Towing with a 2500

[Cumminpwr11]

I am seeing a lot of 2500's pulling what has to be 15K+ in wieght. they are all larger 5th wheel toy boxes. I looked at a 27 weekend warrior last weekend and with both tanks full(water and fuel pump station) it tipped the scales at 14 and change. not counting the quads or dune buggies that these guys are pulling inside them. I have seen as large as 37footer, reaching 18K+ fully loaded with fuel and gear.



Here is my question



How are they doing this?

I thought you weren't supposed to load your frame like this.



What are the fines if caught?



Real rating for a 2500?

What can be pulled on a regular basis and not "to" adversely affect my truck?



Tips. please don't say buy a smaller trailer or a biger truck. 4 more payments and she is mine until dodge comes out with a REAL crewcab. So it looks like forever.



Chris

 

[klenger]

It's easy, they are towing over weight.

 

[Duluth Diesel]

2500s and 3500s have the same frame. My 2500HD (2002) has the Dana 80 rear and Dana 60 front. Engine, trans, axles, transfer case, brakes... all the same as a 2002 3500. The only thing that limits my 2500 is that I don't have duallys. So as long as I'm not overloading my single rear tires, I don't see a difference except for stupid government red tape.

 

[RustyJC]

They are ignoring the GVWR of their trucks.



Rusty

 

[Snow man]

Chris,they are way over the 8800 they are tagged for. I feel they are safe even at 10000 with E tires,but you'd be in heap of trouble if you were in a serious accident. IMO any 2500 4x4,esp the quad/club cabs are overweight with any 5th wheel trailer exc the tiny ultralights,or empty goosenecks. There just isnt enough payload there. In addition most 2500s here are auto/3. 54 combinations. These have only a 16000GCWR,so even if they manage to keep pin wieght down enough to keep the truck under 8800(not likely),the entire rig ends up way over the 16000.

 

[Duluth Diesel]

Yes, but when you consider that a 2500HD and a 3500 are identical (again, using 2002 as an example), with the difference of duallys, is there any real difference? I know you could get ticketed for towing over GVWR, but from a safety and capability standpoint, is there really that big a difference?

 

[Snow man]

IMO, the extra tires,spring,and brakes make all the difference in the world,IMO. Ive towed 8500 with my 2500,and it does a good job,well within its limts of GCWR of 18000,but Dads 3500 is incredible,it tows like its on rails,no sway or wandering at all,just rock solid,and you get a feeling of total control and a nice saftey margin. If you were to do the 19. 5 wheels on the 2500,and had the 3500 rear brakes,and airbags,or an extra leaf,then i think the 2500 would be just as good as a 3500. I plan on doing the 19. 5,s and airbags, on my truck eventually. As for safety the biggest problem with 2500s is the rear tires,they just get too hot when you get around 3000+ a tire,especially if you travel at high speeds,and anymore everyones towing at 70+ here.

 

[Duluth Diesel]

I thought the 2500HD and the 3500 trucks already had the same brakes. And since I have the camper, plow, and towing packages, I think all I am missing is duallys (although I DO realize that even camper package overload springs are still not equal to the 3500 springs). And I do know how duallys tow like a dream. Had two F-350 duallys.



So if I go 19. 5s, and airbags, would that make things more even? Would you say that 19. 5" singles are equal to 16" duallys?

 

[RustyJC]

Self-rationalization is a wonderful thing, it appears.....



Rusty

 

[Mschevey]

I know I pull a little heavy. With in a few hundred pounds of the GCWR and GVWR. (Therefor I make sure to pay real close attention to what is going on. ) But I only tow heavy about 4 times a year, so I can't justify a bigger truck, this is my daily driver. I have the 19. 5 tires and load range G tires on them. My load has a low center of gravity, and not much wind area.



I know the stock tires would get hot with only a few miles at highway speed, and I didn't like not having a safety margin. They were also "spongy" when cornering. Mainly because of the large sidewall. With the 19. 5 tires They don't even get warm with 60-65 MPH speeds on interstates. The ride is good and they have VERY little flex when maneuvering, so stability is rock solid.



I did check with the parts people and the main components in the drive-line are the same between the 2500HD and the 3500 the differences are in the setback required for the wheel spacing for the duals.



I am not saying you can or can't do it. Only that you have to evaluate your situation and how comfortable you are with accepting the responsibility of your actions.



