I currently own a 2007 Megacab 1500 4x4 with the 5.7 hemi. It states that I can tow up to 8300lbs which was fine for our tent trailer but we're now looking at going with a much heavier travel trailer. What would I have to do to increase the towing Capacity?

 

How much more do you want to go?8300lbs is quite a load. Now you are looking at minor engine mods, higher gearing, additional cooling, heavier receivers and brakes, new springs, overloads or bags for suspension. You may do considerable better by getting a Cummings with a 6 speed standard. Your mileage with the Hemi will be horrendous... That is just my thought.

 

I have always heard that towing to the rated tow capacity is bad to begin with but you will basically need the whole drive train from a 2500 to tow more than that. That means tranny (and as hemi cheif said) springs, axles, brakes. Your truck really can not be upgraded to tow something like that unless you do some SERIOUS modification to it. Do your self and your truck a favor and trade her in on a cummins.

 

Stay away from the top end tow rating on your truck. Towing too much and going too fast with a load are a great way to destroy your truck and trailer. If you want to handle better within the tow rating put some airbags in the rear. Makes the ride nicer even when you are not towing anything. I am getting ready to add that to my MegaCab. An anit-sway bar works really well in handling the side to side movement of the trailer too. Made a huge difference for me when the big rigs come flying by.

 

If your towing capacity is 8300 pounds, that indicates that your truck has the 4.10 differential so looks like you are okay there. However, like the other fellows here have said, to increase your towing capacity significantly would be a fairly expensive proposition and you very well may be better off considering a trade up to the diesel. Of course, that depends on how much more weight you want to tow. What size camper are you planning on purchasing?

I tow a camper trailer quite regularly with an, as towed weight of around 5000 pounds. I figure that I could go up to 6000 and still be reasonably comfortable. My truck has a towing capacity of 8900 pounds and like the others have said, I wouldn't want to go up near the limit. From the people that I talk to in campgrounds and in my own personal opinion, I wouldn't want to exceed 75% of the towing capacity of the vehicle. I have seen, and heard of people towing up to the capacity and, horrors of all horrors, even exceeding the limit, but to work a truck like that means increased maintenance problems, less fuel economy and other problems, not the least of which is your safety.

To sum up, if I wanted to get a camper that was up around my towing capacity, I would trade up in size and power of the tow vehicle. If I was unable to do that, I would simply stick with the trailer that I have. There is nothing worse than seeing a truck going down the road towing a trailer that is obviously near, or over the weight limit of the vehicle. Also, don't forget that the towing weight is just one factor to look at, you might want to check to see if a heavier trailer would exceed your GAWR also. Many times people forget to check the tongue weight and exceed that capacity.

Good luck, and happy towing.

 

anything can haul a tent trailor, you can haul a decent size camper with that 8200 is more than enough for a decent camper but for the biggest campers you'd need a 2500. but if your worried about it you could always get a decent sized ultra lite camper.

 

Correct me if wrong, but wasn't it posted here that the 1500 Mega is built on a 2500 chassis? I thought everything was the same except the 2500 had stiffer spring rate in back. If so then airbags will fix that, but what do you need so much towing for?

 

I currently am towing a tent trailer that weighs 2500 pounds. But I have been looking at Travel trailers in the weight of around 7700lbs but I just wanted to beef things up as this would be bringing it near the max towing capacity. Thanks for all the input guys!

 

it's built on the 2500 frame because it needs a qclb frame and i don't think a 1500 has a qclb option. but i believe all suspension components are the same. in all honesty man this is a really expensive proposition and it truly isn't safe. best option is to go buy a cummins megacab and never look back.

 

he could haul a nice size ultra lite camper easy
i was looking at campers when i had my 07 f150 v6 and they was like your not going to be able to haul anything big but we could get you a nice size ultra lite and those ultra lites are almost as big as the regular ones, plenty of room in them.