Tow rating for rams are underrated

[EMDDIESEL]

Hi all. I was at work (And bored) today so i decided to see just how powerful my truck is. I work for the Railroad and decided to see if i could pull a freight car. Well it works, using an emergency chain from one of our locomotives (It is a MONSTER chain). We have a track that is right next to the entrance road to the yard. So, i attatched the chain from my hitch ball to the lifting eye on the side of a 70 ton covered hopper, starting off slow i pulled the car about 20 feet, then its momentum picked up and it almost sideswiped my truck. So i think its safe to say the Ram is good for at least a 70 ton trailer (In case anybody has one that big). My frind took pictures, ill be posting them when i get them. (Ok, it was totally level track, and the freight car has roller bearings so it really was not that big an accomplishment but it sure looked cool and made my truck seem REALLY powerful for about 30 seconds!)

 

[Runaway]

I believe the tow ratings are for both what can be started and STOPPED safely. As you found out you can get it started, but stopping is another concern. #ad


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"01" Forest Green QC/LB ETH/DEE,4x4, 3. 54LSD, VDO (boost, pyro) Westin SS Nerf Bars and Grill Gaurd, Delta tool box, K&N.
00 28' Jayco 5th Wheel, 86 "Classic 16" Alumacraft, 00 Honda Rancher
Towing with a slight "edge" on the competition!

 

[MCummings]

What kindof transmission does your truck have?
Auto, 5-Speed, or 6-Speed?
and what rear-end gears?
2wd or 4wd?


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MerickNJr

 

[KatDiesel]

Just wondering, when you tried this had you thought bout stopping the hopper?? Did you have someone riding the car to apply the handbrake? Moving things are easy, stopping is the hard part..... glad ya picked a level track at least, would hate to have seen it runaway... ...

How come you didn't try a loaded coal car? That would give ya a lil more to brag bout since they are usually 135 to 145tons or so.

Which railroad you work for? CSX or Norfolk Southern? What do you do?

 

[SlyBones]

Would be interesting to know if the ratings have anything to do with weight limits based on drivers license categories.

My friend works a drilling company. Mostly drilling wells and stuff like that. He claims they take stock trucks and the state lets them be rated for 30,000 GCVW. Only catch is they all had to get CDL.

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1997 2500 4x4, CC, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, 68K, Everything inc Leather, K&N, 4" BD cat-back, otherwise stock, Isspro Gauges(3), 285/75/16 on Alcola's, RS9000's, Molded Side Steps w/ Ground Effects, Chrome Trim, Canopy, ProFlaps F&R, BedLiner, Aux. Lighting F&R, and tons more.

 

[Archive]

Hi EMDDIESEL, Way Cool #ad
I am on my second Cummins and allways wanted to hook up to something BIG. Just to see what it would do. Cant wait to see pictures.

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2001 RAM H. O. 6Sp 2500 SLT 4x4 Quad Cab, 4Wheel Disc, 4. 10 Limited Slip, Fog Lights, Muffler removed, Silence Ring Gone, Autometer Pro Comp Boost & Pyro, K&N RE-0880, Skyjacker 2. 5 lift Class 2, 7218 Dual steering stabilizers, Custom Pro Fab Trackbar (sweet), EGR Flares (nice fit), Centerline Comet III 16x9. 5 with 305/70R16, Smittybuilt stainless steps, THIS IS NOT A HOBBY, THIS IS AN ADDICTION !!! MAINLINING DIESEL !!!

 

[KeithW75]

Hey Slybones, what do you mean when you say the state let hime register it as 30,000 gvw??? I along with several people I know license our dodges with 34,000 Beyond Local or Farm plates and don't need a CDL. You don't even need a CDL for a Semi unless you are drving it for hire.

Keith

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have a 2001 4x4 with the Auto Trans. And yes, i had my condutor ride the car to work the hand brake so if the car took off it would not take my ram (And me) with it. To answer the other question, I work for CSX as a Locomotive Engineer. I work Philedelphia to North Jersey and Philly to Richmond and Cumberland and points in between. And for my next big pull, i am waiting for an AC6000 locomotive to come into the yard. I will try and pull that with my Ram. It weighs a mere 227 tons. I will get the camcorder for that one!.

 

[Bad340fish]

Hey Man, Not to rain on your parade but it only takes 1HP to move 1000lbs on rails. So if your stock you can pull 235K I guess #ad
Cool huh?? Might hook up more than one??
Clark

 

[Dane]

Post the pictures so we can start rattling the chains of the Duracrax and Flower Poke folks #ad
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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[SmokinJoe]

Originally posted by EMDDIESEL:
i am waiting for an AC6000 locomotive to come into the yard. I will try and pull that with my Ram. It weighs a mere 227 tons. I will get the camcorder for that one!.

You must post this on a web site, the guys at work cannot believe the photo at Enterprise Engine Performance, I am sure they will have a harder time with your video...



