The title pretty much sums it up. We can't seem to figure out how much our truck can tow. Anywone have any insight for me?

Thanks so much!!

 

Welcome to the forum!

96 & 98 rating is for 7800lbs max trailer wt & 700lb max tongue wt.
97 only year I dont have dealer brochure for a genII. Id assume it would be the same as the 96/98s

 

Thanks Indy!

Hubby is telling me I need the rear axle rating...at this hour of night and without lifting the truck...anyone know how I can find that out?

 

Front/rear ratings are listed on the drivers side door pillar
What are you planning on towing/hauling?

 

Our sticker has been long removed from the side door. I called Dodge this morning and found out that if properly equiped, we can tow up to 8,100 lbs.

NOW...to further this, the hitch on the truck is NOT a factory install. We didn't install it either. We read the underneath of the hitch and here is what it says:

max gross trailer wt of 10,000 lbs.

It says it is a Series 51 V-5

So...does that mean that we'd be okay to haul say a 7,000 pound trailer? We're just looking to tow a travel trailer-no bigger than say, 25 feet.

 

i know my 1996 dodge ram 1500 has a gooseneck hitch and i carry a 35 foot gooseneck with a heavy duty bachoe it weighs roughtly 10,000 lbs mine a stock 2wd 5.2 liter ram i should pull no problem

 

I think you would be fine. I use to tow around 7000-7500k on the weekends for 10 years with no problems. If your truck doesn't have the factory transmission cooler, which I suspect it doesn't since you stated that the hitch was not factory installed, I'd get one. Also don't tow with the overdrive off.

 

I think that would be "Don't tow with the overdrive ON."

 

That's alot of weight for a half ton but it's very likely to be possible if you are careful. It'll probably be OK if you don't do it much but I'd be leary of hitting the interstate or taking all day trips like that. If you plan to do it often a 3/4 ton or more would make the ride a lot more enjoyable for the driver.

 

Pressing the button turns it off. The 4th gear on the transmission is the "overdrive" gear and when you press the button it turns it off so you only have 3 gears if I'm not mistaken. It's supposed to help in city traffic and stuff so you transmission isn't constantly shifting in and out of overdrive.