Increasing Max Tow

I went thru 150/1500 pickups and 3 5vr's. Then when I was two yrs, thought it would be one yr from retirement we researched for a yrs which 5'vr we wanted.

After settling on our primary trailer, checked all the specs then spec'd the truck to tow it.

We then ordered the truck properly equipped with options we desired. I did have to "settle" for a 8.1 gas (in lieu of the Duramax desiel).
Ordered the 2500HD, with tow pkg and 4.l0 rear axle, towing capacity 12000 lbs.

Our 5'v, dry weight 7300, camping weight 9200-9300 lbs. Pin weight 1500 lbs. it was a perfect match. Even going up 6% grade, I could accelerate up to speed limit and beyond. Made towing a pleasure. No more of the "I think I can, I think I can". Best part, DW became much less stressed also. Win-Win-Win. When merging onto highway, I can easily get up to 65 mph. The 1500's, no way, and both had 3.73 rear end and 5.7/5.3 engines.

Yes, MPG was terrible in town, but that what the Toyota was for. Towing mileage avg was 9.3, if I drove nice, and I became a nice driver. No more 80-mph runs, although I could until china-bombs would blow.

If you want a truck to tow, get a TRUCK.

...

Peg Leg wrote:
You need to seriously study and determine the camper you want. Then get the tow vehicle that will do the job. I wouldn't scrimp on either one. Consider that you may want to spend a couple of months in the rig or God forbid you become a full timer.

Good luck and enjoy, at our age life just keeps getting shorter.

X2 on that....unless you just get a 3500 dually crewcab long bed diesel and call it good.

You need to seriously study and determine the camper you want. Then get the tow vehicle that will do the job. I wouldn't scrimp on either one. Consider that you may want to spend a couple of months in the rig or God forbid you become a full timer.

Good luck and enjoy, at our age life just keeps getting shorter.

Beaneye wrote:
Is there anyway to increase the Max Tow rating of a truck ???
Thanks

No! You may improve the way it tows but only the manufacturer can assign a tow rating or "not to exceed" limits with very few exceptions.

Just got into Trailer Camping last year ... Found out I like it ... I bought a 2004 Trail Crusier 30 ft that according to the specs only weighs 4140 lbs dry.
I have and older 2000 Silverado Z71 that has a tow rating of 7300 lbs that I'm pulling it with at the moment. I just pull it about and hour down to Land Between the Lakes in Western Ky. But as I'm approching retirement , I'm looking to by me a new truck and most likely a new camper so I can head west "Rockies ". So I was looking for a good balance between MPG and Tow capacity. Since I will be using the truck for other things .....

Thanks

Anthony

My DW wants a bigger TT someday, so I told her that means upgrading the TV. Now she on board with it while previously was not. Score a new (or newer) TV for me!

To answer your question, YES. Airbags help rear suspension sag, additional trans cooling with a trans temp gauge is helpful, etc. However, most have found, and I count myself also, that even with all the upgrades, it still won't do the same job as a bigger truck.

Need many more specifics to give you a good answer though. What truck do you have now and what are you trying to tow with it? Where are you towing, local or through the rockies? If you haven't had the trailer loaded up and on the scale, then that is the first place to start. Find out exactly how much weight you are dealing with and what you got to tow it with, and we can go from there.

IMHO, being realistic, you will need to decide if you want a grocery-getter, decent-to-good MPG, then get a smaller trailer than fits within your limits.

If you want a vehicle to tow a bigger trailer, get one properly equipped from factory and within it's rating limit.

Even a 1-ton has it's limits.

Going above your towing limits can endanger you, your family, and everyone else on the roads.

Enjoy your towing, but think SAFETY FIRST! Please

I spent thousands of dollars trying to improve the towing capability of my truck. New rear end gears, more cooling, better brakes on the truck and trailer. Upgrades to the engine...it helped a little. Then I decided to buy a bigger truck. The difference in towing with a truck that has more than enough capacity versus one that just barely has enough capacity is unbelievable.

I feel much safer, hills are no problem going up or coming down. I no longer am worried about towing, it's a breeze.