Towing weight

[mlanham]

I recently bought a 2002 Dodge 2500. This is the first diesel power vehichle I have owned or had experience with. Now I am looking at a 5th wheel, The 5th wheel weighs approx 15,2 K fully loaded. My truck has a single wheel axel. I put in a reese 16K hitch. The trailer has triple axel and a tongue weight of 2500 lbs. I question if the truck will adequately tolerate that kind of load. I haven't bought the trailer, just looking and questioning. Any advice would be appreciated. Mike

 

[GFrance]

Look at the sticker on your door jam. Your truck should be rated for 8800 gvwr. If you go weigh your truck full of fuel, wife, kids, dog, & anything else you may be carring while hooked to a 5vr. I'll bet you'll find that the truck depending if it's 2wd or 4x4 weighs around 7300lbs. That leaves you with a legal carrying capacity (pin weight) of 1500 lbs to put you at your gvwr. Now add the trailer weight assuming that you said it weighed 15,200 add that to your truck weight 7300 = 22,500 gcwr. A 3/4 ton is rated for 16,000 with 355 rear end & an auto. 18,000 with a 4:10 rear. So as you can see you will be over towing with that combanation.

That is what I ran up against when we bought a bigger 5vr. 32' 12,200lbs pin weight of 2350 put me at 9750 gvw & 19,350 gcw traded off & got a dually.

I know there are alot of people out on the hwy over towing every day. The question you have to ask yourself is do you feel lucky? One bad wreck, even if it's not your fault & a smart lawyer will own you.

 

[Dosdon]

Can,t speak for the 02, but an 04. 5 2500

can handle that kind of weight as if it were,nt there, air bags

will level you out. Are you a dana 70 rear?

 

[JDougherty]

technically no the truck (according to the sticker) will not handle it, but i think that many will agree it will do it. the question is really a matter of safety

 

[litespeed]

The answer the the question is a resounding YES. The truck can handle and pull the load... . You will need air bags to help tighten the rear end or it will be squirley.



I have a friend that regularly pulls close to 18k with his 01 2500. :--)



The problem is... ... . You really should not be pulling that kind of weight with a 3/4 ton truck. That is actually pushing the outer limits (legally) of a one ton truck of the same year.



I would not do it just from the stand point of safety..... You really should have more truck to pull those kinds of loads.



You can get a one ton for about the same money as the 3/4 ton. If you plan on doing a lot of pulling... ... . It is a no brainer..... Go with the 3500. If the truck is used mostly as a daily driver... . The 2500 can handle it. There are plenty of people doing it... ..... But that still does not make it right. It is illegal and dangerous.



I am actually in the market for a MDT because I am over my gross. and want the safety.



AJ

 

[Forrest]

I just cracked open the owners manual, max trailer weight is 10k. :{



Gonna have to get a new truck to handle the Alpha we're looking at. :--) :-laf