How much Trailer can my truck handle?

[FLSnake]

Anyone here knowledgeable on trailers and towing?
I have a 04 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab with a Hemi, Dodge says towing capacity of 8900lbs.

I want to buy an enclosed trailer like a car hauler to mainly haul my 3 ATV's in possibly a car at some point. I would like to get a 24ft but some people say that a 20ft is as big as I should go, others say the 24 would be fine as long as I don't exceed the 8900 lbs. The empty weight of a 24ft is approx 3500lbs, so maybe I would at most with a car loaded get to 6500lbs, probably with the atv's around 5000-5500.

Anyone have any knowledge or experience??

Thanks

Mike

[KFXhead]

Just make sure the trailer has brakes. You should be fine either way, 20' or 24'. You wont pull it like a diesel, but it will pull it none the less.

[jwscroll]

With a truck that size you'll pull better than you think. Make sure it has brakes, and you might want a tranny coooler for the long hauls.

[FLSnake]

With a truck that size you'll pull better than you think. Make sure it has brakes, and you might want a tranny coooler for the long hauls.

Yeah it's got all that, heavy duty cooling package, tranny cooler ect. It's the top of line Ram Laramie Package.
I know I have enough power to pull it, it's keeping it under control that concerns me.

[customrubicon]

As long as you stay within GVWR of the trailer you should be fine. If the GVWR of the trailer is 7,000lbs that is the most you can pull. That is the trailer wait of 3,500lbs leaving you 2,500lbs of cargo. If you go with a 10,000lbs GVW than you would want to not exceed the 8,900lb limit of your truck. You should be fine with the 20' because it will weigh less giving you more cargo capabilities. Four 4x4 utility quads can weigh 2,400lbs. + gear. My rubicon is 600lbs. This should give you an idea of what you can do.

[susieblazer]

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[Ida_Mann]

make sure that specifies towing capacity and not total cargo capacity.  I have seen many of the newer trucks say they can tow 9000+ pounds, but that includes 1000 pounds in the bed of the pickup.

and I agree with others, as long as it has it's own brakes,,,,you'll do fine.

Id@

[FLSnake]

make sure that specifies towing capacity and not total cargo capacity.  I have seen many of the newer trucks say they can tow 9000+ pounds, but that includes 1000 pounds in the bed of the pickup.

and I agree with others, as long as it has it's own brakes,,,,you'll do fine.

Id@

I'm pretty sure it's towing capacity but I'll double check.

Thanks

[jwscroll]

You can also Buy a stabalizer to gain more control.My dad pulled a giant camper w/a Toyota Tundra. He said you might need a sway bar w a trailer that long.

[odie]

if I was pulling a 8X24 (big enough for a car) I would use a sway bar ,good trailer brakes and a tranny cooler (burned up on before) if you drop back to a 20 you could lose the sway bar.do some good measuring it will fill up faster than you think!

[Ida_Mann]

I plan on getting a big enclosed soon as my side business gets going,,,probably gonna get a 20',,,,,not much need for anything bigger or even that size since I got one quad soon to be two,,,,but lots of construction stuff is going there too.

Id@

[Chillinthemost]

I've got a 24ft.x8 I haul 3 mini quads, a yfz, and a Yamaha Rhino. I also installed a toilet, 40 gal water system, cabinets for gear, air compressor, generator, 3 extra sets of tires,etc etc. I pull it with my 4x4 Cummins or my wifes v10 4x4 Excursion. No matter what size you buy you will fill it up, trust me.

[dreth]

this is all good advise but they missed 1 thing...........................................buy a gas station

[Chillinthemost]

Our Excursion is a gas station, it holds 44 gal.

[Thrasher]

Our Excursion is a gas station, it holds 44 gal.

ouch.

[Mars]

I may have missed it but, if you have the OEM 20 inch wheels you willl have the 3.93 gears : OK for up to 8900 lb.
 But if your dealer installed the 20 in wheels you may have a tall 3.09 or so gearing : only good for 5600 lbs.
 Yes, it will still pull a 20ft trailer with a few bikes but the trans is going to take some heat.

