[c.n75thinf]

I 'am new to this forum as of today's date: Saturday, 18 March 2023 at 2355 hours. My email address is c.n75thinf @ yahoo.com. First of all, this is my question: What is the maximum trailer towing weight capacity of my truck? I have as yet to discover an answer.

This is what I own: a 1990 Dodge Ramcharger, 4X4, D150, LE. My truck was built in Mexico, coming off the assembly line on Monday, 02 July 1990, and going into operation on Friday, 16 November 1990 in Las Vegas, Nv. I 'am the third owner, taking possession on Sunday, 18 April 2004, even though I was then serving in Afghanistan. I paid $4,000 in cold cash. Currently, my truck is selling for as much as $25,000.

My truck, although a LE and not a Royal SE, still comes equipped as a fully electrically powered vehicle. He has everything that was possibly available in 1990. He is equipped with a 360 CID/5.9- liter V8 EFI, LD engine, Single Throttle Fuel Injection with Overdrive. It seems that Single Throttle Fuel Injection was not necessarily standard equipment on all 1990 Dodge Ramchargers, but that is how my truck is equipped.

Honestly, I cannot say that I understand the difference between Electronic Fuel Injection and Single Throttle Fuel Injection, or for that matter how a vehicle can be simultaneously so equipped. My truck comes standard with auxiliary heavy-duty engine cooling as well as an auxiliary transmission oil cooler, and a power steering cooler, too.

I changed the original 90 amp alternator to a 100 Amp open housing alternator in 2005. I replaced the original battery with a pair of Die-Hard Gold Batteries, with 800 Cold Cranking Amps, and 110 Reserve Capacity Amps and I further installed a heavy-duty battery wiring harness, all in 2012. I have as yet to install heavy wiring throughout the whole of the engine well.

I removed the catalytic converter in 2011 and installed dual headers with dual exhaust in 2014. I changed out the original 1500 series 195MM front axle housing both front and rear with 3500 axle housings, front, and rear, and re-enforced this operation with a custom-built heavy-duty drive shaft.

My Ramcharger comes standard equipped with a 4-speed Automatic 46RH Transmission operating in conjunction with a 3.92 axle ratio. My truck runs Toyo- A/T Open Country 265, 65/R18 tires. On Thursday, 16 March 2023 I installed a pair of 1985 Dodge W350 4WD Front Wheel Hubs with Differential Pads and Rotors. I will perform the corresponding work on the rear brakes, etc., with my next retirement dispersal.

My truck operates best when being fed on a diet of premium fuel, most especially, Chevron gasoline whether regular or premium doesn't seem to make a lot of difference, apart from that I feed him BP Premium. Unfortunately, currently there are no Chevron stations in North Carolina. When in perfect service I really do get 16 miles to the gallon on the Interstate, and about 12 to 13 miles to the gallon in town.

The new Dodge Ram Trucks do not seem to do any better. I have checked at the Dodge Truck dealership here in Fayetteville, NC, and am being told that 16 miles to the gallon is about pair. Except for the Eco Fuel engines, I think that's the right language, which allegedly gets upwards of thirty-five miles to the gallon. I imagine such an engine would cost at least $12,000 or more. I 'am sure that does not include the cost of installation and labor. Though I really don't know.

When I save enough pennies or when I win the multi-state lottery, whichever comes first, I 'am going to completely rebuild the engine and perform an off-the-chassis restoration, inside and out. Until then I will settle for just rebuilding the engine, and doing all of the rest of the work as I can. He does burn a little oil. An engine rebuild should cost me about $2,500 to $3,000 here in Fayetteville, NC.

Gentlemen, I thank you for indulging me. God bless America and the Bill of Rights. For those who have fought for it. Freedom has a flavor that the protected will never know. Viet-Nam, Laos, Cambodia, Northeast most Norway, and Afghanistan.
/signed/ Very Respectfully, Jack R. Arnold, Sergeant First Class, 18B-SF Wpns. Sgt., U.S. Army Special Forces (Ret.)

 

[SuperBurban]

Welcome aboard.

Sounds like my dream truck, Cannot wait to see pics.

Been looking at your name, Is it taken from Company N, 75th Inf? That is quite a history with the Army, Was it all active?

 

[440 4spd Power Ram]

Had a '89 with similar specs that I towed with regularly, 5.9 727 with 3.21 gears and it hauled 5k+ loads without issues.

