Towing with 35" of 37" tire

[Motofreak]

Have 4. 5 with 6 speed 3. 73 gears and want to lift. I tow my 10,000 toy hauler. Anybody have a similiar set-up? If so how does it pull and what gear and rpm are you in around 60mph?

Thanks.

 

[klenger]

If you have Microsoft Excel, you can calculate the RPM's and speeds using this worksheet.



http://www.klenger.net/dodge/general-reference/gear-speed-calculator.xls

 

[Motofreak]

Wow, great info, however I`m not good with Excel. Probably have to get someone to show me how it works.

 

[Motofreak]

Klenger, your awesome. Did you do this? I figured it out.

 

[SRadke]

I've got a 5" lift and it's really difficult to pull anything but bumper tow trailers. That's with the stock tires. It's simply a bed rail clearance issue. The tire size is not a big deal, just use whatever gear gets you the RPM you want. No big deal with Bumper tow units.



-Scott

 

[jimnance]

I had the BFG A/T's on my rig for a while, but concluded that they were no good for heavy towing. In fact, when empty I found that I lost about 1 MPG. I suppose it is because you are swinging more mass.



In my opinion, the 3. 73 and six speed with stock tires are the perfect combo for heavy towing. The gearing gives you +/- 62 MPH at 2,000 RPM. This is tall enough gearing to pull fairly heavy loads up modest hills. Fifth gear is the perfect gear for bigger mountains. I'm running about 2500 RPM at 55 MPH.



If you go with taller tires you may find that sixth gear is useless except on very flat terrain. If you live in the western US you'll find yourself in fifth gear a lot, and in fourth gear on the big hills.



Anyway, that's what I found and went back to stock diameter tires. I did go with "F" rated truck tires on aluminum rims because I was right at the axle and tire limit for "E' rated tires and wanted some margin for safety.

 

[sarj]

A little bit different setup, but it ended up as a happy story and it may help someone.



I put on a T-Rex setup with 315's w/ 3. 73 and a 48RE after a great debate with myself ( lots of input from guys here ). My towing is only 5000 loaded ( 21 foot ).



It cruises on the highway solo at 75MPH @ 1900 RPM

I haven't towed with it yet, but out of OverDrive I'm doing 57 @2000 RPM, and I think that's a sweet spot to be on the powerband. If I HAVE to, I'll go looking for 305's, but the BFG 285's don't cut it, even when you are only lifting the front 2. 5".



sarj

 

[y-knot]

Pulling anything but a bumper pull can be a challenge, and many times a bumper pull ends up a little hairy. Draw bars with very large drops are much less stable and have lower ratings then the more normal mounts. You have a "toy hauler" now, so basically you bought the cart before the mule. The better way would to have been to purchase the the mule, CTD truck, make the modifications you wanted and then shop for a "toy hauler".

You should get the exact weight of your rig, you stated 10,000lbs, that is the absolute maximum for a bumper pull, with weight distribution and perfect conditions, so first thing it to get the rig weighted. If you are in fact at that weight, you are stuck. Running larger tires would be foolish, you already have several strikes against you. I would think a new classV hitch would be in order, it will have a rating of 12,500lbs. But make know bones about it, you will be or are over the legal rating of your truck, so let your consciences be your own guide. Invest in a high quality weight distributing hitch, with a very heavy and low drop, you might even need to go custom on this, check around.

If you by chance have a Goose Neck or Fifth Wheel trailer, good for you. I went the route of a GN, and like you wanted a higher then stock truck. Do to the weight, and type trailer, I kept it on the lower side of extreem. I do run air bags, so the height is adjustable, and the tires are left to 33" max (I have a dually, But I would not go over 33" and pull a heavy trailer). You also have a '04 6-speed with 3. 54 gears, not a great set-up for big tires and heavy tow. Anyone that wants to run larger tires should check the box that says 4:10 for a rear gear. Also the addition of a automatic would have helped, they produce 40% more torque UN-locked and that is huge.

The real issue with GN's or 5th wheels trying to get the trailer level and still having clearance from your bed rails. Most good trailers have an adjustable hitch, which helps in clearance, but does nothing for the level. I had my GN built with a Kodiak front hitch, and had the step-up built higher, this gained me the needed room to both run level and at the same time have clearance. Since you have already bought your pieces, something will have to give. Compromise on the lift and tire size, or re-think some of the choice's you have already made. Nothing beats a well made plan.

 

[DIESELMAN]

Mine is lifted 4" and I run either 315-70R17 BFG AT's in the winter or 35-12. 50R17 MT's all summer. Why? Ground clearance and excellent Approach and Departure angle, and it looks good I still busted out the front air dam, and have dented my tail pipe, but nothing else ever drags, now, dented rocker panel was the final straw leading to the lift.



I use a Desert Fox, un-modified, and the hitch ball is even with the receiver height, no drop, and dead nuts level. The Desert Fox is usually loaded to 8800 lbs and frequently loaded to near 11,000 and tows perfectly without waggin' the big dog at all. Yes, you can tell you are perched on taller tires and there is some wander because of it when loaded, but very little.



I selected and set up both GN Horse Trailer and Flatbed GN for clearance and have over 8" bed clearance, and dead level.



Would I tow a fifth wheel with this rig? Probably not.



I have no complaints. Yes, I shift to 5th gear (3. 73's) when loaded, it runs cooler with more power and the mileage is fine, its actually more efficient than would be 4. 11's in 6th anyway, and the shifter stays clear of the big 64 ounce slurpy cup.



Is it overloaded at times, yes, overworked, never, legal? Sue me. I bought my truck to work and work hard, it just happens to look good while doin' it.

 

[Wyatt 1]

Originally posted by SRadke

I've got a 5" lift and it's really difficult to pull anything but bumper tow trailers. That's with the stock tires. It's simply a bed rail clearance issue.



-Scott

SRadke, how much clerance is there? I want to add the same lift to my dually but I have a goose neck, I to want to put 35" tires I feared it would be to tall to use, do you know how much clearance you have between the bed rails and a fifth wheel?

 

[Wyatt 1]

Hey motofreak congrats on the truck, I had a truck Diesel that is all I am gonna say about that, but it had a procomp 4" lift and 35" SSR's and I hauled horse trailers and goosenecks all day long no problems, granted the stock ride height is lower than the dodge but not to much lower and I had about 4"- 5" in between the bedrails with the horse trailer. I am in the same boat I like the lift ground clearance and you can see for miles in traffic not to mention the majority of the population, its great and then you put a powerhouse behind like the Cummins, that is why I decided to buy a Dodge, and you got one hell of a rig. Does any body know, I am sure yall do, the stock ride height of 4. 5 2500 4x 4 and compare that with how high you want to lift it, SRadke could help on the 5" measurements. Good luck w your new truck and let me know how everything works out, If youare ever down in Tejas look me up I have a YZF 426 and a RAPTOR, killer trails and tracks down here!

 

[Pirate4x4]

#ad




Here's my team mate's 01 with 6" lift and 37" BFG Krawlers (prototypes at the time). We towed from CA to NY (photo is @ Niagra Falls) and back with no problems. We towed almost all of last year's circuit with these tires, and lift. The tires wear kinda fast, but they sure look sexy.



*edit - Truck had TST chip, 3. 73's and 6spd.

 

[Wyatt 1]

Hey Pirate4x4 can you get a measurement from the ground to the bed rail by chance when it sits level with no load on it. I would like to go big but I think that is to big, it looks damn sharp though. How do you like your twins, I was thinking about getting them done but dont know enough about them can you give me a little info on egts and spooling, I would appreciate it. NICE TRUCK!!