Towing Weights Question

[mconstable]

Hello all, I know this has been covered to death, but having a brain cramp and can't find threads, but I'm trying to find what my truck is rated to tow, how to figure how much pin-weight I can handle etc. thanks in advance... Michael

 

[Casey Balvert]

Since your truck is very similar to mine I will take a shot based on my weights. Assuming you don't have a ton of stuff in your truck you should be able to handle a pin weight of around 3,500 pounds before exceeding the GVWR of the truck. Since you have the 3. 73 axle, the max trailer weight will be around 13,000 pounds before exceeding the Gross Combined Weight Rating.



My truck weighs around 8,000 pounds (the way she sits with hitch etc. ) and since the GVWR is 11,500 that leaves you 3,500 pounds for the pin. Most trailer don't get close to that. Since your Combined rating is 21,000 I subtracted the weight of the truck and that left 13,000 for your trailer. Hope that makes sense.



Casey

 

[DPelletier]

Casey,

The GVWR is 12,000 not 11,500. On the other hand, my truck weighs 8338 lbs with me and a full tank of diesel, so a pin weight of 3500 lbs is reasonable



Dave

 

[DPelletier]

Oh, I see why the weight difference. I forgot "black beauty" was a 2wd! Not sure what MConstable's is.



Dave

 

[mconstable]

Thanks so much, that's what I needed!!

 

[Bouncy]

Casey,

The GVWR is 12,000 not 11,500. On the other hand, my truck weighs 8338 lbs with me and a full tank of diesel, so a pin weight of 3500 lbs is reasonable



Dave

Dave,



How did you get a weight of 8338 for your truck??? I weighed mine at 7915lbs. Thats a DRW QC 4x4 loaded with all the options. I had a full fuel tank. Just filled it at the truck stop and then hit the scales. I weigh 215... Checked it at home that night. So that made my truck an even 7700lbs. Kinda scary how it HIT EXACTLY on the 7700.



So what are you guys adding that is bringing up the weigh of the stock truck from 7700 by 600+ lbs???

 

[DPelletier]

That's what it weighed on a certified scale. I weigh about 200lbs so bring it down to 8138lbs. My truck is a NV5600 which I've heard weighs 200lbs more than the auto, so now were at 7938 lbs. I also had the usual stuff in the truck, a reciever (40lbs), bed mat (100 lbs?), camper tie downs (50 lbs), mudflaps (5 lbs) and misc. crap (ie. cds, jumper cables, first aid kit, towrope, sunglasses,..... maybe another 50 lbs? Truck as it sat on the dealers lot maybe 7950 lbs for a 6speed and 7750 for an auto? Sounds about right to me.



Dave



ps. my 2001. 5 2500 QC LWB auto 4x4 with the same stuff: 6950 lbs

 

[jelag]

I'd like to address this in a different way... ... I currently pull with my 04 3500 dually a 20K lb trailer with power disc brakes... my 04 does this with no problem across UT, AZ, NV, where the speed limit is 65... my only issues are the time it takes to climb the 6% grades on the routes this truck travels... .



Its got about 70K on the clock and is used about 85% of the time for this task... its averaged about 10. 2 mpg. . and with the exhaust brake and power disc's on the trailer it does the downgrades well... . the only pucker time we have with it is when in traffic someone pulls into the safety zone we have in front of the front bumper... . BTW we know that the pacbrake alone with this load won't hold the weight going down a 6% grade...



And it does it up the hills at 100* at the grapevine in CA or across the desert to Phoenix at 106*..... I'm very happy with this truck and have ordered an 05... .



Jim

 

[Fireman]

Don't forget the gross axle rating. Go to a scale like a CAT scale that weighs the individual axles to be sure you don't exceed your axle ratings. I doubt you will, but it's good to check.



Fireman

 

[dhill]

We could put it another way, Dodge says their trucks will pull a 16000 lb. trailer, when properly equipped. Add a 7700 lb. truck and you get 23700 lbs. cgvw. With the 20000 lb. trailer and a 7700 lb. truck, thats about 4000 over what Dodge says it can handle safely. I believe 27000 is probably ok, but, if you were involved in an accident, no matter who's fault it is, by the time the lawyers get done with you that extra 4000 lbs. will probably worth a million dollars.

That's why I'm getting rid of my '97 and getting an '05. My '97 should pull a 12000# 5'th wheel ok, but the factory says 16000 cgvw. I just can't take the chance.



Just my $. 02 worth



Dave

 

[Udaloy]

That's what it weighed on a certified scale. I weigh about 200lbs so bring it down to 8138lbs. My truck is a NV5600 which I've heard weighs 200lbs more than the auto, so now were at 7938 lbs. I also had the usual stuff in the truck, a reciever (40lbs), bed mat (100 lbs?), camper tie downs (50 lbs), mudflaps (5 lbs) and misc. crap (ie. cds, jumper cables, first aid kit, towrope, sunglasses,..... maybe another 50 lbs? Truck as it sat on the dealers lot maybe 7950 lbs for a 6speed and 7750 for an auto? Sounds about right to me.



Dave



ps. my 2001. 5 2500 QC LWB auto 4x4 with the same stuff: 6950 lbs

Are you serious? My truck is a 6-speed, QC, long bed, and off the lot it weighed 7375 pounds with my 210 pounds in it. My buddy's '04 Dmax QC, short bed weighed 7000 even (he's about 200 lbs. ). I figured the 375 lbs was from the extra 2 feet of truck. I don't know how you guys are over 8000 lbs.



Oh yeah, a bed mat doesn't weigh 50 lbs. let alone 100...

 

[DPelletier]

LOL!



... . Dead serious. Certified scale = 8338 lbs. Just the way it is, I don't make this stuff up.

Is yours a dually? a 4x4? What year? I may be off here and there on the misc. stuff, it was just an estimate, but MY bedmat weighs a heck of a lot more than 50 lbs.





Dave

 

[GerryDrake]

Heavyweight

Mine, with the wife and the dog, full of fuel, with the aftermarket bumpers and toolbox (containing just a few things like bottle jacks, air compressor and accessories) with the 5th wheel hitch... comes in at 9950# on the roadside scales in Oregon. I guess I need to go on a diet

 

[stick]

I just weighed mine today, right after filling up. 8080 with me in it (200 lbs).



Stick

 

[RustyJC]

Are you serious? My truck is a 6-speed, QC, long bed, and off the lot it weighed 7375 pounds with my 210 pounds in it.

Laden curb weight of my 2nd generation 4x2 dually is 7,680 lbs with my wife, myself and our 2 Shelties - certified truck scales.



Rusty