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towing 17,000 lb
- Thread starter Aliff
- Start Date
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Aliff
Look at both my trucks. I was towing a 36' Cedar Creek at 3000# hitch weight and total RV at about 13. 5-14k. The truck with the extra springs did a great job but the tires are just not available to be extremely safe under emergency stops or manuvers. I went to 3500 DRW and don't regret it a minute.
Look at both my trucks. I was towing a 36' Cedar Creek at 3000# hitch weight and total RV at about 13. 5-14k. The truck with the extra springs did a great job but the tires are just not available to be extremely safe under emergency stops or manuvers. I went to 3500 DRW and don't regret it a minute.
i dont fully make your question requirements as i have a 6 speed, BUT i am a short box 2wd SRW. i regret not buying a dually as i traded in a dually. i tow 22k though
i am upgrading to 19. 5's in the next couple weeks. this is my main concern. my pin weight is about 2900lbs. i added air bags and my trailer has brakes on all three axles. the truck with the brake smart and jake stops faster loaded than empty.
i try to let the dodge and the trailer sit level to the ground, not to each other. this allows the ride height sensing brake proportioning valve do a bit of the work and send some of the brake bias to the rear a little more than it would if it was at normal ride height (due ot the air bags)
this helps a bit as well.
the weak link in MY eyes about OUR setup is the factory tires. you can do it, but stay around 65mph or less and stop every couple of hours to check tires. your other weak link I THINK, again in my eyes is the auto. but i have no personal experience with dodge autos. i have a BAD rap when it comes to any auto and kill them easily, so i figured why chance it with a company who is known for bad autos. .
hope i could help.
Grant
i am upgrading to 19. 5's in the next couple weeks. this is my main concern. my pin weight is about 2900lbs. i added air bags and my trailer has brakes on all three axles. the truck with the brake smart and jake stops faster loaded than empty.
i try to let the dodge and the trailer sit level to the ground, not to each other. this allows the ride height sensing brake proportioning valve do a bit of the work and send some of the brake bias to the rear a little more than it would if it was at normal ride height (due ot the air bags)
this helps a bit as well.
the weak link in MY eyes about OUR setup is the factory tires. you can do it, but stay around 65mph or less and stop every couple of hours to check tires. your other weak link I THINK, again in my eyes is the auto. but i have no personal experience with dodge autos. i have a BAD rap when it comes to any auto and kill them easily, so i figured why chance it with a company who is known for bad autos. .
hope i could help.
Grant
Towing Heavy
I pull a 39' HitchHiker Champaigne with 4 slides. Hitch weight about 4000# and around 17,500. I went with 19. 5 wheels and tires with Timbren overload rubber springs. The truck handled it just fine.
Warning, do not purchase Michelin G load range XZE!!!! I did and almost lost my rig because of the hard and no cross tread tires. O. K. on dry pavement, but no good on wet roads.
I made a big mistake not ordering duels when I ordered in '03. Truck was not rated for the load so I gave up after the tire spinning and slipping so have sold the truck I liked more than any truck I have owned. Now breaking in a new Kodiak 4500 till the Dodge 4500/5500 is out and proven.
J. V.
I pull a 39' HitchHiker Champaigne with 4 slides. Hitch weight about 4000# and around 17,500. I went with 19. 5 wheels and tires with Timbren overload rubber springs. The truck handled it just fine.
Warning, do not purchase Michelin G load range XZE!!!! I did and almost lost my rig because of the hard and no cross tread tires. O. K. on dry pavement, but no good on wet roads.
I made a big mistake not ordering duels when I ordered in '03. Truck was not rated for the load so I gave up after the tire spinning and slipping so have sold the truck I liked more than any truck I have owned. Now breaking in a new Kodiak 4500 till the Dodge 4500/5500 is out and proven.
J. V.
I have a '03 36' toyhauler 5th wheel which is about 15,500 total. . total combined is 23,500.
