Exceeding tow limit

[redvetram]

No = 4000 rpm
Just drive normal!!! The more you worry the more likely you will screw up. Just relax and let the truck do its job. Put it in tow/haul when you need to and the truck knows what it needs to do.
(ret)

....What he said. I just put it in tow/haul mode and let the truck do it’s thing. You will notice the rpm’s get higher before it upshifts, but that’s what it’s supppsed to do. I will manually downshift and keep an eye on rpm’s to save on the brakes while going down these steeper hills but that’s the nature of driving in the mountains.

The other thing I have had to do while climbing the steeper hills is put it in 4WD. These are hills on gravel/dirt roads at slower speeds, so the rear wheels will skid out in 2WD with that much weight being pulled. But I’ve never had an issue of not enough power.

 

[redvetram]

Thank you for the MPG feedback. Hopefully, I'm a tiny bit better as the trailer is lighter and pretty aerodynamic
.

Yes, there’s absolutely nothing aerodynamic about my horse trailer....it’s a 7 foot tall flat piece of air resistance!

 

[geekything]

Yes, there’s absolutely nothing aerodynamic about my horse trailer....it’s a 7 foot tall flat piece of air resistance!

What's your tongue weight? Does your Big Horn "squat" much when towing it?

As I previously mentioned, I do know someone who towed a 7000lb toy hauler with the same truck as us (3.21s, not 3.55s). That should give you some hope. He did say it was slow

 

[redvetram]

I’ve got 450 pounds on the tongue and I don’t notice any squat. I’ll measure the ball drop next time I hook up the trailer, which will likely be tomorrow.

 

[redvetram]

I’ve got 450 pounds on the tongue and I don’t notice any squat. I’ll measure the ball drop next time I hook up the trailer, which will likely be tomorrow.

So I measured the ball drop....just shy of 3 inches. Interestingly enough, that drop occurred with the empty trailer (1500 pounds). When I loaded the horses, bringing it to 4800 pounds, there was no additional drop.

 

[redvetram]

Here’s a pic with it loaded. Pretty level...

 

[LarryA]

So I measured the ball drop....just shy of 3 inches. Interestingly enough, that drop occurred with the empty trailer (1500 pounds). When I loaded the horses, bringing it to 4800 pounds, there was no additional drop.

Curious, what kind of horse trailer is that? 2 horse slat? Does it have a front tack room?

I have pulled a 2 horse slat as well, but now have access to a 3 horse slant. Empty it is 3,800 pounds. My fear is with 3 horses my tongue weight would be too high. Especially with gear and a full water tank

 

[Fitz-0518]

We also tow horse trailers with our 6.4 and 5.7. I did some quick math. Trailer at 3800, 3 horses at 1200 and about 500lbs for gear. Looks like 7900lbs. Towing flat hauls versus grade pulls with the 5.7 would cause me think, the 5.7 will do that, but ???

 

[LarryA]

We also tow horse trailers with our 6.4 and 5.7. I did some quick math. Trailer at 3800, 3 horses at 1200 and about 500lbs for gear. Looks like 7900lbs. Towing flat hauls versus grade pulls with the 5.7 would cause me think, the 5.7 will do that, but ???

exactly what I was thinking, and I think the tongue weight would be over 1,000 pounds. I think 2 horses in the two rear stalls would be better and get the tongue back to 10% (~650 pounds). I can't look a gift horse in the mouth (bad, I know!) but I simply won't pull it fully loaded.

Last question, on horse trailers are you all using a weight distribution hitch?

 

[LarryA]

Here’s a pic with it loaded. Pretty level...

View attachment 129959

what kind of ball hitch are you using and how much drop? I have been looking for a reasonably priced 2 5/16 inch loaded ball mount with zero drop, but they are difficult to find.

 

[Fitz-0518]

exactly what I was thinking, and I think the tongue weight would be over 1,000 pounds. I think 2 horses in the two rear stalls would be better and get the tongue back to 10% (~650 pounds). I can't look a gift horse in the mouth (bad, I know!) but I simply won't pull it fully loaded.

Last question, on horse trailers are you all using a weight distribution hitch?

We have never used a WDH. But,,,, when we towed with the 07 Mega Cab 1500 on 2500 8 lug frame. We did use an adjustable height tow hitch. I want my truck and trailer to sit level when towing. Better for the horses and truck handling. On the 03 1500 bumper pull and 18 2500 goose neck we have the factory tow package. Both pull level. I have learned over the years that the trailer loading and set up is critical to having good two experience. We make sure that the horses are over the trailer axles. Water and camp gear are loaded intelligently so the load is balanced. Both trailers are 2 horse slant load. We had the 3 horse goose neck modified by moving the center panel back so two horse are over the axles. This gave us gear space in the front and insured that my wife would only be able to haul two horses. Sorry for the long answer, just thought 50 yrs of towing could be helpful.

