My first question is, do you have the big tow package on your truck?

 

Yes, I have Big Tow and 4x4 Off Road options.

 

Yes, I have Big Tow and 4x4 Off Road options.

Then your max capacity is 9500lbs.

If you exceed that, then you are risking alot!!

Your family!!

I wouldn't try to tow anything over capacity.

I have seen bad things happen to those who have.

Good Luck.

 

Looks to me that you would be real close to the max, but you should be fine. A brake controller is a must.

 

Thanks bbomar.

Yes, I understand the stock capacity limitations are with my truck and I certainly don't want to put my family in harm's way. That's been pretty well covered here in my research and I don't want you guys to have to cover it again.

My question is really about what I can do to make my current truck stronger than stock and thereby increase the capacity. Let me try this...

What is the difference between a 150 and a 250 class truck?
How do I go about creating a "new" class of truck called a "200"?

Again, I appreciate everyone's thoughts and perspectives here.

I am also open to other mod recommendations that are "better" than the specific ones I've listed from my research?

Paul

 

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe the weight of the truck has something to do with the capacity of towing also let me put it this way you if you could put a big v8 with Allison tranny in a Pontiac sunfire it could tow allot but it is to light to control it and it is not engineered to handle the weight.

 

Thanks bbomar.

Yes, I understand the stock capacity limitations are with my truck and I certainly don't want to put my family in harm's way. That's been pretty well covered here in my research and I don't want you guys to have to cover it again.

My question is really about what I can do to make my current truck stronger than stock and thereby increase the capacity. Let me try this...

What is the difference between a 150 and a 250 class truck?
How do I go about creating a "new" class of truck called a "200"?

Again, I appreciate everyone's thoughts and perspectives here.

I am also open to other mod recommendations that are "better" than the specific ones I've listed from my research?

Paul

There is no way to legally make your truck able to haul more than the rated capacity. You can add the equilizer hitch, air bags, and sway bars to make it safer. But if anything ever happened and you were over weight things could get ugly in court real quick.

 

I really don't think you should try and mod your truck to increase capacity.

The design of the truck, is what it is, and again playing around with it's towing capabilities would more than likely put you and yours in harms way.

But, do what you will and Good Luck.

 

Several years ago my dad beefed up a 1/2 ton GM 4x4 to pull his 32 foot fifth wheel. In hindsight, he wished he had just bought the 2500. Even with all his mods, the truck wasn't as good as it should have been, used in that capacity.

 

I think if you do this and have an accident your Insurance might claim "Mulligans"

 

The weight won't be your biggest problem, the length is... 35 feet is ALOT of trailer for the Titan...

If you are still going to do it anyway.

Tires: LT not the P crap that comes with the Titan,
brakes: upgrade to the 08 brakes or aftermarket larger brakes.
shocks: Call PRG and get at least the Bilstien replacements.

 

Factory tow ratings aside, if I had to tow that much weight, I would install helper air bags, a weight distribution hitch, the appropriate load rated tires, a class V (5) receiver, and get a 10k lb ball & ball mount.

Engine mods will give you more power, but that's not the issue you're dealing with. The issue is in what weight the driveline, axles, frame, and receiver will handle.

 

Derwud,

Can you provide commentary on why 35 feet (weight aside) is a lot of trailer for our truck? What is the logic on length being impactful and is there some sort of a "formula" to determine an ideal length for a specific truck. I'm remembering my sailing days where knowing hull length would help determine max speed.

Thanks for the Shocks brand PRG/Bilstein, Any specific suggestions for the brakes or tires? Will I be able to reuse my Offroad stock rims?

Bullwinkle,

I'm guessing this gets to the heart of the matter for why I can't safely tow at this level and that these areas are not really resolvable ie, receiver, frame, axles, driveline. These are areas I probably can't reasonably address. Just curious though, what is the max a Class IV hitch can pull?

Thanks,

Paul

 

Myself and other pull fifth wheels and some are close to the 9500.

A 5th wheel pulls alot easier and in my opinion handles the weight a lot better. That said my truck has firestone airbags, BT and so on. Pulling the weight is not the issue hauling the weight can be handled. It's just that our trucks are not heavy enough. With the right conditions my truck can be pushed around by my trailer. I also think emergancy stopping could be trouble too... not distance but how the trailer mahe react.

I am definitley going with a 3/4 ton next... hope the Titan beefs up!

 

Not trying to be a smartazz, but have you ever towed before? I tow a 27'TT and it sways when semi trucks pass me or high crosswinds exist. Even with a good anti-sway bar it's almost impossible to stop the swaying. If I were going to tow something 35' I would probably go with a 1 ton dually just so I would have a stable platform.

 

Not trying to be a smartazz, but have you ever towed before?

Yes, but not something this big with the Titan before. My past towing experience includes Class A RV with Enclosed Trailer (Rental), Titan with Enclosed Trailer (Mine), 250 with 28' TT (Buddy's) and, then there's the stuff from the Army (Uncle Sam)... I certainly understand what you are saying regarding sway. You should see what happens with a 39' Class A w/my trailer when a semi passes. It's scary the first time it happens but you learn to "lean" into it. After 3 weeks of touring around the country, I was a pro with the beast.

Again, this Titan/TT option is a totally new scenario and I was just exploring what's possible.

