Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

[NSBCraig]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Mines a 2500 HD and it still is rated for a WDH above 5,000 lbs so it's a pretty common thing.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Mines a 2500 HD and it still is rated for a WDH above 5,000 lbs so it's a pretty common thing.

the 2500HD is rated for more...its the hitch that is the limiting factor. Get a different hitch and you can carry more dead weight. Take a look at post #29 by 109JB

 

[Philster]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

My 2010 Ram's owner's manual says that WD devices should be used for heavier tongue loads or to get the trailer/load configuration to comply with GAWR requirements.

I've not approached that with a 6700 lb load, given the am't of weight on the tongue, etc. The owner's manual implies that with a Class IV hitch, you can tow up to the limits for the specific vehicle (check the placard), but should consider a WD setup when you cannot level the load, if it pushes the higher end of tongue limits/crosses/pushes GAWR limits.

 

[109jb]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Well, Dodge just makes you go hunting around for it whereas Chevy puts it right in the manual. The 2010 Dodge Ram Owner's manual say on page 445 (attached to this post) says to go to www.dodge.com for more info. Do that and hunt around a little and you find the Ram 1500 tow chart (attached to this post). Look at the footnotes in the tow chart. It says

"The maximum trailer weight is 5,000 pounds for a weight-carrying hitch. A weight distributing system is recommended for trailers over 5,000 pounds."

Bottom line is that it doesn't matter what brand truck you have, if it is a 1/2 ton truck,the specs and limitations are going to be close to those for all other 1/2 tons trucks, same for 3/4 and 1 ton trucks.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

the factory hitch on my powerstroke crewcab dually was only rated to 5k without a wdh and 10 with..... the truck handles 20k with no problem.... my 18k reese titan hitch on it now is only rated for 12k without the wdh..... either way, the O/P found a hitch for his truck rated for 6k without wdh and his boat weighs 6k...... WHY are we still trying to solve this?

 

[Philster]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Wow, this is becoming the "recommended" versus "required" issue.


Haven't we all seen this before when discussing premium vs regular unleaded?

When something is recommended, like premium, you don't have to use it. You have to use it when it is required, for waranty, etc.

I see the "recommended" language, and don't see the "required" language anywhere. Based on many setups, it is not needed (WD setup).


Ram manual speaks like that, and so does the link.


Typed on blackberry! Expect errors!

 

[109jb]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Wow, this is becoming the "recommended" versus "required" issue.


Haven't we all seen this before when discussing premium vs regular unleaded?

When something is recommended, like premium, you don't have to use it. You have to use it when it is required, for waranty, etc.

I see the "recommended" language, and don't see the "required" language anywhere. Based on many setups, it is not needed (WD setup).


Ram manual speaks like that, and so does the link.


Typed on blackberry! Expect errors!

I see both because the idiots at Dodge can't seen to put 2 sentences right next to each other and remain consistent.

"The maximum trailer weight is 5,000 pounds for a weight-carrying hitch."

The above is an absolute statement. It doesn't say "the maximum recommended weight..." but then the next sentence says:

"A weight distributing system is recommended for trailers over 5,000 pounds."

Well which is it Dodge? I surely can't tell from those contradictory sentences.

All I'm saying is that all of the manufacturer's are about the same with regard to specs if you are in the same class truck (1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton).

People keep saying there isn't anything about it in their manuals and yet there always is a reference in there. If the manual refers you to another document, then you gotta refer to the other document.

 

[109jb]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

t.... WHY are we still trying to solve this?

The OP's problem is solved, but he isn't the only person reading this thread.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

NSBCraig

Most 5.7 Tundras come with a class IV/V hitch but there are some reports of these trucks only having a class III. There are also reports of dealers adding class III hitches after market. I have a factory mounted hitch class v at least that is what the tag on the hitch says. I am good for 10800lbs without WD setup.The manual says if you have a class 3 hitch it needs a WD.Am i drinking to much coolaid.I tow a FourWinns288 and it hardly changes the attitude of levelness of the truck.Hitch has weight rating of 12000lbs

 

[Jerryh3]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Read your manual again and the Toyota towing guide. It states a wdh is necessary over 5k no matter what hitch you have.

