--------------------------------------------------------------------------------I have a 2007 dodge 3500 Laramie 4x4 6.7 liter cummins swr truck with the 4.10 axel.I just went out and bought the toy hauler of my dreams even matches the truck in color. Its a KZ Inferno 3912sl about 14k when loaded with its extras. After I put in my rzr4, water, fuel and cargo i'll say i'm 17500#'s.Figured my truck could handle this puppy. Hauled it 600 km no problem. Then got into some mountains on a old forestry trunk road. Had to climb up a real steep steep climb about 10 km long and up about 600m in elevation. had him shifting between 2nd and 3rd although I am now aware I should of just locked it in 2nd.Long story short I overheated the tranny right close to the top. puked out some tranny fluid and messed up 2nd and 3rd clutches in my tranny. Not sure if there was a on going issue I was unaware of with the cooling systems or what. Think there was a problem with the tranny to begin with before hauling this thing. Truck has 230k km on it.My question now is do I put in a new tranny maybe built up a bit, and a better cooling fan, or do I have to trade this thing in. just finished paying it off too, and I really don't want to drop another 77k on a new one. Help

According the Dodge towing guide, your truck is rated to tow 15,900# with a max payload of 3157#.Here's more specs: http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/vehicle_2_weight_results.jsp?franchise=D&year=7&familyMarket=U&familyDivision=T&vehicleFamily=RAM_3500&model=3500+QUAD+CAB+ST&bdy_style=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD&bed_wheel=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed&engine_trans=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed%255E6.7L+I6+Cummins+Turbo+Diesel+Engine%255E6-Spd+Automatic+68RFE+TransmissionYou might consider going to a nearby CAT scale and get the actual readings.

Well, you can add more trans cooling. Holding 2nd would have reduced heat. However, if your estimation of weight is correct you are overweight. I'm the last guy to say that towing at the max is a problem, assuming the other important weights are under. But this is a heavy rig, and I suspect you are more than a little heavy. Do you plan to continue to venture into the types of roads that caused the failure?Any chance you can load it all up and limp it to a scale "as is"? Knowing the real weights on each axle would be telling. I think you could make a more informed decision that way.Towing cap link

You are overloaded, but there are after market transmission rebuilders that can build a bullet proof transmission that will handle the additional load. Another strategy you should employ is putting your transfer case in low range, and locking the transmission is 1st or 2nd gear. Keep the RPM's about 1800 (maximum torque) and just crawl up those forestry roads.

amxpress wrote:According the Dodge towing guide, your truck is rated to tow 15,900# with a max payload of 3157#.Here's more specs: http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/vehicle_2_weight_results.jsp?franchise=D&year=7&familyMarket=U&familyDivision=T&vehicleFamily=RAM_3500&model=3500+QUAD+CAB+ST&bdy_style=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD&bed_wheel=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed&engine_trans=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed%255E6.7L+I6+Cummins+Turbo+Diesel+Engine%255E6-Spd+Automatic+68RFE+TransmissionYou might consider going to a nearby CAT scale and get the actual readings. Had to get the trailer towed out and is sitting now in the closest town to where I was camping about 400km away. no two ways about it the trailer is a big unit. The 2009 cummins are very similar to my truck and is rated for 18500. Is there anyway to tweek the engine for more pull. I have a guy that builds a crazy tranny for it with dual torque coverters. He says he will warranty the tranny pulling my rig.

Can I pull this, or upgrade needed. Help please.

amxpress
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
According the Dodge towing guide, your truck is rated to tow 15,900# with a max payload of 3157#.
Here's more specs: http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/vehicle_2_weight_results.jsp?franchise=D&year=7&familyMarket=U&familyDivision=T&vehicleFamily=RAM_3500&model=3500+QUAD+CAB+ST&bdy_style=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD&bed_wheel=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed&engine_trans=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed%255E6.7L+I6+Cummins+Turbo+Diesel+Engine%255E6-Spd+Automatic+68RFE+Transmission
You might consider going to a nearby CAT scale and get the actual readings.
adayjk
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Well, you can add more trans cooling. Holding 2nd would have reduced heat. However, if your estimation of weight is correct you are overweight. I'm the last guy to say that towing at the max is a problem, assuming the other important weights are under. But this is a heavy rig, and I suspect you are more than a little heavy. Do you plan to continue to venture into the types of roads that caused the failure?

Any chance you can load it all up and limp it to a scale "as is"? Knowing the real weights on each axle would be telling. I think you could make a more informed decision that way.

