Tow question

"Wish I had the money for one"

A few less dinners at Jimmy's and you will have plenty of money ;)

MMMMM that actually sounds good!

Well I normally read all the replies before posting. However this time I did not follow my own rule.

As you found out it was a tows to trailer pretty well. Would a new 3500 SRW or DRW tow it better? A BIG yes. Wish I had the money for one.

3.54 is right, my mistake. yes, I've always run LT265/75R16E tires.

Kevin Todd wrote:
Got a '02 Dodge 2500 4x4 with 5.9 HO Cummins, 6 sp, 3.73 rear, Camper special package. We just purchased a 2016 Jayco Pinnacle 38FLSA and we're picking it up shortly. Big fiver. How do you think my old ram will do?

3.73 gears? You changed them? That year had 4:10's or 3:54's.

So that truck is really a SRW 3500 with 2500 labels, assuming it has the LT265/75R16E's rated to 3415 each. GVWR is just 8800 and it is going to weigh 7200-7400 ready to tow.

People tow a lot with these trucks. The 6830 capacity of the rear tires thus axle is what you are going to watch. You will be at 10,000-10,500 on the truck.

Soon you with be shopping for a new truck. If your truck already has the hitch, then fine. If not then don't waste the money installing it, buy a new RAM with 5th wheel prep and B&W hitch.

Chris

I also towed a 16K GVWR 5th wheel (2004 Mobile Suites 36RE3) with a 2002 Ram, but mine was a 3500 dually, HO, NV5600 6-speed with 4.10 axle ratio. I'm not quite sure where you got a 3.73 gearset as the factory axle ratios in 2002 were 3.54 and 4.10. 3.73s didn't become available until 2003 when Dodge switched from Dana to American Axle.

Rusty

Kevin Todd wrote:
Figured that would be the answer...Picked it up in Cincinnati yesterday morning and brought it to West TN. No problems. 250K miles on the old girl and she did great. As far as my tranny, I've pulled everything from backhoes to the big fivers and she's still going strong. I'd be more concerned about that GM if I were you....course it looks like you trade regular....

Doggone good answer if you're looking to make friends:R AGAIN, wondering why you bothered to even pose a "TOW QUESTION"?....If you've already towed all that you've boasted of towing, I don't get the question? Especially if YOU ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER. I wouldn't care what others think, unless I asked the question...then I wouldn't defend everytime someone disagreed with your assessment..Curious......

Kevin Todd wrote:
You're all right, I knew I was overloaded. Also got a deal I couldn't turn down. I have driven this truck for 14 years and knew I would be ok. When we picked up at Colerain Sat. morning there was a guy behind me picking up a RSQS Pinnacle in a 2500 powerstroke. Ran into him on 65 coming out of Louisville and he looked fine too. I also know this is not a regular thing, I have an annual site where I rarely move the coach, just to bring it home usually early winter and store it inside until March. Yes, when we our lifestyle changes to more traveling I will upgrade my truck for sure. I get a kick out of reading a lot of the posts from the guys that say you need a topkick to go to the grocery store.....

"How do you think my old ram will do? "

Curious as to why you posted??..You asked for an opinion and then start justifying everything you're doing:h....You're making quite a bit of excuses to tow the heavy 5er with your truck, "it towed very well", I'll only tow it once or twice, I rarely move it, when our lifestyle changes, I will upgrade truck:...Lot's of justifying towing with the truck when YOU asked for opinions, was told by most, not enough truck, then you come back on some reoplies...:h

Don't recollect ANYONE stating you needed a "topkick" to go to the grocery store, or tow that 5er...I didn't even read, "you're in dually territory".......In fact someone just stated to go buy a new 2500.....(2014 and up)...

I live in the mountains near Asheville NC and tow my 5er loaded to 16,300# with truck in my sig....tow in TN, NC, SC, VA and WVa, (all mountainous),..If towing in and around where I tow, I figure your truck won't stay happy.

I towed a Coachmen Somerset (GVW of 14,500#)in 03' with a Chevy 2500 short bed, extended cab, D/A, 3.73 in same areas I stated I towed in....truck had a GVWR of 9200# and the Allison was/is an awesome tranny...truck was great, but in the mountains with 5er loaded to 14,050# and pin weight of a little under 2800#, I KNEW that 5er "was back there" when I was pulling the mountains...did a great job, but next upgrade was an 05' dually, but that was YEARS ago and the 250/2500's of today can tow a lot more than they could back then....

But again, don't know why you posted what you did when you had already made your mind up about your truck....i

Old-Biscuit wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Kevin Todd wrote:
Figured that would be the answer...Picked it up in Cincinnati yesterday morning and brought it to West TN. No problems. 250K miles on the old girl and she did great. As far as my tranny, I've pulled everything from backhoes to the big fivers and she's still going strong. I'd be more concerned about that GM if I were you....course it looks like you trade regular....

