Would my truck be able to tow a two horse trailer with a 900-1000 lb horse? What about two horses? Distance would probably be... 40-50 miles? Or so... It is a 3.9l v6

 

I'm not to sure what the trailer would weigh but my guess 2,000lbs and another 2,000 for horses. So you need to tow around 4,000lbs right?

Since you didn't say if it is an auto or manual or 2wd or 4wd or if it is a single cab or club cab or if it has a long bed, I can't tell you what you can tow. But look at this tow rating chart go here. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ing-chart.html

 

2wd club cab auto... I have never towed a trailer so I am unsure what I need. I am sure I can tow at least one horse? I just need to be able to transport her to and from the vet at the very least. being a smaller truck is there anything extra I would need besides the ball and the hookup for the lights? What could I expect to go wrong if my truck cant handle the load? Thanks for the response

 

I don't think your truck would have to much trouble towing that kind of weight but there is the matter of stopping. Since you have live moving cargo and it's rather large. Is there a chance that you can install brakes on this trailer? How hilly/mountainous is the area you plan on towing?

I'd say with brakes then it shouldn't be an issue.

If where you are towing is flat and your trailer does not have brakes. I would not exceed 55mph on hwy and always remember to leave a lot of coasting distance, especially when traffic starts (I do this even when I have trailer brakes.). This is to ensure you go easy on the truck brakes for stopping and slowing down as the weight to brake ratio is spread evenly (weight to brake ratio, I may have just made that up.). Think of it like a train, it's easier on the whole system when it just gradually comes to a slow than having to perform a sudden stop. I'd say maybe 30+ car lengths? Good distance between cars and speeds between 30-55 will give you the best ride for both you and your cargo.

If the area you are towing is hilly/mountainous then you're going to want brakes on that trailer. You can try shifting to a lower gear. Automatic 2 or 1, same for Manual. This will cause more heat as the transmission is helping to stop the load. Just slow and steady to keep the trailer under control.

If anyone else can speak from better experience. Feel free to correct or add to this.

Also as an added note. Please check or have someone check your breaks, transmission, fluids, and coolant levels before you start towing. Let them know you're going to be towing 4000lbs. There is nothing worse than finding out after you've started that you've got a problem.

Oh yes one more thing. Rule of thumb do not tow in Over Drive.
Note* Technically you can hit over drive once you've achieved the cruising speed that you want to drive at, but remember to turn off OD when speeding up. Towing in Overdrive generates a lot of heat, which will be bad for the Transmission over long stretches of time. However, when you've achieved the cruising speed it's not to much work on the over drive and you'll save on gas. (I've done this but if someone has had a bad experience with doing this please say so.)

Hope this helps a little.

 

According to the chart you can tow up to 4,500 or 5,600 depending on what rear end gear ratio you got.

So I would assume like I said the trailer fully loaded might be 4,000lbs. So yes you can tow it but you will be close to your truck max, at which the transmission will be strained and the brake performance will be slow.

For automatics it is always a good idea to install an extra transmission oil cooler. Make sure you have done a good tune up, all fluids all filters and ignition parts.

Do you have to do any freeway driving?

 

if you plan to do it regularly i would add a second trans cooler to it if you don't have one now.

*
doh! crazy beat me to it. you posted while i was reading the rest of the thread.

 

what is the gear ratio of the truck? if you have the 3.55 i would stick to one horse and the trailer. if you have the 3.90 87-91 or the 3.91 92-96 you could haul both horses.
in all cases you would have to have the biggest tranny cooler you can fit on it.

 

You'll need a Class III hitch and receiver. DO NOT attempt to tow with the bumper. Towing is going to be a little slow but as mentioned before...stopping is going to be your biggest problem if the trailer doesn't have electric brakes.

 

What he said^. You need a hitch, do not try to tow that weight with the bumper. It's only rated for 2000lbs max.

 

You should be fine with the weight, but put a brake control in the truck.The trailer has brakes, if not on both axles than it does on the front axle.Do yourself and your horses a favor and get a brake control that works off inertia, like a Voyager or Prodigy. The all electronic ones are JUNK. Trust me, I do this for a living.[ famous last words, huh.?]