Towing cap link
adayjk
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Amx beat me to it.
I_am_still_wayn
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
You are overloaded, but there are after market transmission rebuilders that can build a bullet proof transmission that will handle the additional load. Another strategy you should employ is putting your transfer case in low range, and locking the transmission is 1st or 2nd gear. Keep the RPM's about 1800 (maximum torque) and just crawl up those forestry roads.
kz3912
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
amxpress wrote:
According the Dodge towing guide, your truck is rated to tow 15,900# with a max payload of 3157#.
Here's more specs: http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/vehicle_2_weight_results.jsp?franchise=D&year=7&familyMarket=U&familyDivision=T&vehicleFamily=RAM_3500&model=3500+QUAD+CAB+ST&bdy_style=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD&bed_wheel=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed&engine_trans=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed%255E6.7L+I6+Cummins+Turbo+Diesel+Engine%255E6-Spd+Automatic+68RFE+Transmission
You might consider going to a nearby CAT scale and get the actual readings.

Had to get the trailer towed out and is sitting now in the closest town to where I was camping about 400km away. no two ways about it the trailer is a big unit.

The 2009 cummins are very similar to my truck and is rated for 18500. Is there anyway to tweek the engine for more pull. I have a guy that builds a crazy tranny for it with dual torque coverters. He says he will warranty the tranny pulling my rig.
FishOnOne
Nomad
Aug 08, 2013
kz3912 wrote:
amxpress wrote:
According the Dodge towing guide, your truck is rated to tow 15,900# with a max payload of 3157#.
Here's more specs: http://www.dodge.com/towing/D/vehicle_2_weight_results.jsp?franchise=D&year=7&familyMarket=U&familyDivision=T&vehicleFamily=RAM_3500&model=3500+QUAD+CAB+ST&bdy_style=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD&bed_wheel=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed&engine_trans=U%255ET%255ERAM_3500%255E7%255E3500+QUAD+CAB+ST%255EQUAD+CAB%255E4WD%255E6.25+FT+Bed%255E6.7L+I6+Cummins+Turbo+Diesel+Engine%255E6-Spd+Automatic+68RFE+Transmission
You might consider going to a nearby CAT scale and get the actual readings.

Had to get the trailer towed out and is sitting now in the closest town to where I was camping about 400km away. no two ways about it the trailer is a big unit.

The 2009 cummins are very similar to my truck and is rated for 18500. Is there anyway to tweek the engine for more pull. I have a guy that builds a crazy tranny for it with dual torque coverters. He says he will warranty the tranny pulling my rig.

I'm not sure about the dual torque converter feature...:h

Why did you have to have the trailer towed out?
Grit_dog
Navigator
Aug 08, 2013
You just roached your trans and you're asking about more hp/tq?
Not sure who builds 68RFE trnasmissions but pulling 17k+ may warrant a built trans if you plan on putting alot more "hard" miles on towing, and certianly if you up the power. 'Cause then you'll just put more power to the trans and kill it quicker the next time.
6% grade you were on doesn't sound bad, especially at lower speeds. Shifting back between high rpms in 2nd and low rpms in 3rd you were at what, about 30mph?
Locking out the upper gear would definatley helped. If you had a egt gauge you would have really wanted to lock 'er into high rpms as well, likely.

The 68RFE in a '09 is the same as your 07.5, all the way up to current models, essentially. You can now get a new HO Cummins 850 ft lbs (vs your stock 650?)with the Aisin trans. It's all a matter of if you intend to keep the truck a long time or not. If I was towing that kind of weight regularly I'd drop the $5k on a good built trans and get another 200k out of it.
crickeydog
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Yer overweight, and for sure overweight on yer SRW truck's GVWR when hitched up. Yer truck just reminded you to alway's scale whatever it is you plan to tow (or at least check the campers GVWR) and compare that to your trucks tow rating before you buy it. You could buy a mac daddy new overbuilt tranny but you'll still end up with an overweight truck that'll give it's next owner a new overbuilt tranny. Look at it this way. Now you've got a good reason to buy a new DRW truck with the right amount of towing capacity to tow what yer towing!!! Good luck.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)
adayjk
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Oh yes, you can mod the engine up to crazy levels. The problem is without knowing the weights we don't really know where the next shortcoming is. Are the rear tires overloaded? Are the axles overloaded? Is the suspension up to the task?

You already used the engine power to burn up some stuff in the trans. I'm not an internet policeman so I won't start with lectures about insurance policies, liability issues, and the moral implications of knowingly being over the ""G" numbers. A trans upgrade will likely solve the problem with the trans, and will lots cheaper than a new truck.

If the 2009 truck will do the job, can you sell yours, and buy a 2009? The difference in year and kM certainly shouldn't be nearly as painful as a new truck, even after your trans rebuild.
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Aug 08, 2013
Just picked mine up from the trans shop today, 48RE not the 68RE. Find a shop that will supply you with a low stall three disc converter and a good shift kit.

Make sure they flush the cooler and lines any good shop will but ask anyway! That's a lot of weight for a SRW truck.

Good luck Don