Towing a 2 place sled trailer - Diesel Forum

Blk88GT · 11-21-2006, 01:21 PM

I'll be towing a 2 place snowmobile trailer this winter, along with one sled in the back of the truck (small kids sled).

I won't be going up any hills etc, it's all flat here. Towing speed will be roughly 60-65mph.

Total extra weight (without truck) is about 2000-2500lbs between the 3 sleds, gear, extra fuel, trailer and people.

Should I be using tow/haul mode for this kind of hauling?

When I go to Montana/Idaho in the new year, I'll be towing 3, maybe 4 full size sleds and will be doing roughly 75-80mph with an estimated weight of 3500lbs and there will be some hills involved.

Should I be using tow/haul mode for this kind of hauling?

Is there a general rule of thumb when I should be using this option, and when I shouldn't? The truck is completely stock, safe for a set of 295/75/16 BFGs. Should I be looking at a tuner for this kind of activity? Bigger tranny cooler? Anything?

Thanks in advance.

Alan_Hicks · 11-21-2006, 01:30 PM

Man, you can tow that much weight with a v6 in a Ranger! There's no need for tow-haul mode in anything like that. The truck won't even know the load is back there.

fastzr1 · 11-21-2006, 01:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Man, you can tow that much weight with a v6 in a Ranger! There's no need for tow-haul mode in anything like that. The truck won't even know the load is back there.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree.

Does the trailer have brakes? It would be a great idea even if it's a lighter load.

Blk88GT · 11-21-2006, 01:59 PM

Alan, my old chevy 1/2 ton with a 350 had a hard time pulling this thing in 5th gear (it was stick) and the truck just sucked generally for towing because of the RPM it turned.

The trailer does not have brakes. Most standard 2 place sled trailers are not equipped with brakes, it's not until you step up to the 3 or 4 place trailers do you see brakes on them. Personally, I don't think it's required for what I'm doing with it.

I think I'm being pessimistic on the weight, but I figured I'd give a worst case scenario. The truck is new to me and I'd like to keep it as new as possible for as long as I can [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Thanks guys!

DirtFarmer · 11-21-2006, 03:20 PM

Unlike the small block 350, the PSD will be in its sweet spot for towing (half way between peak torque and peak HP) at a nice relaxed 2000 rpm. It will tow that trailer so easily that you're guaranteed to have a big smile on your face after the bad towing experiences you've had in the past.

Blk88GT · 11-21-2006, 03:51 PM

Dirtfarmer, I'm sure you're right. My old truck got the job done, but it was NOT pretty at any point between A and B.

I haven't even had a chance to tow the racecar yet (motor is toast) but I'm sure that will be a night/day difference too.

nightmoves · 11-21-2006, 05:53 PM

Unless you have not upgraded your signature a 2002 7.3 does not have the tow haul feature.Do you mean overdrive?

Blk88GT · 11-21-2006, 06:26 PM

Jesus, now I'm second guessing myself. Whatever the button on the end of the shifter is for 02, that's what I'm referring to.

lol

The truck is getting paint right now, so I can't check it [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

MattShade · 11-21-2006, 08:02 PM

For that year, the button just locks the truck out of overdrive. You definitely will not want to use that feature for what you're doing. It would actually be worse for the truck because you'd be winding the motor out in 3rd gear the whole trip. Might not even be able to hit 80mph.
We've got an 02 dually, cc, lb, and pull a 10,000lb horse trailer with it, and have never had to bother with locking it out of overdrive. The only time you would want to mess with that, is if you are pulling a lot of weight on long or steep grades and the truck gets to hunting for gears too often.
The load you're looking at will be easy for the truck, the hard part will be remembering its back there.

Blk88GT · 11-21-2006, 10:30 PM

Thanks for setting me straight, I appreciate it!