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matt
Dodge Dakota
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11/27/2004
23:14:56
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 Subject: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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I just towed a 1965 Mustang from S.W. Miami to Athens Georgia... about 720 miles or so... total time at 60 mph was around 12-13 hours straight except stops fpr gas and 'paying the water bill'... so what the F is the problem with the limits put out by dodge... they claim its max is around 3200 lbs... the Stang and tow dolly weighed in at 3600#...
I have done mostly minor engine mods, added a tranny cooler, K&N FIPK, 180 thermostat, relocated IAT, removed Clutch fan, autolite 3923 plugs, brass cap and rotor, adjusted TPS, added crossdrilled and slotted rotors and EBC pads, running only synthetic oil, and energy suspension bushings on front suspension.
I'm thinking that the limit was based on suspension and brakes, but I didn't have a single problem the entire way, not once did I have any troubles over heating, suspension never bottomed out, and the brakes (yeah modified) never failed to stop with ease. the only issue was the fuel consumption, which dropped from 17 mpg going down there, to 12.8 coming back... but seeing as I nearly doubled the weight, ( RC= 4080 pounds, trailer and Stang estimated at 3600 lbs.) I was surprised it didn't drop more. what was especially nice to find out is that it would even accelerate and brake with little ease, and was still agile with all the excess weight added//
so I think I've dispelled the weakness that dodge places on the R/T, that if performance brakes are added, and proper supsension is maintained, that the 3200 pound limit is a fraud, I feel that I could've towed much more if I would've had a better hitch. that and that the fact that the clutch fan is a useless piece.. unless of course the temperature of ambient air deems it needed... not once did my truck even get warm past where it normally does... it stayed right at the dot just left of center on the guage the entire time, where it normally sits!
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tractorfix
Dodge Dakota
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11/27/2004
23:31:27
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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Few things come to mind. Check the load rating on the tires. That's likely a big part. The lowered suspension also contributes. Remember, Mopar has to warranty the thing, AND cover their ass legally. A lot of seamingly intelligent people, do some incredibly stupid things.
They say I can't tow at all with my Neon R/T, but I do too. Same thing. Lowered with low profile tires.
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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11/27/2004
23:58:47
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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1999 Dakota 5.2L Auto 2WD...NO mods
I towed a 1979 Camaro on a 2100lb car hauler to Tampa, FL from middle TN, and had a 1200lb pool table stacked in the bed to boot. I'll tell you what the problem is...load and vehicle stability. Every time I got over 60 mph, the trailer would waggle like a dogs tail and damn near jerk the truck off the road. Not to mention, stopping distance was severly lengthened. Needless to say, I was nervous.
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furball69
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2004
03:43:39
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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There's a thing called a safety factor. If a tire pops consistently at 1501 lbs the manufacturer is not going to rate the tire for 1500 lbs because they know some idiot is going to grossly overload the tire, so they give it a rating for say 750 lbs for example, shich will give you a safety factor of 100%.
You didn't even exceed your factory tow capacity by 13%, sure it will so it but not legally and safely, well that's a matter of speculation... well not really, there's a reason for a tow capacity rating.
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Kowalski
GenIII
11/28/2004
09:59:22
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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Jason B - did you load the trailer so there was more weight ahead of the trailer wheels than behind ? What you describe is typical of an improperly loaded trailer.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2004
10:14:31
|  RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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We had to back the car onto the trailer due to the length of the nose on the Camaro. The rear wheels would not quite get on the trailer completely. If I had it to do again, I would simply use a dolly. BUT, I won't have it to do again. 1200lb pool table + 2100lb car hauler + 3000lb (approx guess) Camaro + the weight of the truck compared to what the truck was designed to do = T-R-O-U-B-L-E.
The biggest scare I had was unknown emergency stopping distance. There is a new button hole in the seat of my truck, right under my a$$hole.
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Kowalski
GenIII
11/28/2004
10:20:06
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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I don't think you understand - I tow much heavier than that with no problems at all. Your problem was not in the amount of weight, but how you had it distributed. The factory rating for R/Ts may have something to do with this - they may be concerned that people will load the trailer improperly, as you did, so as not to sag out the R/Ts more softly sprung suspension.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2004
10:42:45
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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The bulk of the weight (the end with the engine) of the Camaro was behind the trailer wheels. Thats why I told you that we backed it onto the trailer. There is NO safe way to do what I did. Maybe a different trailer would have allowed better balance, who knows?
People overload their vehicles...OFTEN. I will never do it again. It was unsafe, I knew it and I should have been shot for doing it. Others may continue to do it, fine by me. Next time, I'll use common sense instead of fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants sense.
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Kowalski
GenIII
11/28/2004
18:59:13
|  RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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Actually a number of us know, and have lots of experience towing this kind of weight. A different trailer which would allow you to distribute the weight properly, along with a trailer brake system, would allow that weight to be towed quite safely. Loading the bulk of the weight behind the traler axle is asking for trouble.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2004
19:43:05
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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Suit yourself. In the future, I will respect my vehicles and their ability to perform safely a bit more than I did on that trip.
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Wal
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2004
20:00:00
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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you missed the point. He's telling you that even towing less then the rated amount can be disasterous if you don't load it properly. The weight should have been distributed properly and NEVER back that far. Many of us tow more then the rated amount, but when loaded properly it's fine to a certain point.
Wal
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Jimmer
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2004
21:05:17
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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Kowalski
Softly sprung is a new one on me.
Until I put some softer tires (ContiExtremeContact) and more reasonable shocks (Edelbrock IAS) my R/T would bounce me to the headliner and skate all over the road on the mildest roughness.
Please explain your definition of soft.
No challange intended.. just curious.
Jim
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2004
21:23:17
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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I did not miss any point. But thanks for your concern. No overload is safe. And yes, I agree that a safe weight distributed improperly can be equally unsafe.
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Kowalski
GenIII
11/29/2004
18:11:26
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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Jimmer - meant soft relative to the regular Dak - I've heard there's one less spring in the R/T leafs ?
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Turbostang
Dodge Dakota
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11/30/2004
10:40:06
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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When you tow with a trailer that equipped with electric brakes, you can bias the brake load to the trailer so much that it will pull the truck down.. Without hardly touching your brakes in the truck..
I can't imagine hauling a car on a trailer, without trailer brakes..
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JasonB
Dodge Dakota
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11/30/2004
10:52:21
| RE: ranting about R/T towing limits..
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Who hauled a car on a trailer without trailer brakes?
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