Towing close to the MAX

[kozzy]

Well, I need some opinions here, I currently have a 2015 Ram 2500 6.4L HEMI with a 4:10 rear end, only 8 months old. rated at 15,500 LBS
well, wasn't planning on it, but say the 3950 and had to have it, so now I do. weight is 13800, GVWR of 16800, so if I have this maxed out, its over my truck capacity. Now normally I just run on and replace my truck, but the fact that I ordered mine just the way I wanted and its only 8 months old, its tough to just buy new. I have priced out a new 3500 CTD just in case. I am planning on adding air bags to the rear of my current truck to help with the heavy pin weight, even though I am under my payload cap ( pin weight is 2800, payload is 3082. So can I get away with my truck for maybe a year or 2 ? Thoughts? I do a lot of traveling around home, NYS, but I do one or 2 long trips a year, this year to flordia and then the outter banks. Otherwise its pretty much 3 hour trips or less here and there.

[davidaf]

Before you take the loss hook her up and tow her to the scales and see what she ways and how the Ram tows. If you can live with it and the weight comes in low enough (and you are able to keep the weight down) keep it until you are ready to move on.

BTW, I know your pain well. As much as it's going to hurt I'd take the loss and move on. Did the same with my first tow vehicle (A Ram 2500 with 5.9). Owned it less than a year and had to dump her for a Dually. It was either that or replace the wife 'cause she wasn't giving up on the 5er.

[JandC]

I agree you need to scale it when you are loaded and ready to camp. But I think you already know that you will probably be way over on weights for your new truck. If you are keeping that size fiver then you either switch trucks now or later, but no matter when you will take a hit.

[DQDick]

Having to replace our truck is one of the reasons we don't look at new rigs. We like our current rig, have all the mods we can think of and don't thing the change is worth the extra truck and trailer money. On the other hand, if we did find one we had to have the truck would be gone in an instant. I'm too old to want to live on the edge.

[1retired06]

You can pull it. But with increased risks.

[kozzy]

So far I have only towed it home from the dealer, and it was loaded with all our stuff, beside food and clothes, since we just moved it from one caper to another at the dealer. Had full water tanks too, I didn't know they left with water in when they leak tested. Anyways, it handled and towed fine actually. A little more squat in the rear end than I would like, which is why I am considering air bags to help out, but handling was fine. Of course this was only like a 25 minute trip too. I am currently waiting to see what the dealer will do for a trade. right now we are 2K apart, and I don't want to budge since I can probably get by with my current rig for at least a year if I have to. I will upgrade to a diesel for sure, the questions is just when. Im just sick, just had all new hide away lights installed for snow plowing ( clearance lamps that strobe), undercoating and rust proofing too. Had my plow installed and haven't even had to plow yet, love this weather, but all that was about 2K, 2K that I will have to spend yet again if I swap now LOL crazy

[pkbridges77]

Kozzy, I just posted on the F-350 thread. We were in the same position with an F-250 and traded today for an F-350 DRW for the same reasons you are finding.

[Dam Worker]

Just a bit of humor but the next time you are out look around and see if you spot any cars/sedans with four or five large people in them. Guess the occupants weight and then check the GVW of the car out and you might just be surprised at how many vehicles are well over their GVW rating. That's not even counting what's in the trunk.

My setup works well but if I have the unit stuffed full (4000) lbs and with all thee tanks full of water I am sure that I would be over my Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Like Mike say remember when towing you can not stop or swerve out of the way like when you are driving solo so always take that into consideration. Really does not matter if you are in your present truck or a dually. Physics say when you add 12/14 k lbs weight behind your rig it will not handle as good.

Heck if we all went with the best thing possible we would all have big rigs or at least medium duty rigs to haul our fifth-wheels. Nobody would use a pickup.

Tom Marty

[WaltBennett]

Don't go buying the air bags unless you've checked to see that you need them. Our used '06 F350 (15.4 k rating)came with them, but I've never really had to put more than 20 lbs in and don't think I even needed that. I also know we've been over gross a few times (Monty is 15.6k rated), but the Ford never seemed to care and has driven the same. I'm pretty certain that's because I try to keep the weight from being too front heavy.

