I am going to be using a half ton dodge extended cab long bed to tow my jeep up to the rubicon this weekend and I was wondering if I should expect any problems. I don't think I will, just as long as I go easy on it.

Jeren

I use a 2000 Chev shortbox reg. cab with the 5.3L to tow my Toyota around. It's no dually diesel but it does fine for what it is.

Tass

I have the same truck that I'm towing my Cruiser with on a trailer, you won't have any problems but you will be going slow taking the hills, see ya up there.

:beer: :D :usa: :D :beer:

just watch the tranny if its an auto. them half ton autos werent built for heavy twin and they will let ya know it if you dont pay attention :eek:

I tow with a 2wd ext cab chevy 5.3 V8 and it does alright it just wont go 80 like I want it to, but it towes fine at 60 and takes hills ok, it just sucks gas like a mother, thats your only problem just bring lots of gas money.:flipoff2:

I did last night when it broke down :mad:

Thank you all, that is what I was thinking. Just wanted some reassurance.

Just had a buddy tow his ERoCC - RRCA rig out to Vernal for a comp. Has a 96 Dodge 2500 with 5.9l Cummins. Oil coiler went out in Denver. They dropped the truck at a Cummins dealer in Denver, rented another truck to get them to Vernal, and then picked up the Dodge on the flip side.

Cost him almost a grand to get it fixed. 170k + miles on it, and that's the first trouble he's had beside's tie rod ends.

I tow with a 96 Dodge Ram 1500 with 5.9L gas... tows great, but I slow down on the big hills some (55 - 60 mph).

hope you have trailer brakes set-up, otherwise its :eek: coming down ice house with a full load!

it'll tow fine you just have to leave it in drive if it is an auto mine will do 90 towing my jeep but it does suck the gas i get 16 regularly and 10-11 towing

Use a 96 dodge dakota w/ a 318. It gets the job done. About 10mpg towing.

My tow rig is a 1997 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 (half-ton). Has a 5700 Vortec motor, 3.73 gears w/ a loc diff. I have taken a few measures to ensure that my tranny stays intact. Since I am towing about 6000 pds., I have a trans. modulator hooked up for firmer shifting, etc. I have also performed a trans flush, since I bought it used, which is good maintenance and I have greater piece of mind. A K and N replacement air filter and a 2 chamber cat-back flowmaster exhaust.
I only tow in 3rd gear, NO o/d. When I accelerate from a stop, I manually control the trans with the shifter starting in 1st gear. I also use a trailering brake. I can easily tow at 70-80 MPH If I want. Towing with the a/c on, I get about 12 mpg (65-70 mph). 18 mpg (not towing), and when the steep hills are upon me, I stay at a patient 45-50 mph.
I need to install airbags in the rear, and I have been toying with the idea of a supercharger install. So far, I can't complain..... :)

I have a 98 Ram Quad Cab SWB 1/2 ton with 360 and "towing package" with low gear option. I've been pulling my K30 around quite a bit on a trailer, and I towed my wife’s 97 Bonneville on the same trailer from West Palm Beach, FL to Phoenix, AZ in 72 hours with the bed of the truck AND the car packed full of stuff. Plenty of power most of the time, as long as the hills don't get too steep. I got pulled over doin 90 with the Bonne out back on I10 going through the hills (if you can call them that) in North FL.

So far so good...

I've towed numerous times with my 1995 Toyota V6 Ex Cab 4wd minitruck. 4.56 gears and a 5-speed. Finally dropped a clutch in last month....145k on the ticker. Towing a 14' trailer with my Cruiser attached.

While the motorhome does most towing duties now, I'll still hook up the minitruck whenever and take off. Running 70mph in 4th for 500 miles is no problem. Handles sweet. I do run a weight dist hitch and electric trailer brakes. Minitruck runs 33x10.5 tires on it too. I usually get between 11-13 mpg, depending on headwinds. Also, I fold down the windshield on the cruiser....wind resistance is killer.

This pic is from a snow ride a couple winters back....

http://woody.ih8mud.com/images/fjphoto/truck-trailer.jpg

i assume that dodge is a newer model with OD tranny and Magnum engine. the engines make peak torque around 3000rpm. i have 3.55 gears in mine, and almost always tow with the OD off. at 75 mph, i'm turning about 2700 RPM and the engine has no problem doing that. just keep an eye on the temp gauge, and let the engine idle in Neutral for a minute to cool off the tranny after coming to a stop. the tranny pumps do not pump fluid in Park, so you need to put it in Neutral to get fluid flowing thru the cooler. does this truck have a factory tow package with aux.cooler?

matt

Ice House is a loooong ways down, if you're towing with a 1/2 ton with an auto, make sure you have trailer brakes...

I just got a 2001 Ford Supercrew 4x4 with the 5.4 V8. I will be towing my 4runner with 1ton stuff with it. Towed my buddies jeep with it the other day, no prob holding 70-75. Just take it out of OD on steep inclines. Mine has the 7700lb towing package on it though, with the big sterling rear end, 3.55's and a limited slip, coame with extra coolers, but I may add another and a temp guage just to be safe. good luck!

Originally posted by jeepnmatt
i assume that dodge is a newer model with OD tranny and Magnum engine. the engines make peak torque around 3000rpm. i have 3.55 gears in mine, and almost always tow with the OD off. at 75 mph, i'm turning about 2700 RPM and the engine has no problem doing that. just keep an eye on the temp gauge, and let the engine idle in Neutral for a minute to cool off the tranny after coming to a stop. the tranny pumps do not pump fluid in Park, so you need to put it in Neutral to get fluid flowing thru the cooler. does this truck have a factory tow package with aux.cooler?

matt
Yes it has the factory tow package with the aux.cooler.

Today I put the jeep on the trailer and pulled it around and it worked fine. Thanks for all the info.

2001 Ram 1500 360 (5.9L)/46RE/4.10s -- towed with it once, decided it was a better idea to wheel it. 35 mph up Vail Pass on I70,