Towing with your Dodge

[BigMike]

After reading Jim Anderson's article in the most recent issue of TDR, I am left more confused than ever. I enjoyed his article and most of what he said made sense to me and seemed very logical. However, I am left wondering "How big a deal is it?". I can't imagine anyone with a Ram similar to mine towing any kind of 30+ foot 5er or with a slide in camper meeting the 8800 lb GVWR. In many cases they have to be closer to 10000 lbs. If Dodge doesn't expect people to exceed the 8800 lb limit, why do they sell them with the camper package? Almost everything I have looked at has a pin weight of at least 2000 lbs dry. Seems like the axle rating should be the driver on payload weight. Anybody else have an opinion?

 

[klenger]

BigMike:



Look at the article "RV Towing... " shown in my signature. It may answer a few questions.

 

[mbrolin]

Big Mike you have a point. Our combo is right at 18,898lbs. Within the GCVW . The axle weight is within limits as well. But the hitchpin weight is 2000lbs. Oh well. Over 5000 miles towing and going strong.

 

[merryman]

Being oblivious to the "problem" , I ran about 25K with the '93 with a little over 10Kpounds on the truck --- with no problems :>(?



Vaughn

 

[DWillenbring]

We've been towing a 5er with GCW over 20000. Axle weight seems to me to be the most important rating to pay attention to or major major problem when one breaks.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Weighing my rig with and with out the trailer my pin weight is 2600 lbs. Tows like a dream. Is something wrong here?



. . Preston. .

 

[BigMike]

Preston, You are probably ok since you have a 3500. I think you're GVWR is 11000lbs. Would have to know what it weighs unloaded. The problem seems to be more specific to the 2500 like mine. Have less than 2000lb pin weight to play with, which is virtually impossible to find in a 30'+ 5er.

 

[Okie-Go]

I have a hitch weight of 2140 lbs. on my 30ft. 5er I have towed it to the Grand Canyon, Colorado, up and down Wolf Creek Pass, across New Mexico and lots of trips here in Texas with the stock suspension on my 2500. I do have the camper package. I air up the Michelins and have had no problems thus far.

 

[roadranger]

Originally posted by BigMike

I can't imagine anyone with a Ram similar to mine towing any kind of 30+ foot 5er or with a slide in camper meeting the 8800 lb GVWR. In many cases they have to be closer to 10000 lbs. If Dodge doesn't expect people to exceed the 8800 lb limit, why do they sell them with the camper package?

And why does DC put the heavier Dana 80 rear axle (3500 trucks) in the 2500's with stick and diesel, yet carry the same 8800 GVW??



And why does DC put a wimpy 4850 rated front axle under the Cummins option?? My 4x4 Quad Cab gets within 300 pounds of the front axle rating STOCK!





Chevy's new 2500HD has a GVW of 9200--DC is just behind the 8 ball as usual.

 

[KKaiser]

In my humble opinion, GM is extremely generous with their GVWs and tow ratings on their trucks. Dodge on the other hand seems to rate their trucks on the conservative side. I've owned half a dozen GM trucks and seat of the pants feel is that the real tow rating is roughly 2/3 of what the General advertises. My Dodge seat of the pants feel is that you can stretch the factory ratings without being dangerous. It seems the two makers have an entirely different philosophy on truck design. My last Chevy had an 8000 lb trailer tow rating, but with a 5000 lb trailer it felt whipped. My Dodge with a 9200 lb trailer rating and an 8000 lb trailer just doesn't seem to care. My last GM with an 8600 GVW was loaded to around 8000 lbs everyday and required coil over rear shocks to maintain a proper ride attitude, The Dodge at 8800 rating and an 8000 lb everday load just dosen't give a I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER!



GM builds a nice riding truck that is car like in daily driving, Dodge builds a truck



Kent

 

[MCummings]

Ditto to what KKaiser said.



Our Chevy feels overloaded with our new "Lighter" gooseneck trailer,, compared to my Dodge with our older "heavy" trailer seemed just happy pulling it.



New trailer is supposed to weigh between 14-25,000 pounds, old trailer weighed 20-30,000 Pounds.



New and old trailer don't travel on public roads when at the upper end of the weight. We drive down very rough private ranches,, and calleche dirt roads.



The reason the weights are different for both trailers is the new trailer is shorter and lighter built, and we have a 1,000 Gallon fiberglass water tank on the front of the trailer (Along with different 55 gallon containers, and High pressure hoses)



Water weighs about 8 Pounds per gallon, so the weight in water alone can be 8,000 pounds.



MerrickNJr

 

[Silver Streak]

TOWING

Check out the new dodge ram 3500 for 2003. I think it will pull anything out there in 5ver land.



