foxtrot

How much can you tow with a 2" ball ? I need to tow my truck cross country. Its going to weigh at least 8,000 lbs.
Penske wont tell me because they dont want you towing your stuff with their stuff.

justinsdad

Depends on what it is made of, anywhere from 3500 to 6000 depending on material and shank size. Capacity should be stamped right on top of it, if not I wouldn't use it.

foxtrot

i realize they have different shank sizes, the one on my truck is 5,000.
the one on the tow vehicle is welded to the truck, have not seen if it was stamped yet. Wonder if the lack of any tounge weight makes any difference.

93 12v

you could try going to a camper place and see if they have a higher rated 2" ball. they're usually 2-5/16 though, and rated at 25k. is the hitch on your trailer strong enough to pull itself plus 8k? you'd need at least a class 3 receiver on your tow rig too. I wouldn't even try the bumper or the ball you have because your going to be pulling 2x the rating.

sooty

seems to me my 2" x 1 1/4" is 10k, my 2 5/16" is 25k

foxtrot

The tow bar is made of 1/4" steel tubing, plugs into dual hitch receivers on the front of my truck and is most likley strong enough to tow a 10 wheel dump truck, probably weighs 100 lbs.
There is no trailer, going to tow the truck on all four wheels. The tow vehical is a 22' international. And the 2" ball is welded to the truck.

simplysmn

Hook it up and take it for a test drive see how it handles remember to drop the drivelines

foxtrot

?? why ??

simplysmn

for a very short distance leaving them is is fine but going across country you will burn the trans up without haveing fluid running through it

Sorry saw you have a 5 sp I would still pull the back one anyway just to be safe but that's just me safe not sorry

brainfade

Towing in neutral will lunch the Getrag, no oiling. You could tow with the transfer case in neutral but I would just drop the rear shaft, leave the front in and tow with hubs unlocked. When you get where you're going use the front axle to move the truck around until you have time to put the rear drive shaft back in.

As far as using the rental trucks hitch, Penske will rent you a car trailer or dolly to haul your car. A full size car on a trailer is close to what you expect your truck to weigh on the wheels, I'd think it would be safe. My concern would be any legal issues that might arise if God forbid something happens and you don't have express written consent to tow your truck.

If the place you're going through won't work with you try the next town over, there are Penske places all over and they all seem to use a different set of rules.

foxtrot

The reason i wanted to leave the shaft in is I want to unhitch prior to the scales at each state line. I guess the front one would do for that.

I know the tranny will cook if the transfer case is engaged, Ive seen that happen thankS to AAA
I am going to check out enterprise and see if they are any better.

brainfade

I could be wrong, but I think for a rental truck (non-commercial) under 26K you don't have to scale. Don't take my word for it but it might be worth checking.

simplysmn

You Don't have to go through the scales they will tell you stay away I would just hook everything up and go you won't have any troubles .

foxtrot

If the truck has two or more rear axles it must stop.

simplysmn

99% of the rental truck's Don't have more then 1 axle in rear you will be fine .Main reason they don't is anything over 26,000 gvw you have to have a CDL