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2001. 5 QC 2500 White Sport 4x4 LWB ETC 5-Speed Anti-Spin 3. 54 Trailer Tow 241HD SLT+ Tan Leather(Mad Cow Disease) LT265/75R16E

 

[SlyBones]

KeithW75,
I guess I really dont know why they had to get a CDL. Only know what Dan explained. Could be job related, and nothing to do with truck weight ratings.

But it does appear that you can legally get your truck rated for much than the 20,000 that dodge rated them for. Which is the original question or point, these things are under rated??

[This message has been edited by SlyBones (edited 04-10-2001). ]

 

[TowPro]

Maybe you should hook up to several cars, this would be more impressive then say one locomotive that most people don't have a clue about what they weigh. Better yet, got any loaded cars with Duramaxe pads on them? That would be a great Dodge commercial, you pulling 3 loaded dumpsters of DuraMaxepads!

Well maybe not, Dodge would have another reason to void your warrantee!!!

 

[RobbyRam]

Not this winter, but the winter before, a large concrete 'pumper truck' got buried up to their rear axle in mud while pumping concrete to a new lot. No one was able to help.
I was inspecting roofs when I happened upon the stuck 'pumper' and offered to try to pull then out. I had just bought my truck, however I was confident that, even 'unbombed,' it would do the job.
I borrowed a large strap & shackle from a scaffolding truck and just pulled that pumper out of the mud on '4-low' like there was 'NOTHING' being towed!
I think now I would pull his front axle off! #ad


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Y2K Awesome Black LB 3500 QC SLT, 24Valve ETC ISB, 4x4, 4:10 LSD, DTT Custom prepared Auto transmission VB, Power Edge 'EZ', DD2's, K&N, Polished Stull Billet Grill/Fog inserts, Chrome Smitty-Built Step Rails, Mopar Chrome-Tipped Mud Flaps, A-Pillar mounted West-Tach Turbo/Pyro/Trans Temp gauges, Rancho 9000's, Diamond Plated Tool Box, + a bunch of other stuff. Fact:The First Fords' had 'DODGE' Engines! The new PSD's need them!

 

[HossDiesel]

If its a comm-veh then you must have a CDL, i drive our 2 ton winch truck with a 25 foot low boy with a D-6 on the back all the time and get away with it because its a farm truck.

 

[Skydiver]

EMDDIESEL
I always have been interested in trains. Glad there was someone on the hand brake. When I read your post first thing that came to my mind was your truck being pulled along side the hopper. But anyway glad to hear that the pull went safe. Sounds like too much fun.
Next time pull the ENGINE with it idling and just have another engineer apply the air brake. Cool!
locomotives & water plants-not just anybody can operate one. Legally that is.

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1996 3500 87K. auto,3. 54,Ext. cab.
K&N air
Truck looks just like the truck on left side of page 6 issue 31.
1981 Mercedes 300D Non-turbo 174K miles
1987 blue phord 2810 tractor 456 hours.

 

[Champane Flight]

A freind of mine pull started a fully loaded Peterbilt had 10000+ gals of propane on it. Weighed in at 80,000lbs.

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95 Dodge 2500 Luverne grill guard,headache rack,running boards and Amzoiled. Soon to be mildly bombed. 84 Dodge d-150, 318 Hooker headers,Edelbrok intake,mallory ignition,Carter Afb,Accel coil,and Custom dual exhaust. Boat,fifthwheel,motorcycles,and shop. 72000 as of 3/1/01,not even broke in yet. Old Dodge 126000 miles and running better than new.

 

[Max Wedge]

EMDDIESEL,

You are the MAN! #ad
I am still wiping the tears out of my eyes--you guys are nuts! Post the pictures so we can start rattling the chains of the Duracrax and Flower Poke folks #ad
That would be a great Dodge commercial, you pulling 3 loaded dumpsters of DuraMaxepads! #ad
I am dying here--can't wait for the pics. Thats why I love this site--I have finally found a group of guys that are as "igornat" as I am!
Semi


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Y2K Black 3500 4x4 SLT+ Leather ETC/DGA DMF/DSA Luverne SST Bars
'64 Plymouth 426 III (Max Wedge)
'79 Chrysler 300 T-Tops NRA Member

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

That's it!!! I now am running around the back lot of D/C with a chain extending from the other side of the service lot and will now clamp on the clevis (*tink) there we go and starting the truck (play along folks) O. k slipping her into four low (*ka-tunk) and in 1st she goes (slight lurch) now while I take up the slack let me explain..... ( More Service bays... . =... . more techs that can work more eficiently and concentrate on the Ram/Cummins combo and not all of these forest green caravans O. K slack is taken up and here we go (rpm's build) *Knock... Knock (on the window) hey look it's the service manager why is he holding up that warrantee paperwork wearing a skull and crossbones shirt and a neuce in the other hand? What's that I had my blinker on while towing and now my POWERTRAIN warrantee is now null and void. The moral of the story Don't let the dealer jerk you around with ignorant b. s Just jerk the dealer first and tell 'em you gave them the test on the <font color=#2F4F4F>Power</font> <font color=#E02020>Train</font> #ad

Sorry for the senseless Babbling and warped humor (little too much 3812S reducer)
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[Bad340fish]

Got anymore of that stuff?? Share man lol