D100 pull my Duster?

[TF360]

So I have a 84 D100 Slant 6 with the 4-speed OD. If I used an Aluminum car hauler, and put the Duster on there, could the Slanty pull it a couple hundred miles? I believe I have 3:55 gears in the rear. I has an upgraded hitch on it. Opinions?

 

[Professor Fate]

IMHO it'll pull it, but don't expect to be passing too many people along the way.
You may be able to look up the tow rating for it online.
Edit: I came up with 4,000 lb. Does the trailer have electric (or surge) brakes?

 

[rbkt65]

long tough ride, my thoughts.

 

[doug 371]

I used to tow stuff with my 2.2 5 speed dakota so my answer is yes lol

 

[TF360]

IMHO it'll pull it, but don't expect to be passing too many people along the way.
You may be able to look up the tow rating for it online.
Edit: I came up with 4,000 lb. Does the trailer have electric (or surge) brakes?

Electric

 

[TF360]

Would be driving real slow!

 

[Plymouth 65]

Hopefully it's flat ground with minimal elevation. That /6 tower of power gonna be working! 65

 

[A56]

You'll be as popular as this guy.

 

[barbee6043]

I had exactly such pickup (last year slant '88?) back about 2002 for a couple years. Getting it rolling was the biggest issue, (yea hard on a good clutch), longest trips with a B or A body was about 500 mi round trip. 18 ft steel trailer. No other issues but it was mechanically a good truck!
Missouri hills, not that big of hills though! Just 2 lane blacktop and 55-60 was fine with me!

 

[413]

It will tow it, you won't be able to use OD, not enough power. I've spent some time driving that same pickup.

What kind of road, interstate or 2 lane highway? Flat or hilly? Leave before dawn so you have way less traffic to deal with.

 

[barbee6043]

^^^ True. No OD and besides that OD is not designed for trailer pulling anyway! Very hard on the trans if you try.

 

[TF360]

Yea, completely flat ground

 

[Professor Fate]

If in doubt, hook up your rig and take it for a short local drive. That'll tell the tale.

 

[TT5.9mag]

How are the brakes?

 

[TF360]

Brakes are good. No power steering or A/C. All Manuel

 

[junkyardhero]

No power steering or A/C. All Manuel

wow, sounds like that dude is doing some work!

 

[MobileCustoms]

Back in the day, I used to pull my 4000+lb 21ft boat & trailer, which I don't remember the weight of, with my V6 Astro Van, and it did surprisingly well. I took it on some pretty long trips too. That van would get a little second gear rubber! I was young & kinda dumb though.

 

[TF360]

Yea, that V6 astro van had plenty of power. I remember riding in one that a friend owned

 

[RustyRatRod]

It'll pull it fine. Just don't use OD unless the road is pretty flat.

 

[Big.J.007]

My 1985 Does well towing, no slant 6 for me.

 

[AJ/FormS]

With 235/75-15 tires, and 3.55s
65=2685 in Direct ......
should be fine, but she'll be using a lotta throttle.....
So make sure the cooling system is up to snuff.
You might have to slow down, but if you drive too slow, you might get out of the torque-zone, ie, 50mph is only 2065, but 50 in Second is 3440 ....... so you probably don't want to cruise there, lol.
I would probably put some fresh fluid in the trans tho, and maybe also in the rear. Kindof it depends on how old the current fluids are.
Put lotsa air in all the tires and bring along spares, plus water, and engine oil cuz that slanty is gunna be working ..... and when mine works it tends to use oil.

 

[barbee6043]

And... makes a difference of your /6 is wore out or GOOD! Yep, flat or somewhat rolling.
Like said, get a trailer, put a car on it and see if it suits ya.
WE have pulled large steel/and or aluminum stock trailers for 50 odd years, from 350 cab over Cummins 10 speeds down to 1T 454 Chevys to 7.3 Int. Ford to many 12 v. Cummins to even the slant pulling a little car trailer. It ain't always how fast ya get there, it is getting there and back! Stay outta OD!

Yea I loved that 88 1/2 T. Dodge with that /6 with the OD but did not love to pull my car trailer with it, I was used to a 1 T something or Cummins. But hard times were upon me back then, my 95 year old mother passed, I sold my 89 1T. Cunnigns to pay for the funeral, in the middle of a divorce, that slant truck made the trips several times till if found the next ride, a 93 3/4 T. Dodge with a 360 and TF.

Whatever pickup I was pulling with, I always said the trans heat will kll that before anything kills the engine..more'n likely!

 

[Mtrhead]

My D100 slant has an 8 and 3/4 rear with 391 gears and it will pull the shortening out of biscuits

 

[RustyRatRod]

For the naysayers, consider that Dodge put millions of slant sixes in medium duty Dodge dump trucks. D500s and such. Yeah, I know. Two speed axles and really low gearing, BUT also very tall tires on 20" Budd wheels. It's all relative. It will pull just fine. As usual, @AJ/FormS brings some great points into the conversation. Make SURE your cooling system is up to the task, because you will be using a lot of the engine's available power.

 

[RustyRatRod]

With 235/75-15 tires, and 3.55s
65=2685 in Direct ......
should be fine, but she'll be using a lotta throttle.....
So make sure the cooling system is up to snuff.
You might have to slow down, but if you drive too slow, you might get out of the torque-zone, ie, 50mph is only 2065, but 50 in Second is 3440 ....... so you probably don't want to cruise there, lol.
I would probably put some fresh fluid in the trans tho, and maybe also in the rear. Kindof it depends on how old the current fluids are.
Put lotsa air in all the tires and bring along spares, plus water, and engine oil cuz that slanty is gunna be working ..... and when mine works it tends to use oil.

Great points, sir. You always have good stuff to add.