Posted 2011-03-31 3:20 PM (#132439 - in reply to #132428) Subject: RE: Anyone towing with new Dodge 4x4
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Posts: 264
Location: Sumas Washington
I am towing with a 2004 Dodge, I was considering changing to a new style Dodge. The measurements I took showed the same bed rail height as my truck. Although I have not actually hooked one up to the GN trailer. Those that I have talked to that are towing with the 2010 and 2011 Dodge 4X4's really like them.
Posted 2011-03-31 5:07 PM (#132450 - in reply to #132428) Subject: RE: Anyone towing with new Dodge 4x4
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
I am concerned with bed height of the truck. I have an 08 now but am needing a second truck. I am going Dodge but would go back 4x4 if I can. So far its a no go for bed clearance. I have a bent tailgate now with the 2wd coming out of an unlevel driveway and didnt even know it touch the tailgate until I got home. It happens. Mine now is good on the 2wd. Its a big LQ trailer and heavy. I am not moving the axles and all of the other stuff some want. It is going to stay where its at. With the 08 its a tick nose high but pulls great and in 110 degree heat for 12-18hrs it doesnt blow tires running 75. If I go 4x4 I am afraid it will not be level and therefore overheat the back axle tires and most especially the right rear. I like a 4x4 truck but dang they are way to high.
I have to admit I drove a 4x4 and 2wd yesterday and the 2wd drive was so much more smooth. Easier to drive also and not nearly as stiff.
Posted 2011-03-31 6:24 PM (#132456 - in reply to #132428) Subject: RE: Anyone towing with new Dodge 4x4
Location: Central Arkansas
I tow a 2008 4 STAR 4H weekender with a 2010 Dodge 1ton 4WD. No issues at all with the bed. But, I do have a Cody air ride hitch on truck that may add a little extra clearance.
Posted 2011-03-31 10:07 PM (#132465 - in reply to #132428) Subject: RE: Anyone towing with new Dodge 4x4
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Valentine, NE
In my experience, all trailers can and are built with different nose clearances. A lot, including ours, of the bigger LQs have a "dropped" nose. This means that the hitch frame/nose is 6-8" lower than standard which allows more room in the bed area. Most "standard" hitch measurements don't work on the new higher box pickups either. A lot of the newer non GN LQ trailers have a "raised" hitch to allow more clearance but less room in the nose.
Our LQ trailer can not even be hooked up to a pickup with a box--it is designed to be only pulled with a flat bed.
For $750-$6000, you can put a flatbed on anything and that will take care of the problem. Most of the time, when you trade, just put the orginal pickup box back on and use the flat bed for the new pickup after the bed gets some new paint. A lot of times, a trade in with no box wear/damage will more than pay for a low end flatbed...Just my experience. Good luck!
Posted 2011-03-31 10:25 PM (#132467 - in reply to #132450) Subject: RE: Anyone towing with new Dodge 4x4
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by threeman on 2011-03-31 5:07 PM
I am concerned with bed height of the truck. I have an 08 now but am needing a second truck. I am going Dodge but would go back 4x4 if I can. So far its a no go for bed clearance. I have a bent tailgate now with the 2wd coming out of an unlevel driveway and didnt even know it touch the tailgate until I got home. It happens. Mine now is good on the 2wd. Its a big LQ trailer and heavy. I am not moving the axles and all of the other stuff some want. It is going to stay where its at. With the 08 its a tick nose high but pulls great and in 110 degree heat for 12-18hrs it doesnt blow tires running 75. If I go 4x4 I am afraid it will not be level and therefore overheat the back axle tires and most especially the right rear. I like a 4x4 truck but dang they are way to high.
I have to admit I drove a 4x4 and 2wd yesterday and the 2wd drive was so much more smooth. Easier to drive also and not nearly as stiff.
J
If you are having issues with a 2wd you WILL have issues with the new Dodge 4x4 for sure unless you go with a flatbed or a hauler style bed like mine. A good friend of ours just bought a 2011 Dodge Ram crew cab dually 4x4 and tows a Sundowers like our but in a 4 horse and his DOES NOT set level at all and his does not have the Dropped nose either and does get really close to the bed rails. I warned him about axle damage and extreme tires wear and he is now lookng to block the axles or for a bed.
Major downfall to the new Dodge bed is the metal bedsides they have now instead of plastic fenders... 1 blow out can make for alot of damage!
Posted 2011-04-01 8:11 AM (#132485 - in reply to #132428) Subject: RE: Anyone towing with new Dodge 4x4
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
Hogtown i agree 100%. The bloomer is not the problem the truck is. Thanks for the info on trailers but trust me I have designed several and i understand about dropped noses. The folks at elite know me well. I just dont want a hauler bed either so I probably will stick with the 2wd. Its about 10 inches give or take I havent measured it to see honestly above the bed. The 4wd truck will only be 5 to 6 above the bed and trailer will not be level.
My gripe about hauler beds is I dont want my spare tire on the back of the bed.
Posted 2011-04-01 2:08 PM (#132500 - in reply to #132428) Subject: RE: Anyone towing with new Dodge 4x4
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Quote... My gripe about hauler beds is I dont want my spare tire on the back of the bed.
You can always use the spare to block the air flow through the front grill..... We carried them on the front of our farm trucks years ago. Sure beat crawling underneath chiseling away the dry mud trying to get them free..!! Don't see many mounted up front that way anymore.
Posted 2011-04-01 4:55 PM (#132507 - in reply to #132428) Subject: RE: Anyone towing with new Dodge 4x4
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
Or do what I did.... I extended the flat plate that my trailer spare is mounted too then extended the bolt and mounted my truck spare with the trailer spare. Works just fine, unless you haul more than 1 trailer... In my case my truck it hooked to the LQ 95% of the time and the other 5% to the hay trailer but I have a 2nd spare mounted to it as well.