I've personally been leaning towards the Pilgrim Cirrus Ultralite 29CQBC myself because of it's toy hauling option. Weight doesn't appear to be the problem there (8560 GVWR) but I'm holding off until I hear Derwud's length analysis thoughts as this trailer is 33' long.

Cheers!

Paul

 

Heavy duty trucks have full floating rear axles.

http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/0112or_semi_floating_and_full_floating_axles/index.html

 

When loaded, your tongue weight will probably be over 1000 lbs. First, that would exceed the capabilities of the factory hitch. Second, with that, passengers, and cargo, you will likely be over your GVWR. I'm only towing a 5000 lb trailer with a 500 lb hitch weight, and I'm concerned about exceeding the GVWR. The GVWR is 7200 lbs on the 08 models. It's less in prior years.

 

Heavy duty trucks have full floating rear axles.

Thanks for the article bestatchess. That was very interesting and helpful in understanding the differences. There look some other great articles there that I will dig into tonight too.

 

Derwud,

Can you provide commentary on why 35 feet (weight aside) is a lot of trailer for our truck? What is the logic on length being impactful and is there some sort of a "formula" to determine an ideal length for a specific truck. I'm remembering my sailing days where knowing hull length would help determine max speed.

I think I may have found what I was looking for in my formula... Via another posting on the board, I came across a website called rvtowingtips.com and it had several great articles called:

How long of a trailer?
Hitches
What can I tow?

These were great articles that I found helped me understand the logic/science behind it all.

I remain interested in anyone's thoughts about what LT tires I would want to put on my Offroad rims as well as better brake upgrades.

 

im sure if u look a lil bit u could find a 250,2500 used for maybe 5 grand. if all u need it for is towing a few days out of the year, it seems to me that it would be the safest way to go. IMHO i would never take the chance with my dogs, let alone my kids and wife. lol

 

I think I may have found what I was looking for in my formula... Via another posting on the board, I came across a website called rvtowingtips.com and it had several great articles called:

How long of a trailer?
Hitches
What can I tow?

These were great articles that I found helped me understand the logic/science behind it all.

I remain interested in anyone's thoughts about what LT tires I would want to put on my Offroad rims as well as better brake upgrades.

If you plan on going off road, and All terrain tire. If not, a All-Season Highway tire would be best. Something with stiff sidewall..

As for the brakes and wheels, you will need to find out what brakes you want and get the wheels to fit.

I know there are some people here that are towing 31 footers, but I still think that is still to much trailer for a non Long Bed Titan..

 

This has gone on for 2 pages now...So, if I tell the OP that his trailer is too long and too heavy, anyone want to guess how many replies it takes before he says he's going to do it anyway?
2?...3 replies?

Oh well, let me do my thing....now where was I?...I remember...
A 35 foot trailer is very risky to tow...there is no magical NASA formula, but where the trailer gets that long for a mere 1/2 ton truck, the tail starts wagging the dog...
And your weights are wrong, add 500 lbs to the empty weight of that trailer, 200 of it on the tongue...and that's before you load a single pound into it...

If my sarcasm bites, it's because there have been several guys here towing much more then they should, they get it explained why, and in the end they still wind up doing it...

IT'S A HALF TON TRUCK...THERE'S A REASON THEY MAKE 3/4 TON AND BIGGER TRUCKS...:huh:

 

I think I may have found what I was looking for in my formula... Via another posting on the board, I came across a website called rvtowingtips.com and it had several great articles called:

How long of a trailer?
Hitches
What can I tow?

These were great articles that I found helped me understand the logic/science behind it all.

I remain interested in anyone's thoughts about what LT tires I would want to put on my Offroad rims as well as better brake upgrades.

As far as tires go, I might suggest the Lemans A/T, they are made by Firestone. They have a 6 ply and a 10 ply format for these tires, go with the 10 ply. I had some on my dodge ram a few years back and loved them, they had stiff side walls for towing, so you didn't get that swaying motion when the weight from the TT shifted in turns. They handled very well and are (or were) quite inexpensive, ended up getting all four mounted, balanced, road hazard warranty, out the door for about $475. Not a bad deal, check your local firestone dealership to see if these are still an option. Like i said, i loved em on and off road.

 

This has gone on for 2 pages now...So, if I tell the OP that his trailer is too long and too heavy, anyone want to guess how many replies it takes before he says he's going to do it anyway?
2?...3 replies?

Oh well, let me do my thing....now where was I?...I remember...
A 35 foot trailer is very risky to tow...there is no magical NASA formula, but where the trailer gets that long for a mere 1/2 ton truck, the tail starts wagging the dog...
And your weights are wrong, add 500 lbs to the empty weight of that trailer, 200 of it on the tongue...and that's before you load a single pound into it...

If my sarcasm bites, it's because there have been several guys here towing much more then they should, they get it explained why, and in the end they still wind up doing it...

IT'S A HALF TON TRUCK...THERE'S A REASON THEY MAKE 3/4 TON AND BIGGER TRUCKS...:huh:

So are you telling me to give up my dreams of a WW Full Throttle +5 with my Titan...

Honestly, 26 feet is the Upper most limit I woud go... My 23 footer can be a handfull coming through the AV during a WIND event... I would hate to see what a 33 footer would do...

 

My 23 footer can be a handfull coming through the AV during a WIND event... I would hate to see what a 33 footer would do...

Amen brother!
We've had to stop and get off the 14 to wait out the wind before...not fun.