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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:08:26 PM EDT
[#1]
You'll have to look at the truck to get exact, but probably around 12k-14k lbs will be the max towing capacity. Keep it under 22k GCWR or so to be safe.
Cab and bed configuration, wheelbase, transmission, rear end gearing, 4WD or 2WD etc will all factor into the max towing capacity. |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:11:43 PM EDT
[#2]
Depends on trailer and how the load is distributed .Needs trailer brakes . rating of hitch . Which rear gears ? big factor) .which transmission ? if auto does it have a cooler ? Any special suspension package ? just some of the stuff that comes into play . should be able to do 6-14,000 pounds depending a lot of factors
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:12:04 PM EDT
[#3]
Not sure on the rearend ratio, but the truck is an extended cab 4x4 with the 5-spd manual.
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:13:29 PM EDT
[#4]
Your max combined should be 14,000, so 6500 lbs on a receiver hitch.
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:13:39 PM EDT
[#5]
I'd go with what it's rated to, but that's just silly old me.
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:14:55 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Your max combined should be 14,000-7,500=6500 lbs on a receiver hitch How did you come up with that number? A 1/2 ton gas truck will tow 6500 lbs. A 3/4 ton GCWR should be around 20k-22k lbs. |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:17:16 PM EDT
[#7]
the 97 in my driveway says 14000 GCWR on the sticker, figured it was close enough. Its 4x4, manual not extended.
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:17:51 PM EDT
[#8]
Quoted: Quoted: Your max combined should be 14,000-7,500=6500 lbs on a receiver hitch How did you come up with that number? A 1/2 ton gas truck will tow 6500 lbs. A 3/4 ton GCWR should be around 20k-22k lbs. This. My WAG (as a 3/4 ton diesel owner) is about 13,000 lbs. Check your manual, it probably says. ETA: Quick interweb search suggests that with 4.10 gears you may be good to 18k, with 3.54 gears down to 16k. |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:21:48 PM EDT
[#9]
the 97 in my driveway says 14000 GCWR on the sticker, figured it was close enough. Its 4x4, manual not extended.
Gas or diesel? |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:24:21 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
the 97 in my driveway says 14000 GCWR on the sticker, figured it was close enough. Its 4x4, manual not extended. I think you're reading the towing capacity, not the GCWR. Some quick Googling says that most of them had a towing capacity in the 14k range, which would put GCWR around 21k lbs. 14k GCWR is too low for any 3/4 ton made in the last 20 years or so. |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:25:55 PM EDT
[#11]
I've seen my friends loaded up at 25900 GCWR (and he had the weight slip to prove it) - not that I would recommend it. GCWR is more of a manufacturer thing as I understand it - the 'legal' limits are the front & rear axle weights, and the weight on whatever trailer you have. Especially with a bumper pull, its all going to depend on how you load the trailer & how well the trailer brakes work. I've got a '96 3500 that I regularly pull about 10k with, and I have pulled about 15k worth of trailer before (trailer is rated for 18k). Its actually surprising how well it handles it - I would imagine your 2500 would have no problems with 10-12k of trailer weight. Just leave plenty of room for stopping, make sure everything is in 100% perfect shape, and have your brake controller dialed in.
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:27:50 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted: Quoted: the 97 in my driveway says 14000 GCWR on the sticker, figured it was close enough. Its 4x4, manual not extended. I think you're reading the towing capacity, not the GCWR. Some quick Googling says that most of them had a towing capacity in the 14k range, which would put GCWR around 21k lbs. 14k GCWR is too low for any 3/4 ton made in the last 20 years or so. Gotta be. When I was selling my camper, I had to help a guy figure out his towing capacity on his 1/2 ton, and with the gears he had, he was good to 7900lbs. With a 1/2 ton gasser. |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:29:56 PM EDT
[#13]
welp, I apparently can't read. LMAO, I went and looked at it again it was 14k tow.
