I HAVE A 97 12V A/T( PLAN TO GO GOEIRS OR DDT TRANS.)
3.54 DUALLY 4X4 EXT CAB STOCK SIZE TIRES 215 7516

CAN IT HANDLE A 35 ' 13K 5TH WHEEL, WIL LI NEED AIR BAGS IT HAS FACTORY OVERLOAD SPRINGS, MY CONCERNS ARE TOWING WEIGHT THAT SHOULD BE MAXED
OR OVER 1500 LBS I OLNY PLAN TO USE FOR NOW LOCALLY ON IN MTNS. IN 5 TO 7 YEARS PLAN TO TRAVEL MORE.

ARE 35' 5TH WHEELS TO BIG FOR THIS, I DE HATE TO GO TO A FREIGHTLINER ONLY DUE TO COST OVER THE DODGE

I REALLY WANT TO KEEP THE 97 DODGE

THANKS IN ADVANCE. MY SON WANTED ME TO ADD THIS

YOU ARE NOT THE DUMB ONE, I MAYBE TRYING TO DO THIS WITH A 3500
DUALLY DIESEL.

 

You can do it, and your plan to beef up the transmission is a very good one. Until you can get that done, you can replace the stock tranny pan with a Mag Hytec double deep pan. It'll give you a lot more transmission fluid and help get rid of the heat. When you get the tranny rebuilt, get it set up for an exhaust brake. You'll be happier with an exhaust brake than with any other mod you'll ever get on your truck, especially when that big 5th wheel starts pushing you down those mountains.

Probably the first thing I'd do though, is improve the stock rear brakes. It's simple and cheap. By replacing the stock wheel cylinders with a larger (1 3/16") bore diameter from a mid-1990's Chevy 1 ton dually, you really increase the braking force. I would also flush the brake fluid and replace with full synthetic--it'll handle the heat better.

I'd also recommend a MaxBrake trailer brake controller. I have no experience with them, but they sound like they're a far, far better design than most other controllers. Hopefully someone with firsthand experience can chime in.

I'm not sure on the air bags, but I bet you'll want them.

Good luck,
Mike

 

Posting in all IN CAPITAL LETTERS is considered yelling, and is really hard to read. I tow 13+k all the time with my 97, but it has a manual trans. A well built auto will work fine.

 

I tow a 32 foot with my 92 D-250 and have no problem at all. I do have the 5 speed though.

 

haRDtOREad??????

 

Midnite pretty much summed it all up perfectly. Follow his advice and you'll have done yourself a big favor.

Since I have no idea about your maintenance of the truck you might want to replace the radiator if its original or close to it. I haven't had much luck cleaning them out I just replace them.

 

Regarding the maxbrake, I've used "other" kinds and I never knew electric brakes could be so smooth AND powerful... Truly proportional braking is the only way to go.

 

thanks
i may do the pan 1st then i need 4 '' drop running boards

 

should i keep 215 85 16 or go with 235 85 16 tires

 

With the 3.5 differential I'd suggest sticking with the stock 215s. I'm not sure if you have enough offset for 235s anyway.