Towing Heavy Load Question

So my wife and I have a little cabin in the mountains about 90 miles from our primary residence. I have a Mahindra Roxor I would like to get it up there to tool around with. It weighs about 3100 lbs and a flatbed is about 2100. That makes a total weight of 5200 lbs on a truck with a 6400 lbs towing capacity.

I have never towed that much weight with my ’13 DCLB 4x4 (with tow package). I normally tow a ~3200 lb camper it does fine (naturally bad gas mileage but oh well). I did install Sumo Springs on my truck to mitigate sag and they work great.

I would be towing this 90 miles, but over a mountain pass. Honestly I realize I am getting in the realm of needing a full size and I plan to go that route but probably not for another 2-3 years.

Am I nuts for attempting this? I think I would only do this 4 or so times before I end up going to a full size but it is all I have at the moment to pull.

When towing it I would probably have all my other heavy gear in a different vehicle so not much other payload beside myself.

Curious about your experiences if you have any similar to this.

EDIT: Flatbed is newer one with a braking setup.

Thanks!

 

My fear wouldn't be the towing, it would be the stopping, especially going down a steep pass.

 

I should mention it is a new and modern trailer with a good set of trailer brakes. I wouldn't dare tow without them.

 

Sounds like what I tow with my camper all the time. Take it easy and go slow going down the passes. Make sure the trailer brakes work on the trailer. Use a lower gear to help with braking. Set a limit on your speed and when you get to it brake to below it then when you reach that speed again brake to get below it again. Repeat going down the pass.

 

I wouldn't sweat it, especially having the more towing-stable long wheelbase/bed. I still have to do a write-up about it, but last year I towed a subaru on a uhaul car hauler 2k miles from Baton Rouge to Montana. The weight was right at 6400 and had no problems. I did like having the manual for engine braking though.

On a few occasions I got some trailer sway, but I know my shortbed truck didn't help this. Good luck!

 

Take it nice and easy going downhill and you will be fine. Check your trailer brakes before you leave and keep it in a low gear going downhill. Might be little scary the first time , but you will get use to it.

 

I would take the cap off the back of the truck to save weight. Other than that, with trailer brakes, you'll be fine. Do you have a WD hitch?

 

I believe I do. The flatbed is my brother's so I should double check with him.

 

for 90 miles, you will be fine, Use your gears for engine braking downhill as well as uphill.. dont be afraid to use ALL of your gears and let her rev! Its not going to be fast so give yourself ample time to start n stop but it will do the job without issue at all.

also the Mahindra ROXOR is an interesting lil rig!!!

 

Do you have a brake controller for the trailer? AT cooler?

 

Yep I do have brake controller and flatbad has power brakes. I have the tow package which I believe included an AT cooler.

 

Send it

 

Yeah you are good man, Just keep an eye on making sure the trans is in 5th lockup, or simply keep it in 4th max your entire drive to keep trans temps down.

 

You'll be fine with that weight but make sure you load the vehicle on the trailer in a way that keeps the tongue weight around 500-600lbs and don't tow in D. A WD hitch would be very helpful and make it a more enjoyable towing experience.

I drag 5,500lbs around the Sierra Nevada mountains regularly. The truck can maintain 55mph over the passes if you're not afraid to make it work.

 

Even with the tow package these transmissions run hot. Get yourself a bigger cooler and a scan gauge to monitor temps.

 

I pull a 21 foot bass boat 3 or 4 days a week with no problem other than burning a lot more gas and pissing people off going up hills on a two lane road. Its like the little train that could. I think I can ! I think I can ! LOL
I would go for it.

 

If its a one time thing no need to go get a bigger cooler, just be smart, let the truck rev and use your gears so it doesnt hunt around, trans will stay plenty cool enough.

 

Have you seen these transmissions in hot traffic. Mines reached 200 degrees alone with no pulling load.

 

Time to go MT?

 

I sit around 185 at the pan with no trailer in traffic or going up the pass. With the trailer those temps are about the same in traffic but will get up to 240 in the passes around here. I installed an aux cooler last year but haven had an 'apples to apples' comparison yet. Should have that comparison later this month.