 

[u2slow]

Go by the hitch rating.

Things like axle ratio, springs, trans cooler, and sway bars can all be improved upon to tow more confidently.

 

[712edf]

Welcome,

Thank you for your service!!

5,000 to 6,000# is what I would feel comfortable towing in a properly functioning 90 RC. I would avoid towing in OD, especially on inclines.

An RC is suspensionally same as a half ton truck, just with a shorter wheelbase. That shorter wheelbase may help maneuverability but may decrease stability. Your 3.92 ratio is excellent.

16 mpg is good mileage for any gas powered pick-up, van or SUV.

Bucky

 

[volaredon]

Go by the hitch rating.

Things like axle ratio, springs, trans cooler, and sway bars can all be improved upon to tow more confidently.

Bad idea. That hitch can go on anything from a Dakota to a 1 ton, and is still rated the same. Where the possible trucks it'll fit are vastly different.
Most hitches I see, say something like "capacity xxx lb or truck capacity whichever is less".

 

[SuperBurban]

From the factory it would likely be about 7500 Lbs. Which is in line with what this from trailers dot com lists. He does say he has the extra cooling, so it might be a bit higher. 75th Inf, also says he has 8 lug axles, so he would also have the larger brakes, So I would likely feel confident going a bit higher to about 9000 for short trips. Definitely use a equalizing hitch, and have functioning trailer brakes.

Trailers.com - Your Source For Everything Trailers!

Visit us online at Trailers.com or call today toll free 855-887-2453. Trailers.com is your trusted source for utility trailers, cargo trailers, dump trailers, heavy equipment trailers, auto-transport trailers, and everything in-between.

trailers.com

Trailers.com - Your Source For Everything Trailers!

Visit us online at Trailers.com or call today toll free 855-887-2453. Trailers.com is your trusted source for utility trailers, cargo trailers, dump trailers, heavy equipment trailers, auto-transport trailers, and everything in-between.

trailers.com

Many think Dodge rated the RC less then trucks due to the short wheel base, but in fact, Dodge had the same rating as a similarly equipped truck. My experience, the light springs on a RC, or 1/2 ton are the bigger issue then the wheel base. Yes, the longer wheel base will give a better ride, but otherwise no difference.

 

[c.n75thinf]

