I have a 99 Ram 1500, with a 318 engine, AT with overdrive. I have a brake box and light hookups, and I'm getting a gooseneck hitch put in this weekend. What's everyone's opinion on towing? I need to pull a 4 horse stock trailer with 3 small horses in it on a 5 hour road trip from NC to VA. I'm guessing total weight of trailer and 3 horses will be around 6000-6500lbs.Will my truck pull it?

 

ya its a dodge.so you have a brake box,and the trailer has elec. brakes right.if you plan on doing this alot you might want to put on a tranny cooler.318 comes in a 3500 also.mostly the differance is suspention,differetial gears are lower,brakes.i tow 4 sleds in a trailer and one in the bed from ct to northern maine 500+ mi.

 

Get a tranny cooler...preferably before you tow...

 

Thanks for the replies. I'm just paranoid that I'm gonna break down hundreds of miles from home with 3 new horses in tow. Just got the oil changed, new ceramic brake pads and new rotors, and new tires. Hopefully all will go well.

 

did you ajust the rears when you did the breaks.i hate to see when people change the front and dont touch the rears because there is still pad left,they always nead ajusting.

 

Sorry, but once you get above the half ton the 360 is the only V8 optional

Depending on where you are going (with horses I am thinking either the Lexington or Orange County area?) if you run into trouble feel free to call me and I will try to get you some help. (If you want my number in case, shoot me a PM and I will give it to you, I live in Harrisonburg, VA). The truck will pull it, just when you get on the mountains, be sure to lock it out of over drive and WATCH your temp gauge like a hawk. Slow down for the mountains and big hills and you will do fine.

 

If it keeps kicking out of O/D while driving, just leave the O/D off and roll. Burn a little more gas but will be easier on transmission.
If you plan on pulling them often, you might want to look into either helper or add-a-leaf springs for the rear. Will depend on the trailer, but most horse trailers have some good weight to them. See how it does on the way up empty andon the ride back full and you can judge from there.
I'm just south of Richmond, Va. if needed in that direction.

 

Chopper1 - You should not be in O/D when towing that much weight. I don't know the weight cut off, but 6000-6500 is about 1000lb shy of a max load.

RealGirlsDriveTrucks - If your O/D off light comes on during the tow, that means its starting to over heat. Pull over and put it nuetral and let it idle for 10mins, then shut it off for a few more mins. also, make sure you are getting TC lockup, if you aren't thats a sign of a tranny needing work. Get a tranny cooler (external) installed if yours doesn't already have one, you should get a transmission temp gauge kit if you plan on towing all the time.
Here is a site that posts towing capacity, but for 2001 rams. I don't think it would be all that much diff.
http://dodgeram.info/2001/towing-charts.html
I embeded the chart in a pic.






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weight distribution bars and a sway bar would be a good idea.

 

O/D off the whole trip