I am curious what I can haul with my new truck. It is 4wd. Does that mean i will need some sort of L joint because of the lift? What can reasonably haul at highway speeds.

Thanks

 

It can reasonably haul 5-6 tons. 7 if you are on flat country and don't have to climb too many hills
However, with our 5K travel trailer we had a head wind on the interstate and couldn't get that old thing to get above 60 ( its flat fronted though)

If you don't mind, could you post a few more pictures of it?
I am a fanatic of these trucks.

 

One of the biggest problems with my '93 was getting the tranny hot. Be careful! You won't know it's too hot till it's too late unless you install a gauge.

I scorched mine towing "only" about 9000 lbs in the mountains. Sensible limits really depend on the terrain, the gearing and the braking system on the trailer.

The '93 has less power than a third gen but it is still amazing what it will do. They will pull themselves to destruction if asked to.

 

That is really helpful information. I will hopefully get around to installing a gauge. Would that be some sort of transmission temperature gauge? Unfortunately I don't have a camera, those pictures were taken by my friend. Since I posted I found out that my buddy with the same truck had his rated by the state of NC. They do some sort of torque test. They said it could haul 12 tons, but I assume that is flatter terrain, well balanced 2 axel trailer with good brakes, and not at highway speeds. Thanks a lot yall, I owe you a beer.

 

12 tons as in 24,000lbs? hope not off the stock hitch

 

At work I was using a 92 250 to pull a 40' combine header and it weighed in a 10,000lbs flat ground it pulled great but we had to go up a 7% grade....well going down the hill at about 60 and coming back up it was right around 35ish. So 24,000lbs I want to see a pic haha

 

Look in the manual if it has the factory hitch, or even if it doesn't. Then look at what hitch is on the back if it's not factory. Also look at the sidewalls of the tires that are on it. All of these will have ratings numbers on them. The lowest of them all will be your limit.

 

The owners manual should tell you. Mine (sig) says trailer tongue weight up to 350-lbs, then a weight-distributing hitch is needed. Realistically, maybe 500-lbs TW or a trailer under 5000-lbs. Ignore the crowd that sez you don't need it, you do. It isn't a question of skill (those who think it is rely on luck), it is only a matter of the trailer.

Fifth wheel or gooseneck is a bit more, but you lose the use of the bed. Below is for conventional trailers:

2004 is rated to 10k for a bumper pull. Respect the DODGE numbers and you'll be fine. Ignore them and you set yourself up for liability and a truck that wears faster.

What you can tow is determined by the truck specifications against truck payload AND THEN what remains determines tongue weight/trailer weight. It might be 10k for an empty truck . . and it might be 8k for a loaded truck.

Start by taking it over a scale and getting (paying) for a combined certified weight scale receipt that shows FF axle weight, RR axle weight. Empty, but for driver, full fuel and stuff that positively never leaves truck.

This is your solo, or "empty" weight. (Compare it to published shipping weight for fun but THAT is the number which you MUST use for determining payload versus trailer weight/tongue weight calculations).

Your truck was rated to tow a certain amount of pounds with proper equipment. An auto-trans truck needs a HD trans cooler, for instance (Towing Package). It must also have a proper hitch receiver (not bumper ball) to tow the max weight. Etc.

Tires must be of the proper Load Range and pressures.

You should try to find the factory information on all this, and keep a copy. Check glove box stickers, door stickers, etc as well as online. Maybe dealer can help.

www.etrailer.com is a decent place to buy equipment, but I'd first try this question over at RV.net on the tow vehicle subforum. Lot's of good guys to expand on the above and help you get maximum performance for minimal dollars or wear on the truck.

Learn the numbers, learn how to set [proper] hitch rigging, and keep it honest.

Good luck

.

 

If I recall correctly the owners manual says a maximum of about 15,000 lbs GCVW, truck and trailer, so if an extended cab W series weighs 6,500-7000 lbs, that only leaves 8,000 or so to play with.

I have pulled 14,000 off the receiver hitch alone, just not going crazy with speed though.