Towing with a Dodge 1500

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by TexasA&M

Rear end gears aren't nearly as important as they were in the past thanks to the new 6 speed transmissions...

Not necessarily. Look at the specs for any modern truck and you will see the ones wih the higher ratio rear end gears have significantly higher tow and cargo ratings.

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Originally Posted by Flytyer

...They had collected pottery at every stop all summer long.

Sounds like Lucy and her rocks!

[TexasA&M]

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Not necessarily. Look at the specs for any modern truck and you will see the ones wih the higher ratio rear end gears have significantly higher tow and cargo ratings.

True some of the time (especially on half tons). Cargo rating has absolutely zero to do with rear end gears, but the heavier payload packages are usually matched with the heavy tow packages, thus including lower gears.

In Ford 3/4 and 1 tons (SRW), for instance, the lowest gear set offered with the diesel motor is 3.55 (you have to go to a dually or F450 for lower gears). 5, 10, or 15 years ago you could hardly find a truck with gearing this high; most guys wanted 4.10s for heavy towing. Nowadays, thanks to the new trannys, rear end gears are not as important as they were when you only had 3 or 4 speeds in the trans.

The point is that you don't have to have a 3.73 or lower gearing to tow a trailer.

[Wyotraveler]

I see now everyone is pushing the 1/2 ton trucks and that they will pull those 5Vers, TTs. I even see the truck dealers loading up with these 1/2 ton crew cab PUs.

Over 50 years ago I moved and rented a trailer. I put all my furniture in the trailer and traveled to my next home. What did I tow with? The trailer rental agency hooked that huge trailer to the back of my 1958 Volkswagon bug. Off I went. Did it tow OK? Yep!! Did I have any problems? NOPE! So is it OK to tow with a huge utility trailer with a Volkswagon bug? Guess so, I'm still alive. Now, over 50 years later becoming much smarter and seeing numerous accidents on the highways and by ways (in lawenforcement), and steep mountain grades would I ever do it again? NOPE!

The bottom line, it totally baffles me why people buy these huge Rvs and insist on buying the smallest smallest TV they can find.

My 2008 F250 6.8L V10/4.10 axle tows my Jayco 19RD (approx 6000#) OK. After towing it the first 1000 miles there is absolutely no way I would even think about pulling this trailer with a 1/2 ton truck. However, I am betting I could tow it with a rice rocket.

[TexasA&M]

To each their own, but I would have no problem towing a 6klb trailer with any of today's half ton trucks.

Putting a 'huge' trailer behind a VW bug 50 years ago is extremely different than putting a 6klb TT behind a half ton truck that is rated for 10k lbs. Will a 3/4 or 1 ton truck pull ANY trailer better than a 1/2 ton? Sure, but it is NOT necessary to do the job effectively, comfortably, and/or safely.

[Wyotraveler]

I'm sure a 1/2 will pull the RV. I suspect there is more to tow ratings than just what is in the tow guide. Like driving on roads, even with sway control, does the dog wag the tail or does the tail wag the dog? The lighter the vehicle the more inclined it is to get pushed sideways. Doesn't matter the size of the engine or running gear. A large TT or 5Ver is more apt to push a small vehicle sideways in wind gusts etc. Even if you are lucky towing with a small vehicle I am sure you will be exhausted after a few hundred miles.

Maybe somewhat of a poor anology but over simplified example, when you fire a gun the bullet goes forward and the gun doesn't go backwards because of the weight of the gun. Throw the same shell in a fire and when it explodes all bets are off which way the casing and bullet go when they weigh the same.

[Rustic Eagle]

I agree that the newer 1/2 ton trucks come with impressive GVWR's, GCVWR's, and Tow Ratings...., but where one has to be careful is the limit payload capacities of most 1/2 tons. In most cases it's the limited payload capacity that would be exceeded first, do to the heavier loaded tongue weights of the larger/heavier TT's.

The Jayco models X23B and X20E shouldn't be an issue with the OP's Dodge 1500 payload capacity, I say "shouldn't" because I don't know his loading habits (ie; ATV in truck bed, full load of fire wood, etc.).

Bob

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by Wyotraveler

Maybe somewhat of a poor anology but over simplified example, when you fire a gun the bullet goes forward and the gun doesn't go backwards because of the weight of the gun. Throw the same shell in a fire and when it explodes all bets are off which way the casing and bullet go when they weigh the same.

The bullet will not go anywhere the case will explode into shrapnel but the bullet is to heavy to go far unless it is in a barrel.

[Quahog]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

I agree that the newer 1/2 ton trucks come with impressive GVWR's, GCVWR's, and Tow Ratings...., but where one has to be careful is the limit payload capacities of most 1/2 tons. In most cases it's the limited payload capacity that would be exceeded first, do to the heavier loaded tongue weights of the larger/heavier TT's.

The Jayco models X23B and X20E shouldn't be an issue with the OP's Dodge 1500 payload capacity, I say "shouldn't" because I don't know his loading habits (ie; ATV in truck bed, full load of fire wood, etc.).

Bob

I've been shopping for a Ford F150 with 3.5L EcoBoost, HD Payload and Max Towing. This impressive little monster will tow 11.3k#, has a GVWR of 8200#, max payload of 2,620# and a GCVWR of 17k#. Not too shabby for a 1/2 ton.

[Crabman]

Originally Posted by Quahog

I've been shopping for a Ford F150 with 3.5L EcoBoost, HD Payload and Max Towing. This impressive little monster will tow 11.3k#, has a GVWR of 8200#, max payload of 2,620# and a GCVWR of 17k#. Not too shabby for a 1/2 ton.

Those ARE impressive numbers for a 150

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Quahog

snip...... max payload of 2,620# and a GCVWR of 17k#. Not too shabby for a 1/2 ton.

Mike,

Yeah, that particular F150 model is the exception to the 1/2 ton rule, most importantly the 2,650lb payload capacity. I friend of mine (dale2629 @ RV.NET) posted a review of his F150 EcoBoost at RV.NET, and he noted that he was approaching the rear axle limit with his set-up........., I guess it depends on how one loads their respective TV/TT combination.

Here is the thread at RV.NET that you may find interesting: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...g/1/page/1.cfm

Bob

[Quahog]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Mike,

Yeah, that particular F150 model is the exception to the 1/2 ton rule, most importantly the 2,650lb payload capacity. I friend of mine (dale2629 @ RV.NET) posted a review of his F150 EcoBoost at RV.NET, and he noted that he was approaching the rear axle limit with his set-up........., I guess it depends on how one loads their respective TV/TT combination.

Here is the thread at RV.NET that you may find interesting: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...g/1/page/1.cfm

Bob

Thank you, Bob... I will definitely check it out.

[Quahog]

Originally Posted by Crabman

Those ARE impressive numbers for a 150

I was initially stunned at the numbers...

[Lady Fitzgerald]

The big problem with Ford's ratings is they always throw a weak link in there somewhere. The F150s that are rated for 11300# towing have a wimpy hitch rated at on 1130# tongue weight. Adding insult to injury is the fact the hitch and rear bumper are an integrated assembly. Yeesh!

Another monkey wrench that gets tossed in is if one is running full payload on the truck, the GCVW rating will be exceeded before one reaches the full towing capacity (that one I could live with).

Btw, the SuperDuty gets the same inconsistancies.

I'm still strongly considering an F150 HD Screw but I need to find out if there is any practical way to beef up the tongue weight ratings on that stupid hitch first.

[Westerncanuck]

yup, it is rated for 8200 lbs....but I wouldn't do it. My trailer GVW is 5500 lbs then you have account for the passengers and cargo.