I'd like to offer my 2 cents on this topic. I'm sure I'll take a little heat for my stance, but here goes. My last truck was a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins and 3.53 rear gears. From what I was told this wasn't a very common combination, but I had it anyway. The max towing weight from Dodge was listed at 9800 lbs I think. I bought the F-304SR with an empty weight of 10,090 before I found out my gears were 3.55s. I towed that trailer home to PA from Center Conway NH without any trouble. You may not be entirely familiar with this route but I towed up some pretty steep hills in the White Mtns, and the Pocono Mtns. with no issue holding 60 mph at all times. This was in August with temps in the 90 degree range with the AC on. Never once did the trucks coolant temp, nor transmission temp rise above normal levels. And I never felt that I was a danger to anyones welfare, including my own. No braking issues either. I towed the trailer several more months with this truck before I decided to get a one ton. The main reason for the new truck was pin weight from the trailer when she was fully loaded, and my buddy wanted my old truck. If not I definately would still be towing with it.
I'm pretty sure that the auto makers take into account the "safety margin" when they calculate the towing limits for their vehicles. They wouldn't tell you that you could tow 10,000 lbs safely if you couldn't tow 10,000 lbs safely. Even then, they wouldn't tell you 10,000 lbs when 10, 250 lbs. would make your truck blow up, or the frame to crack, or endanger yourself. I'd compare it to the redline on your tachometer. The red line is at say 6,000 rpm, should you only use the engine up to 4,500 rpm? Is it going to detonate at 6,001 RPM?
I want to go ahead and apoligize in advance if my opinion rubs anybody the wrong way. If all else fails, try it and see what you think after you tow the trailer.
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Lowell, Amanda, Marley, and Winnie
1996 T-2053 (First Sunline "Little One")
2001 T-295SR (Favorite Sunline)
2003 F-304SR (Last Sunline "The Big One")
1985 T-1650 (Current Sunline)
2004.5 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9 HO Cummins
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