[sapest]

You asked for opinions -
You know you will be over the legal limits of your current truck. Are you willing to risk this (& possibly loosing your insurance in an accident) for $2k?
Or even for $4k if you add back the goodies you just added to the truck?
Sell the truck privately, and try to recover the $2k that way.
Think about $4k vs your total investment, I'll bet its a small percentage.
Dont forget, you did this to yourself, stay away from new rigs !

As for air bags, you know that they will not add any capacity, they will let you level the truck and may give you back some suspension travel.

-Steve

[mlh]

The tow limits that the manufactureres use are little more than a joke. They were developed bu the manufacturers so what would you expect. I've never been lnterested in a panic stop in the Walmart parking lot from 20 MPH. The DRW trucks have higher tow ratings because they are held to a lower standard. Do a Google search for Tow ratings pass the sniff test, or J 2708 tow ratings.
Lynwood

[Artemus Gordon]

That's a lot of RV going back and forth on your trips. You need big brakes and more capacity. In Ca you can expect a ticket if caught weighing anything over Truck or RV specs. They don't just ticket you, they park you! Make sure you get a 41 class A endorsement. Not trying to get people upset, but you need more truck, IMHO. Oh and everyone carrys more than they expect to one time or another! Good luck.

[richfaa]

we agree with most others have it weighed properly with everything on board that you would normally tow with and see were you are.

BTW on trucks REAL carry capacity My truck has a GVW of 13,000 lbs and a Carry capacity of 4268 that is great right .well not so great. The truck ready to tow everything and everyone on board weighs in at 9125.. So 13,000 lbs less the trucks actual weight of 9125 gives us a actual CC of 3825 not the listed 4268.
our actual pin weight is 2900 lbs .We are a dually so still within specs.
Do that with your truck to t the actual numbers.

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by mlh

The tow limits that the manufactureres use are little more than a joke. They were developed bu the manufacturers so what would you expect. I've never been lnterested in a panic stop in the Walmart parking lot from 20 MPH. The DRW trucks have higher tow ratings because they are held to a lower standard. Do a Google search for Tow ratings pass the sniff test, or J 2708 tow ratings.
Lynwood

See if this logic helps your case in a liability courtroom

[mlh]

I'm not saying you should go over tow limits. I'm saying to be careful close to the limits because they are a joke. The F150 limit goes up to over 15000 pounds. At 15000 pounds you wouldn't worry about the court you would be worried about people saying "don't he look natural". Read the tow standard. They are a joke.
Lynwood

[sola123]

One more throw in....after experiencing my F250 with airbags and overload springs added to tow the Monty.....I would still recommend a DRW 350 / 3500 to tow your Monty.....you will feel so much better with handling no matter where you are.....one year with the 250 was all I could take....with a 350/3500 DRW you will feel safe to tow it anywhere without worrying .......the cost is worth having less stress.....

[jcurtis934]

Extra money, yeah, but you know that monty will suck in more stuff when you're not looking. John

[Rondo]

The motor and tranni may handle that new Monte but the problem may be getting the unit and the tow vehicle to stop if needed in an emergency such as someone pulling out in front of you or merging onto the freeway when you're highballing it down the road. I had a 3/4 ton and now have a 1 ton and the only difference between them was the extra two leaf springs and a heavier set of brakes on the 1 ton. Everything else was the same. Motor, tranni, suspension, and rearends were the same but the two items mentioned above do make a difference and especially the brakes give me extra stopping power and shorter distance incase it is needed!

[sambam]

While I agree with the responses saying to get actual numbers on a scale, I think it's pretty reasonable to assume you'll be over your trucks' payload. The payload capacity that you list (3082) is before the weight of occupants and a full tank of gas, not to mention 'stuff', in most cases. And I think it's fair to say your pin weight will be above 2800 when all said and done. The airbags may help with leveling your truck, but overweight is overweight. That's a big boy trailer. Take the hit and get a big boy truck. Besides, your hemi is a nice mill for a Challenger, but that trailer is screaming for a Cummins.

[mlh]

You will be screaming for a Cummings to.
Lynwood