Towing capacity

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Towing capacity

Home > Discussion Forum > Mechanic's Corner (general)

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All Messages in Thread	Author	Date
Towing capacity	Adrian lancop	8-4-08
Hi, I'm looking at purchasing a 26 ft fifth wheel and a truck as a packeage. The truck is a 1999 dodge ram 1500 with a 318 Magnum engine. I looked it up on line and the towing capacity of the 1999 ram 1500 is 8100 lbs. The trailer has a weight of 8900 lbs. with no supplies in it. Is the truck underpowered? Some people say that towing capacity is normally claculated at the ball (hitch) and not the fifth wheel hitch and that you can tow a lot moore with a fifth wheel hitch than you can from a ball hitch because the weight is over the back wheels? is that true does the fifth wheel give you more towing capacity? Please advise, many thanks, Regards, Adrian
Re: Towing capacity	Joe	8-4-08
The towing weight of the truck should never be exceeded. Springs, tires, brakes, gear ratio, small engine, and a whole lot more are to be considered before exceeding the recommended towing weight. My opinion is that the 8100 lbs is a bit much for the 318 to pull, let alone a heavier trailer. Not only are you endangering yourself and passengers, but everybody on the road. I can't imagine anybody in their right mind suggesting you exceed manufacturers reccomendations.
Re: Towing capacity	Joe Eytalis	8-9-08
Just because your towing capacity is 8100 lbs does not mean that the trailer or 5th wheel being towed can be at that weight. First of all the true weight your truck can tow is determined by the total combined weight rating of the vehicle. That means the weight of the trailer/5th wheel + weight of the truck + cargo and passengers. That info is in your trucks owners manual. Sounds like the 8100 lbs is the total combines weight rating of your 1500 Dodge. Just for the numbers your truck may weigh 3000 lbs. That means you have 5100 to distribute with trailer/5th wheel and cargo. Take an average of 2 people = 250 lbs, and about 300 lbs cargo (water, food, clothing, propane, gas, dishes etc.)= 550 lbs. that leaves you with a trailer/5th wheel empty (dry) weight of 4550 ponds to tow. In the RV world the rule of the thumb is never exceed 50 to 60% of your towing capacity. In my opinion I believe you should not tow any trailer/5th wheel with your 318 cu in V8 Dodge 1500 over 3500 lbs. You need at LEAST a Dodge 2500 to even think about towing anything 8900 lbs.
Re: Towing capacity	Linda Wood	9-22-08
We are looking to buy a Keystone Springdale fifth wheel which weighs 7405 lbs. Can we tow it with a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab 5.7 liter hemi engine?