SILVER STREAK

 

[Eric_77]

2000 pin weight? Am I missing something when I weigh my truck. I can put right at 3100 on my pin on either truck and be right at the limits. Did the new trucks get a little porky?

 

[Racechaser]

Big Mike I'm with you. I have a better understanding on some aspects, but more confused than before on others. Now I've got a REAL EMERGENCY!!! I've already signed the p/w on a used 5'er that the title shows as weighing 9. 8k dry. Is this too much for my stock set-up? (see below). I don't want to get this thing if it's going to puke :--) transmission's, axles, or be dangerous to have on the road or drive. Will changing the frt & rear ring & pinion to 4:10's up the GCVWR??

p. s. -klenger nice link and explaination on tow vehicle weights .

 

[cwsoules]

I have been working to reduce the load on my truck. I have never exceeded the GCWR of 18,000# but have been within 400# of it. The problem was the GVWR of 8800# the first time I weighed in I was 400# over. We have reduced the amount of things in the rig and I have shifted more weight to over the 5er's axles and hope to get down to 8800#. There are several "experts" who will tell you how much load you should have on the truck. The expert I like says it should be 14 to 18% of the weight of the 5er. I'm right at 18% currently and am only about 200# high.



Having said all that my truck tows my 5er quite well. I just had the gages and transmission mods installed and I really like them. I now know that when I was towing with a stock truck I was:

1. Not allowing the turbocharger to cool enough before shutdown.

2. Probably on long hills on I-40 running with EGT too high too long.

3. Towing in 10 mph stop and go traffic for several hours the transmission temp probably was too high. My transmission temp gage was in the oil sump and I saw 200 degrees there. I did stop and allow it to cool.

 

[Racechaser]

Help!! Please see previous post!

 

[WyoJim]

Racechaser... I think Dodge GVW's and GCWR's are set by Dodge to be used as disclaimers if some thing breaks or you have a wreck.



From what I see when I travel. . there are more truck campers on the highway on half ton trucks than there are on 1 ton trucks. So much for pin weight. I exceed my 8800 GVW by a thousand pounds and my biggest problem would probly be tires, which I feel regular to see if they are running hot or cool. They are load range E and have never been hot with 80 lbs of air in them.



The weak link in your truck is the transmission and 4. 11 gears would certainly help it, but it would still be the weak link, whether you are within spec or not. Kind of like taking a prescription drug for a symptom. It cures the symptom but not the problem. If you get at least a DTT valve body and possibly a DTT torque Converter you will not need 4. 11 gears. Add an EZ and it will pull that RV up a tree.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Chuck:

Ain't it great to know what's going on!!!!!!!



. . Preston. .

 

[Racechaser]

Thanks WyoJim, I feel a little better now. When I ordered the truck I was only towing a 28' 5800# Travel trailer, but you know how that goes. With a new child, wife says we need more room. (Good excuse to move up to a 5'er!) Will look into the v/b, and I'm so mad at myself because I was going to order the EZ when Pier's had it on sale in December, but waited too long and missed it. Still going to get it though when I can buy it right. Thanks again.

Matt

 

[rhoads]

weight ???

First let me say D/C has or any mfg should Not in written /spoken word admit to any but half (if that much) what there veh will stand before something snap's. .

I installed the heaviest hitch system on the market at the time J-96 Didn't order overloads,because i wanted a smooth ride.

Added air bags w/the up graded compresser. (lots of use) planned. And not knowing what i might hook up to wanted to be ready. .

As they say DON't try this at home!

You do the math, I got the scale/buy tickets and once you sign the bill(befor weight is known) you own the load>>

Steering 4,525 lb-- drive axle 18,374 (goose rated at 20k) I'cool but shutter!!! trailer (tandem axle-single tire) wt 9,525. Thats 32k+.

Always but air in bags befor loading because no matter if i croweded every one to the rear and left the top front empty i still had 4k on steer and 15k on the rear drive. most of the time ran 95-100 lbs air in the bags . I always checked the distance of the rear flaps to the ground and applyed air to get it with 1-1/2 in of empty ht. Setting level!!!!!!I did hold my breath every time i hit a chuck hole i could'nt miss. .

No broken frame/axle/bearings/ did blow out a new Goodyear under 20 K mi on the drive (same load rateing -sale $35 less than my M's) + they cost me 1/4 mpg also) Put the math to that over 100k.

These were no short trips 1200-2000 mi ,most of the time for a year i was 25-26k but 4 times Aaaaaaaaa!!!

Pulled many a International Royal tri axle to all 4 cornors of the waters edge and havent as much as lost a wheel seal. These come in at 20k vs the empty goose neck at 9600.

When you get right down to it they both belong behind a s-model IH / Baby frt-liner/650 F.

But the Dodge handled it with ease (Mi's in Bi-0) One key common sence,No clutch poping. .