cdodgeguy

Ok, I'm back from my RV trip after 4 days and 3 nights @ the lake. Well, there were some decent hills to climb, but other than that it was pretty straight forward other than a few hairy turns and near 45 deg climbs. My temp gauge got just past half way, but never hotter. The trans never slipped; I kept it out of OD while climbing since I needed all the power I could get.
My truck weighs in just over 5800 lbs, and my 30.5' 5th wheel is around 10k lbs, plus 500 lbs of people and 750 lbs of gear. That totals around 17k + lbs. I was told that my '93 D-250 AT should not pull more than 14k lbs total. Is that right? Where does it say that at? My fifth wheel hitch that was designed for my truck has a limit of 15,500k lbs on it. The truck pulls the 5ver like nothing. Coming back it was even easier because I remembered an even easier and faster route that saved me 35 mins! The truck had absolutely no problems, although since its bone stock, it sure could of used a little help going up the hills.
I know that I've been told by some of the fellas in this group that if I intend on towing a lot with this 5th wheel that I should install another tranny cooler, a egt gauge and turn up the clock and install a turbo boost gauge. It was the first time for me to pull my new-used 5th wheel and I would have to say I am quite proud of her! She made some of the new $45k rigs look like mini trucks attempting to pull 5th wheels and travel trailers up those hills! hehe!
Now, on another note, I was told the new 2k5 and 2k6 Dodge 3500 dually's can only tow 16k lbs, while the new Ford Super Dutys can carry 19, 200 lbs with a special towing package. Can the Ford really outpull/carry/tow more than the dodge? I am interested in purchasing a newer Dodge and was wondering if this is so since I just ordered a new 5th wheel that weighs in at over 14k lbs! Please help! Sorry for the long (yawn) message!

wannadiesel

What you can pull and what the manufacturer says you should pull are two different things. Tow ratings are based more on startability (the ability of the engine/transmission/axle ratio to start the load moving) gradability (how fast it will pull up a given grade) than they are on safety.

You can find the GCVWR in the owner's manual. Your GCVWR is 14k if you have the auxilliary cooler. It's only 12k without it. If the truck weighs 6k and you put 1k of people and stuff in it, according to Dodge you should pull no more than 5k. So you can see that the truck is easily capable of more than what it is rated for.

If you are buying a big fiver and you want a truck that is rated by the manufacturer to pull it, you may need a Ford F-350 or a medium duty truck. The Ford achieves its tow rating only when equipped with 4.30 rear gears - remember it's about startability and gradability with the stock engine.

spunbearing

My book says 16,000 combined weight. That's rig and trailer. Mine is also a 1993 D-250. 17k isn't much over 16k the cummins doesn't care about a mere 1000 lbs. :0)

pwrtripls1

Does it have my tow rating in the owners manual? I wonder what mine is.

DODGE 92

oh well this is new to me since wen do people care wat manifacturers say i pull 25 to 30000lbs with the old girl no prob yet TRY THAT WITH A FORD i passed some of those new trucks with 5tfh weels on them i had 25000lbs gross weight not even a 5th weel right on the back hitch
see here i got 22000lbs in all and there are 50 pallets missing on the load some times i haul those hardwood orange ones the truckers out there no the ones im talking about
they are 80lbs each x 250= 20000lbs+about 6000lbs for truck +2500for trailer=28500lbs MAXIMUN TOW 14000LBS OUPS im just 14000lbs oveweight dont tell anyone

pwrtripls1

92, how well did it take off and pull on hills? The heaviest thing I've ever towed was a 9,700lb trailer, with 1,500 in the bed of my 1500 Silverado. Amazingly with the Lingenfelter engine, 4.10's, and all the other stuff done to it I got 14.5 mpg loaded. I kept it in OD with the TC locked the whole way, mostly doing 80-85.

The really crazy thing is it was getting 16.5 mpg unlaoded. Thats just a 2mpg drop. Tranny temp never got to 200* either.

So total i guess was 9700+1500+5400=16,600. Not too bad for a half ton.

Now I cant wait to get back home to TX and do some real towing with the Cummins and see what its got. I've got a buddy that ownes a paving company and uses an old 95' flat bed Cummins to tow alot of his equiptment around. Its normal load is 2-bobcats, tools, like 4 or 5 packing machines, and a 36' flatbed trailer. He's broken the frame twice that i know of, but it still pulls.

cdodgeguy

Thanks Wannadiesel and others-

Yes, I have the aux. cooler. My truck can accelerate quite well with the fifth wheel trailer on it at a standpoint. Also, at a stop sign facing a decent grade, it seemed to just climb right up it w/o any problems. I like the idea of having a 30+' fifthwheel to tow with me when I travel so I can have the whole family and the dog under one roof to sleep. I am currently looking to purchase a 2k1 to 2k3 Dodge D3500 dually 4x4 quad cab or crew cab if I can find one for the right price. It will also have the 6 speed in it. No more auto trannies for me, at least not from Dodge. I need the room in the truck, and in the camper.
Thanks again for all the help. I will be taking out the 5ver in the next few weeks again soon. I will post those results after the trip.

59FORD

Buy A new one?????

NEVER! The older stuff is PAID FOR, spend the funds on the old dependable ride.


Look at all the sigs with 89 to 93 oldies there all happy


see............................................... ....



59

DODGE 92

pwtripls it took off slow well i made it take off slow dont wont to burn the old girlbut ill tell you this it suprised the hell out of me in the hills it got down to 60km but i let it go down see i dont have my pyro in yet so im taking it easy well if you call 28000lbs easy