Towing Question

[madrock]

Sorry if this has been asked before. I am getting into towing and have some questions.

I have a 2011 2wd Ram 1500 (Big Horn quad cab, 6'4" bed, 3.92 gears and 275/65/20 tires), and I am looking to tow my wife's v6 Jeep Commander (4,649 curb weight) out of state. The Ram Body Builder sheet shows a GCWR of 15,650 (and a max trailer weight of 10,150) but I will admit the terminology is foreign to me.

I know Uhaul's website does not take all of these factors like gears into consideration, but it says I cannot tow my Jeep. With a WDH and maybe a brake controller, would I have any issues? Would either of those two be necessities?

I have Air Lift bags on the way along with a new Hellwig front sway bar (from my other thread to help with the butt swaying).

Thanks, all.

 

[BossHogg]

If the Jeep weights in at 4,700 pounds, a typical 18 foot flat bed car hauler would come in less than 2,500 pounds, that puts the loaded trailer at 7,200 pounds with a tongue weight around 800 pounds. I don't know what your truck weights but doing the math, you have 8,450 pounds available before reaching the gross combined weight rating.

Does the UHaul site tell you why you can't? I don't see any reason you can't based on the numbers above.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Your good. I defintly would agree to get a brake contoler. If I'm not mistake the owners manual says over 6000 lbs you need weight distribution hitch. Most car hauler trailers are in the 2000 lb range. So your looking at a total trailer weight of 6600 lbs ish. Personally I would pull it on the ball with out a wdh. You won't even need airbags but load the commander over the axles, with that weight you truck should sit level if your nose high you need to move the jeep back. You will be very pleased at how well the ram will pull it.

 

[smurfs_of_war]

I have read (but not exerienced) that uhaul wont let you basically because its a half ton. Maybe others can correct me?

Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk

 

[madrock]

If the Jeep weights in at 4,700 pounds, a typical 18 foot flat bed car hauler would come in less than 2,500 pounds, that puts the loaded trailer at 7,200 pounds with a tongue weight around 800 pounds. I don't know what your truck weights but doing the math, you have 8,450 pounds available before reaching the gross combined weight rating.

Does the UHaul site tell you why you can't? I don't see any reason you can't based on the numbers above.

The website is very vanilla and seems to group all Ram's together.

Your good. I defintly would agree to get a brake contoler. If I'm not mistake the owners manual says over 6000 lbs you need weight distribution hitch. Most car hauler trailers are in the 2000 lb range. So your looking at a total trailer weight of 6600 lbs ish. Personally I would pull it on the ball with out a wdh. You won't even need airbags but load the commander over the axles, with that weight you truck should sit level if your nose high you need to move the jeep back. You will be very pleased at how well the ram will pull it.

Appreciate it. I forgot to mention the car hauler has hydraulic brakes in case that has any impact on the brake controller/WDH.

 

[DannyMK2]

uhaul's website sucks. call them up and see what they tell you. theres no reason why your truck isnt able to pull that.

 

[14hemiexpress]

uhaul's website sucks. call them up and see what they tell you. theres no reason why your truck isnt able to pull that.

Yeah your well with in your limits. The only part that would be tuff is the commander is kinda big if I remember right (long) Witch if im not mistaken the uhal trailers are only 15ft witch will be tight.

How far so you have to go? If your moving or something this may not be a possibility but you can always check your local equipment rental place. Some will rent trailers that might be a option but note that a 18 ft equipment trailer will be heavier ours at work is about 2700

 

[audio1der]

^True, but I'm sure the wheelbase is quite a bit less than 15'.
I second the idea to call them. I have also heard they are VERY particular about what they lend to tow, but I have only experience using a 2 wheel dolly to pull the wife's Mazda 3 behind ours.

 

[BossHogg]

The website is very vanilla and seems to group all Ram's together.

Appreciate it. I forgot to mention the car hauler has hydraulic brakes in case that has any impact on the brake controller/WDH.