NSBCraig

Most 5.7 Tundras come with a class IV/V hitch but there are some reports of these trucks only having a class III. There are also reports of dealers adding class III hitches after market. I have a factory mounted hitch class v at least that is what the tag on the hitch says. I am good for 10800lbs without WD setup.The manual says if you have a class 3 hitch it needs a WD.Am i drinking to much coolaid.I tow a FourWinns288 and it hardly changes the attitude of levelness of the truck.Hitch has weight rating of 12000lbs

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Look at page 475 and read the 3rd yellow statement First coloum refers to 2000lbs and 5000lbs needing WD second coloum refers to fifth wheel

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

NSBCraig

Most 5.7 Tundras come with a class IV/V hitch but there are some reports of these trucks only having a class III. There are also reports of dealers adding class III hitches after market. I have a factory mounted hitch class v at least that is what the tag on the hitch says. I am good for 10800lbs without WD setup.The manual says if you have a class 3 hitch it needs a WD.Am i drinking to much coolaid.I tow a FourWinns288 and it hardly changes the attitude of levelness of the truck.Hitch has weight rating of 12000lbs

Isn't that going to weigh close to 12,000lbs? You really tow without equalizing bars? I am actually surprised it tows that well with a Tundra in the first place as I thought max tow rating was 10.4K. How far and where do you tow?

 

[Jerryh3]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Look at page 475 and read the 3rd yellow statement First coloum refers to 2000lbs and 5000lbs needing WD second coloum refers to fifth wheel

What does it say? I don't have a manual handy. Look at post #28.

 

[109jb]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

NSBCraig

Most 5.7 Tundras come with a class IV/V hitch but there are some reports of these trucks only having a class III. There are also reports of dealers adding class III hitches after market. I have a factory mounted hitch class v at least that is what the tag on the hitch says. I am good for 10800lbs without WD setup.The manual says if you have a class 3 hitch it needs a WD.Am i drinking to much coolaid.I tow a FourWinns288 and it hardly changes the attitude of levelness of the truck.Hitch has weight rating of 12000lbs

You have to take the lower of the hitch and truck capabilities. This is for WD, tongue weight and total trailer weight.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

My guess total boat and aluminum trailer weight probably comes in around 125000.I know it is over the truck hauling capacity. It's a little over Ha Ha but it only gets towed four times a season total miles 15. It's to wide. I used to tow oversize loads but the truck pulls it like it isn't back ther. You can't haul a-- because you have to be able to stop it.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

My guess total boat and aluminum trailer weight probably comes in around 125000.I know it is over the truck hauling capacity. It's a little over Ha Ha but it only gets towed four times a season total miles 15. It's to wide. I used to tow oversize loads but the truck pulls it like it isn't back ther. You can't haul a-- because you have to be able to stop it.

Its actually a lot over but I guess since you only tow it a total of 15 miles its not a big deal. Hope you drive slow!

Not sure your Toyota Tundra experience really applies here since you are basically not realistically towing with it. Ever towed it on a freeway? I kinda doubt it! I used to back my 24 foot boat into my back yard with my Toyota Corolla too but I wouldn't call that towing either.

 

[642mx]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Read your manual again and the Toyota towing guide. It states a wdh is necessary over 5k no matter what hitch you have.

I think that is a CYA thing Toyota puts in the manual. At the Toyota Prove It Challenge I attended, they had a 2WD Tundra hooked to 10K lbs on a heavy duty utility trailer.... with no WDH. It pulled it like a champ! And the truck sat level...

I guess wether or not you use a WDH depends a lot on the load and vehicle. We have a 24 foot enclosed trailer at work, and the company truck is a '10 Hemi Ram 1/2 ton. Without the WDH, that truck wonders all over the road (even with the trailer empty)... throw the bars on the hitch and its like a different truck. I've pulled the same trailer without the hitch and without any problems with my '08 Tundra. The yota just seems like it was built to have a trailer behind it... it actually rides pretty rough without a trailer.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Well if it wasn't for getting pulled over for overwidth towing it on the open road wouldn't be a problem for me. You see the problem with towing is not so much the weight ( but is a factor) alot of people get the mind set that just because they can pull the load down the road, they get to coplacent and drive like there is nothing back there.They don't think about the car or pedestrian that might come out in front of them and then it's oh ****..

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Exactly! Thats why they have the thing rated at 10.4K and not 12.5K. Its everything from the suspension, transmission, frame and brakes.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: Vehicle Towing Weight Limit

Well, you apparently didn't read the manual very thoroughly.

The pages you have posted proves my point! Your post to which I was replying stated that Chevy manuals for years made a specific reference to 5,000 lbs being a dividing line between weight and distributing hitches. Nowhere in the pages you have posted is the 5,000lb figure mentioned. As I said in my original post, the placard on the hitch DOES reference that value.