It is starting to look like I will be needing to tow a 25 foot or longer enclosed trailer. It will of course be a fifth wheel type. What is the maximim weight I can safely tow with SRW's? What things should I look at adding to my truck, such as exhaust brake, some sort of trailer brake/controller etc? I already have gauges and just need to get the lead out and install them.
If I add a trailer brake of some sort, what kind, model etc? Approximately how much will it cost?
What about the frame mounted hitch? I know there are almost a zillion manufactures for these things, but what is the most practical for towing a 25 - 32 foot trailer. loaded to the max capacity for the truck? About how much am I looking at to buy one and what will it cost to get it installed? I can do it myself, but will probably have to get it done on the road when I go up to pick up the trailer.
We don't have the trailer yet, but would appreciate any suggestions as the what to look for and maybe more importantly, what NOT to get. The trailer will be filled with commercial sound equipment, the type used for big shows. Some of the equipment is HEAVY and takes four strong guys to move one box. There will be over $250,000 worth of equipment in the trailer at any given time.
Edit:
We are presently using a 1996 International rated at 25500 lbs gross. Empty is about 12,000 lbs. It has a 20 foot extra tall box which I think is 110". This box is filled to capacity with all the equipment. We cannot use the truck in Mexico due to stupid legalities so need to sell or trade the truck for the fifth wheel. Everything is used for non-profit (church use). Wonder if there is anybody that could take this truck on trade for an enclosed fifth wheel that is a bit larger than the box on our truck?

 

Take the GVWR of the trailer, multiply buy 20-25%. This is your suggested pin weight on a 5th wheel. You will be over your GVWR on a SWR. If you are hauling that expensive and heavy equipment, do it right and get the correct tow vehicle. For example, a 24 foot trailer may have a GVWR of 12000 lbs. The trailer weighs 6000 lbs empty. You can carry 6000 lbs inside max. Your pin weight, when loaded correctly, should be 2400 to 3000 lbs. You can play with the Dodge towing guide, http://www-5.dodge.com/vehsuite/TowingGuide.jsp
You really need to work backwards from the equipment by figuring out its weight and volume. From there, look at what trailer it will fit in and its towing requirements. Depending on the state, any trailer over about 3000 lbs requires trailer brakes. You will need a brake controler. Do a search. I am guessing you will have everything insured and you may require a CDL too.

I based everything on being in the US. If you plan on using the truck in your profile, you payload is about 1600-1800 max.

 

unless your comb is over 26,001, meaning total carrying capacity or your hauling to make money you should not need a commercial liscense, other then that pretty much everything jkitterman said is correct.

 

Since the Brakesmart is not in production, the Jordan Ultima may be your best bet for a brake controller. 5er Bob is well versed with these, may want to PM him.

If you are going to tow that much in the mountains, frequently, I would do the Jacob exhaust brake. (I think someone had a used one in the classifieds). Install is not that bad if you are half-way mechanically inclined and have the time. Install directions can be downloaded from jakebrake.com.

I think you will find 5th wheel hitches mainly on RV trailers, and cargo/utility types are usually goose neck type that hitch to a ball...

I went with a B&W that has a goose ball that can be turned over, leaving a flat bed, and a "Companion" 5th wheel hitch that attaches to the same socket. Install for it was also fairly straight forward...

At least with RV type 5th wheels and SRW trucks, it seems rear axle rating is the limit you are likely to bump up to first.

Anyhow, I'm obviously not an expert, but I hope some of this might be helpful...

 

You need to remember Mexstan is "South of the Border". Different laws apply.

 

been raised along the border the laws down their are usaully easier then up here.I would check with the mex gov then just to make sure but i've seen some of the rigs down their

 

Yeah like if it runs and pulls freight it is on the road
Good reason the US doesn't want Mexican trucks over the border. Their safety record is..shall we say...kinda spotty.

 

Laws? You mean we have laws down here?
Actually there are laws here, the only problem is who is doing the interpreting of the law at that particular moment.
Thanks guys for the answers, but I can see that I can't do what I want to do with my truck. Once I took a real good look at the actual weight of the equipment we will be transporting, it looks like the weight could at times go as high as 11,000 or 12,000 pounds. That professional sound equipment is super heavy!!!!! Now add the trailer weight to that and my plans implode.
Plan B. Don't have a plan B yet, but have to come up with one very soon.

