Towing: Is my 1500 gonna handle it?
Record Breaker
Joined: Aug 2006
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RE: Towing: Is my 1500 gonna handle it?
ORIGINAL: HammerZ71
Not on an everyday basis, but occasionally you should have no problems. It would not be a bad idea to have a tranny temp gauge installed, you can get a really cool setup that replaces your driver side pillar. Fairly cheap, I'm thinking maybe $200 for pillar & gauge.
The tranny is the one component more likely to fail during towing so monitoring the temp. would be a good safeguard. Also, servicing the rear differential and tranny fluids about twice as often as the manual calls for is another pretty good safeguard. With a lot of towing, you should also think about changing engine oil & possibly radiator fluids more often than when you didn't tow. Of course, brakes will wear out faster stopping a heavy load so just keep an eye out there too.
That should really about do it. I'll try to find a pic of that replacement pillar & gauge and possibly a link to purchase it.
Here is one for about $50.00, the actual temp gauge is probably about that much and to have someone run the wire might cost you $100 tops as it's only about a half hour job.
Not on an everyday basis, but occasionally you should have no problems. It would not be a bad idea to have a tranny temp gauge installed, you can get a really cool setup that replaces your driver side pillar. Fairly cheap, I'm thinking maybe $200 for pillar & gauge.
The tranny is the one component more likely to fail during towing so monitoring the temp. would be a good safeguard. Also, servicing the rear differential and tranny fluids about twice as often as the manual calls for is another pretty good safeguard. With a lot of towing, you should also think about changing engine oil & possibly radiator fluids more often than when you didn't tow. Of course, brakes will wear out faster stopping a heavy load so just keep an eye out there too.
That should really about do it. I'll try to find a pic of that replacement pillar & gauge and possibly a link to purchase it.
Here is one for about $50.00, the actual temp gauge is probably about that much and to have someone run the wire might cost you $100 tops as it's only about a half hour job.
Champion
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,360
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From: Tolleson, Az
RE: Towing: Is my 1500 gonna handle it?
ORIGINAL: husley
We have a 02' 1500 Quad Cab Long Bed with the 5.9L V8.
The manual states that 8000lbs is the max towing.
We are getting a trailer that is 5000lbs and will probably be around 6000lbs when it is loaded.
We will be towing it at the most two times a month (travel trailer)
Are we going to destroy our Truck towing this Trailer?
All input is appreciated!
Thanks
Karna and Justin
We have a 02' 1500 Quad Cab Long Bed with the 5.9L V8.
The manual states that 8000lbs is the max towing.
We are getting a trailer that is 5000lbs and will probably be around 6000lbs when it is loaded.
We will be towing it at the most two times a month (travel trailer)
Are we going to destroy our Truck towing this Trailer?
All input is appreciated!
Thanks
Karna and Justin
Seriously you should be alright. jsut keep your truck from shifting too much by either using tow haul mode or by kicking off the over drive.
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RE: Towing: Is my 1500 gonna handle it?
Oh yes, i forgot about that. all the mechanics have told me the weight is not a problem. but to BE SURE you have it in tow haul mode when doing moderate to heavy pulls. Prime gears are teh weak ones
Record Breaker
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RE: Towing: Is my 1500 gonna handle it?
ORIGINAL: JD1500
Oh yes, i forgot about that. all the mechanics have told me the weight is not a problem. but to BE SURE you have it in tow haul mode when doing moderate to heavy pulls. Prime gears are teh weak ones
Oh yes, i forgot about that. all the mechanics have told me the weight is not a problem. but to BE SURE you have it in tow haul mode when doing moderate to heavy pulls. Prime gears are teh weak ones
I ask because i don't think i have this "Tow Haul Mode" with my truck. Although i do have a O/D swich.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,686
Likes: 21
From: South Georgia/East Florida
RE: Towing: Is my 1500 gonna handle it?
ORIGINAL: NYPANAMA42
Nice setup..Did you do the install yourself? Or did a shop do it for you....How much did it cost to install?
Nice setup..Did you do the install yourself? Or did a shop do it for you....How much did it cost to install?
I don't tow, sold my 20' bass boat after both my parents fell ill. I have little time for much, and actually was in it twice in the past year and a half so I sold it. Heaviest thing I move now is my 650# ATV and I carry that in the bed.
I was actually thinking of getting it, and one of those rear diff. covers with the bung for temp probe in it (like the MagHytec) and monitoring rear diff fluid temp as I have aftermarket 4.56 gears. Marty at KRC Performance sells the replacement pillar for $60 and the gauge for $35 and would run the probe to either place for an hour labor or $70.
They also make the pillar with 2 guage openings, so you could do both, but you give up the handle, and my truck is lifted to high, I use the handle every time I get in, so that's out.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 679
Likes: 0
From: New Castle Delaware
RE: Towing: Is my 1500 gonna handle it?
What ever you do ,don't use the cheap rubber hoses that come with the cooler's.Get the braded high pressure one's they wont come apart on the inside and clog your transmission filter .I voice of experiance.
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