I have the 6 speed and I think that is better for gearing and control. I have the 3:54 gears and with the 6 speed it helps some...
For the Auto, I'd do an upgrade to like a tripple lock by ATS or something like that to have a little better bullet proof transmission.
I also have the 19. 5" Forged Aluminum Rims from Ricksons... The tires I went with was Michelin XDE-MS 245 70 R 19. 5 "F" rated 12 ply tires...
These tires haul the load very well and could probably haul more... Rated at 4080# @95 psi.
Best to have a Jacobs brake for easy slowing and going down grades. . I get 10 Mpg towing.
I get the best runs at 65-70, I do feel it and I have Roadmaster Springs for the extra load. Any other things you do will be good, like Airbags or such.
I have the 6 speed and I think that is better for gearing and control. I have the 3:54 gears and with the 6 speed it helps some...
For the Auto, I'd do an upgrade to like a tripple lock by ATS or something like that to have a little better bullet proof transmission.
I also have the 19. 5" Forged Aluminum Rims from Ricksons... The tires I went with was Michelin XDE-MS 245 70 R 19. 5 "F" rated 12 ply tires...
These tires haul the load very well and could probably haul more... Rated at 4080# @95 psi.
Best to have a Jacobs brake for easy slowing and going down grades. . I get 10 Mpg towing.
I get the best runs at 65-70, I do feel it and I have Roadmaster Springs for the extra load. Any other things you do will be good, like Airbags or such.
My truck is not exactly what you are asking, but I tow 16k in tandem, and feel very comfortable doing so. I usually tow between 65 - 70 on the wide open interstates out west. I have a Jake for decending the long hills, but the service brakes on my truck and trailers do an adequate job of stopping the train.
The pin weight on my 5er is only about 1800, so I am well under the load range of my tires. You may want to check your pin weight on your trailer before making a decision. As other's said, that is probably the weak link.
The pin weight on my 5er is only about 1800, so I am well under the load range of my tires. You may want to check your pin weight on your trailer before making a decision. As other's said, that is probably the weak link.
We tow a 17,000lb. camper. 24,000 to 25,000 Gross (depends on load fuel etc... ). Verified by CAT Scale.
1999 36' Travel Supreme RLTSO Triple Slide.
Our truck is a 6spd. Not Auto.
I would not want to tow it without a dually. That would be VERY scary!!
We tow primarily around Florida right now.
We cruise at 70 with no one around 60 to 65 normally. No problem. The rig handles best at 60 to just under 65. I feel "more in control" at those speeds.
Braking is not bad. Truck and Trailer have awesome brakes. I always leave plenty of room and plan ahead (just to be safe). You never know if something will fail or break.
As a side note. We have a pulled a Royals International that weighed in at 18,000 lbs. We pulled that camper with an auto. Had to pull it in 3rd gear. It was a slow boat to China with that weight. 55 to 60 was tops with that rig. 55 was more comfortable. Had to plan WAY ahead to stop.
What we have now works, but we are currently shopping for a MDT.
With the weights you are considering you are begining to enter MDT territory.
I have seen some pretty spectactular crashes that involved heavy rigs and SRW trucks. Not a good idea. You should at the very least be considering a dually with that kind of weight.
AJ
1999 36' Travel Supreme RLTSO Triple Slide.
Our truck is a 6spd. Not Auto.
I would not want to tow it without a dually. That would be VERY scary!!
We tow primarily around Florida right now.
We cruise at 70 with no one around 60 to 65 normally. No problem. The rig handles best at 60 to just under 65. I feel "more in control" at those speeds.
Braking is not bad. Truck and Trailer have awesome brakes. I always leave plenty of room and plan ahead (just to be safe). You never know if something will fail or break.
As a side note. We have a pulled a Royals International that weighed in at 18,000 lbs. We pulled that camper with an auto. Had to pull it in 3rd gear. It was a slow boat to China with that weight. 55 to 60 was tops with that rig. 55 was more comfortable. Had to plan WAY ahead to stop.
