I looked up my trucks tow ratings and it's 9450 because it has the 3:55 axle. The exact same truck with a 6 speed is 13200. Is the auto that much of a piece of junk and do you think I could get by towing 12000 without completely tearing something up? We are going looking at new fifth wheels this weekend and I don't want get my heart set on something that the truck can't handle.

My plans are to beef up the tranny and install a van aiken or edge ez in the near future.

 

I looked it up and it looks like the reference I used will allow a large load if you have 265 seris tires on the truck?

2500 Quad Cab 4WD 5.9 V-8 8,050a,f/h
2500 Quad Cab 4WD 5.9 V-8 8,100d,f/h
2500 Quad Cab 4WD 5.9 I-6 TD 13,200b,f/h
2500 Quad Cab 4WD 5.9 I-6 TD 13,400a,f/h
2500 Quad Cab 4WD 5.9 I-6 TD 9,450d,f

2500 Quad Cab 4WD 5.9 I-6 TD 11,450d,h

2500 Quad Cab 4WD 8.0 V-10 12,650a,f/h
2500 Quad Cab 4WD 8.0 V-10 12,700d,f/h

See the 2001 .pdf file at http://www.trailerlife.com/towratings/tr_index.cfm

 

I do have 265 E tires but could not find in the chart anything about increased tow ratings. Where did you find that info?

 

I think I looked at the wrong footnotes. Looks like you'll need a 4:10 rear.

Sorry bout that.

Dave

 

I have the 3:55 rear end in my dually......but I have also upgraded my tranny.....I tow heavy all the time 18,000 GVW trailer some time more

The auto tranny is the weak link of theses trucks not the rear end for heavy towing with the proper engine MODS these trucks will tow heavy loads within the tire spec's

My truck is used and abused on a daily bases hauling freight in my trailer and has done so for the last almost 200000 miles since I upgraded my tranny....the only time I wished I had a 4:10 rear end is on very hilly roads with steep upgrades but the 3:55 gives me better mileage on the open roads

 

I posted the same question on another forum and a guy said that the reason the numbers were so low was because DC rates these figures on a 20% grade startability test and the autos can't compete with the manuals when launching on a grade. He also suggested that I leave my truck stock (yeah right) so I would not increase the risk of tranny damage. I figure if I take it easy, tow in the right gear and don't do anything stupid, everything will be just fine. Thanks for easing my mind about this.

 

You mean this post?

If you keep your truck stock power and avoid launches from a standstill on 20% grades like DC does during testing of the vehicles with max tow capacity to determine towing capacity, you'll probably be fine. We towed our 10,040 lb 5th wheel all over the southeast with our '01 and '03 Cummins powered 2500 with their 47RE trannies. No problems at all. Now we're doing the same with our Hemi powered 2500 duplicate with no trouble at all. That low tow rating is decided considering the worst conditions you might be in. All else is rated to tow the max but your gear ratio and tranny will limit you from the 20% startability test with max GCVWR.
Just my humble been there and still doing it and will continue to do it with stock power and gauges having no trouble running with the flow of traffic opinion...

I've had very similar results with mine.

 

Hey Hannibal, are you Steve McDaniel from RV.NET? If not, your answer sounds just like the response Steve gave me over there. Anyways thanks.

 

Spooky ain't it!