A follow up to keep you guys informed. It might help others in the future.

I bought my truck to the dodge dearleship and let their techs look at it. They said my Dakota will tow the Viper and trailer. He said the drive train could handle it, that it is similar to their larger trucks. I beleive he said the engine is the same engine in their larger vehicle.
He looked at the hithch and said it is a factory installation type 3. SO I am good to go as far as they were concerned.

I then took it too UHaul to see what they said. Bummer, they said the viper is too large for their trailers. It won't fit.

I was looking forward to towing the vehicle myself. I am a do it yourselfer and I get the job done right, even better than having to pay someone else do it.

Does anyone live in the indianapolis area willing to rent me their trailer? One that is large enough to fit a viper?

Bummer
Matt

 

The viper is so low that you will want a true car trailer to haul it with, or loading it will be very hard.

 

Dude I'm telling you, all sources point to private transportation, I can see this blowing up in your face and you'll end up hurting the viper. Let go of your pride, I love doing things with my own two hands too, but in some cases you have to.

 

if the viper had like a motor on it and some wheels i bet you could rig the thing up so it could be driven, like a carrage but without horses...

 

Too large for their trailers? Geesh what size did they want to rent you? a 7X14? I've seen people tow old caddies on a uhaul trailer. I doubt a viper is longer than one of those. Its not that large.

Remember alot of those Uhaul employees arent that freaking bright. You know they wont rent trailers out to people with Ford Explorers, but yet they will for people with Mazda Navajo and Mercury Mountaineers. Those are the SAME trucks.

 

Ok The latest,

Found an aircraft mechanic where I work that also has a race car. He has an 16 or 18 ft trailer (can't remember which) that he uses to haul his car all over the place. It is suppose to be the ultimate flat bed trailer for this kind of stuff. He says it will haul a viper. He invited me over to his home tomorrow to have a look. He says I am welcome to use it.


Some replies to coments:


"Dude I'm telling you, all sources point to private transportation, I can see this blowing up in your face and you'll end up hurting the viper. Let go of your pride, I love doing things with my own two hands too, but in some cases you have to. "

Thanks for your concern it is apreciated. I promise to only go through with htis haul only if I am 100% certain of total success.



"if the viper had like a motor on it and some wheels i bet you could rig the thing up so it could be driven, like a carrage but without horses... "

Yes I agree :0) If all else fails this is an option.




"Too large for their trailers? Geesh what size did they want to rent you? a 7X14? I've seen people tow old caddies on a uhaul trailer. I doubt a viper is longer than one of those. Its not that large.

Remember alot of those Uhaul employees arent that freaking bright. You know they wont rent trailers out to people with Ford Explorers, but yet they will for people with Mazda Navajo and Mercury Mountaineers. Those are the SAME trucks."


Yes I know. Ithink he made a mistake. I think he might have wanted to tell me it was to low to fit on their trailers without damage to the front AirDam area.


Anyway I am going to look at my new best friends rig tomorrow and take a look. If all goes well I plan on driving to MO on Monday and driving back Tuesday.

Thanks all for your coments, all have been helpfull
Matt

 

The Uhaul car haulers in this area aren't a flatbed, but rather a pair of metal tire rails that you drive into. I suspected that they'd be no good for a Viper as it's wide and low and the tires are freakishly wide (perhaps wider than the tracks).

Get some 2x8" lumber, several 2-3' long pieces, and take them with you. You may have to stack wood under the ramps to keep from plowing the front of the car into the ramps.

 

Oh, and you're right, the engine, tranny, and rear diff are the same (well the rear axle isn't as wide) as in the Ram 1500. I think we all told you the truck was fully up to the task.

 

[sm=smiley20.gif]

 

I'm in buisness !!

Take a look a the trailer I'll be using to tow my new Viper. The web site boasts a picture of an actual Viper being loaded on to one of their roll back type trailers. This is the exact same trailer my new best friend is going to let me use. ALso checked all my weight limits and I am good. Went and got a second opnion from another dealership on my hitch and all gave me a double thumbs up on my set up.

http://www.kwikload.com

Also went down to "gasoline alley" here in Inidi (by the race track) where all the racers build their stuff and they showed me first hand how to strap my Viper down onto this trailer.

I am now debating wheter to install an electric brake controller in my truck. The owner of the trailer says I don't really need it but he does recomend it.

Gentlemen it looks like it's a go for haul.

You guys here have been great with advice.
Matt