Simple question for you regulars but I don't find anything in my manual that really explains what I can do legaly. I have a 2003 Dodge 2500 with 6 spd trans. No add-ons, just factory. I usually pull with my rear hitch but I'm considering a goose-neck.

I pulled 10,000 - 12,000# last week including the trailer, about 650 miles, and it did fine but I wasn't sure if I was legal.

Can you help?

First I would look to see what my hitch is rated for with and without spring bars. I am not sure but my old GM was rated for 12,000 lbs with spring bars and I think.......7600 lbs without them. My dodge hitch is similar but I have not looked at the sticker on it yet. Your Dodge 2500 is rated to pull a trailer around 15,500 lbs. assuming you stay within the hitch rating (fifth wheel or reese hitch type)

Your truck weighs in around 7000 lbs give or take. Your towed load as stated above weighs 12,000 lbs, including trailer. Thus your combined load is 19,000 pounds and within your truck's rating. Your truck needs to be registered for a gross combined vehicle weight of greater than 19,000 pounds to make you legal. I am not sure of your state's laws but that is how it works here. This is assuming your trailer is loaded properly.

Worst case you could have your truck at 7000 lbs and be pulling a trailer around 15,500 lbs for a total load of 22,500 lbs and still be legal as long as you are registered for enough weight.

Please feel free to correct if I am in error.

Not sure about the registering thing. Here in Michigan nobody ever asks. I better check that. Any other thoughts out there?

I believe Gelecon is correct. You should be able to tow around 15k pounds considering your trucks weight. That's a lot of weight and I think much of what a dually buys you is piece of mind in case of a blowout on the rear. Take your trailers weight, the weight of the passengers and stuff in your truck, and add all the junk you put in the trailer plus the trailer to get the proper gross weight. Happy towing.

Here ya go...look at this for the specs on your particular Ram.

http://dodgeram.info/2003/towing-charts.html