Tow Ratings

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

...... Your manual is talking about TONGUE WEIGHT not "towing capacity." The towing capacity is a single number for any particular version of the truck; it's found in the table ......

So a WDH may not INCREASE your towing capacity but without a WDH your towing capacity can be severely DECREASED.

See my post #43 on page 5 citing the 2017 Ford Explorer tow specs. With WDH 500/5000 tongue weight and WDH capacity. 200/2000 tongue weight and no WDH.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by clarkbre

So a WDH may not INCREASE your towing capacity but without a WDH your towing capacity can be severely DECREASED.

See my post #43 on page 5 citing the 2017 Ford Explorer tow specs. With WDH 500/5000 tongue weight and WDH capacity. 200/2000 tongue weight and no WDH.

True, but if you were a farmer towing a 2 axle hay wagon with a tongue that doesn't put any weight on the vehicle, you've got the full towing capacity.



I'm guessing there's a name for that kind of tongue, but I don't know what it is.

[NJKris]

I hate those trailers! It seems like they can only be towed up to about 10 or 15 mph before they begin wildly weaving in their lane, at least that has been my experience being stuck behind one being towed..

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by NJKris

I hate those trailers! It seems like they can only be towed up to about 10 or 15 mph before they begin wildly weaving in their lane, at least that has been my experience being stuck behind one being towed..

I know what you mean. But the big rigs seem to do it without that problem.



Maybe the big rigs don't have that steering thing.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

I see the 4,680LB payload but it still shows max tow as 5,100LB for 2019.

https://www.ramtrucks.com/2019/ram-p...apability.html

I know, but I have seen it 8 or 9 automotive journalist sites all quoting an official Fiat release. It may be for the new Ecodiesel versions which still don't exist in any fasion on 2019 Ram specs, pickups or vans.

[ENE]

The stats says 40% of the river's are either over weight or at the max weight. You need to have a 20% margin for safety going down the road. Fill up your van with all the stuff you would have in the van when going camping, full tank of gas and I guess you could estimate the passengers weight. Go to a Cat Scale at a truck stop and get weighed.

[Quail]

The chances that you'll be happy with your tow vehicle pulling that much weight is minimal. I have a 20-foot Salem on single axle trailer I pull with my Kia Sorento. I wish I would have bought the same size trailer with The tandem axle so it would reduce the tongue weight and give me a greater amount of stability on the road. Tandem axle would also allow me to load all the things that I want to carry in my camper but can't now because if I put that in the camper now the camper axle itself is overloaded. Because my camper is rated at 3500 lbs maximum weight, 500 of that weight has to go onto the tongue because the axle is only rated for 3000 lb. So when I added the weight distribution hitch to my car I moved the tongue weight to the front wheels of the car and back to the trailer. Then I rolled it on the cat scale and found out I had overloaded my trailer axle. All my numbers worked with the exception of the maximum weight on my trailer axle. All of that to say this, it's possible but if you want to go camping carrying nothing with you that you want to bring, driving a vehicle that's working its arse off, being pushed and pulled by every vehicle that passes you. You will have a great time. I have become extremely proficient with the cat scale at my local truckstop. I do wish that we could both have a bottle of water when we're travel but that would throw us overweight so we share 😊

[Boomerweps]

Originally Posted by Quail

The chances that you'll be happy with your tow vehicle pulling that much weight is minimal. I have a 20-foot Salem on single axle trailer I pull with my Kia Sorento. I wish I would have bought the same size trailer with The tandem axle so it would reduce the tongue weight and give me a greater amount of stability on the road. Tandem axle would also allow me to load all the things that I want to carry in my camper but can't now because if I put that in the camper now the camper axle itself is overloaded. Because my camper is rated at 3500 lbs maximum weight, 500 of that weight has to go onto the tongue because the axle is only rated for 3000 lb. So when I added the weight distribution hitch to my car I moved the tongue weight to the front wheels of the car and back to the trailer. Then I rolled it on the cat scale and found out I had overloaded my trailer axle. All my numbers worked with the exception of the maximum weight on my trailer axle. All of that to say this, it's possible but if you want to go camping carrying nothing with you that you want to bring, driving a vehicle that's working its arse off, being pushed and pulled by every vehicle that passes you. You will have a great time. I have become extremely proficient with the cat scale at my local truckstop. I do wish that we could both have a bottle of water when we're travel but that would throw us overweight so we share 😊

Did you crawl under your TT and check the axle tags? I've not seen 3K# axles. What I have seen are 2K, 3.5K, & 5K# axles on TT and 5ers.

[JohnD10]

I think the OP has left us and is no longer interested in hearing what more will come out of this topic thread.

I'd be interested to know what he decided to do...but somehow I don't think he'll be back.

[47driver]

Originally Posted by JohnD10

I think the OP has left us and is no longer interested in hearing what more will come out of this topic thread.

I'd be interested to know what he decided to do...but somehow I don't think he'll be back.

Most likely because no one answered his question about the suburban.



The Suburban will work. I would first list out your priorities for the vehicle. My wife and I did this.


