Too Heavy?

[Cummnzpowr]

Ok, the enclosed gooseneck trailer i sometimes have to use to haul tires with is somewhere around a 25-28ft long,tandem axle that weighs 6,000lbs. empty {so it says}. When i have a load of tires {say about 200 tires} in it, my guess is it weighs between 12,000lbs and 14,000 lbs roughly. My question is. . is this too much for a 2wd regular cab truck?I mean when i take off things vibrate and the trucks seems really strained when it shouldn't be, though it's about at it's limit weight wise. It stops ok but just feels way too much trailer for the truck?Anyone else have experience towing a similar combination?Much Appreciated

 

[Diesel Nut]

My 5th wheel (converted to gooseneck) weighs about 13K lbs and is 12'6" tall and 8' wide. Have to remind myself it's there. I do have some performance mods, but I haven't towed with the new fueling box. My 93 350 4x4 would tow around an 8K lb travel trailer like it was nothing. I would think you have plenty of truck for what you are doing.

BTW- I had an 02 with 3. 55 gears and it loved to pull that 5th wheel. In 6th she would grunt and lean into it. With a standard gearbox, you should be fine. What size tires do you have? I had 285 75R16 on my 02 2500 and if I wanted to hang out around 55-60mph I stayed in 5th gear, but above that I went to 6th. If you have, say 235's you've got alot less tire, thus more torque at the ground, and more leverage against the trailer.

Also, if you tow like that with any regularity, I HIGHLY recommend a good exhaust brake! I will never be without, but thats me. . . . .

 

[HBarlow]

The best answer I can offer is to run it across a grain elevator or other public scale when fully loaded so that you'll know what you're actually pulling.



Whatever it weighs, it's not too much for the Cummins but may shorten the life of your clutch and five speed, particularly with 3. 54 gears.



With a 3. 54 ring and pinion and six speed my truck grunts a little on start-up and I can feel the driveline wind up a little when I engage the clutch with my 14k 5er behind but it tows it great.



Harvey

 

[LesStallings]

My GN is 34' and my latest load was 13,500# including the trailer. I set the cruise control at 3-4 MPH over the speed limit (75 MPH in some of the states I cross) and seldom have to downshift into 5th. gear. Before the EZ box I would need to downshift more often. I've tried a lot of gooseneck height settings, settling on a very, very slight up angle on the trailer. I also go to great lengths to achieve the desired 60% front load ratio. I was surprised at how much ride attitude and load distribution makes.



A properly setup trailer with your truck will be a sweet combination. You will know when it is right. If you don't like your current setup, work on improving it. It will be worth the effort.

 

[Cummnzpowr]

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Thanks for the info fellas...



Diesel Nut:You have to remember my truck is 2-wheel drive regular cab with 245/75-R16's {E-Rated of course}. I keep getting a nasty vibration from under the truck like a carrier bearing, but i checked it and it seems ok. Maybe it's the clutch. I don't have overload springs yet either, so it squats good with that trailer. I try to get my boss to let me run the 20ft. one most of the time, i know that other one is too much for the truck. BTW, my grandparents live in Elk Grove on Calle Linda off I-99 . . where abouts are you?

 

[ndurbin]

Is the vibration when you let out on the clutch? If so it might be the clutch or flywheel being warped from to much heat. Even with a slipping slushbox I could pull my 24' stock trailer loaded down to about 15-16,000 w/o to much trouble. Just had to start out in 4Lo to get it moving. Since I have got a new slushbox it groans pretty good starting out but pulls pretty good. I need to do a brake upgrade and exhaust brake tho to help stop. I generally use the trailers brakes to stop since the truck's are barely adequate enough to stop itself.



Nathan

 

[Diesel Nut]

Cummnzpowr

I'm stuck in town for now between 99 and I-5 off Elk Grove blvd. Can't wait to get out where I can stretch out a bit! My girlfriend just quit managing a store right behind your grandparents house! Small world, eh? Drop me a PM if you come into town to see your grand folks. Always look forward to meeting other dieselheads. :-laf