I'm about to make a cross country trip with my new trailer and was wondering if I am forgetting about anything or if there is any other things you guys recommend.

I am pulling my 30 foot enclosed trailer behind my 05 ram. I've already pulled it about 800 miles but wanted to know if I need to think about anything else. I've already got airbags and a equalizer WD hitch. The truck rides super smooth and level, and pulls the trailer a lot better than I thought it would. The empty trailer weight is about 6,000 lbs I'm geussing and I will have about 6,000 lbs of stuff inside it (including my Jeep). I'll be hitting the scales before I leave. I've already done all the standard stuff like check tire pressures and changed all my fluids and greased everything up.

I'm aiming to get my tongue weight about 1200 lbs, my truck weighs about 7800 lbs with me in it so I should be right at my GVWR of 9000 lbs. How big of a deal is this? I will be well under both my GAWRs. I should gross out around 20k, but I can't seem to find my GCVWR anywhere. I'm geussing that is probably around 20-23k? I know my truck can probably safely carry much more with all the stuff I've done to it, I would just like to know how much I can legally carry. Sorry for the long post, just wondering what I might be forgetting.

Thanks

 

Manufacturers GVWR and GCWR are not in any way legal limits. They may or may not have warranty issues. As long as your truck and trailer are tagged for the weights you are hauling you are good to go. BTW, don't fall for the internet rumor that exceeding the GVWR or GCWR and having a wreck will void your insurance. Read your policy for exemtions and I'll bet that overweight isn't one of them.

 

Haul it with confidence. Your truck was built for this.

GAmes is right....the GVWR and GCVWR are basically limits made by the manufacturers to keep their liability down.

To answer your question about your GCVWR....it is 21,000lbs because you have 3.73 gears. If you had 4.10s it raises it to 23,000......according to Chrysler.

..

 

I guess that my only questions would be:

Do you have an extra fuel filter on ya handy JUST in case you run into a bad batch of fuel? Never know when these newer common rails will run into a bad batch and end up running "frisky".

Other than that, you got her covered...even have a class V hitch for that heavy brick you'll be pullin, so you're good

 

Your trailer weighs 6k empty?
WOW, if their lead bricks lining the floor?

 

My 20' open equipment hauler weighs 2550lbs...I wouldn't imagine a trailer that is 10 feet longer and enclosed would have a problem doubling the weight really...she IS a pig though, huh? I bet he doesn't see better than 10-11mpg pulling that parachute!

 

My experience with towing: One of the most important things to have in my opinion are spare tires (2 for the trailer, 2 for the truck) just so IF you have a flat, you can keep going with one more spare so you don't have to stop in some random town waiting.

Plus a good jack for truck and trailer in case (the bottle jack that Dodge supplied is ok, but nothing like a good floor jack).

XM radio to make cross-country that more bearable.

Other than that, enjoy your trip and be careful.

 

Words of wisdom on the spares. I had a flat in Van Horn TX one night. I literally had to dig through the dump to find a tire, and then was forced to get cash ( no plastic) to pay for it.

 

My 4 car Wally mo weighs 8,900 empty, so 6K is possible.

 

I haven't weighed the trailer empty but I'm geussing it's right around 6k, it is also a foot taller than standard. The interior height is 7'6" so I can get Jeeps inside and clear the door.

I've got two extra fuel filters, two spares for the truck, only one for the trailer, a 3 ton floor jack and jackstands, oh and the most important thing; my Sirius radio.

The fuel mileage is anywhere from 10-13 depending on how fast I'm going, first trip I averaged about 11.8, but being two and a half feet taller than the truck I didn't expect it to do that good. It sounds like I've got everything covered, but I've never towed with the Pacbrake airbags, I just got them. Any advice on when to air them up and how much? Do you just fill them up until everything is nice and level?

 

Sounds like you're good to go!

Yeah, just load up like you would normally, check your sag and air them up until you're right back at level...it's gonna be a good time!

 

Make sure you memorize your boldface and ops limits before you tow!

 

Even though its a new trailer I would recommend pulling the wheels and hubs to inspect and repack the wheel bearings. You will be surprised at the lack of grease the factory puts in them.



Tim