Towing capacity?

• Wheatfarm.com

I have a friend in the mid west who tows 5000# tractor loads to shows behind a 1966 Dodge pickup with a slant 6. He has almost nothing in the way of hills.

I have a 1998 Dodge 1500 with a 318 and 5 speed which does a nice job. It can clear 4000 ft Cajon pass northbound with a 7000# load at 50 and fall off southbound holding 55 with the same load. The first quarter mile from the house is a 300 ft climb and every where else I go requires some sort of climb.

Towers today expect to do this all day long. Read some of the RV boards and you'll see what I'm talking about.

They also expect to tow at 75mph flat like the "big rigs" do. I'm really supprised theres not more accidents with the towing thoughts of the new generation. Can't say it's the youngesters either as theres alot of retired folks talk about racing the big rigs to the top of the mountain.

Over on Ford-diesel.com, theres a young woman wanting to know why her F250 PSD will not tow a trailed jeep at 90mph. The govener is set at about 90mph on the new PSD. Of course I was the only one that tried to point out that towing at 90mph was very dangerous and got flamed for my thoughts!

T_Bone

We have really been watching different tow rigs these past two years as we knew we needed a new one. I couldn't believe the way that people were driving the new trucks. I kept telling the wife how can they tare up a $35000 vechile like that and why? When I bought the new F350 this year I got my explanation some what. The new trucks ride so soft that it's hard not to travel 25mph in the back country in 4wd, wheres with the older trucks you try that and your head would be putting dents in the head liner.
I bought the PSD and gees I've got so much power I can see how these guys are climbing grades at 70mph. It really shocked me at the difference. Me I'll keep doing the 35mph and get 17mpg towing. Wow!

T_Bone

You will need a trailer thats rated for 8000 GVWR. Crawler 5000lb plus trailer 2000 to 3000lbs = about 8000 GVWR or more. If you get one thats too close to your GVWR then tires and axles will ware out fast.

I've pulled a bumper pull RV Travel Trailer that weighs 8000lbs for the past 9yrs without problems. My receiver is rated for 12500lbs WD, weight distribution hitch.
My GCW was 16000lbs. GCW is truck and trailer.

My tow rig was a 76 Dodge power wagon (4wd) 400ci, 4:11, and 4spd. It orginally had a auto and I had to watch over heating the tranny but not with the 4spd.

I don't think you will have a problem if set-up correct on common road ways, nothing over a 7% hill, and watch your water temperature gauge. Top hill pulling speed will be about 25mph depending on your rear axle ratio, to keep you from over heating the engine. You will probably also have to add a tranny cooler and temperature gauge for arround 240 degrees tops. A WD hitch with a 2-5/16" ball x 1-1/4" shank. A goose neck or 5th wheel would also work. Don't try and skimp on the hitch or it'll bite you in the arse.

T_Bone

Your trailer is rated by the capacity of the axles. You should be able to find a 16-20' trailer with a 7,000-12,000 lb capacity. It will probably need to have a 2 5/16 ball and coupler, since most 2" balls are only rated up to 5,000 lbs. You will need trailer brakes at least on the front axle. Depending on the width of your crawler, you might need a flat bed trailer to haul it.

In the end, just make sure that the weight is well distributed over the axles of the trailer and that some, but not too much weight is on the truck, and make sure the load is secured.

My guess is your truck should handle it, but check the plate or visit your dealer where they can look it up.

--->Paul