I think they underrate that stuff alot.

I stuck about 7000 behind mine about a month ago and it handled it fine, without a trailer break.
The way I look at it is, its a truck... work it. as long as your under 10k your fine just dont take off fast, baby it if its got much more than 5k behind it.
But im also known to break everything I own at least once lol. so might not be the best advise.

 

175-185hp at the rear wheels.dynoed by many different people.

 

I wouldnt worry too much about a 2000# boat. I routinely tow a trailer with about 30 bales of hay around on the stock bumper of my 95 5.2 and havent had any trouble except the bumper being pulled down a lil

 

Not more than 5500lbs. Depends on your gear ratio, if you have 3.55 then its under 5500lbs, and if you have 3.92 then you are at about 5500lbs. the brakes on the 98's suck, and if you were going to do the gooseneck, its not going to give you more capacity (normally it would on a larger truck), but it would give you more control of the weight. you might want to get helper springs/air bags and maybe even a swaybar for the rear, and stock sized tires.
In 1999 or 2000 they changed the brakes and upped the towing capacity to about 8000lbs or so.
http://www.internetautoguide.com/rev...0/summary.html
this site lists the 98 wiht a 4900lb capacity. I think its on the conservative side.

 

Well, you are using lower gearing, but the braking thing for me is bad. I wouldn't tow 10K with my 1500... I got kids and family I need to go home to, let alone hurt someone else.
I'd at the most attempt to do 7000K but with trailer brakes. But I don't plan on ever towing anything with this truck bigger than a pop-up. Been looking at 2500 series trucks.
Just need to talk the bookkeeper in to it.

 

Ya, I get you... Im young and stupid

I don't like the braking thing if you have ALOT of weight because of the way the trailer pushes you if you don't have alot of weight.

Another thing... the brakes on 98's suck??? are they the same as 99s?
I dont want to sound like everything on my truck is better (cause ive been sayign that alot) but brakes are one of the thing that I LOVE on my truck they are really powerful... but ive never driven a 2500 either so that maybe be why they feel good.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3eRpLEj1w4

 

The 2000's have larger brake rotors and dual piston calipers. Not sure if the 99's were the year it started. I know I have some issue with my brakes, but it seems rather common for 98's and older to either have an issue causing bad braking or just in general bad braking. I googled my symptoms and tends to be common. I have also heard people with 98s or older that have no issues and can lock up a set of 33's with stock brakes. Who knows... I just know mine suck, and I am hoping to get out of this truck soon. I have been hoping that shortly after I got it, but now the economy is really hurting my odds in getting something else.

That youtube video states the 5.2/5.9 auto can do up to 7300. I am sure it had 3.92's. So it would make sense how you could tow the 7K with your 4.56's even with slightly larger tires, but you also have a standard cab shortbed, so thats even less curb weight, giving you more towing capacity.

I am not saying that you are stupid for doing that, I am just saying when I thinking of towing, I am that overly cautious person who makes sure I am well within my trucks limits, plus its a selling point for me to get a 2500 when we want to get a larger camper (which we really do).