Factory tow hitch setup?

[steamtownwelde]

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I had a class 3 on my 3/4 ton chevy and I was never happy with the connection circled in red. I took 2 extra class 3 mounts I had in the garage and welded them to the hitch and bolted them to the factory tow bumper where I circled it in yellow. Dunno if it actually upped the weight rating but it made me feel better. Pulled a 14' dump trailer up some monster hills loaded down and no signs of stress to the hitch. That pos tbi 350 on the other hand.....

 

[Shadetreemechanic]

I would not hesitate to use that reciever to haul the load described. buy a solid ball mount and you should be fine. More important question for me is does the trailer have brakes?

 

[DesertBen44]

Yes, the car hauler has brakes, I just got a tekonsha (spelling?) brake controller installed yesterday to handle the trailer. Coupled with my hydroboost I have a feeling it will stop impressively well.

 

[towcat]

Yes, the car hauler has brakes, I just got a tekonsha (spelling?) brake controller installed yesterday to handle the trailer. Coupled with my hydroboost I have a feeling it will stop impressively well.

i was going to post in your CO thread that brakes should be your final or last ditch item of use. following the truck speed limit signs and gearing down as you see the downhill warnings is your first line of defense. I'm not the fastest up or down the hill, I just want to make it to the destination alive and intact. watch your speed, run your gears conservatively and use the brakes last. You'll be fine no matter what terrain it is and weather conditions it may be. having hydro brakes and a good controller is a godsend when you get cut off by some ******* though.

 

[RLDSL]

i was going to post in your CO thread that brakes should be your final or last ditch item of use. following the truck speed limit signs and gearing down as you see the downhill warnings is your first line of defense. I'm not the fastest up or down the hill, I just want to make it to the destination alive and intact. watch your speed, run your gears conservatively and use the brakes last. You'll be fine no matter what terrain it is and weather conditions it may be. having hydro brakes and a good controller is a godsend when you get cut off by some ******* though.

THese are words to LIVE by!
I gross out over 18k with my 5er and over 22k with my carhauler, but I rarely touch my brakes in the mountains when towing.
These engines have great compression braking if you keep your speed down and ride it where it should be, everything will stay easy to control on the steepest hills, just so long as you dont get in a hurry. Its that getting in a hurry that will get you every time. I drove big trucks for years and I know tricks for dropping off mountains running heavy that would scare the pants off just about anyone but a seasoned logger, but for this type of equipment, it's just not the best approach, its best to just go good and slow and trust the engine, compression is NOT going to suddenly fail.
You may not be the first one to the bottom, but just think about all the new friends you'll make along the way... they;ll all be telling you as they call you number 1 on the way by

If you arent using your brakes all the way down, then they WILL be there when you actually NEED them. If you go barrelling off teh top at 45, just because it says trucks, max 45 and then ride your brakes all the way, then a tight curve comes up... guess what, you done used up all your brakes riding themsteady down from the top, and all you can do is hold teh speed you are at if that.. If you had to stop for some reason.... forget it. Do just like Calvin said and I dont care if its a 20% grade, if you had to m you could stop halfway down ( or like around here, right at the bottom of a few of them

 

[DesertBen44]

Just figured I would post an update

It was snowing on lizard head pass AND red mountain pass in the morning when I left, so those were both out of the equation.

Options were 141 down through western Colorado no mans land, or through MOAB down through Utah.

I took 141, because geographically there are basicaly no hills, it just follows a small river all the way up

Left at 3 30 AM, got down to Ignacio at about 9, Played with the truck, begged him to take the flatbed off, didnt happen, so I headed back at about 10. Got home at 6. It was a long day!

Truck stopped the load fine, climbing out of durango I had to go down into 1st at one point, about 20 mph. Think some bicyclists even passed me. Lost count of how many times i was "told im #1" Some guy in a 2-3 year old dodge pased me doing about 70 pulling a big travel trailer up the hill, yelled something foul, but I couldnt really hear him cause my truck is straight piped. Saw him about an hour down the road with 2 flat tires on the trailer.

Now on the trip down I stopped to help a guy cause I have all kinds of tools in the truck, but there was no helping dodge man, thats for sure.

Anyways incase anyone finds this in the future, I wouldnt recommend taking 141. The road is so windy it takes forever, especially gong slow. It however did workout for me though, because my non turbo truck would have been in 1st climbing all the hills in Utah.

Heres some pics after I got it home

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Still debating whether or not to part the truck out and keep the motor (probably end up getting motor for free, paid 2k for truck and out here even these dodge dana 60 fronts are made out of solid gold) or restore it. It only has 180k and a clean title, so I feel like it would have a lot more value if I ever had to sell it then a ford with a cummins in it. its a 93 intercooled extended cab longbed 5 speed manual 4x4. Doesnt have a straight body panel on it, which doesnt scare me at all, but the cab does. It would require a lot of work or a new replacement cab, which could create title issues? I need to see how colorado goes about that.

Anyhow, its home, its safe, had no problems slowing down, and the receiver did fine. Did spend a chunk of cash on a much beefier ball and coupler though.

 

['94IDITurbo7.3]

need some air bags on the two-fiddy!

 

[79jasper]

That's the only body style of Dodge that I like. *gasp- did I just say that*

 

['94IDITurbo7.3]

that body style when clean is very nice looking...........as are the '94-'02 bodies............and the....yeah i don't mind dodge at all.

 

[DesertBen44]

I agree, im a big fan of the older dodges like that. Especially with a ncie bradford build or so fladbed.... nice reliable solid piece of truck

And yeah, my poor ford was SQUATTING bad the whole way back. poor thing needs air bags for sure!

 

[Shadetreemechanic]

Glad you made it. What was your mpgs?

 

[towcat]

That's the only body style of Dodge that I like. *gasp- did I just say that*

I broker more of that body style dodges to midwesterners than any other vehicle. those who are willing to pay for a vehicle in kali condition will go to almost any expense or length of grief to bring one back out there.

 

[freebird01]

looks like it was a loaded a bit too far forward. too much tongue weight. i'm sure it didn't sway much but ill bet it bounced like crazy goin down the road. glad you made it ok.

 

[PackRat239]

Not to mention how far it is hanging off the back. You got lucky!

 

[spg]

You need a weight distributing hitch instead of airbags.

I agree, im a big fan of the older dodges like that. Especially with a ncie bradford build or so fladbed.... nice reliable solid piece of truck

And yeah, my poor ford was SQUATTING bad the whole way back. poor thing needs air bags for sure!