Tow Limits

[plntmgr]

Just bought a new rig and puts me very close to my weight limits. I would like to hear from some of you guys that are close to your limits also. I don't want the extra power as we're retired and have all the time in the world and I really don't want to go to a 3500. Your input appreciated.



'98. 5 2500 Auto 354 60 gal fuel Installing Air Lift bags.



'01 32' Alpenlite double slider.

 

[KB0OU]

Tow it

I tow all sizes,,, Have never had a problem.

Just recently towed a 36 foot to Midwest City, OK, it was a Montana, not the lightest of 5 vers.



Go have fun!!!!!!

 

[BigMike]

You are likely over your GVW rating of 8800lbs for your truck and probably over the 18000lb combined rating for truck and 5er. Is that a big deal? Depends on who you ask. There have been numerous posts discussing that topic and opinions really vary. You need to go weigh your rig and then see where you're at. You might be able to make some adjustments in distribution of your load in your trailer to reduce your pin weight.

 

[RJOL]

Close...

I have a 32' Alpenlite, and the empty weight is 9,000lbs +. Fully loaded you could easily be at 11,000lbs with a 2400-2600lb king pin weight on you hitch (which is close to that limit too). You would have probably been better off with a 5 or 6 speed manual, and 4:10 rear end. Your also probably going to wish you had a little more HP on uphill tows. An "EZ" might be a good investment, but don't know if your transmission will take it without mods. Good luck... .

 

[SnoKing]

plntmgr



What makes you think that you will be close to your GVWR. You will be 1000 to 1500 over it. Extra fuel tank 60 x 7. 1 = 426 plus the weight of the tank will be over 500 lbs. Pin weight as RJOL says will be around 2500 lbs. You can put air bags on it, but you are fooling yourshelf. Your GCVWR for 3. 54 gears is 16K, and you will be well over that also.



You should have a 3500 duallie with 4:10 gears.



Air bigs will not increase your GVWR rating. Get in an accident and you could be in deep dodo.



Here are my weights, see sig.



4140 Front axle

4620 Rear axle

8760 Total for Truck

6820 Trailer axle

15580 Total GCVW

GCVWR 18,000 or 20K depending on what you read.

8800 GVWR for the Truck. Dry pin weight 1795.



SNOKING

 

[RJOL]

plntmgr

Again, I don't know what your Ram setup is (QC/Reg Cab/4X2/4X4), but for the 2001 your GCWR is 18-20,000lbs. Dodge towing charts say that your king pin weight should be no more than 25% of your total trailer weight. If you trailer weight is 11,000lbs, that would be a maximum of 2750lbs on the kingpin.



I think the point here is that you will be close to max, if not over on your tow limits. Does that mean that your truck will fall apart? No, it just means that you may be close, if not over, to going over the weight recommendations from Dodge...



If someone has better charts, be my guest in correcting any of this...

 

[klenger]

I operate the combination shown in my sig. With the loaded camper on the truck, I am right at about GVWR for the truck without passengers. That means that with the wife, me, and the cat, we are several hundered lbs over GVWR. As you can see from the pics from the links in my sig, the combination sits level (actually still tail high) when loaded, and handles very well. I am under my GCVWR (20,000) by about 2500 lbs. In my case, I feel I am operating close enough to the numbers as to not be a problem. It appears that your numbers are not that close.



Do you already own the combination? Have you towed it yet? How does it handle?

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by plntmgr

Just bought a new rig and puts me very close to my weight limits. I would like to hear from some of you guys that are close to your limits also. I don't want the extra power as we're retired and have all the time in the world and I really don't want to go to a 3500. Your input appreciated.



'98. 5 2500 Auto 354 60 gal fuel Installing Air Lift bags.



'01 32' Alpenlite double slider.

You have the GO but how about the whooo. Auto transmission is at most a weak link as it precludes a exhaust brake a must when towing if you plan on going over the Rockey Mtns going up ok down ? As to over limit it only counts in court some smart lawyer will get some of your retirement asigned over to some one if you are in a injury accident and you will be found in fault. Lighten the load or go with a trade up to 3500 all the add ons will not change the stated weight limits ,the truck will pull the load but you will still be in violation . You may not ever get in a accident or have any thing go bad but I think you are asking for and wanting some one to confirm your decision to go with your set up ,but no one can say what is best for you . Just a few thaughts hope this helps . Ron in Louisville Ky

 

[CharlieMiller]

Plntmgr,



You are definately pushing the upper limits and have passed a few. I guess it comes down to what are you comfortable with? I didn't really want to go down the 3500 path either but did, for safety reasons & liability - just too dang many eager lawyers that have nothing better to do. I've had a dually before and there really is nothing like it when you are hauling a nice load or big trailer. But ultimately it comes down to what you can afford and what you are comfortable with. Good luck with your decision whatever it may be. I know what I would do.

 

[SnoKing]

Diese1nut





What does the truck weight when hooked up? You sure are overloaded. You must be close to your 6084 GAWR on the rear. Sound pretty scary for a SRW truck. SNOKING

 

[Cliffman]

Over the limet

You're all over the limet and your going to jail. LOL Just make sure the 5er hitch can handle the load and get a E-break. Use some common sense and you'll be fine. I pull a 15,000 lbs 5er and can pull a 6% grade at 60 mph and I'm very safe goen down the hill

 

[SnoKing]

Diese1nut



Oh, I must have misread your post, I thought you said that you had a 2500, you obiously MUST have a 3500, no one in their right mind would do that to a 2500. I like the Rancho RS9000 I put on the back of my truck. SNOKING

 

[klenger]

Snow King:



It looks like Diese1nut has the new SWB version of the 3500.

 

[RustyJC]

Re: Heavy 2500

Originally posted by Diese1nut

That will give me a 6830 lb axle rating which will make my rear axle only 220 lb's over. I know my gross combo is still 2700 lb's over. However to cover my butt [which is still a grey area] I have my registered GVW at 12k and my trailer is rated at 14k. I also have a door sticker from a custom truck shop that says this truck has been altered to a new GVW rating of 12k.

Sigh!

Drive safely!!!

Ummm... yeah, right!



Rusty

 

[roadranger]

Now, where was that picture post of a guy with a large 5er towed by a single rear wheel 350 Ford, who spun out in the rain on a highway in Texas??

When he slid into the mud on the side of the pavement, the truck dug in, and the 20,000lb something 5er rolled the truck right over, and it landed underneath the 5er, squishing that Ford FLAT!



Drive carefully??? You BET!