You can't group all RAMs together, geez, that basically makes their site useless.

Their trailer likely uses hydraulic surge brakes. There is a small tongue inside the ball receiver, when you stop, the tongue pushes against the ball creating hydraulic pressure that is routed to the brakes. Most boat trailers use this braking method. If this is the case you will not need a brake controller.

The only issue with it is it can make it difficult to back up.

 

[Andy578]

^True, but I'm sure the wheelbase is quite a bit less than 15'.
I second the idea to call them. I have also heard they are VERY particular about what they lend to tow, but I have only experience using a 2 wheel dolly to pull the wife's Mazda 3 behind ours.

yes they are very picky when it comes to towing. hell they'll even say no simply if they don't like your brand of ratchet straps

 

[madrock]

The website approves me if I select a smaller SUV like a Liberty. If I use any of the Uhaul moving trucks to tow the Commander, it approves it as well. I'll give them a call since I already have an ongoing claim from a previous rental.

 

[madrock]

They said the weight of the trailer (~2000) and weight of the Jeep (~4600) is too close to the weight of the Ram, so they will not approve it.

From my previous incident where their equipment left my family stranded on the side of the highway for hours, I got a $50 credit. Buh bye Uhaul! </rant>

 

[turboguy327]

Tell them you're towing a liberty then. When I used to rent a dolly I towed ALOT of civics....

 

[Andy578]

i'd just be looking for a decent used trailer. a 18ft car hauler is like $3000 new and can be found for less then half used

 

[14hemiexpress]

i'd just be looking for a decent used trailer. a 18ft car hauler is like $3000 new and can be found for less then half used

You can get a really nice big tex 16ft car hauler brand new for like 1900 (with wood deck) 18ft is 2300 a steel deck is over 3000.

 

[Andy578]

You can get a really nice big tex 16ft car hauler brand new for like 1900 (with wood deck) 18ft is 2300 a steel deck is over 3000.

yet more proof how badly Canadians get screwed. either way in that case you should be able to find a decent used for less then $1000

 

[14hemiexpress]

yet more proof how badly Canadians get screwed. either way in that case you should be able to find a decent used for less then $1000

Yeah from what I understand it's not good everything more what sucks is it doesn't cost much more to get it up there.

To OP try budget or another company or maybe a car dolly is the commander 4wd? Someone else please help with this but can't you put a 4wd transfer case in neutral and not have to worry about dropping the trans or transfer case like you would on a rwd?

 

[Andy578]

Yeah from what I understand it's not good everything more what sucks is it doesn't cost much more to get it up there.

To OP try budget or another company or maybe a car dolly is the commander 4wd? Someone else please help with this but can't you put a 4wd transfer case in neutral and not have to worry about dropping the trans or transfer case like you would on a rwd?

even things made here cost more, good rule of thumb is 20% more for pretty much everything. the Canadian dollar going to **** has made it even worse and it'll pretty much stay low unless oil jumps back

manual specifically says not to tow a 4x4 on a dolly. apparently 4 wheels on the ground it's fine to put it in park with the transfer case in neutral but a dolly is a big no no, not sure why it'd be any different

 

[averageguy]

even things made here cost more, good rule of thumb is 20% more for pretty much everything. the Canadian dollar going to **** has made it even worse and it'll pretty much stay low unless oil jumps back

manual specifically says not to tow a 4x4 on a dolly. apparently 4 wheels on the ground it's fine to put it in park with the transfer case in neutral but a dolly is a big no no, not sure why it'd be any different

I would think if you removed the rear drive shaft it couldn't hurt anything to tow with a dolly.

 

[14hemiexpress]

I would think if you removed the rear drive shaft it couldn't hurt anything to tow with a dolly.

I agree. Good to know not to do it in a dolly but if you pull the drive shaft your good it's no different than a 2wd at that point but being able to put it in neutral would be easy.