[FLSnake]

I may have missed it but, if you have the OEM 20 inch wheels you willl have the 3.93 gears : OK for up to 8900 lb.
 But if your dealer installed the 20 in wheels you may have a tall 3.09 or so gearing : only good for 5600 lbs.
 Yes, it will still pull a 20ft trailer with a few bikes but the trans is going to take some heat.

I'm pretty sure the 20" wheels were OEM factory installed, I seem to remember the 3.93's on the sticker, I'll pull it out and check.

Thanks

[FLSnake]

I checked the sticker and it has the 3.92 axle ratio, and as far as tranny it has the 5-spd automatic 5-45RFE, and Trailer Tow Group option.

[FLSnake]

You can also Buy a stabalizer to gain more control.My dad pulled a giant camper w/a Toyota Tundra. He said you might need a sway bar w a trailer that long.

 Yeah someone else mentioned a sway bar and maybe even a weight distribution hitch.

[MIRACLEMAN]

      Ok, in reality, from the way it sounds, you don't need to worry about what your truck can handle. The usage that you are speaking of .... 20',24',quads,car, whatever, that Dodge will take it. I don't even like Dodge, but trust me it will be fine. I have driven,hauled,towed,and pulled my whole life. Your only concern is your ability. As long as you don't get nervous, and do everything in slow motion, you will be ok. Just remember, whether it is a 20' or a 24', an enclosed trailer will catch alot more wind. Just let your truck have her head, guide it where you want it, don't fight it where you want it. Good luck, and in the end get what you feel more comfortable with despite all of our opinions. You are the one that has to feel good pulling it.

[FLSnake]

     Ok, in reality, from the way it sounds, you don't need to worry about what your truck can handle. The usage that you are speaking of .... 20',24',quads,car, whatever, that Dodge will take it. I don't even like Dodge, but trust me it will be fine. I have driven,hauled,towed,and pulled my whole life. Your only concern is your ability. As long as you don't get nervous, and do everything in slow motion, you will be ok. Just remember, whether it is a 20' or a 24', an enclosed trailer will catch alot more wind. Just let your truck have her head, guide it where you want it, don't fight it where you want it. Good luck, and in the end get what you feel more comfortable with despite all of our opinions. You are the one that has to feel good pulling it.

Good advise that I can relate to, I do have some experience tho, in my younger years I drove tri-axles dumps and semi dumps, I drove conventional and cabover kenworth's and Mack's for many years hauling coal, slag, sand, ect back in the hills of West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsyvania. I just don't want to buy more trailer than my truck can safely pull down the road, I don't want to become a statistic. I don't want to compromise safety to get those extra feet, but if I can do it safely I want them.

Thanks

[MIRACLEMAN]

     Hell snake, if you have got some pulling years with you and you feel confidant, than your set. Like I said, for the set up that you are referring to, that dodge should pull like a champ ( shoulda' bought a chevy lol). No, really, the new dodge trucks pull like an ox, I give credit where it's due. Go ahead and get the bigger of the two trailers, you'll be fine. The stab. bar I would wait on personaly. Try yanken' everything around for a while a since you know what you are doing, than you will be able to make the right decision as to whether or not you will need it. I just try so save $ whenever possible.   Happy trails snake, and good luck!

                                                Miracleman

[FLSnake]

Thanks for everyones input.

[Kawa3]

I wouldnt haul over 300lbs.....its a dodge

[MIRACLEMAN]

       Hey kawa, I already got after him about the dodge, I don't like 'em either. I was scrolling down all these serious responses, and seeing all this educated, intense brain power us guys have pooled to answer this awesome question that will get any guys brain moving.... and then I saw your response and laughed I disagree off!

   Happy trails!
                                                       Miracleman
  No offense snake!  (shoulda bought a chevy)