I have a question for the more experienced Dodge Guru's. I just purchased a 04 600 cummins for towing. My questions is my trailer is a 44ft weekend warrior, they say it weighs 15,000#, loaded w/ car and toys full of water and fuel I bet it will way closer to 20,000#. Any body know if this is overload for my NEW dodge.

I am having a full 4" exhaust put on this week and a edge attitude chip, it will also have a 22,000# 5th wheel hitch.
Any body have a ny suggestions on what else I can do to for the towing I will be doing ?
And is this over kill for the dodge ?
I was thinking of going to a Ford F-650 Supercrewzer which has a 6spd allison and a 300hp Cat motor ?
Help ?

Not a Dodge Guru but I'll be happy to put in my .02 cents!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/hihi.gif

The trailer has a total capacity of 15,000#'s according to WW. They lie.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/images/smilies/eek.gif The axles have a capacity of 15,000#'s and then you can include up to 25% of that (3750#'s) for a pin weight. This is if you follow safe practices of course. I'll be the first to admit that my axle weight falls within the 15k but my pin weight exceeds the 3750. I blame warrior on poor axle placement for this. I'm going to relocate mine this summer. If you follow their guidelines and load 60% of the weight in front of the axles, You'll exceed the pin weight big time. I exceed that and load every to the rear as much as I can. You can't control the water placement as the factory sets that when they mount the tank.

WW and other Manufactures limit the total weight on paper for legal reasons. Why else would they put 21k brakes on something that is only rated for 15k!

My suggestion is to make sure you get it weighed when you have everything in it to see what your exacts are. If you can, get it weighed before you put your stuff in it. What I mean by that is weigh it with it full of water, propane and fuel. That will let you know what you actually have left for a safe capacity to load your stuff. Exceed this and your asking for trouble.

Going to the Ford is the safest bet with a trailer that size. I know GM also has a medium duty 4500/5500 that you should be able to equip properly that would also safely tow the load your talking about. I don't know if Dodge offers anything.

Your truck will easilly pull the trailer with the mods your doing, But will it be safe too? If you decide to use it, the only thing I would add is Air Bags. I like the increased load capacity they give it and the smoother ride when unloaded.

Where are you located and where do you play?

TT

Is your truck broke in at least?????

Is your truck an HO, six speed or auto???? Fill out your signature in your

"User CP" so someone can explain it better to you. Welcome to the site:D

I do know that if you intend to do heavy towing while using the programer,

it would be a good idea to invest in some gauges...... other than that, the

Cummins should have no problem pulling whatever you can hook up to the

back of your truck:grd:

Every now and then I have brain fade.:eek: Cumminz12v is absolutely right in that gauges would be extremely beneficial. Or does the Edge unit you plan on getting have that option?

I know alot of the stuff about the diesels. The chip will be the Edge w/ Attitude, I think this will be the best way to go w/ the built in safety items and the display. I know the Cummins will tow it, But how safe ??? It is never a problem to start going and getting to 70, it's the part that when you have to go FROM 70 back to 0 is what I am wondering about.
The trailer is loaded with a car, rhino and a golf cart. I am not sure on the weight, but I am trying to make sure that this is the right truck for it. I have thought of going w/ Airbags, but the Pin (hitch) weight is only 3750, not that that is light but I have seen more. I just would like to get thi input from other Dodge or Towing Guru's on thier opinon and advice.
This is a BIG A** trailer. And then here is the 2nd part of my equation. MY wife also uses the truck to tow her 3 horse trailer, Now If I go to the f-650, the only problem I can find is that thing WILL NOT make it in the Dunes. That thing weighs way to much and if (when) it gets stuck there will be NOTHING that will be able to pull that big heavy monster out.
More opinon's please and advice.

"The Cummins will tow it" with ease!!!

And god forbid if you are in an accicent, the lawyer that sues you for gross negligence for towing something that you knew put you over way your GVWR and GCWR will win big with ease!!!!

Get a bigger truck. Just my opinion.

Yes it will tow it.I hope you bought a dually 3500 at least. I dont think the C4500/550 is rated to tow that load either,at least legally,so its out too. The F650 or similar is probably the safest bet.If you own the trailer already,get it weighed see where your at, your Dodge should have a 23000GCWR,see how far over your total gvwr on the truck you are,and on the total GCWR so you know what you need to do.Personally id feel pretty safe if the trucks rear axle weight were within limits and the trailer was around 15000.If you have a 2500 or 3500 SRW truck id say your totally nuts for towing it.

I'd go bigger with that wieght if you can! I don't think engine power is the issue as much as staying legal! I'd want dual rear wheels and the best brakes!

IF NOT, use factory style aux. overload springs rather than air bags! I've used both! Air bags have very limited travel and cause a very rough ride, while aux. springs as come on most factory 1 tons can be modified easily by a good spring shop by re-arcing, adding springs and spacer blocks to carry the load at exactly the height you need. When you unhook the trailer they don't affect the ride unless you hit a really hard bump! You also don't have to worry about blowing an airbag (I've seen it more than once!) or changing air bag pressures back and forth! I don't want to start a big debate on airbags, because like religion, true believers in air bags or anything else will never change their opinions based on facts, but I've had both, and air bags they make for pickups aren't designed with adequate travel! They don't ride as well as springs and aren't as safe! Sometimes fancy and more complicated is just fancy and more complicated, not better!

I agree with John & Dave that if you stay witht the Dodge, you should at least

have a 3500 dually to handle the load, and add the overload springs to handle

the weight. To be honest, the safest option would be with the F-650. You won't

have to do any modifications to it, as the brakes on that truck are sufficient for

your application. I'd personaly be more worried about towing safely than getting

stuck IMO, just watch where you drive.

I would actually suggest leaving the truck 100% stock engine wiseif you intend on pulling that load. Think about it: The CAT engine in the F-650 would be a 300 hp unit (the 600 makes 325 hp), and the version of the 600 used in medium duty applications is, I believe, rated at 265 hp. This is done for durability purposes.

I think that so long as you got a 3500 dually, the truck itself will be able to handle your load. That said, I also agree with the consensus that the F-650 is going to be your safest bet for that kind of weight, assuming your trailer really is in the 20k range weight wise. That said, the F-650 would probably be overkill for your wife's horse trailer, and as you pointed out, trying to pull it out of dunes would be virtually impossible. Solution: buy both trucks! :)

If it is a dually go with it! 20,000lb trailer is not that big of a deal. As far as brakes, the truck has brakes to stop the truck at GVWR the trailer has brakes to stop it at GVWR so stopping is not going to be a problem. The trailer is just long! I would say the rear axle weight empty is around 3200lbs. with the 3750lb pin weight that ought to be about 7000lbs or so you are well within the weight ratings of a 3500 DRW truck. Payload on a 3500 DRW is 5000lbs. so the pin weight shouldn't be a problem. As far as being sued........don't you think they are going to do that any way? And the being overloaded won't hold water if you are within your axle specs. I say :ro)

If its a 3500 your golden man, I worked for a guy and would roll accross the scales at 33,000 with his 02 cummins 6speed

(by the way... no way I'd do that with my d-max.. :( )