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Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 #2902456
03/24/21 06:22 PM
03/24/21 06:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 763
Nashport, OH
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chargers777 Offline OP
super stock
chargers777  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 763
Nashport, OH
Short wheelbase.It has a 440 auto.I don't plan on towing a lot but occasionally I would like to tow a car and car trailer.I plan on beefing up the springs and shocks.Would it tow ok being a short wheelbase? Anyone done it and what's your opinion.

Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: chargers777] #2902475
03/24/21 07:50 PM
03/24/21 07:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,538
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
I Live Here
poorboy  Offline
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Posts: 10,538
Freeport IL USA
I towed a car trailer for a few years with a 360 in a 4x4 Ramcharger, which is a shorter wb then a short box pickup.

It did the job for a couple of years while we were dirt track racing. If your roads are rough, or have those irritating bumps where the concrete slabs are jointed, it will bounce worse that a long box truck would because the axle spacing makes each axle hit the bumps independently, not in pairs like the longer truck axles do. As far as doing the job, the short wb tends to be more effected by how the weight is set on the trailer then a longer truck would be. Your going to have a bunch of guys telling you the 1/2 ton just isn't heavy enough to pull a trailer, but it was done for years, you just have top pay more attention while your pulling the trailer, things go wrong with a 1/2 ton faster then they do with a 3/4 or 1 ton, and they can go wrong a little faster with the short wb then they do with a longer wb. Gene

Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: poorboy] #2902632
03/25/21 11:15 AM
03/25/21 11:15 AM

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Once upon a time this happened. 360 4bl, had to make the effort to keep foot out of it going up hill. 65ish wasn't dramatic.

Old guy was funny: said took a whole crew a week to put that together, you two guys took it apart in a day.

Built 1/2 my deck out of it.

MVC-474F.JPGMVC-470F.JPGMVC-467F.JPG
Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: chargers777] #2902694
03/25/21 01:31 PM
03/25/21 01:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,449
Orange Park FL.
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LilRed7879 Offline
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LilRed7879  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Orange Park FL.
Used to tow cars around all the time on an open trailer with my Lil Red. Just use some common sense - it is not a new truck and it will not stop and handle the weight like a new one. Keep your speed down and watch out for other idiot drivers and you should be fine.


David S.
Part Time Owner
Dodge Connection
www.dodgeconnection.com
904-209-9388
Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: LilRed7879] #2902806
03/25/21 08:49 PM
03/25/21 08:49 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,517
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
Rhinotruck
Rhinodart  Offline
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Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
I towed all over the place with my 79 Lil Red, only an open trailer but it worked just fine with a Dart on the back...


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

JB Rhinehart, Realist

A-Body's RULE!
Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: Rhinodart] #2903122
03/26/21 06:54 PM
03/26/21 06:54 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,627
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Guitar Jones Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Guitar Jones  Offline
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in a cattle trailer down by th...
Pulling it isn't a problem, stopping it is another story.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: Guitar Jones] #2903171
03/26/21 08:39 PM
03/26/21 08:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,105
Byron, NY
W.I.N. Racing Offline
top fuel
W.I.N. Racing  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,105
Byron, NY
I had a 2wd Ram Charger I used to pull an open Car trailer. RC had the Trailer Tow package and plenty of power... The best thing I can say at least I was Young and didn't know any better.I wouldn't do it today...

ramcharger.jpg

'01 P1500, Blown/Inj BAE,/Veney ,Bruno/CS2,Dana 60
'01 Dodge 3500 S Cummins Auto, Fresh air kit, 4" Exhaust,
'05 Dodge Magnum R/T - Too Much to list
'60 Willys CJ5
'01 International LPX - Project,DT466, Allison
'64 Plymouth Valiant, Inj 528 Hemi, 2spd
Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: Rhinodart] #2903265
03/27/21 01:48 AM
03/27/21 01:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,128
A Red State
SNK-EYZ Offline
I Live Here
SNK-EYZ  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,128
A Red State
Originally Posted by Rhinodart
I towed all over the place with my 79 Lil Red, only an open trailer but it worked just fine with a Dart on the back...


Same here. laugh2

Back in the late 80's I towed my Challenger convertible on a 16 foot open trailer with my 79 Lil Red Express.
Trailer brakes are the key thing and not pushing it as far as speed.

I've even towed a 16 foot trailer behind a Dakota R/T Extended Cab.
That's not the best way to go but it worked in a pinch but I wouldn't do it again.

A buddy used to tow his 18 foot open trailer (with a Nova on it) with his 99 Dakota Extended Cab 4wd with a 318.
He did it for years till he upgraded to a 1500 Chevy truck. (Chevy guy obviously).


Kayse can't keep up at all now. lol
Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: chargers777] #2903278
03/27/21 06:32 AM
03/27/21 06:32 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,954
Greenville, PA
redraptor Offline
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redraptor  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,954
Greenville, PA
Been there done that. My combo worked good but I wasn't comfortable towing over 60 mph. I think some car trailers are better suited for short trucks than others. I also towed that trailer with my Caprice.

camaro.JPG
Re: Anyone ever tow with a 78 stepside d150 [Re: redraptor] #2903640
03/28/21 02:06 PM
03/28/21 02:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,831
east side of Ohio
basketcase Offline
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basketcase  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,831
east side of Ohio
towed a parts truck that got the stepside for this 5 hours from Kentucky with this. Slant Six Three onna tree. Took our time and common sense.

My '77.jpg

Dave


1981 Dodge D150 360 auto






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