why dont you just get a hemi ram 2500 and call it a day....they get great reviews and your towing capacity will be up to spec...

 

I would argue that it is wildly less irresponsible than your shirt on a winch line comment hammer.

If you knew the first thing about engineering you would know that everything is tested to far greater than its rated capacity. Ropes and chains are typically tested to three times the load they are rated for. Vehicles are typically tested to fail at least 1.5 times rated capacity. This is the reason that the 2010 is rated higher than the 09 with no hardware changes... they just cut back some of the margin of safety.

I was not giving legal advice or commenting on the wisdom of the decision. I was simply stating that the truck was capable of pulling the load. If the op is thinking about changing gearing etc, things the insurance company are not going to take into account when determining if he is culpable then towing without these moss makes him no less or more culpable.

Work out who you are talking to before you make disparaging comments... and yes I see your admin tab.

 

Then explain how the people with srt8 chargers were able to snap their half shafts in the rear end by just putting on drag radials with a flat stock motor. If those parts were built to handle 1.5 times the abuse that they were rated for then that should never have happened. Try towing a 15,500 pound trailer like you are suggesting and see how that goes for you with a flat stock ram.

 

I dont believe the discounts on the 2010 Ram 2500 Hemi are anywhere near what they are on half ton trucks. Also, considering a 2500 is what, 2,000 lbs heavier? I can only imagine what the fuel economy would be.

 

If your doing that long of a trip once a year i would step up to a 2500 or a 250.. It will make that drive a lot smoother.

 

It's just once a year.... hard to justify the other trade-offs.

 

I would up the gears, add air bags and call it a day. For the long distance run I would swap out to 17" rims with LT's over the 20" stockers. With gears, 17" wheels and bags you will be just over the limit, not the end of the world.

As far as being able to run 50 to 100% beyond its rating... doubt that. However there are limits where the truck would fail, the manufacture will always set the numbers on the conservative side. Look at it this way. Most people focus on what the weight is of what they are towing. If the truck says 8000 lbs they feel a trailer up to that weight is ok. They rarely stop and think about passenger weight, supplies, gear etc... This can take a 8000 lbs load easily to 10,000 lbs. I see it all the time. There are no huge wrecks or disasters. Just over time worn trucks, trannys, rears, etc... Trucks made 20 and 30 years ago were built no where near as well or as strong as they are today yet they pulled the same weight if not more back then. Just something to think about...

 

Remember the old adage "you wanna f*ck something up royally? Get an engineer involved" LMAO!!!

I agree with you 100% that the truck is CAPABLE of pulling the load - easily. But I don't care how "over-engineered" the vehicle is! Talk to your insurance company, tell them you plan on towing OVER the rated capacity of the vehicle. Ask if you are covered! Understand who you are talking to! I own farm property, I have towed often, I've had to cover employees who were on the road with many vehicles and most importantly - I've had this conversation with insurance companies!

As far as draping something over a winch cable - I've chaired events at ORV functions, I'VE HAD WARN COME TO SAID EVENTS TO DEMONSTRATE PROPER WINCHING TECHNIQUES. I've already linked to Warn's Proper Winching Techniques Guide in that thread as well.

BUT I GUESS YOU ARE FAR MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE IN SUCH THINGS AS THE MANUFACTURER OF THE RECOVERY PRODUCT?

You want to practice unsafe techniques (if you'd even take it upon yourself to stop and help someone in need), you do it.

But IMHO it's completely irresponsible to suggest such behavior to others seeking advice...

 

I do not know more than warn... but I do know that you need to put something more than a blanket on there... which is what you suggested.

Which by your argument is completly irresponsible.

AFAIK all 1500+ trucks carry a class IV receiver: unless you use a weight distributing hitch you will exceed capacity of that component at 500/5000 so those quotes of 8k are irrelevant. Also as was mentioned if you are using a weight distributing receiver with your maximum allowable trailer weight you will exceed your max GVWR when you and your buddy get into the truck... again I can show working if you want... my assumptions were 225 lb pax and 8500lb trailer.

A specific case of dodge over engineering... you can haul a trailer with a 1100 lb tongue weight with a dodge 2500. I have been forced to do it for a few miles and nothing broke... would I do it again voluntarily? no but the decision was made way above my pay grade.

As to legality: I am waiting for a call back from my sister, she is an insurance lawyer who has worked for Allstate and Progressive.

My bona fides: I am a trucker with 12 years experience, this experience includes field expedient extraction, as well as the use of rollback and convential wreckers. I am an OSHA certified safety representative. I am also a certified hitch specialist and installer (3 years at uhaul).

 

All of Warn's in the field demos utilize a movers blanket to demonstrate weighing down the center of a winch cable. Have seen them live and could probably pop one on YouTube if necessary.

I'm sure your sister will agree that most insurance companies will void a claim if it's learned you were towing OVER manufacturer's capacity. My cousin is an exec with The Hartford and I LOST THIS ARGUMENT WITH HER SOME YEARS AGO. Which is how I now know. ALSO, I have a good friend who was made to pull his trailer off of his 1/2 ton Chevy and made to arrange for an appropriate tow vehicle to come get his trailer (after receiving some heavy fines) by the state police in Georgia.
I'm not picking an argument here, I simply have been witness to these things...