I apologize if this question gets asked a lot, but I keep getting confused with all the terms out there for towing... We have a 2005 3500 SRW dodge that I've found the towing capacity to be supposedly around 15,500. Now at some time in the future I do know our next truck will be a dually, but we've been looking for a living quarters with some room for our twin 6 yr old boys and us to be somewhat comfortable for a little more than a few years... Now, we may have found a decent deal on a trailer, but I just can't get my head around if it just too big and I shouldn't worry about it... The trailer is a four horse, granted my wife usually only tows 1-3 horses, with the stud stall being more of storage... The dry weight is 10,400 for the trailer. Is this possibly too much trailer, or is it "okay"... Any help would be greatly appreciated as most of the threads on the Internet are getting me confused...ThanksJeff
Posted 2012-04-22 1:55 AM (#143283 - in reply to #143277) Subject: RE: Towing question
Veteran
Posts: 233 Location: Pataskala, Ohio
That may be a little heavy on the pin weight. You may exceed the max load the rear tire can carry. If it is a good deal you can make you SRW a dully with 6 new wheels and tires and 2 fenders, I believe the rear axles are the same for the one tons.
The best way to find out is to hook up, load up and head to a truck stop and weigh the rig.
There are others on here that will offer their oppinons but if the price is right, you can make the truck work.
Posted 2012-04-22 7:58 AM (#143291 - in reply to #143277) Subject: RE: Towing question
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
10,400 plus the weight of 4 horses say 4,000 lbs = 14,400, Add any water, hay, tack, food and clothing, and random gear in the trailer. Probably at least another 1,000 maybe 2,000 lbs and you are at or slightly over your towing capacity.
If you happen to hit the 15,500 number that Dodge says you are legal to tow. You next need to see how much of that weight will rest on the hitch in your truck. This pin weight needs to be less than your trucks Load capacity. My Ford weighs in at 8400lbs with fuel and me in the drivers seat. It is rated at 11,500lbs so my load can be as much as 3100 lbs. But this further needs to be divided down by how much rest on the front and how much rest on the rear axles of the truck.
Lets assume you have the same 3100 lbs of capacity. If your trailer weighs 15,500 and roughly 24% of that weight will rest on the hitch, you will have 3875 lbs on hitch. Putting you over your total GVW
Posted 2012-04-22 9:26 AM (#143295 - in reply to #143277) Subject: RE: Towing question
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
So while you are still legal for the rated towing weight of 15,500, You probably will be over the total GVW or load capacity for your truck.
The only way to really know is to take the truck and trailer and drive across a scale. getting the weight for each axle as well as the total weight.
If you find that your single rear wheel drive truck is over loaded. Sell it. There are millions of other trucks available to purchase. I wouldn't spend the money to try and convert one. I would just sell the one you have and purchase a different truck that had a heavier load capacity. With todays internet, You can search the entire country to find the right truck that will do the job for you.
Posted 2012-04-22 9:23 PM (#143308 - in reply to #143277) Subject: RE: Towing question
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by Jamkak@hotmail.com on 2012-04-21 9:58 PM
I apologize if this question gets asked a lot, but I keep getting confused with all the terms out there for towing... We have a 2005 3500 SRW dodge that I've found the towing capacity to be supposedly around 15,500. Now at some time in the future I do know our next truck will be a dually, but we've been looking for a living quarters with some room for our twin 6 yr old boys and us to be somewhat comfortable for a little more than a few years... Now, we may have found a decent deal on a trailer, but I just can't get my head around if it just too big and I shouldn't worry about it... The trailer is a four horse, granted my wife usually only tows 1-3 horses, with the stud stall being more of storage... The dry weight is 10,400 for the trailer. Is this possibly too much trailer, or is it "okay"... Any help would be greatly appreciated as most of the threads on the Internet are getting me confused...ThanksJeff
Posted 2012-04-22 9:31 PM (#143310 - in reply to #143277) Subject: RE: Towing question
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by Jamkak@hotmail.com on 2012-04-21 9:58 PM
I apologize if this question gets asked a lot, but I keep getting confused with all the terms out there for towing... We have a 2005 3500 SRW dodge that I've found the towing capacity to be supposedly around 15,500. Now at some time in the future I do know our next truck will be a dually, but we've been looking for a living quarters with some room for our twin 6 yr old boys and us to be somewhat comfortable for a little more than a few years... Now, we may have found a decent deal on a trailer, but I just can't get my head around if it just too big and I shouldn't worry about it... The trailer is a four horse, granted my wife usually only tows 1-3 horses, with the stud stall being more of storage... The dry weight is 10,400 for the trailer. Is this possibly too much trailer, or is it "okay"... Any help would be greatly appreciated as most of the threads on the Internet are getting me confused...ThanksJeff
Towing question