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:34:41 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Your max combined should be 14,000-7,500=6500 lbs on a receiver hitch How did you come up with that number? A 1/2 ton gas truck will tow 6500 lbs. A 3/4 ton GCWR should be around 20k-22k lbs. This is correct. GCWR is 14,000, so max towing weight rating is about 6500. Older diesel trucks towing ratings are not anywhere near the newer ones. |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 7:45:30 PM EDT
[#15]
Well, I can tell you what it says in my 1996 Dodge Owners Manual:
2500 HD 4x4 Club Cab Manual: 3.54 differential = 10,000 4.1 = 11,900 Auto: 3.54 = 10,000 4.1 = 11,900 4x4 regular cab is the same That is with a 5th wheel hitch Max GCWR (bumper pull combined truck/trailer weight): 3.54 = 16,000 4.1 = 18,000 |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 8:22:35 PM EDT
[#16]
This is for the 99 model year. You will be close, albeit a bit lower.
Dodge RAM 2500 Quad Cab Cummins Turbo Diesel Tow/Load Ratings Cab 4x4 Short BedQuad Trans/Axle Tow Wt Payload M5/3.55 13,400 2,340 M5/4.10 13,400 2,340 *Chrysler requires that trailers with trailer weight ratings of 10,000 pounds or greater be equipped with a fifth-wheel hitch. |
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Posted: 4/26/2012 8:58:14 PM EDT
[#17]
Thanks for the information. Looks like I should be able to pull around 8-9k lbs, which is more than enough.
Any ideas on what the door code is to indicate the gear ratio in the rear end? I know when I was pulling Ford 8.8s out of Explorers for Jeep swaps, you could check the ratio based on a two letter code on the driver's door jamb. Is this the same for Dodge trucks? |
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Posted: 4/27/2012 5:30:16 AM EDT
[#18]
The gear ratio is either on a sticker in the glove box or a tag on the rear diff held in by the diff bolts.
You can also take your vin to a dealer and they can look it up, same with calling chrysler to get a build sheet. Free. |
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Posted: 4/27/2012 5:37:30 AM EDT
[#19]
Better have a Good look at the tires. All these numbers are Theory till the trailer is hooked up.
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Posted: 4/27/2012 5:43:57 AM EDT
[#20]
When the trans temp climbs into the red, you may be pulling too much.
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Posted: 4/27/2012 5:48:28 AM EDT
[#21]
I tow alot, sometimes over 12k 700 miles to N.D., figure tthe truck will tow about half the factory rating well, my 05 cummins woud tow about 8K well at 75, with RE48 trans and 3.73 gears, the old 12v really didnt have alot of power in stock form, i have had new 98, 01 and 04 Dodge diesls and will get a 2012 in a few weeks.
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Posted: 4/27/2012 5:57:19 AM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
I've seen my friends loaded up at 25900 GCWR (and he had the weight slip to prove it) - not that I would recommend it. GCWR is more of a manufacturer thing as I understand it - the 'legal' limits are the front & rear axle weights, and the weight on whatever trailer you have. Especially with a bumper pull, its all going to depend on how you load the trailer & how well the trailer brakes work. I've got a '96 3500 that I regularly pull about 10k with, and I have pulled about 15k worth of trailer before (trailer is rated for 18k). Its actually surprising how well it handles it - I would imagine your 2500 would have no problems with 10-12k of trailer weight. Just leave plenty of room for stopping, make sure everything is in 100% perfect shape, and have your brake controller dialed in. I've seen some retarded pulls as well. A guy borrowed my brother's 1ton, single cab, dually, dodge cummins and pulled 30 round bales of hay from Kentucky to Texas. Average weight of a round bale varies from 700-900lbs depending mostly on moisture content. Do the math...no matter what way it's cut, that was WAY too much weight to safely tow behind a pickup. But he did it, and even said the Ozarks in Arkansas were no problem (my brother's truck is not stock, much more power). (for the math challenged, you are looking at a minimum weight of 30,000lbs) |
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Posted: 4/27/2012 3:23:39 PM EDT
[#23]
I checked the diff cover, and it looks like it has 3.54 gearing. Still should be fine for up to 8-9k lbs, though.
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