Car Trailer/ Tow Vehicle
- Thread starter Red63440
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Red63440
Olddawg
Going to go look at a very clean low mileage Ram 2500 HD Quad Cab on Saturday, includes 5.7 Hemi, 4 speed automatic, trailer package with installed brake controller, A/C, power everything, premium stereo package silver in color, gray interior, 2005 with 75,803 miles. Just inspected and serviced, tires have 5,000 miles on them..comes out to 5,414.5 miles a year. I think the tow rating is 13,100#
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A 3/4 ton truck is best for car hauling, but a 1/2 ton can be made to work just fine. My 1500 has upgraded rear springs and brakes and Works great. It would do better with lower gears, but is good enough for me. I wouldn’t want to do much towing with a v6 Durango, but I bet an a-body with an aluminum trailer might be made to work. Maybe air bags to help your rear suspension??
I have a 3/4 ton 2016 GMC Deiseal pulling a 22ft enclosed trailer. I can set the cruise at 75mph and go.
It pulls so smooth that there have been times that I look to make sure the trailer is still back there...haha.
A semi passes (not often) and you don't feel it like you do in a 1/2 ton...JMO.
It pulls so smooth that there have been times that I look to make sure the trailer is still back there...haha.
A semi passes (not often) and you don't feel it like you do in a 1/2 ton...JMO.
I’ve pulled my 29’ camper over 8 hours away with my Ram 1/2 ton pickup. It’s all in the prep, and diligence. Would it be better with a 3/4 ton?? You bet, but my truck actually tows this camper better than our 1 ton van, which has pulled it all over the country!
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Red63440
Olddawg
Ok, we have gotten to the point where we can somewhat agree on what is needed to tow a car safely...no V6's, 3/4 ton is better but not always available.....understood. Now lets get into the next step which is the trailers we have available both open and closed. What brands are actually a better choice, no BS just factual info that can be verified and include experiences with the good and the bad.
It seem that every Tom, Dick and Harry are building trailers and I am guessing that many of them won't be around 10 years from now. You still have the brand name manufactures out there but even they differ in construction and standard features. What are the good options to have, what are the ones that are nice but not actually needed or important.......lets hear it guys, what you have to say could save someone a lot of money and possibly misery down the road.
It seem that every Tom, Dick and Harry are building trailers and I am guessing that many of them won't be around 10 years from now. You still have the brand name manufactures out there but even they differ in construction and standard features. What are the good options to have, what are the ones that are nice but not actually needed or important.......lets hear it guys, what you have to say could save someone a lot of money and possibly misery down the road.
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Pulling is one thing stopping it is another. You want to use a Dakota I wish you luck. I had a friend towing a land scape trailer with mowers on it. He got pulled over and fined for weight class violation. I had to get my Ram Classed CDL class 10, 32000 to tow this trailer with the skid loader and the excavator on it.
I tow alot of trailers I own. Enclose, open, dump and construction. Get a heavier truck so it don't turn you around when you hit the brakes. Be safe Idiots kill people towing weight their truck can't handle. I live by this.. If it don't smoke black take it back real trucks don't have spark plugs.
I tow alot of trailers I own. Enclose, open, dump and construction. Get a heavier truck so it don't turn you around when you hit the brakes. Be safe Idiots kill people towing weight their truck can't handle. I live by this.. If it don't smoke black take it back real trucks don't have spark plugs.
mcodecuda
Senior Member
I once pulled a 66 satellite on an open trailer with a 454 1/2 ton Suburban. I exited one interstate and entered another with the trailer pushing the *** end of the Suburban over. We never wrecked but I’ll never tow with a half ton again.
lemondana
BlackDart
Years ago I was headed east on I-80 in western Nebraska and this Jeep CJ5 pulling an Airstream trailer passed me. Talk about wagging! I dropped back fully expecting to come upon him jackknifed in the ditch. I never saw him again.
A friend John lost this car , truck and trailer. no tongue weight car to far back and the truck was to light.
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4QSfFPv6Xw
/www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4QSfFPv6Xw
bobscuda67
Well-Known Member
You have to follow the towing capacity limits in your owners manual. If your in an accident with a trailer you will be sued. Your truck and trailer better be spot on legal. Brakes on both axles on a tandem is a must!
I towed with a 04 Ram Quad 1500 with a 4.7 and a 3.92 rear gear. My open 18' trailer weights 1950# and the car weights 3200#. Well below the trailers 7000# GVW rating and the trucks tow rating too.
On a level road it pulls it just fine. I get 18 mpg doing 65mph in overdrive. But on steeper grades I have to put the trans in tow mode and the fuel millage goes away. And it has to downshift two or three times and put you foot to the floor to get up the longer grades. Really should have a more powerful truck.
I towed with a 04 Ram Quad 1500 with a 4.7 and a 3.92 rear gear. My open 18' trailer weights 1950# and the car weights 3200#. Well below the trailers 7000# GVW rating and the trucks tow rating too.
On a level road it pulls it just fine. I get 18 mpg doing 65mph in overdrive. But on steeper grades I have to put the trans in tow mode and the fuel millage goes away. And it has to downshift two or three times and put you foot to the floor to get up the longer grades. Really should have a more powerful truck.
Nice trailer. If you would ever tow with a Cummins 6 speed. Or auto for that matter you will never buy another gas truck. I never owned a Diesel before 2000. I would tow 32000 total weight with the slid loader and excavator. and it will pull any hill at 80 mph plus. Automatics ain't for me I fry them. I went through 3 of them with my 02 before the 36000 mile guarantee . The dump truck they would last one year. I switch to 6 spd since and love them. You will need a south bend dual disc clutch. The factory clutch does not take any upgrades. $2200 and you get the flywheel. Other than that oil and filters every 5k Thats it no tune up parts
I upgraded from my short box 1978 w-150 to a 2017 Ram 3500.
The difference towing is night and day.
You had to use the leveling bars and sway control on the 1/2 ton truck, or semi’s would blow you off the road.
It was marginal at best.
The 1 ton truck just laughs at pulling the same trailer, just hooked to the ball, no leveling bars or sway control needed with the heavier truck.
The difference towing is night and day.
You had to use the leveling bars and sway control on the 1/2 ton truck, or semi’s would blow you off the road.
It was marginal at best.
The 1 ton truck just laughs at pulling the same trailer, just hooked to the ball, no leveling bars or sway control needed with the heavier truck.
Those big RV's???? ha. I lived up in Missouri 38 years. Close to I 35. When the wind blows and guys are pulling those big long bumper pull RV;s , we used to laugh ever day, cause every day there was 2-3 turned over in the ditches! You guessed it, pulled by a 1 /2 pickup. Makes no difference whether short of long bed guys!
Makes a lot of difference a too flat or hills or mountains, but really a 3/4 ton is perfect for car trailers. Nice to have working trailer brakes too.
Makes a lot of difference a too flat or hills or mountains, but really a 3/4 ton is perfect for car trailers. Nice to have working trailer brakes too.
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