From that response it's obvious you know you are way overloaded, don't really care and was looking for someone to say OK

Well you are overloaded.
A 2002 vintage 2500 4X4 is NOT in the same league as 2015 2500

You are overloaded but will not go across a scale cause you don't want to face reality

Old-Biscuit, you are correct, but the 2nd gen RAM/Dodge 2500's with the Camper package are greatly under rated!!

I tow a 12,360 GVWR 5er currently at 11,000#+ GVW, this puts the TV at 10,000#+ usually right at 10K. I still have over 500# of "stock" rear axle rating to spare, which is based on the stock tire size of 245/75-16E 3,042# rating. If the rear axle rating was corrected for the Camper Package tires 265/75-16E's at 3,415# ea. I would have a rear axle rating of 6,830#. The package also included 3500 springs, that is all that is back there, and the rear sway bar.
The camper Package in 2001 didn't change a single weight on the VIN sticker, the VIN has the same weight ratings as the non camper package.
I have know doubt that Kevin's tow was just fine, as at at about 2,200# pin on mine Kevin may have been a bit down in the rear, but not much, and likely dry well with in the tire ratings.
The camper Package basically was the 2nd Gen SRW 3500, which was not an option until 2003.

And that 2016 Jayco Pinnacle 38FLSA would overload my 2007 Dodge 3500
and that is plain fact.
My 14K 5vr puts me at ratings/slightly over.
Another 2000#.........yeah it tows just fine, I only tow on Sundays, just to Grandmas, got a great deal. BS. Nothing but 'justifying' a bad matchup
And all the cow manure isn't going to change that fact.

Then again.....slap some 19.5s on and git-r-dun :S

Old-Biscuit, what are the ratings on that 2007 3500 SRW? Would it put you over GVWR, Axle and/or tire ratings?

If you still have the stock 17" wheels, your total tire rating is 880# less than our 2001 & 2002!! The 265/70-17 E's only have a 3,195# rating.

My ratings on my 2001 are as follows;
GVWR 8,800#
GFAWR 5,200#
GRAWR 6,084
Total Tire rating 4*3,415= 13,660#
GCVWR;
w/3.55 16,000#
w/4.10 20,000#
So I exceed two ratings GVWR and based on stock HP and gearing GCVWR.
Towing;
10,000# GVW
19,500# GCVW

He doesn't need 19.5's base weight on his rear axle is about 3,000# maybe a bit less, and the 265/75-16E's the pair have a capacity of 6,830# that is 3,800# before he exceeds the tire rating.

Keep in mind, even after huge rating increases in 2013, Ram was the only PU manufacture that got to increase the tow rating of a couple of their trucks.

rhagfo wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Kevin Todd wrote:
Figured that would be the answer...Picked it up in Cincinnati yesterday morning and brought it to West TN. No problems. 250K miles on the old girl and she did great. As far as my tranny, I've pulled everything from backhoes to the big fivers and she's still going strong. I'd be more concerned about that GM if I were you....course it looks like you trade regular....

From that response it's obvious you know you are way overloaded, don't really care and was looking for someone to say OK

Well you are overloaded.
A 2002 vintage 2500 4X4 is NOT in the same league as 2015 2500

You are overloaded but will not go across a scale cause you don't want to face reality

Old-Biscuit, you are correct, but the 2nd gen RAM/Dodge 2500's with the Camper package are greatly under rated!!

I tow a 12,360 GVWR 5er currently at 11,000#+ GVW, this puts the TV at 10,000#+ usually right at 10K. I still have over 500# of "stock" rear axle rating to spare, which is based on the stock tire size of 245/75-16E 3,042# rating. If the rear axle rating was corrected for the Camper Package tires 265/75-16E's at 3,415# ea. I would have a rear axle rating of 6,830#. The package also included 3500 springs, that is all that is back there, and the rear sway bar.
The camper Package in 2001 didn't change a single weight on the VIN sticker, the VIN has the same weight ratings as the non camper package.
I have know doubt that Kevin's tow was just fine, as at at about 2,200# pin on mine Kevin may have been a bit down in the rear, but not much, and likely dry well with in the tire ratings.
The camper Package basically was the 2nd Gen SRW 3500, which was not an option until 2003.

And that 2016 Jayco Pinnacle 38FLSA would overload my 2007 Dodge 3500
and that is plain fact.
My 14K 5vr puts me at ratings/slightly over.
Another 2000#.........yeah it tows just fine, I only tow on Sundays, just to Grandmas, got a great deal. BS. Nothing but 'justifying' a bad matchup
And all the cow manure isn't going to change that fact.

Then again.....slap some 19.5s on and git-r-dun :S

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Op if you really like the truck throw a set of training wheels on it!

All the negative comments on the trans have me baffled. That is a very sought after truck, the transmission is a "6" speed STICK.

X2
NV5600, wish I had one, or a G56, my NV4500 has a big gap between 3rd and 4th.