Fast Mopar
Houston, TX
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Joined: 05/03/2005
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AlbertF wrote:However, a 750 lb tongue weight with a fully adjusted WDH (putting even weight on all four tires of the tow vehicle) should put about 550-575 lbs on the car, depending on the length of the trailer. (The rest of the tongue weight gets transferred back to the trailer axles.)
AlbertF is correct. Even the Dodge Intrepids that Can Am set up pulling big Airstreams were not over their GVWR numbers.
2004 Ford Freestar 4.2 liter
2003 Jayco Qwest 12A
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BurbMan
Long Island, NY
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Joined: 09/20/2001
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FYI, the 300C is RWD, can be had with the 5.7L Hemi and has the 5-speed automatic from Mercedes. That's the same setup I have in my Magnum. Suspension is soft, so air bags would probably help in the rear. But a good WD hitch and it show be able to tow the weight. Especially if you change the stock 2.82 rear with a 3.xx.
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Capt Skup
Southern Maryland/Nantucket
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Joined: 05/14/2004
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Burb, you got me thinking. What is the differential gear set ratio in this car? Under 3.00? Need earplugs when hitting an incline towing 7,000lbs.
Capt Skup
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Caddywhompus
Southeast WI
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Capt Skup wrote:Burb, you got me thinking. What is the differential gear set ratio in this car? Under 3.00? Need earplugs when hitting an incline towing 7,000lbs.
Forever I'm reminding people that the gear ratios of a vehicle is not an absolute. A sedan with a 28" tire and 2.90 gears has the same effective gear ratio as a truck with 33" tires and 3.42 gears.
In addition, transmission gearing and engine torque curve need to be accounted for. A vehicle with an 8:1 first gear and 2.90 gears has a BETTER crawl ratio (to get a load moving) as a vehicle with 3.42 gears and 6:1 first gear.
Vehicles are systems, and must be evaluated as such. Blanket statements about "2.90 gears being too short for towing" do not fairly take all variables into account! You don't ALWAYS NEED taller gears to tow a trailer.
-Jimmy
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sch911
Rochester Hills, MI
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Joined: 04/13/2003
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The 300C RWD/AWD Hemi has a max tow rating of 2000#. The sister vehicle to the 300C the Dodge Magnum AWD and RWD Hemi can tow 3800# with the optional trailer tow package. the max tow capacity for the Dodge Charger Hemi is also 2000#.
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Caddywhompus
Southeast WI
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sch911 wrote:The 300C RWD/AWD Hemi has a max tow rating of 2000#. The sister vehicle to the 300C the Dodge Magnum AWD and RWD Hemi can tow 3800# with the optional trailer tow package. the max tow capacity for the Dodge Charger Hemi is also 2000#.
I had to check on that one myself. That's new for this year I'm pretty sure, they were 3800 pounds. But you are correct, the 2008 300's have a tow rating ranging from "Not recommended" to a maximum of 2000 pounds.
What a joke. It's just like the Ford Crown Vic. Tow rating went from 5000 pounds to 1000 even though the only changes to the car would have improved towing ability.
I wonder how much of this new tow rating can be attributed to the back-lots filled with new Chrysler Aspens they can't move.
Tow rating or not, these vehicles CAN tow. Andy has too many happy customers pulling with these cars to deny that FACT.
-Jimmy
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carringb
Corvallis, OR
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Caddywhompus wrote:
What a joke. It's just like the Ford Crown Vic. Tow rating went from 5000 pounds to 1000 even though the only changes to the car would have improved towing ability.-Jimmy
Not quite. They also dumped the full size spare as an option except to police fleets. I'm not sure how credible, but one ford employee said the spare tire was the main issue for the de-rating.
Bryan
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TooTow
New Port Richey Fl.
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I don't care if you want to use a scooter to tow with, just don't hit anybody. Because when you do hit someone because they jumped out in traffic in front of you, you will be at fault because you exceeded the limitations the manufacturer gave for that vehicle. And if he wanted a smoother ride, I think a cheaper and safer option would have been to add air bags to the truck.
03' 4x4 DRW Last of the 7.3's!!
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Jarlaxle
New England
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I hope this lunatic doesn't kill anyone but himself. This guy should be locked up. 7000lbs with a Chrysler 300C...he should be publicly horsewhipped. He thinks a mid-size sedan is a better tow vehicle than a 3/4-ton pickup...he's either totally delusional or mind-blowingly stupid.
I wonder if old Andy will cough up the stunning amount of cash when that towing burns up the 300's very-expensive Mercedes automatic transmission. Something tells me "probably not". I wonder if he'll cover the guy when he finds out the VIN has been red-flagged by Chrysler & the warranty is essentially (rightly) gone? Wonder if he'll cover the cost when the guy then finds no dealer will take his car as a trade-in (due to the flagged VIN)? Again, my gut says "probably not".
And dang, 12MPG towing?!?! That's...well, I'll charitably call it "appalling". And remember: the 300C's Hemi burns 89-octane gas.
He's certainly (way) over the GVWR unless he has essentially no tongue weight or drives alone, with nothing in the car, & is built like a toothpick. He's exceeding the transmission's design by about 100%. What does the rear axle weight look like, I wonder?
He should have been stopped at the border and not premitted to proceed unless & until he brought a suitable tow vehicle.
The Vic lost the tow package a few years ago.
PS--I wonder what his insurance agent might think of this lunatic.
John
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lesmore49
canada
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Joined: 11/25/2004
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Well, Caddy so far only the disciples are eating it up. As I am wont to say...go with the manufacturer's recommended tow rating.
I know I and obviously by reading the post, many more wouldn't want to take a chance with a tow vehicle that is not towing within the manufacturer's rating.
Also make sure you have a top quality hitch, well installed, a heavy duty suspension, with top quality tires, like my Michelin LTX M/S.....hey, just like my truck based, Astro.
lesmore49
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