1. Haul X number of people.
2. 90% usage as grocery getter or commuter car.
3. Easy to park at Walmart
4. Decent fuel mileage.
5. Tow rating > 4,000#


We ended up with a VW Touareg TDi (7,700# tow rating) and a Audi Q7 TDi (6,600# tow rating). Next in the chute for me to replace the Touareg is a Ram 1500 ecodiesel with a 9,500# tow rating.


Figure out what you need in totality, then find the vehicle that fits that need.

[JohnD10]

Originally Posted by 47driver

Most likely because no one answered his question about the suburban.



The Suburban will work. I would first list out your priorities for the vehicle. My wife and I did this.


1. Haul X number of people.
2. 90% usage as grocery getter or commuter car.
3. Easy to park at Walmart
4. Decent fuel mileage.
5. Tow rating > 4,000#


We ended up with a VW Touareg TDi (7,700# tow rating) and a Audi Q7 TDi (6,600# tow rating). Next in the chute for me to replace the Touareg is a Ram 1500 ecodiesel with a 9,500# tow rating.


Figure out what you need in totality, then find the vehicle that fits that need.

His question was answered several times, but he was insistent upon using what he has as a tow vehicle.

In other words...he didn't hear what he wanted to hear.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

True, but if you were a farmer towing a 2 axle hay wagon with a tongue that doesn't put any weight on the vehicle, you've got the full towing capacity.



I'm guessing there's a name for that kind of tongue, but I don't know what it is.

Originally Posted by NJKris

I hate those trailers! It seems like they can only be towed up to about 10 or 15 mph before they begin wildly weaving in their lane, at least that has been my experience being stuck behind one being towed..

I've always heard those types of farm setups called running gear or wagon gear. The design, high center of gravity, and tires make them unfit for high speeds. You can make them more stable by giving them more toe-in and changing the tires from flotation to highway, but you cannot eliminate the sway completely. The pivot point at the front axle and pipe connection between the front and rear swivels and allows all 4 tires to stay on the ground in most types of terrain. This type takes a lot of practice to backup as there are 4 points that pivot independently of one another. TV steering, connection at the TV, the front wheels and the rear of the running gear.

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I know what you mean. But the big rigs seem to do it without that problem.



Maybe the big rigs don't have that steering thing.

The reason this type of setup works is the axle/wheel assembly is rigid. The fifth wheel platform, also known as 5th wheel (you guys already know this) and the front axle/tires pivot as a single unit. On some setups the front can be locked in place so when backing up the unit stays in line. Most times the second trailer is disconnected from the 5th wheel hitch and backed into place by a yard tractor. Some of you may recall seeing a tractor, trailer, and the 5th wheel hitch without a second trailer, going down the highway.

European farmers use this type on their wagons, also known as carts or carriage.

[Quail]

Originally Posted by Boomerweps

Did you crawl under your TT and check the axle tags? I've not seen 3K# axles. What I have seen are 2K, 3.5K, & 5K# axles on TT and 5ers.

And to my surprise it said 3000 lb.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Scrapper

I've always heard those types of farm setups called running gear or wagon gear. The design, high center of gravity, and tires make them unfit for high speeds. You can make them more stable by giving them more toe-in and changing the tires from flotation to highway, but you cannot eliminate the sway completely. The pivot point at the front axle and pipe connection between the front and rear swivels and allows all 4 tires to stay on the ground in most types of terrain. This type takes a lot of practice to backup as there are 4 points that pivot independently of one another. TV steering, connection at the TV, the front wheels and the rear of the running gear.





The reason this type of setup works is the axle/wheel assembly is rigid. The fifth wheel platform, also known as 5th wheel (you guys already know this) and the front axle/tires pivot as a single unit. On some setups the front can be locked in place so when backing up the unit stays in line. Most times the second trailer is disconnected from the 5th wheel hitch and backed into place by a yard tractor. Some of you may recall seeing a tractor, trailer, and the 5th wheel hitch without a second trailer, going down the highway.

European farmers use this type on their wagons, also known as carts or carriage.

I knew most of this. What I didn't know (and still don't) is what you call the tongue with no weight on it. I think most of them are used with pintle hitches.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I knew most of this. What I didn't know (and still don't) is what you call the tongue with no weight on it. I think most of them are used with pintle hitches.

Drawbar

And to add, the 4 wheeled "trailer" isn't a trailer, it's a wagon. To make them more stable at speed you would have to add caster to the steering spindle kinpin.

[dhodgson]

We used to pull a 2,000 lb. utility trailer with a Toyota Highlander (with 4500 lb towing capacity). Taking it over a mountain pass it blew a rod. Just sayin...

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Drawbar

And to add, the 4 wheeled "trailer" isn't a trailer, it's a wagon. To make them more stable at speed you would have to add caster to the steering spindle kinpin.

That's it!! Duh!

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by dhodgson

We used to pull a 2,000 lb. utility trailer with a Toyota Highlander (with 4500 lb towing capacity). Taking it over a mountain pass it blew a rod. Just sayin...

I went to sleep last night and woke up to snow on the ground. Sleep must cause snow. Just sayin'.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

I went to sleep last night and woke up to snow on the ground. Sleep must cause snow. Just sayin'.

Must of. I didn't sleep, worked until 6. All rain here. Now we know. [emoji12]