 

Stan, you could use your truck easily but you would need to upgrade the wheels/tires. You would have to go for some 19.5's and you would be fine. Not sure if you want to go that route though.

A GN hitch is only 350. Brake controller is 100. 19.5's will run $2500 for 5 with tires or $2000 if you go with Vision's. If your stuff weighs 12K lbs., trailer might be 3-4K lbs. Maybe even 5K. 8K truck + 12K equipment + 5K trailer would put you a 25,000lbs.

 

Thanks Pat. Never thought of upgrading the wheels. What will the wheel upgrade give me in terms of increased carrying capacity, traction and anything else connected to towing a heavy load like that? By upgrade I mean from the stock 265' or the 315's which I am installing on Friday. Any idea what the 19.5's do to the empty load ride comfort? If I do go to the 19.5's, which tires would be best? Why not go for the 20 inch wheels instead of the 19.5's?
Ok, you towing experts, I need answers pronto. I was planning this Friday (in two days) on installing a set of 315 tires. Now I am wondering if I should forget them and go for the bigger wheels and tires instead. Do the rest of you agree with Pat that by upgrading my wheels and tires (plus brake controller etc) that my truck will handle the the load I intend to carry?
I am heading north on Thusday morning, so have to make a decision by tomorrow night.

 

I've got the 19.5 Dunlop SP431 tires on my truck to haul a 4100 lb slide in camper on it. They're rated at 4949 lbs per tire, so the rear axle TIRE weight rating is good for 9880 lbs. Don't know what your '03 AXLE weight rating is, on my '01 Dana 80 it's 7500 lbs.
That 4100lb camper makes a rear axle scaled weight of 7130 lbs., so you should be good to go on your axle weight with 'only' 3000 lb trailer pin weight.

With a 3000 lb pin weight of that trailer, you will be overweight on the 315 tires on the rear axle. Plus the 315's have taller/softer sidewalls compared to the 19.5's and will sway a lot more.

With that pin weight, you'll also need helper springs (does the '03 2500 have them?) or at least air bags.


Non of the above will change that 8800 (or whatever) GVWR sticker on the driver's doorjamb, but in Mexico, who cares?? Your truck CAN be beefed up to handle it, though.

 

There could be times that I may have to go back north to Texas with that load so have to make sure that what I do complies with the Texas laws.

If I go for the 19.5" or 20" inch wheels, what size, brand etc tires do y'all recommend? Presume that the aspect ratio will change from my present 70 to something else.

 

Stan 20" wheels are for "looks", 19.5" wheels are heavy duty medium duty truck wheels/tires. They are not exactly soft on the ride but they do the job. Like RoadRanger said you can get tires rated to 4940# per tire. The 11.5" axle on the 03 Dodge HO's is rated to 11,500 lbs. Brakes rated to whatever an 03 dually is rated to (same rates), which is something like 9350# on the rear axle. You might need to add helper springs or air bags ($250 or so).

The 19.5's have a huge selection of tires. Check out www.ricksontruck.com. They are a bit expensive to get started. Also availability of the wheels is a bit tight. You could call a DiscountTire in TX and ask for Vision Type 81 wheels. I personally like the Rickson steelies better (albeit more expensive) because they are the more correct offset.

My 1st set of tires lasted 90k miles.

As for legality, you will be over your "GVWR" and you will be over your "GAWR" but no where near your tire ratings. If we say 12K load+5K trailer, that is going to be roughyl 4250# on the pin weight which is a lot, but again no where near the ratings of the tire or wheel. This is a lot of weight but not out of the question. I plan on hauling that much on a daily basis if I get this car hauling gig going.

 

Well, if you look like an RV the Texas law dogs won't bother you. A LOT of RV's are overweight.The biggest problem here in the US is the lawyers going after you in a civil suit after an accident.

If you're commercial (or look it), you'll have to cross scales here in the US. Don't even bother to get started with a 2500 truck- it won't be legal no matter HOW many upgrades you do to it. Big $$$ fines!

19.5 "Vision" wheels can be had right away (or pretty close) thru Les Schwab or Discount Tire stores. Rickson is the original distributor, but they have a 2-3 month wait time.

Goodyear, Michelin, and Dunlops all make 19.5 tires that come highly rated.
I've heard on the forums that the Toyo's aren't giving good wear.

 

I already have an appointment with Discount Tire in San Antonio for Friday. Since my last post I called them and they have tires and wheels in stock.