 

[DAVECS1]

Keep an eye on the temps and you should be fine. I am not sure how they do tow ratings these days, but in the 90s and early 2000s the pentastar would of been a horse power rock star. The chassis is fine as it is similar to the trucks that can tow the large loads. So you have the brakes and springs and such. Take it easy and slow and it should be a non-issue. Transmission oil starts to breakdown at 250 degrees. Engine oil at 275. Dont ride your breaks if you can help it as you will be at an engine braking deficeit, and may need them to work hard in a quick stop.

 

[Fitz-0518]

We have never used a WDH. But,,,, when we towed with the 07 Mega Cab 1500 on 2500 8 lug frame. We did use an adjustable height tow hitch. I want my truck and trailer to sit level when towing. Better for the horses and truck handling. On the 03 1500 bumper pull and 18 2500 goose neck we have the factory tow package. Both pull level. I have learned over the years that the trailer loading and set up is critical to having good two experience. We make sure that the horses are over the trailer axles. Water and camp gear are loaded intelligently so the load is balanced. Both trailers are 2 horse slant load. We had the 3 horse goose neck modified by moving the center panel back so two horse are over the axles. This gave us gear space in the front and insured that my wife would only be able to haul two horses. Sorry for the long answer, just thought 50 yrs of towing could be helpful.

Correction. You were asking about Weight Dist "hitches' and I was thinking of something else. Yes we have used a Reese WDH for years on our bumper pulls. It has 9 leveling adjustments and two length adjustments. It has the 2" and 2 1/4" flip ball feature. Bought at Tractor Supply many years ago. I think over $100 under $200. great for dialing in your truck and trailer level.

 

[geekything]

I’ve got 450 pounds on the tongue and I don’t notice any squat. I’ll measure the ball drop next time I hook up the trailer, which will likely be tomorrow.

I should be at 450 to 487lbs based on 15% tongue weight and my trailer weight. It's good to know there's not too much squatting.

The trailer I'm getting is popular with those driving larger SUVs. It makes me cringe to see their pictures where the backend is lower than the front. Should have gotten a truck!

 

[redvetram]

what kind of ball hitch are you using and how much drop? I have been looking for a reasonably priced 2 5/16 inch loaded ball mount with zero drop, but they are difficult to find.

My trailer has a 2” ball. My toungue weight is actually on the low side....closer to 9% of the loaded trailer

 

[redvetram]

Curious, what kind of horse trailer is that? 2 horse slat? Does it have a front tack room?

I have pulled a 2 horse slat as well, but now have access to a 3 horse slant. Empty it is 3,800 pounds. My fear is with 3 horses my tongue weight would be too high. Especially with gear and a full water tank

It’s a mid-80’s Circle J oversized two horse straight load. Steel with fiberglass roof that lightens it up. Tack storage under mangers on both sides (saddle racks slide out).

For yours, unless the front is overloaded, I would think your tongue weight shouldn’t exceed 800 pounds.

 

[redvetram]

Ok, so reporting in on my trailering stats. I drove the most strenuous route I will be driving on with the horses. About 70 miles round trip with the most highway hills and the steepest gravel forest service roads.....all of 15% if not more. I put it in 4WD and manually shifted into 1st on these climbs to keep the RPMs up. (Due to the ruts and potholes you really can’t drive faster than about 20mph in these sections) The oil and coolant temps stayed right around 210-220 for the whole trip spiking to 235 a couple times. The tranny hovered at 199-201 most of the time and never exceeded 206.

Oh yeah, and had the AC on the whole time. All in all very good news. And makes me feel a whole lot better about my setup.

 

[geekything]

My trailer has a 2” ball. My toungue weight is actually on the low side....closer to 9% of the loaded trailer

View attachment 130003

Any way to get your tongue weight up a wee bit? Wil adding the second horse achieve that?

 

[redvetram]

Any way to get your tongue weight up a wee bit? Wil adding the second horse achieve that?

That is the tounge weight with the second horse. I’m torn between just running the way it is or adding 50 pounds to the front of the trailer (short of strapping a couple weights to the tongue not sure what I could do to make that happen). Hate to add more useless weight to a trailer that already exceeds the tow limit. There is no way to shift the horses or tack more forward.

 

[DamnRam1500]

The way I see it trucks of yesteryear frequently had less then 200Hp and much weaker frames and suspensions and transmissions.

I think I the 305hp V6 and technology beind the design of the ram will hold up to the task.