Your towing rigs and trailers

[JESSE1]

How do you like the '15 450? Looking at upgrading my 350.

I'm very satisfied with it. The power is unbelievable. I highly recommend getting one.

 

[schneidvt]

For not many $, a weight-distributing hitch will help.

It wouldn't make you load legal here, but it will spread the pain to the truck back-to-front better, and give you some steering/front brakes back.

Rgds, D.

Thanks for the suggestion but even I agree with the previous posts, a load like that requires a larger truck. A weight dist hitch would be like putting a band-aid on a broken arm. That being said, I've put the same load behind a newer 1500 and the stance wasn't effected near as much leading me to believe that its mainly the years of abuse to the springs that makes it appear more overloaded than it actually is. But I think it is safer than some of the guys out there in their shiny new 1 tons running around acting like they don't have a load behind them.

Thanks, Jason

 

[George2615]

Thanks for the suggestion but even I agree with the previous posts, a load like that requires a larger truck. A weight dist hitch would be like putting a band-aid on a broken arm. That being said, I've put the same load behind a newer 1500 and the stance wasn't effected near as much leading me to believe that its mainly the years of abuse to the springs that makes it appear more overloaded than it actually is. But I think it is safer than some of the guys out there in their shiny new 1 tons running around acting like they don't have a load behind them.

Thanks, Jason

A weight dist. hitch and a set of 2500# helper springs would help greatly and not cost a lot. Would be much cheaper than another truck. Even a bandaid is better than no bandaid.
I did see your tractor chained to the trailer but didn't see any chains or straps on the grapple / loader or bush hog.

 

[schneidvt]

A weight dist. hitch and a set of 2500# helper springs would help greatly and not cost a lot. Would be much cheaper than another truck. Even a bandaid is better than no bandaid.
I did see your tractor chained to the trailer but didn't see any chains or straps on the grapple / loader or bush hog.

The tractor is always chained in 2 directions. You are correct that the grapple isnt supported though, the bushhog is chained off to the ramps, not ideal but it is supported.
Jason

 

[George2615]

I'm not trying to pick on you, just calling it as I see it and making suggestions for you to tow safer.

 

[schneidvt]

I'm not trying to pick on you, just calling it as I see it and making suggestions for you to tow safer.

I appreciate any suggestions, my current plan is a 7 leaf spring pack to replace my old worn out set (almost the same price as a set of helpers). After some research I think the weight distributing hitch may help more than I initially thought. My only issue is whether or not I am throwing money at a vehicle that should just be replaced even though towing in this capacity is very limited. Usually I only tow a 4500# ford 1500 fully loaded. But again, I appreciate any recommendations members of this board may have.

Jason

 

[George2615]

You wouldn't be throwing money away with a WD hitch. It is for the trailer and would work with any truck you have. On your current truck a WD hitch would pick the rear back up and re-distribute (hence the name "weight distribution") some of that weight to the front of the truck. I'd start with that first rather than put money in the truck. They are for sale on CL all the time.

 

[ksluy]

Love my 2012 Ram-3500, Pulls My 42ft camper great, put my yaks behind the camper and pulled it up to Colorado. (great trip) i put 23 round bails behind it. Just seems to run better the more miles I go.

 

[tman1020]

Get the weight distribution hitch. Don't bother with springs if truck rides ok empty. U can put all the springs in the world on that truck but if your axel is not rated for that load (which I'll bet it's not) it still will not be right. A lot of the newer "half tons" have much higher axel and payload capacity than previous model years. Nice looking truck though probably great for other things but not for this.

 

[dieselcrawler]

Whatcha got there, Terry? New JD not cutting it for you, upsizing a bit? Good deal on some older iron? Hauling for a friend? Not right to post pics with no explanation... *grin*