Towing Capability - Has anyone towed anything big yet?
Captain
Joined: May 2009
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From: California
lighten up and watch some videos
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Pottstown, PA
Towed my first heavy load last night home from the RV dealer. I traded my '06 Starcraft Hybrid for an '06 Jayco Jay Flight 29BHS. It weighs 5600 dry / 7500 loaded and the RAM towed it nicely. I got a real nice level stance using the 800lb Reese spring bar weight distribution setup so I'm happy I won't have a need for extra suspension help (air bags). The Hemi had plenty of power towing the trailer up hills. The ride in the truck was nice and smooth...no bucking or swaying. Very happy with the truck and it's tow capability so far.
Last edited by HG07JKRubi; Jul 21, 2009 at 10:32 AM.
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Edmonton
Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: KY
I care if I am legal.. The legal limits are supposed to keep the stupid from overloading their vehicles and causing an accident. I had two bad experiences with towing because I listened to a salesman an didn't read the Owners Manual. I had an Apache Pop-up trailer that was given to me and my wife. I bought a Dodge D100 to tow it on the advice of a Salesman. I burnt the transmission up because the Apache was heavier than your normal pop-up. It had rigid fiberglass sides that slid into place. Two pop ups and two tow vehicles later we bought a Coleman pop-up that we were going to tow with our Pontiac transport mini-van. It had the 3800 CC 6Cyl engine and air suspension in the rear. I had sway issues with that set up because the salesman assured me that my van would tow it. Yes the 3800 CC 6 was powerful enough, but the suspension wasn't, after several thrilling episodes with sway we decided to retire that combination. I then went the other route and bought a new tow vehicle that was 3X what I needed. A Chevy 12 passenger 2500 with a 6.5L turbo diesel. I studied the owners manual an knew exactly what the maximum towing capacity of the vehicle was. Therefore when I went to replace the pop up, the salesman was unable to talk me into a 12,000 lb GVW trailer. The one I purchased was a 9500 GVW (weight of the camper with full tanks, food, and mama's junk). The Van had a Max towing Capacity of 10,000 lbs (maximum weight capacity - weight of the van/passengers/crap in the van). Looking back that was actually cutting it too close because it didn't like long steep grades. As long as I stayed out of the mountains it was fine and I could cruise at 70 MPH with no problem. You have to know what the limits of your tow vehicle are or you can end upside down in a median with parts of your trailer and it's contents all over the interstate.. Like an acquaintance of mine..
Last edited by tombogue09; Jul 21, 2009 at 12:59 PM.
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 14
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From: Virginia
Well you don't have to worry about weight limits on that thing that you've got now, that engine and tran will tow 2X its tow rating no prob__________________
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 14
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From: Virginia
That's not towing!!
lighten up and watch some videos
Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: KY
I towed a 21000 lb load with a Ram 3500 cummins today....engine didn't know it was there
Professional
Joined: Feb 2009
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I don't know the total weight but I had her hooked up to a 7'x20' landscape trailer which is 2290lbs. I put 3 scoops of dirt on the trailer. Bucket was about 4' wide. She didn't squat but the mpg went down to 8mpg. She was sluggish off the line but I expected that. The Dodge 3500 dually diesel was being used so that's all I had. With that 3500 she wouldn't notice a thing.
Professional
Joined: Feb 2009
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Calm down, calm down. I'd be more worried for your truck and safety than the roads. I'm more worried about the dump trucks than the measly 8 tons or so that you guys are peddling around. Granted there are some 3 ton posted bridges out there, your load will make it. Thank god for factor of safety in engineering.
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Joined: May 2009
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Nothing real big yet other then a 20' flat deck trailer with a couple quads on it i had both quads sitting on the front most part of the trailer and it squated a bit if i had loaded them properly it would have been level with no squat but i needed room on the back of the trailer.
Not to sure what the trailer itself weighted but it was pretty heavy duty with two axles and trailer brakes we use it to carry around a scissor lift at work no pictures though sorry here is the only towing pic i have and its just over 700 pounds so its not noticeable haha
Not to sure what the trailer itself weighted but it was pretty heavy duty with two axles and trailer brakes we use it to carry around a scissor lift at work no pictures though sorry here is the only towing pic i have and its just over 700 pounds so its not noticeable haha