 3. 54 differential ratios

6. GCVWR 20,000lbs

7, max towing (5er) 13,800lbs

 

[AClayton]

coreyallen,



My 2000 truck was a 2500 model that had:

1. Quad Cab

2. short bed

3. 4x4

4. six-speed manual transmission

5. 3. 54 differential ratios



The sticker on the truck said that the GCVWR was 16,000 pounds. That is the rated combined load of the truck plus the trailer.



My truck weighed just about 8000 pounds with all the junk in it that I normally carried. The trailer weighed just a bit under 10,000 pounds.



The rated capacity (trailer weight) of the factory hitch on our trucks is 10,000 pounds. This limit applies ONLY if you use an equalizing (weight distributing) hitch. If you do not use an equalizing hitch, the factory hitch trailer weight limit is 5000 pounds.



To be "by the book" you must not exceed ANY of these limits. I obviously did when I towed my 10,000 pound trailer behind my 8000 pound truck.



In spite of being above the rated limit, the trailer towed beautifully once I found the right hitch. For me that was an Equal-i-zer (brand) hitch. With two different hitches prior to the Equal-i-zer, I had minor problems with sway.



While you may be over the limits, and may get in SERIOUS trouble in case of an accident, you can probably tow the 12,000 boat trailer behind your truck. This does not constitute an endorsement, nor approval of this practice. Tow at your own risk.



Good luck,

Loren

Loren,

I agree with you and have been beat up on the RV forum trying to explain this very subject. Many people overload their trucks and hitches,including myself,but you place yourself in a vulnerable liability doing it. Our trucks will carry and tow a lot of weight and with the auto,it is much lower than with the 6 spd. However,it is the same truck... . upgrade auto and put a bigger cooler... . Now the trans can handle more than stock 6 spd. Your book still states 16K GCWR but the 'weight police'as I was referred to on the RV forum,still look at what is in the manual. You take a chance,not with our trucks so much,but with the consequences of an accident ... . if proven that overloaded or not loaded properly. I'm not 100% certain,but I think it is worse if you carry a CDL.

 

[coreyallan]

Oh boy, I didn't mean to poach this thread, to those who are offended I apologise... Thank you to everyone that has responded. I'm gunna use the DRW to get the boat back from Chicago then for my local 5 mile tow to the boat ramp I'll use my shortie... .