Towing with a smaller truck

[bucktaker]

Hopefully you will rethink your situation and instead of regearing a undersize truck trade it in on a larger more suited truck for horses. A full size 8 ft bed 1/2 ton with tow package is the min I would even consider. even better a 3/4 but its your call.....

 

[dodge man]

I'm just guessing the weight you were figuring in an earlier post was what you can haul in your bed, which sounds like about a 1000lbs. As far as what you plan on towing, I wouldn't do it with a Dakota.

 

[hslogger]

you can change this and you can change that but you are pushing your luck,especially with livestock, and a high center of gravity with horses, at that. Mister natural says get the right tool for the right job. Get the right stuff and have piece of mind going down the road for you, your horses and other vehicles

 

[WilliamBos]

i used to try tp pull with small trucks.

got tired of feeling unsafe and white knuckeling it when some idiot wants the lane in front of me more than i do..

I now stick to real trucks.. feel safer.. won't be going back.

good luck to you and the horses... getting up to speed ain't always the hard part. keeping it straight and stopping it in panic and not having the traler wag the dog are the scarry parts... best of luck...

I agree totally!! Right tool for the right job.

 

[LD1]

It seems to me that you have more payload capacity than quite a few half tons of the era. With a curb wt of ~4300 and a GVWR of 6000, You can almost haul a ton legally. But that would put quite a bit of weight over the rear axle and I'd be concerned with the rear axle rating. It should be on the door sticker as well. It wouldnt be hard to be under the GVWR of 6000, yet be OVER the RAWR.

I agree that you really should have a bigger truck, but just how often do you tow?? With a properly set up trailer, and brake controller, your going from a 2 horse trailer to a 2 horse trailer that only weighs 1k more??? And you say currently it tows fine??

I also agree something is amiss in your GCWR# of 5500lbs. The GCWR "should" be somewhere around the GVWR (6000#) + whatever you can tow. You can make whatever alterations, gears, springs, etc you want. But when it comes to legal, they go by the door sticker. You could put that dakota body on a 5500 if you want. But you still cannot "legally" tow more. So keep that in mind too.

Quite a few half tons out there tow 8-9k+. And a dakota isnt much behind a half ton. So towing 5-6k I dont think is a stretch. Just make sure you dont overload the rear axle, make sure you have good brakes/controller, and make sure you arent running P tires on the rear.

 

[schmism]

online source i found lists V8 equipiped 06 Dakota towing capacity at 7150 lbs.

10% TW of 715 lbs does fit within other online specs for payload capacity of the Dakota.

a "lightweight" 7K trailer with dual brakes would seem to serve you well in this case. many have payloads of close to 6K lbs.

Note i would not haul that kind of weight without dual trailer brakes (your going to have to custom order that or install the second set yourself) and a WD hitch.

 

[Ken45101]

online source i found lists V8 equipiped 06 Dakota towing capacity at 7150 lbs.

10% TW of 715 lbs does fit within other online specs for payload capacity of the Dakota.

a "lightweight" 7K trailer with dual brakes would seem to serve you well in this case. many have payloads of close to 6K lbs.

Note i would not haul that kind of weight without dual trailer brakes (your going to have to custom order that or install the second set yourself) and a WD hitch.

In most states, brakes on both axles are required by law. Some dealers skirt it to save a bit, but you are right, you want and need them.

 

[Soundguy]

if you don't tow alot.. .. before I'd regear the truck and still have one right on the white edge of leagal, and ambigous as to safety. I'd look for a used 'toy hauler'. IE.. find a 3/4 or 1 ton that someone has used most of the cosmetic life out of, but she still runs .. I see late 90's+ 1tons for sale for 3800$ and up depending on make, and engine. Theres a 96 gas 350 near my house for 3800, a slightly earlier one for 3900 with a diesel. the diesel is a lil cosmetically challanged due to age.. wouldn't be a family car go to sunday school. but i bet it loves safely pulling horse trailers and hauling mulch and sod. There was a chevy 1 ton at the used dealer for 2500 no ac.. looked good.. what's an ac repar cost full deal? 1000$ maybee?

that's the kind of deal to look for. used but running 3/4 or 1 ton... get a tag and some liability insurance and then you can feel safe about it... and don't have to get rid of your dakota.. etc.

just an idea anyway...

 

[VirginiaAgent]

You guys always have great observations. Thanks for the insight, and you've all given me allot to contemplate. In answer to LD1, I trailer the horses only a couple of times per year, but with a better trailer, maybe five times a year. And the trails I would go to are all local, within an hour or two.

All the trailers I'm looking have electric brakes. I agree, that's a must.

I have looked around for an affordable used "toy" haulers, but since this is southeastern Virginia, where everything costs three times more than it should, it's been hard to find. I'll keep looking, though, and maybe hold off on the gear swap for a while. It's going to run me 900 bucks.

VA

 

[VirginiaAgent]

You guys always have great observations. Thanks for the insight, and you've all given me allot to contemplate. In answer to LD1, I trailer the horses only a couple of times per year, but with a better trailer, maybe five times a year. And the trails I would go to are all local, within an hour or two.

All the trailers I'm looking have electric brakes. I agree, that's a must.

I have looked around for an affordable used "toy" haulers, but since this is southeastern Virginia, where everything costs three times more than it should, it's been hard to find. I'll keep looking, though, and maybe hold off on the gear swap for a while. It's going to run me 900 bucks.

VA