towing capacity

chriscraft254

Commander
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Jun 4, 2011
Messages
2,445
Re: towing capacity

My question is why the question to begin with. If in doubt are you willing to sacrifice your truck or your boat? Personally I think it can be done but shouldn't be.

Get a friend with a larger truck or hook two trucks in tandem to pull it out. many different things can happen to drive trains when put under extreme loads.

You may have better luck pulling the truck with the bert :)

Just out of curiousity, what kind of/ size ball/ coupler is on this trailer and truck?
 

smokeonthewater

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Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: towing capacity

I've moved my 10,000 boat with my jeep wrangler around my yard but there is no way in hell I'd try it on a boat ramp.... You stand a VERY real chance of watching the durango slide into the drink and finding out if the boat will float with 55 feet and 7500 lbs of anchor hanging off of the front in the water.... Moving it MIGHT be no problem but I think you are WAY underestimating what the ramp could do to ya EVEN if your durango is on the flat the boat isn't..... There are LOTS of snide remarks made in this forum about people saying you need nothing less than a 1 ton but this is one place where it would be a REALLY good idea... Heck, you can rent a uhaul for a day for what? $50?
 

tazrig

Lieutenant Commander
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Dec 20, 2012
Messages
1,752
Re: towing capacity

Can you do it? Probably. Are you looking for trouble? Absolutely! What size ball does the trailer take? If you're just going that short distance why not rent a Budget or Penske moving truck. A 15 footer is a 350 frame, a bigger motor and a lot cheaper than hiring someone to do it for you. Better yet for an extra $10 get a 24 footer with a big diesel engine. that would more than cover you. Only potential problem is most of those trucks have a 2 inch ball and i have a feeling you'll need a 2 and 5/8 ball.
 

tazrig

Lieutenant Commander
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Dec 20, 2012
Messages
1,752
Re: towing capacity

Sorry, my bad. 2 5/16 it is!!!
 

aerobat

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Messages
842
Re: towing capacity

Without a center differential all four wheels are locked together.

NO ! without a center diff or with a locked center diff only the front and rear axle is locked together. all wheels locked together would call for locked center diff, locked rear diff and locked front diff.

but you are right that in a tight turn it will give nevertheless stress on the drivetrain since the whole front axle spins differently to the rear axle.

regarding the question : i quess the car will move the boat, no problem, but make sure the trailer will handle the weight and the boat is secured on that trailer.

that regards to the assumption you will crane it out/ in water and not try to slip it.
 

jbetzelb

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
301
Re: towing capacity

If you try it let us know how it went. I think it will do it without issue. I have seen a 2011 f150 pull a 14 K pound water wagon without issue. That was staring up a slight hill on dirt in 2 wheel drive. The dodge in 4 low to get it up the ramp and then you decide to switch it back to 2 high or leave it in 4 low the rest of the way.
 

Mason78

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Messages
224
Re: towing capacity

According to the new dodge commercial it will tow a space shuttle at 29,000

That commercial makes me laugh because the truck is not actually "towing" the shuttle. The shuttle is sitting on a cart so that none of the weight is on the suspension. The truck is just pulling the weight.
 

Thalasso

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: towing capacity

I would get a bigger truck. That Dodge is going to struggle (big time) if the ramp has any or much of a incline. If the boat starts taking the Dodge backwards it will only go back until the boat floats.If the ramp is slimy the Dodge is going in. I have a Tundra 5.7 (380hp & 401lbs of torque) and use 4 wheel drive to get out on a not so steep ramp pulling a 12000lb boat. It knows it's back there. As for suspension, the Dodge is going to bottom out and maybe snap a spring. The load (tow) isn't very high on it.There will be some serious tongue weight.

If it's already on the level you should be okay just in 2 wheel drive. Not much power needed when it's level
 

Thalasso

Commander
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Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: towing capacity

If you try it let us know how it went. I think it will do it without issue. I have seen a 2011 f150 pull a 14 K pound water wagon without issue. That was staring up a slight hill on dirt in 2 wheel drive. The dodge in 4 low to get it up the ramp and then you decide to switch it back to 2 high or leave it in 4 low the rest of the way.

The tow capacity is probably around 11000 lbs. Much more then a Durango which is around 6-7000lbs max.and my guess would be it's a uni body to boot.
 

Home Cookin'

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May 26, 2009
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9,715
Re: towing capacity

chock the wheels and have back-up standing by. Good point about grinding off at the top of the ramp, too.

Go for it.
 

NYBo

Admiral
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Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: towing capacity

my guess would be it's a uni body to boot.
Nope. He said it was a 5.2L, which was only available in the first generation Durango, which is body-on-frame. Only the current generation (3rd) are unibody.
 

coolbri70

Lieutenant Commander
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Oct 6, 2011
Messages
1,554
Re: towing capacity

IMG_20121112_144717.jpg in 4 wheel low this works great around the yard, no way would i try at the ramp
 

circle hook

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
271
Re: towing capacity

yea I got a friends truck with dual wheels and a 6 something disel engine I think its a 1 ton dodge, yea i could not sleep think all the bad thing that could go wrong so to be safe I am not going to even try it. thanks guys
 

smokeonthewater

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Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: towing capacity

You have chose WISELY.... So many ask here only to argue with the answer...
 

aerobat

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 1, 2011
Messages
842
Re: towing capacity

yea I got a friends truck with dual wheels and a 6 something disel engine I think its a 1 ton dodge, yea i could not sleep think all the bad thing that could go wrong so to be safe I am not going to even try it. thanks guys

i really do not see a problem . when its all over flat ground for a short distance and not over streets you will have no problems. just make sure the boat is properly secured on the trailer. there is a big difference in approved towing capacity and what the car will just make move.

approved towing capacity is the weight the car will manage with acceptable driving and braking characteristics on open roads with an average driver as well margins not to overstress the drivetrain on continious towing and so staying out of warranty issues.

you will be amazed how easy your car i 4low will make this trailer move.
 

Mischief Managed

Lieutenant Commander
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Dec 6, 2005
Messages
1,928
Re: towing capacity

For those that are worried about traction, would you try it with a Ram 2500 Diesel 4x4 rated to tow 15000 lbs?
 

coolbri70

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
1,554
Re: towing capacity

For those that are worried about traction, would you try it with a Ram 2500 Diesel 4x4 rated to tow 15000 lbs?
maybe, thats a heavier truck, still might want to have a little extra weight on the ball
 
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