so i have a 06 4.0 4x4 supercab auto trans w/o fx package.... trucks brakes are good, motors got 70k on it, runs great, etc. I am trying to pick up a '35 dodge coupe, i will have to use a full car trailer, i am semi worried about it damaging the transmission, or the engine....


max towable trailer weight is around 5k... i looked up what they said the car weighed when new, and it was 2800, it is pretty much stripped, only has a motor and trans in it, and is pretty rotted away.... the trailer is 18ft and probably weighs around 1000-1500.... do you guys think this would be pushing my ranger too much??? its about an hour and half drive to get it home, im not worried about hills and what not as my travel will be all flat land.... ive pulled a 19ft boat and trailer before without any braking problems, but not on the highway for this long.....

the guys at the rental place said it would be fine and have seen worse trucks pulling bigger cars, but i cant afford to hurt my truck, a person, or their vehicle.

i guess in the end, should i be worried about doing internal damage to my truck, or be worried about having braking issues???

 

How far do you have to tow it? You can't use a dolly? You could do it if its a short drive but wouldn't do it all the time or a long distance.

 

does the trailer have its own braking system? do you have a brake controller in your ranger?

 

trailer doesnt have brakes, nor my truck. the trip is about 1.5 hour drive

 

If it's a one time tow and you have brakes on the trailer, you'll be fine. Lock out overdrive and fill your boots

 

trailer does not have brakes........

the tow dolly will not work, its a 1935 dodge coupe, wheels are locked up, and all tires are shot.


this is a one time deal, the biggest thing i tow is a double jet ski trailer, with a 3 seater and 2 seater on it... skis weigh 600 a peice, and the trailer weighs another 650.... so thats only like 1800, i have no problem with that at all.... i had no problem driving around with a 19ft boat when i had it, just never went on the highway for an hour and half......

 

Don't do it with that trailer. Find another trailer. I had close to 5000 pounds behind my ranger once without brakes on the trailer. It was NOT an enjoyable experience. Maybe rent a trailer with brakes?

 

well i figure this to be around 3500, may be 4000 at the most..... the car is pretty much stripped, rotted out, no glass... i could imagine between interior thats gone, and metal that has rusted its lost 500... so say 2400 for the car, and max 1500 for this trailer.... i also do not have a trailer brake system on my truck nor do i want to install one, i never pull anything like this, nor do i plan to in the future.....


ill give it a shot if not i do have a place 30 mins away i could store it at until finding a bigger truck to use.... i really dont have a choice, im tried every friend of mine with a bigger truck none can help... i dont wanna miss out on a near free 1935 dodge coupe..... its a diamond in the rough... hahaha

 

dont tow it unless you have a trailer brake and a trailer with brakes...you will regret it and your truck will take a beating

 

Rent a car trailer. It should have hydraulic inertia activated brakes

 

My god... My truck's towed fully loaded motorcross racing trailers and a fully loaded bed from here in NE Pennsylvania to Florida, and back... NO ISSUES. Multiple times, in fact. Obviously you're extremely easy on your truck... It's a truck dude, meant to haul things like this. You'll be absolutely fine.

 

pics or it didnt happen pete...you need a trailer brake whenever your over a certain amount...its not only safer but its required by the DOT

 

You're kidding....right? No it won't. He'll be absolutely fine. I've pulled out and towed Duramax diesels out of the mud, and miles down trails without an issue. Took some tugs to get up the hills. But no problems at all.

 

Your truck is rated at over 5k, a brake controller is nice but not needed as long as you drive smart.

 

ill have to ask, i rented this trailer awhile ago, and i remeber it not having a electrical brake system... may be it does.... it is a car hauler, not a flat utility trailer..... otherwise the trailer has every bell and whistle it could, winch set up, all the chain rachet tie downs... it was easy to pull with a beat f150 with a nissan 240sx on it....

 

no im not kidding...pete you are way way too hard on your truck

 

Let's see....Hauling skid steers on trailers without trailer brakes isn't over the limit... Here in PA, you need brakes ONLY over 12k, and need to keep a log book of it.

 

It wasn't me hauling it... Do I ride motorcross? Do I go to MTI in Florida? Have I even been to Florida in the past year that I've owned the truck?

 

i unfortunately owe a ton of money still on my truck, so yes i am extremely easy on my truck.... id rather not pay for something every month that i blew up trying to pull a trailer. i bought it to pull jet skis with, and haul scrap to the yard....

 

pete thats what the law says but i wouldnt want to tow ANYTHING over 2K without a brake controller and a trailer with brakes...i dont want to kill the brakes on my truck

 

Maybe thats why you need a new rear end.

 

SO MUCH WIN!

 

You'll be fine. So what if you have to replace your pads a few weeks sooner? He's only doing it once, and on flat ground...

 

ACTUALLY....I've needed work done to the rear since long before this happened.

 

its not just the pads...its overworking the brake system...overheating them which leads to the fluid boiling, rotors warping and a whole bunch of other problems