Forum Discussion

travelrider73's avatar
travelrider73
Explorer
Nov 17, 2013

Towing in the Rockies - Towing Capacity Safety Margin?

I'm researching both a tow vehicle and a 5er combo and want to make sure that whatever we end up with as a tow vehicle will do the job no matter where we travel. The steepest grades I can think of are in the Rockies, hence the title of this topic.

So, how much of a safety margin between the manufacturer's stated towing capacity and what you actually purchase would you want to have in order to be comfortable with occasional steep grades?

Note that we are not planning to full time in the Rockies, and we will certainly spend some time on flat land, but I don't want to be climbing at 10mph up-hill and out of control downhill when we run into these steep grades. So, I guess we'll need a real jake brake too.

2013 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 4x4 - 23,200 5er towing capacity. How much GVWR trailer would you actually be comfortable towing in steep grades? Would you be ok with a 19,000lb GVWR trailer?

2013 Dodge RAM 3500 Crew Cab Dually 4x4 - 28,900 5er towing capacity. Would THIS be enough for the 19,000lb GVWR trailer?

These are just examples. I haven't actually picked a 19000lb 5er yet. The question really is - how much safety margin should I have?

I'm also NOT going to end up driving a big semi tractor. We want a normal pickup to be a daily driver when we're parked and a 1 ton dually is about as big as we want to deal with.

If we have to compromise, it'll probably be on buying a somewhat lighter 5er.

Thanks!!!
Tow Vehicles
  • johnrbd's avatar
    johnrbd
    Explorer
    Nov 17, 2013
    Check this site. I believe it will give you the "power" to tow your 19,000 trailer, but I could be wrong.

    http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/two-v-8s-four-superchargers-1-200-hp-191437759.html
  • 4x4ord's avatar
    4x4ord
    Explorer III
    Nov 17, 2013
    I towed a 16000 lb load through the Rockies with an '03 Duramax. I found it to be inadequate. Lack of engine braking and cooling were my biggest complaints. Towing the same trailer over the same passes with my 2011 Ford was an absolute pleasure. The new Duramax and Cummins engines have better exhaust brakes then the new Ford does.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Nov 17, 2013
    Keep the GVWR within the tow rating and the loaded pin weight less than the remaining payload and I would say good to go.
  • skipnchar's avatar
    skipnchar
    Explorer
    Nov 17, 2013
    Interstate highways have the same grade standard in the Rockies as in the rest of the country. 06% is the grade standard to allow relatively easy access to commercial trucking. There are very FEW exceptions where this is exceeded, and then only for a short distance. State highways may be as steep as 08% and be within standards though 6 and 7 are MUCH more common. You would pretty much have to go LOOKING for grades steeper than 8% though they are out there but not on major roads.
    Good luck / Skip
  • wilber1's avatar
    wilber1
    Explorer
    Nov 17, 2013
    Only the truck manufacturer is qualified to answer your question, everything else is just an opinion. Mine is just make sure you are within the truck's GVWR and GCWR. In other words, the manufacturers specs.
  • travelrider73's avatar
    travelrider73
    Explorer
    Nov 17, 2013
    So, one more question based on the elevation information... What, if anything, do I need to make sure I buy when shopping for that Diesel truck? If I buy a late model Dodge Cummins or GMC Duramax is the stock turbo that comes on it good enough to overcome the elevation issues?
  • travelrider73's avatar
    travelrider73
    Explorer
    Nov 17, 2013
    blt2ski wrote:
    The STEEPEST grades are NOT in the rockies. NO interstate can be steeper than 7%. Now get yourself on a local grade, they can be from 0-mid 20%! We have some of those here in the greater seattle area on local roads.


    Well, we'll probably be visiting you guys too! We're going full time and probably going to haul butt across the country and start on the west coast (maybe with a couple of stops along the way).

    Thanks for the other info about elevation. That was really good information that I didn't think about.

    We'll definitely be buying a Diesel. This might spark a "whole nother" discussion, but I am torn between the quality of the GM body and the quality of the Cummmins engine in the Dodge RAM. My perception and personal experience says that GM makes a better truck, but a Cummins diesel can't be beat... I'm sure this has been argued ad nauseum on here, so I'm not really trying to start that discussion again. I just can't seem to stop typing as I'm thinking about this.
  • blt2ski's avatar
    blt2ski
    Moderator
    Nov 17, 2013
    hmph,

    The STEEPEST grades are NOT in the rockies. NO interstate can be steeper than 7%. Now get yourself on a local grade, they can be from 0-mid 20%! We have some of those here in the greater seattle area on local roads.

    What you have to worry about in teh rockies is ELEVATION! ie a non turbo/super charged/forced inducted motor loses 2-3% of its HP per 1000' above sealevel you get. So when on Eisenhower pass at 11Kft, a non forced inducted motor is down upwards of 33%! So following this logic, one should deduct 33% off the max trailer rating so you would have the same performance specs from the motor as you would at sealevel. This is why many folks like Diesels with turbo's!

    Otherwise, there is no real reason to lower tow rating due to altitude or goign thru the rockies/yellowstone etc, I went thru with my 96 GM at some 4000 lbs OVER gcwr, I had no white knuckle issues!

    Marty
  • shooker99's avatar
    shooker99
    Explorer
    Nov 17, 2013
    We pull a 37ft Teton with a 3500 Chev diesel I really like the dual wheels. Been in the rockies many times and places. We are around that 19000lb or a little more. Watch what you are doing you will be fine. Paul

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