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Towing 720lb Bandsaw with '88 Dodge Ram 50?

Dubbington

Dubbington

Slamdunk Champion
Joined
Jul 15, 2007
Location
East Yay
Moto(s)
EX Street Triple ;(
Name
Dubs
Found a bandsaw about 160 miles away. It weighs 720lbs.

Safe or not safe to use my 1988 dodge ram 50 and a trailer to get it?

I'm leaning no because I don't know the weight of the trailer. I'll need to rent one that's low with a ramp.

Of course the tow hitch was tossed that went to my 2001 yukon xl. I'm calling junk yards now see if they have one.

Luckily I can do up highway 5 to keep things flat. It's pretty flat coming home on the 101 from Paso Robles though, just some turns.
 

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A 4x8 Harbor Freight size trailer and you're fine, but a 30ft gooseneck and you might have a problem. Not sure what we can do since we're missing the same info you're missing.
 
I towed a 400 lb tire machine with my 4.7 L Dodge Ram 1500 and it struggled up the big incline near my house. If you're going on 101 there's a pretty big hill just north of Salinas. I'm not sure a Dodge Ram 50 is up for it.

Mad
 
byke said:
A 4x8 Harbor Freight size trailer and you're fine, but a 30ft gooseneck and you might have a problem. Not sure what we can do since we're missing the same info you're missing.
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+1. If you just need to rent one, tho- UHaul has a bunch of low-height ramp-tail trailers that are pretty lightweight.

2k lbs maxtow according to mightyram50.net but "routinely exceeded" so you're probably good for any of the small trailers.

https://www.uhaul.com/Trailers/

4x7 utility would probably meet your needs and give you a high rail to strap the tall bandsaw to.

Max load: 1770 lbs.
Gross vehicle weight: 2,400 lbs. max.
Empty weight: 630 lbs.
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what is the throat depth of the bandsaw?
 
aminalmutha said:
A D50 will suck to drive that far no matter what.
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No way man! I routinely made that drive from San Ramon to UCSB during college. I was mobbing 85-90 most of the way. Also picked up my Street Tripple with it from San Luis Obispo, granted that's only 400lbs, but was cruising home around 70mph the entire way.


EDIT: The truck doesn't have a hitch but a Ball in bumper, is that adequate? I need a trailer that has a decent ramp so we can roll the bandsaw up. I worry a trailer from uhaul with a ramp is too heavy.
 
Dubbington said:
No way man! I routinely made that drive from San Ramon to UCSB during college. I was mobbing 85-90 most of the way. Also picked up my Street Tripple with it from San Luis Obispo, granted that's only 400lbs, but was cruising home around 70mph the entire way
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The only speeding ticket I've ever gotten in my life was when I was written for 80+ in a 65 zone on I580. It was actually 87 per the CHP officer's radar gun which he was happy to show me when he said he couldn't believe I was going that fast in a 1987 Toyota Pickup. :laughing


Dubbington said:
EDIT: The truck doesn't have a hitch but a Ball in bumper, is that adequate? I need a trailer that has a decent ramp so we can roll the bandsaw up. I worry a trailer from uhaul with a ramp is too heavy.
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I'm absolutely against bumper towing for any reason. Way too many bad things could happen, especially with a truck that old.

Dubbington said:
I might be taking you up on that :thumbup
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:cool
 
The legs are always a problem, but maybe with some curb assistance an engine hoist can get it up high enough to just load it into the bed.
 
I've towed that much with a 2.3 liter Ford Ranger
 
I'd lay it down in the bed. Probably take the table off and put it in the passenger seat

A saw that big in a small shop is going to be on the way a LOT.
 
I had two of these trucks, the second when they came out with 4WD.
No problem towing Hobie cat 18' down to San Felipe & back 3 times. Boat 350lbs, trailer? I was running the factory bumper hitch.
I would consider the towing bumper a class 1, you need minimum, class 2,
 
Kornholio said:
Which outclassed this truck by a mile...
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The Pinto engine Ranger or the Duratec 2.3? The twin cam motor pwnz the D50, easily. Much more robust chassis, too.

I wouldn’t tow jack shit with a bumper hitch, tho.

Probably better off renting a truck.
 
aminalmutha said:
The Pinto engine Ranger or the Duratec 2.3? The twin cam motor pwnz the D50, easily. Much more robust chassis, too.

I wouldn’t tow jack shit with a bumper hitch, tho.

Probably better off renting a truck.
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Duratec. Ernie's Rangers are the Duratec generations. Agreed times a million on the bumper towing thing. Wouldn't even do that with any modern truck.
 
Kornholio said:
Duratec. Ernie's Rangers are the Duratec generations. Agreed times a million on the bumper towing thing. Wouldn't even do that with any modern truck.
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I had the XL, that fucking that had solid steel bumpers and you could crush a Tesla with one. I loved driving it in the city.
 
Combined Gross Vehicle Weight is the key number. That is the weight of the truck, payload of truck, trailer weight and trailer payload.

There’s is also Gross Vehicle Axle Rating to be considered.

You got one figure......the band saw.

Then the trailer will have its weight on it somewhere.

That leaves the truck weight.......with gas.

The payload.....you and anything else in the truck and trailer tongue weight

The question “isn’t can it do it, but how safe is it to do it. “ Shit can go wrong quickly towing a trailer. Hope your brakes are good.......
 
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