thumbs

I am trying to find information for what my truck is capable of towing safely. I called Dodge and they were not helpful at all. I am considering a larger fifth wheel and need to know the max tonge weight and trailer weight my truck can handle. Is there a chart somewhere that I can find this info for different trans and rear setups? Also what can I do (within reason) to increase my trucks ability to handle greater loads?

thanks

90firstgen

Should be a list of ratings in the door jamb on the driver side. Mine has it anyway and it gives all the gvwr....blah blah ratings. Check there

thumbs

I will check again but didn't see a combined weight. The weights I would need are about 7500# on the rear axle and gvw of around 23K. My weights now are 6700 on the rear axle and 18k and the truck does fine.
When I talked to Dodge they would only give me the specs for the way my truck came from the factory. Since I didn't get a trailer hitch and they still don't install fifth wheels their info was useless.

90firstgen

Hopefully somebody smarter than me will chime in, but I would think as long as you kept everything cool than you would be alright. I would suggest getting a bigger diff. cover so it can hold a quart or two more of gear lube. I also would recommend royal purple for the gear lube
I could be wrong though.... there is a point where you can just have too much weight on. Too much torque against too much resistance will break gears

clinton81

on a 1 ton yor GVW should be 10500# on an ext cab and 10000 on a reg cab dont know why but that is how they do it the your GCVW depends on your trailer axels usuall 3500# to 5000# this is all to be legal but I have had way more on my old truck (a 1998.5 dodge 1ton dully w/edge EZ chip) 27 round bails of hay on 42ft float and pulled it 60-70 watching the temp go up fast and 50-60 with no problems

mhuppertz

If you watch the pyro, the brakes become the weak link. 1st gen brakes are horrible! If one were to put some 4 piston calipers all the way around you could pull a semi trailer (but not in overdrive)

thumbs

The major question I have is my particular setup. I think my truck will pull the weight ok it's the weight on the rear axle I am concerned with. I have a reg cab but with my tools app. 250# plus 90 gal of fuel in a transfer tank and the 2600# fifth wheel hitch weight I am wondering if the truck will take it. Basicly I am askin it to go another 1000# over what I am doin now. The hitch weight on my fifth wheel is 1700# and the truck seems to handle it fine now but the extra 1000# is the question.

clinton81

I would put some new overloads on it and some heavy duty gas shocks or just go to air bags either way you should keep the same ride you have now when empty i would hate to be putting tires on it though this when you need a dually

Luke S

I am not clear on wether your truck is a dually or single rear wheel. If it is a dually, I say go for it, look in my gallery to see how heavy mine gets loaded. If it is a SRW, I say no way, not that much weight on two tires.

thumbs

Its a single tire. I can get tires that will carry 3750# that will be enough for the weight. Just wonderin if the rest of the truck will.

Luke S

I think the axle will take it, I just don't like putting that much weight on two tires. Once you used to a dually, it's hard to go back.

QIK2D

according to the owners manual in my 93 d350, my gvw is 10200 (confirmed by the sticker on the door jamb) and a gcvw of 16000. my truck weighs 6200, so i have 4000 lbs to put in the bed or i can pull a 9800 lb trailer ( as long as the pin weight doesnt excede 4000 lbs ).

thumbs

Yep a dually would be nice but right now is not a good time. That being said I love this truck anyway.

The problem with the info from Dodge is they don't give any for a fifth wheel. I am told it is another game in itself. My truck didn't come with a hitch so Dodge tells me I can only pull 2000lbs with a tongue weight of 200lbs. They won't give me anymore info. I know they are afraid of lawsuits but not giveing info could be just as dangerious. I know some of you guys are pullin unbelievable loads but I have to do it on a consistant basis not just short haul once or twice.

willieboy

The door jamb should list your axle capacities. That is what you probably need to go off of.

Load your current trailer and hit the weigh station. That will tell you how much overhead you have to work with. Most of the weight on a fifth wheel will go on the back axle, but proably at least 20% will go to the front axles. Of course you could go ahead and test tow the trailer you are interested in and go hit the weight station and make sure you are not ove the stated capacities. If they are not listed on the door jamb, Dodge or DANA/Spicer should be able to give you your axle capacities. You may even be able to find them on the web.

BTW, my Grandfather pulled a 14000 lb. Fifth wheel travel trailer all over the western US with the truck that is in my sig.

wannadiesel

I'm with willieboy, you ought to weigh what you've got now and see where you are. With all the stuff you have in that truck you are probably over the door sticker already. I wouldn't want more than 8k on the rear axle. It's rated for 6900# on a dually, but that was tire capacity.

I think you ought to step up to 19.5" rims. That will remove the tires as a weak link.