(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Maximum Towing Capability

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
I have a PJ gooseneck trailer pulled by a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 regular cab 5.9L pickup. I have recently discovered that based on my pickup operators manual I would be over maxing my pickup towing capability if I load one of my "M's" on the trailer. I was wondering what type of pickup most people are using to pull similar type trailer. I have looked at the capability of a 1 ton dually and many of them have less maximum towing capability because they weigh more than a 3/4 ton.
 
Im not a expert on the technicals of it but you will be fine with your 98 dodge. We ran a 97 3/4 ton pulling 9-10 fat cattle around. Also pulled a flatbed with 2 M's on it and a plow on the ramp.

You gotta add in the gvw of the trailer and the brakes on the trailer.
If your truck is around 8000 lbs gvw and the trailer is 14,000 lbs gvw you can have a GVW of 22,000.

Take off 6000 lbs for the truck and 2500 lbs for the trailer and you can haul 13,500 pounds of cargo. assuming your not overloading any axles or tires.
Like i said, im no expert. But i hope i helped you a little.
 
You will be fine. Just as already said you have to factor in the capacity of the trailer. You say PJ gooseneck... does it have 7k or 10k axles? Also you say 5.9 is that the 5.9 cummins or the 5.9 V8... that will factor in as well. When me and my dad started out we towed a 25 foot gooseneck trailer with 2 7k axles with a 1995 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2 V8... we usually hauled a H. Then we got a 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 V8, hauled H & M with no problems. Now we have a 2007 Dodge Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins with a 45 gooseneck with 10k axles... we haul H, M, & F20 on it with no problems.
 
<a href="http://s45.photobucket.com/albums/f60/jbauer4182/?action=view&amp;current=Photo_47D4DC80-72CA-4EF8-18A0-4CBBE64177B2.jpg" target="_blank">
Photo_47D4DC80-72CA-4EF8-18A0-4CBBE64177B2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket
</a>
 
My 06 Dodge 2500 Mega cab diesel has a CGVWR (Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of 21,000 pounds. The truck weighs about 7K and my 25' deck over gooseneck, weighs about 5k. That leaves about 9k payload. I have had 2 SH's on and it handled it fine. I did scale it and was legal on all axles but over the CGVWR by about 600 lbs. DOT didn't catch me on that run.

I specifically chose a trailer with 2 single wheel 7K axles. It's light and has plenty of room. The trailer dealer saved me a bunch of money by educating me on this topic as I originally wanted a trailer with 2-10K axles. As I now know that was a lot of capacity I didn't need.

I suspect you'll find it makes more sense to go with a lighter trailer than going to a truck with a higher CGVWR.

The days of 1 ton pickups hauling backhoes are long gone, at least around Houston. The DOT has put a stop to it.
 
Hi Jeff,

You and I both know that your rig will handle it just fine. I hauled for years only paying attention to the size of axles on the trailer. I once put 20K on a trailer with 2 10K axles. Didn't know you were supposed to subtract the weight of the trailer. I got by with it with out tearing anything up or getting stopped. I now know better.

Your truck has a CGVWR of about 22K. Your well over that hauling 3 tractors. TXDOT has started enforcing CGVWR. You would get put out of service and ticked here.

Better check your states regulations.
 
What I am concerned about is the operators manual states that my truck maximum towing capability is arouind 8400. The truck is a 5.9L gas and my trailer has two 7K axles. The truck seems to handle the load but not according to the manual.
 
Don't I have to consider the weight of the trailer and whatever is on the trailer when I calculate the maximum towing capability of the truck? The trailer weighs 5500 lbs empty.
 
Didnt catch that it was a gooseneck. Im pretty sure the weights showing in your book are for a "bumper pull" type of trailer, not your gooseneck, or is that what its saying, with a gooseneck?? iVe never really understood what all those numbers meant anyways.....But dont be surprised if you get the "You need a dually to pull an M" types, but hey, now they say its ok to pull tractors with a 50 year old car.
 
The manual also mentions the CGVWR is 14000 so I don't think it differentiates between bumper pull or gooseneck. What I also don't understand is that if my truck was a V-10 (8.1L) the CGVWR is 19000.
 
That right there should tell you that GCVWR has NOTHING to do with the truck's ability to carry weight.

It all has to do with PERFORMANCE. Dodge limited the GCVWR with the 5.9L gas engine because they were concerned that you would be unhappy with the performance of the truck towing more weight.

From a SAFETY standpoint, your truck has brakes, axles, springs, wheels, and tires enough to tow to the full 19000lb GCVWR of the V10 truck. You just won't be able to go up hills very fast.
 
You are fine. Stay within the GVW of the trailer, and make sure all your brakes (trailer and truck) are in good working order.

you would be shocked to see what I have towed with my 1995 F-150 with the 5.0L engine. Slow up steeper hills, but it gets the job done. When my wallet allows, going to upgrade trailer first, then truck next. I just put a new engine and tranny in the truck, so need to get a couple years out of it.
 
Hard to say for sure, but doesn't sound to me like it's a problem.

Obviously no problem pulling the weight. It's the controlled stopping you need to worry about.

Just be sure to stay on top of your brake maintenance and you should be good. On the truck and the trailer.

You don't want to find out the hard way that your trailer brakes no longer work.

Don't know if you've ever had the thrill of coming down a hill and having a heavy trailer push you through a busy intersection. But it's the kind of experience that makes you recommend brake maintanence to anybody that brings up trailer issues!
 
I watch the maintenance on my truck and trailer, but I am concerned about the police stopping me for an over grossed truck and trailer combination.
 
No matter what everyone says here, it is the license and weight limits stated in your manuals that matter. You might get by with more and get a ticket, wreck or damage your vehicle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

super99
Stupid Idea??
2
Replies
32
Views
3K
marloweg
M
crsutton81
Farmall 300 hydraulic capabilities
Replies
6
Views
670
crsutton81
crsutton81
R
Another D14 story long..ish and a question about belt pulleys...
Replies
0
Views
217
rasman57
R
tomstractorsandtoys
Hauling head aches
Replies
19
Views
2K
oldwrencher
O
J
Truck brakes
Replies
17
Views
822
john in la
J
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top