sparky3008

I have a 2500 HO cummins auto trans quad cab with the short bed. I am thinking about buying a 3 car hauler. The problem is I am afraid with the short bed the 3 car hauler will hit the cab. Am I going to be restricted to a 2 car hauler gooseneck? Also what kink of GCVWR does this truck have I get many different answers, is it 17000 lbs. If so how much does a 3 car hauler weight? With most cars weighting around 4000 and my truck being close to 7 I think hauling 2 cars would be 15000 leaving 2000 for the trailer. A lot of questions but my main question being the trailer hitting my truck

Patrick Campbell

I dont know if you will hit the cab or not with a wedge but you can't haul 3 cars with a 2500 unless you go dually or 19.5"...

from some of the manufacturers...
a 2 car hauler weighs about 4000#
a 3 car hauler weighs about 7000#

7000# truck with 3000# rear axle weight

7000# trailer + 3 4000# cars = 19000# / 4 (for 25% pin weight) = 4750# + 3000# stock rear end weight == way over your tire limits

4000# trailer with 2 4000# cars = 8000# / 4 (for 25% pin weight) = 2000# + 3000# stock rear end weight == well in your tire limits

sparky3008

Thanks for your reply first off.
Second I don't intend on hauling 3 cars with it only 2 but when and if I go to upgrade my truck I don't want to have to upgrade the trailer also. So with a 7000 lb trailer and 2 4000 lb cars (and that is a guess) at 15000 lbs I should still be under the weight limit. My big problem is the short bed being able to get a hitch in the bed that is far enough back so the trailer won't hit the cab...

Gene

sparky3008

I did some more of your figuring and with the 7000 lb trailer and 2 4000 lb cars comes to 15000 lbs and that is 3750 on the axle so I would still be over and would have to do your original suggestion of the 2 car hauler anyway :-(

Truck 7000
Trailer 4000
2 cars 8000
Total 19000
Is this under the GCVWR for a 2500?
I thought the 3500 was 21000 so mine is only 2000 less?
Thanks

sparky3008

I called the dealer to find exact numbers as I seem to be getting all kinds of # on the internet.

GCVW 2500 = 20000
Max Tow is 13050 for both 3.73 & 4.1
Payload = 2230

Does anyone know of someone that uses a 3 car hauler with a 2500?

Thanks

Patrick Campbell

Haulin in Dixie does with a 2500 long bed (i'm pretty sure) turned into a dually with no bed. I think the problem with carrying that much weight with a short bed is that the weight is not put directly over the drive axle...

Forrest Nearing

I've seen a 3/4 ton pulling a loaded 3 car wedge on 16's!

Patrick Campbell

oh true, you can get load range G 16" tires...

sparky3008

I have seen on the RV pages where guys get the sliding 5th wheel and the 5vr RV has an extended ball on short bed trucks. Would that type of setup work on a car hauler?

Gene

Barry Smith

Sparky, the 25% pin weight thing is still up in the air. I think there is a certain weight that pulls better and rides better. That weight is not always 25% of the total. I understand (all to well) that you have to have a certain amount of weight in the bed for stability that number is not always 25%. That is the rule of thumb but when haul heavy that is not always possible.

sparky3008

This brings up another question of tags. Right now my tags are the old tags off of my Ranger. Obviously not able to pull much with those tags but I have seen mention of guys getting their tags licensed for weights much greater than what their truck is able to haul so they don't get fined going over scales. Can someone explain this? If your truck is rated for a certain weight how can the licensing department permit you (with a little cash) to haul more weight which in my understanding would be dangerous.

RickCJ

In PA if your trailer is over 10,000 gvw you get truck/trailer tags by the gcwr of both. I have a 3500 with 11,000 gvw and trailer with 14,000 gvw that's 25,000 gcwr. I have a class registration for up to 26,000, cost is 405.00 per year. A 3500 could go as high as 30-33,000 gcwr.
You have to keep all the tires and axles within there weight ratings.

Barry Smith

My tags on my 2500 are for 32000#. It has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with money!!!!!!1

RickCJ

GCVW 2500 = 20000
Max Tow is 13050 for both 3.73 & 4.1
Payload = 2230


Barry,
You have less than 10% pin weight towing your trailer?
32,000 - 8800 truck gvw = 23,200 - 10% pin = 2320
payload for a 2500 is only 2230

Just because you pay for 32,000 gcwr registration doesn't make your truck legal!

Barry Smith

Legally I can haul 31130# That is what I mean by money not safety!
Front axle- 4800
Back axle- 6330
Trailer axles-20000
31130#

Guys I've said it before this 25% pin weight is not law.
I admit I have been overloaded on occasion. I try not to do this regularly. There are fudge factors built in to every aspect of these trucks. I've had 7130# on my rear axle for 400 miles tires never got warm pulled pretty good. I wouldn't want to do this again but it shows there is a little give.

As far as legal it goes by axle weights not owners manual. If your axle weights aren't over you are legal. Lawyers may have something to say about this but that is their jobs???