What we have now works, but we are currently shopping for a MDT.
With the weights you are considering you are begining to enter MDT territory.
I have seen some pretty spectactular crashes that involved heavy rigs and SRW trucks. Not a good idea. You should at the very least be considering a dually with that kind of weight.
AJ
17000 lbs trailer should have 25% pin weight but we all know these campers are designed light on the pin. 20% of 17000 is 3400 lbs. If your truck only weighs 3000 lbs on the rear axle "loaded up" (fuel, tools, etc. ) then you are just over your rear tire ratings @ 80 PSI (3195 EACH).
You can't pull 17k without going over your rear axle tire limits on a SRW unless
you go with 17. 5's (hard to find)
you go with 19. 5's (expensive but a good solution IMO but your R&P gearing is pretty high for this much weight)
you go with the higher load larger 17" tires (3700 lbs or something each but the diameter is too large for my taste, and still only @ 80 PSI)
you remove weight from the rear axle (e. g. removing the bed)
or, unless your pin weight is unusually low, in which case you are probably going to have unsafe handling.
You can't pull 17k without going over your rear axle tire limits on a SRW unless
you go with 17. 5's (hard to find)
you go with 19. 5's (expensive but a good solution IMO but your R&P gearing is pretty high for this much weight)
you go with the higher load larger 17" tires (3700 lbs or something each but the diameter is too large for my taste, and still only @ 80 PSI)
you remove weight from the rear axle (e. g. removing the bed)
or, unless your pin weight is unusually low, in which case you are probably going to have unsafe handling.
I run an 04, now has 197K miles, and pulls 20K all the time as a 3500 dually with a 6 speed..... power disc brakes on the trailer... . never been through a tank full of fuel without a trailer on... our other trailers used electric brakes and we've had to panic stop them... . the power disc brakes will stop the truck in about 60% of the distance as the electric brakes... . a great safety factor... .
We have no problems with this weight..... using a goose neck hitch and air bags on the pickup... . would like a little more HP for hills but we don't turn up the HP as we need each truck to run 350 to 400 K before we trade... .
If you have specific questions I'd be happy to answer... . what I know with the stick...
Everyone that I know that's using an auto has had to install a transmission cooler, and torque converter lock up when using an exhaust brake with that kind of weight... .
We have no problems with this weight..... using a goose neck hitch and air bags on the pickup... . would like a little more HP for hills but we don't turn up the HP as we need each truck to run 350 to 400 K before we trade... .
If you have specific questions I'd be happy to answer... . what I know with the stick...
Everyone that I know that's using an auto has had to install a transmission cooler, and torque converter lock up when using an exhaust brake with that kind of weight... .
Jelag
Would you clarify one thing? I'm not being judgemental, just trying to understand. You say you are towing 20k.
Does that mean with the weight of your dually which I think is about what mine is @ 8,000 plus or minus and the 20k you are towing.
That is 28k total... . Is that what you are saying?
CUMMINZ
Would you clarify one thing? I'm not being judgemental, just trying to understand. You say you are towing 20k.
Does that mean with the weight of your dually which I think is about what mine is @ 8,000 plus or minus and the 20k you are towing.
That is 28k total... . Is that what you are saying?
CUMMINZ
We have the exact same trailer as Litespeed above. '99 36RLTSO Travel Supreme. We must have more crap in ours though. It weighed 16,800 last year when I weighed it. We are 25,500 rolling down the road.
We used to pull it with an auto SRW, and it was SCAREY. It always felt like the trailer was trying to push the rear end of the truck around on tight curves or sharp turns.
We traded for the dually in my sig, and while it is still a load for the truck, it feels much more stable. Now it feels like the truck is pulling the trailer around a curve, instead of the trailer pushing the truck. Tight curves such as an on-ramp were the worst. Now the trailer goes where I want it to go.