Mike S.

 

[Berrigan]

See my sig My truck weight is 8150 empty and full of fuel. Add me and the family and 3k in pin weight and I am over 11k gvwr. Its easy to overload a dually. And when I tow Im at 22k easy. The truck handles it very well and I gotta say I feel ok pulling it. I think the real issue with the srw 2500 is not the ability to pull and carry, but the safety margin. 3/4 of the fivers you see are being pulled by srw trucks. The only thing I can say is if you were going to loose a tire or loose control at freeway speeds while towing the drw would be preferable. Bill

 

[Duluth Diesel]

I was just playing devil's advocate. I understand fully the safety margin of duallys. Tire heat and sidewall flex are issues I have seen, which is why I want to go to 19. 5s (money issue there). The gooseneck I pull now is not as big as the ones I pulled years ago with dually trucks, but is probably maxing out my srw confidence.

 

[cwsoules]

I tow about 200# over GVWR and 400# under GCWR. I have no problems and have towed my 5er for 31,000 miles and have about 70,000 on the truck. I added the DTT mods after about 30,000 miles on the truck and made things better. Still my transmission does not have any more adjustment left. Thus I'm near having to have a transmission overhaul.



If I had the money I'd get a 3500 SRW, diesel, HO with a 6 speed manal transmission.

 

[tgrfan2]

GCWR

These discussions of limits on GCWR really get me. According to some on this post my truck is only "safe" at 16K, but if I had a 4. 10 or a manual it would be safe at 18K? The same thing with my friend's 2003 HO 48RE 3500 SRW. If he had a 6 speed he would be "safe" to gross 23K? I guess I am missing something when a transmission or gear ratio makes a truck safe at a higher GCWR. No doubt a 6 speed will probably tow better on hills and a 4. 10 will make an automatic tow stronger in OD, but how does that relate to safety?

 

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by Snow man

Chris,they are way over the 8800 they are tagged for. that is 8800#'s for the TRUCK ONLY, NOT TOWED EQUIPMENT



IMO any 2500 4x4,esp the quad/club cabs are overweight with any 5th wheel trailer exc the tiny ultralights,or empty goosenecks. you're kidding right? right? tell me you are! my 2500 w/3. 55 is rated at 12k#'s+ of trailer.

I've towed a 39' 12,000 pound 5th wheel with ease many times. I understand the safety factor of a dually, if I could do it over I'd of bought a dually, but to say a 2500 w4d should be limited to light 5th wheels or empty goosenecks, well, you must have been joking :-{}

 

[tgrfan2]

Duals can be dangerous too! I had a retired truck driver friend take out his mail box the first week he upgraded to a dually pickup. If I could have one truck solely for towing I would use a dually, but they are impractical for the wife to drive.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Originally posted by tgrfan2

but they are impractical for the wife to drive.

You know my wife?? :-laf

 

[Snow man]

Tejas, have you ever weighed your truck? Mines 7100lbs and change full of fuel ready for the road. and its a short box auto. I have a few extras,but most of these trucks do. Most 2500 quad 4x4s are over 7000. a 6 speed long box would weigh 400 more than my truck!Do you travel alone,I dont. theres always 400-600 in the cab with 3-5 ppl were up to 7700 or so and I dont even have a 5th wheel hitch. Add 100 lbs for that now we are at 7800 lbs. Now you tell me what 5er is going to have a pin weight of under 1000lbs,besides an ultralight. even the 26fters have 1200-1400 on the pin. Thats what youd need to stay at or under 8800lbs truck weight.

My truck is rated at 18000GCWR,and an 11450 lb trailer. In actuality to stay under 18000 my trailer weight cant be over 10500,since my truck never weighs less than 7500-7600 ready for the road with us in it. Im not saying it cant tow it,its just not legal.

 

[2ndgen2500]

on occasion i have towed, goosnecks we have a 28" featherlite at my shop and i am sure i was over gvw with it, but not by much, but to say a 2500 cant pull a trailer, that is untrue, i would have liked to have 2 extra tires back there for sure! but the rairity my truck is used to tow something like that its not worth it.

 

[2ndgen2500]

please tell me that you guys have seen "GRAMPS" in his 2500 long box, rolling down the road pulling a 28' 5er! i drive up and down 95 ALL the time. its the funniest thing, obviously its not a cost issue, i think they are just stubborn...