We travel mostly in the Western USA, and have not had any problems. I try to stay around 60 to 65 mph. I will back off even more in heavy traffic. On an open interstate, I will get close to 70 if I am "getting a run" at a hill. Usually I stay right around 60 though. That feels pretty comfortable.
If we were retired, we would be shopping for an HDT. I would by pass the MDT and go right to the HDT. But, due to work constraints, we still need to get into the occasional parking garage, or tight hospital parking lot. That can be a challenge enough with the dually.
Hope this helps your decision... ... . Steve
We used to pull it with an auto SRW, and it was SCAREY. It always felt like the trailer was trying to push the rear end of the truck around on tight curves or sharp turns.
We traded for the dually in my sig, and while it is still a load for the truck, it feels much more stable. Now it feels like the truck is pulling the trailer around a curve, instead of the trailer pushing the truck. Tight curves such as an on-ramp were the worst. Now the trailer goes where I want it to go.
We travel mostly in the Western USA, and have not had any problems. I try to stay around 60 to 65 mph. I will back off even more in heavy traffic. On an open interstate, I will get close to 70 if I am "getting a run" at a hill. Usually I stay right around 60 though. That feels pretty comfortable.
If we were retired, we would be shopping for an HDT. I would by pass the MDT and go right to the HDT. But, due to work constraints, we still need to get into the occasional parking garage, or tight hospital parking lot. That can be a challenge enough with the dually.
Hope this helps your decision... ... . Steve
thanks for your help.
special thanks to sled dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im thinking about buying a 2006 travel supreme 38dbtso.
my wife and i run a mechanical bull at fairs and festivals and have been
for 10 years. and now have a baby on the way so we need a bigger
rv.
mabe some of you guys have seen our bull in action . we work east coast
we are in fl from jan to april then we go to de,va,nc,sc,ky.
we are currently at delaware state fair july 20 thru 29
hope to see you at the fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
special thanks to sled dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im thinking about buying a 2006 travel supreme 38dbtso.
my wife and i run a mechanical bull at fairs and festivals and have been
for 10 years. and now have a baby on the way so we need a bigger
rv.
mabe some of you guys have seen our bull in action . we work east coast
we are in fl from jan to april then we go to de,va,nc,sc,ky.
we are currently at delaware state fair july 20 thru 29
hope to see you at the fair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CUMMINZ said:
I would think if you were towing that 36' trailer with the 315 BFGs that would be pretty scary.
I towed a 5k bumper pull once with 315s, there was a huge difference in stability over the stock E rated 265s. I went back to the 265s before trying to tow my little 28' 5th wheel.
I agree with everyone saying the stock E tires are not good for towing heavy... mine is 15,500 and I had a few hundred spare on the tires but like others have said, squishy, pushes you around and such...
I got the Ricksons Forged aluminum 6. 75 x 19. 5" rims rated at 4500# each
The tires are Michelin XDE-MS 245/70 r 19. 5" "F" rated 12 ply... . Rated at 4080# @95 psi... .
I heard 14 and 16 plies are too stiff for most trailers. .
I LOVE these tires and rims now... Expensive yes, but worth it!
I only use the 16" tires in the winter to protect the Shiney 19. 5's and make them last longer...
also get a very good brake controller... one that is proportional to braking.
I got the Ricksons Forged aluminum 6. 75 x 19. 5" rims rated at 4500# each
The tires are Michelin XDE-MS 245/70 r 19. 5" "F" rated 12 ply... . Rated at 4080# @95 psi... .
I heard 14 and 16 plies are too stiff for most trailers. .
I LOVE these tires and rims now... Expensive yes, but worth it!
I only use the 16" tires in the winter to protect the Shiney 19. 5's and make them last longer...
also get a very good brake controller... one that is proportional to braking.
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Issue 128 – Digital Version
Digital Magazines
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Renew
Subscribe
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Back Issues
Subscription Status
Address Change Form
Buyer's Guides
Ram Diagnostic Trouble Codes
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What Makes Us Tick?
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