Attention SuperBurbon, Sir: You are possibly one of only a handful of men who have ever made the connection. Actually, I served my first of three back-to-back tours of duty with Co. C (Ranger-LRP) 75th infantry (Airborne), First Field Force, Viet-Nam. My MOS was 11B1P, duty MOS 11F1V, and the first of three tours of duty was from 02 August 1969 to 01 August 1970. I had actually arrived at Cam Rahn Bay Replacement Detachment, Republic of South Viet-Nam on Sunday, 27 July 1969, and was further assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate). While at the Herd's Jungle School. A call went out for volunteers for a special mission unit. I investigated and was selected. I previously had experienced a series of dreams in April of 1969 on a Monday, then on Wednesday, and finally, on Friday, I don't remember the dates, just the month. I saw two men wearing Pattern 1968/9 ERDL Uniforms, sometimes called "Trees" with an Airborne Ranger Scroll on the left shoulder of their uniforms and the Longe Range Patrol Scroll for Co. E (Long Range Patrol) 20th Infantry (Airborne) atop the First Field Force Shoulder Sleeve Insignia on their right shoulder. A black First Sergeant and a rather short but very muscular Specialist Four were conducting interviews and assessments of my initial suitability for a particular kind of duty. What I saw was an exact replay of that series of dreams back in April. There was no doubt in my young military mind about what I was going to do. Right then and there I volunteered to serve with the 75th Infantry Ranger-LRPs and, after completing Charley Company's Recondo Course located at An Khe which was a word-for-word copy of the MACV Recondo School conducted by the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) located at Nha Trang. I was assigned to the 2nd Platoon (My Platoon Leader was 1LT. Richard "Rattle Snake" Grimes and my Platoon Sergeant was Sergeant First Class Luke Henderson). Charley Company (Forward) was then located on the bluffs overlooking the South China Sea and just south of Phan Thiet at a place called LZ Betty which was an old French Army Post from the First Indochina War of 1946 to1954. I would find myself operating on each one of the 2nd Platoon's Ranger-LRP teams (LRP, pronounced Lurp), LRP Teams 2-1,2-2,2-3,2-4,2-5, all except Jungle Jim Snider's LRP Team 2-6. But I primarily served on the legendary Ranger-LRP Team 2-2 (Double Deuce Let Me Loose) of which I would become the Assistant Team Leader (ATL) immediately following the fateful LRP mission of 08 February 1970 for which I would receive the Bronze Star with "V" Device, (Read the book Phantom Warrior, Book 1 by Gary A. Linderer--I 'am the last chapter and its source--of the last chapter, that is). Also, read the book Charlie Mike by Colonel Leonard B. Scott (My second Platoon Leader) which is a historical novel about Ranger-LRP Team 22. Lastly, read the Master's Thesis entitled Mask In Green, Poems of Viet-Nam by Lisa M. Williams, BYU Press 1991. I was her source and gave her access to my personal library. On my second tour of duty, I flew left seat co-pilot position as a LOH (pronounced Loach) Observer and Aerial Gunner with the Scout Platoon of B Troop, 7th Squadron (Air), 17th Cavalry, 17th Aviation Group (Combat) from 01 August 1970 to 28 January 1971. I was by rank just a Specialist Four, MOS 11D4F1R, subsequently, MOS 19D4F1R. Nevertheless, and notwithstanding that fact, my pilot trained me to fly the LOH in the rather likely event that the pilot was incapacitated by wounds or KIA. Even if the LOH itself was still flyable, why should both of us crash land and, as it would follow be KIA, or even MIA.? I flew the LOH many times, including the day that we were shot up and forced to land. On that day we were flying aerial support for a Tactical Extraction of a MACV SOG Recon Team Evading and Escaping enemy capture or death itself out of Secret Base Area 602-Laos. That SOG Recon Team was doing its damnest to make a fighting straight-line dash for its initial launch site located in the vicinity of the pioneer landing strip almost immediately south of Kontum, which was just over the fence from Laos. In August of 1970, I think we were flying about six LOHs in the Scout Platoon, by January every last one of those LOHs was shot up, shot down, and/or lost to enemy fire. We lost men, too. My third back-to-back tour of duty was with Co. N (Ranger-LRP) 75th Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate). The parenthetical (Separate) means that the Brigade was commanded by a Brigadier General. My Platoon Leader was 1LT. John R. Reitzell and my Platoon Sergeant was Staff Sergeant Hog Brown. That tour of duty was performed from 01 March 1971 to 02 August 1971. During that tour of duty, my MOS was 91B4V, Combat Field Medic. I was Specialist Five and would, in process of time, become the only non-hard strip sergeant to lead a Ranger-LRP team. I proved myself worthy of my own team, when on Sunday, 12 June 1971, when performing a Heavy Team Long Range Patrol, composed of both Charley and Delta Teams. and performing my regular duties as the team medic for Delta Team, (In November Company, Ranger-LRP Teams were alphabetically designated). The younger, newer, less experienced Ranger-LRPs approached me and asked me to form a provisional team while in the bush and carry on with our original mission statement, which was Hunter-Killer-POW Snatch. In November Rangers, performing the deep reconnaissance missions for the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate), there really was no stand down time between missions of three days. There should have been. But the Brigade S2 (Intelligence) and the Brigade Commander wanted eyes on reliable intelligence and along the way we did a lot of killing, we were very good at that sort of thing, and we liked it, too. Those three tours of duty were the very best years of my life and of thirty years in the U.S. Army. Well, in any event, both of the team leaders for Charley and Delta Teams were within 96 hours of being completely out of the U.S. Army and at home in their own beds. So, in truth of fact, they did not want to press their luck, which had been good luck right up to their very last mission, and they did get home, and in one piece. As for their reluctance to pursue the mission before them, I can find no fault or foul with either team leader. And that is how I ended up forming a provisional team in the field made up of Ranger-LRPs from those two teams. My reward for leading what turned out to be a most successful mission was to be reassigned from my medical duties to MOS 11F4V and be made the team leader for Ranger-LRP Team Charley and subsequently Ranger-LRP Team Delta. My date to Return From Overseas was 01 August 1971 because my ETS date for my first three-year enlistment was officially up on 02 August 1971. And I knew that. But fuck it, I was still performing missions as of 31 July 1971. I had only just turned 21 on the Fourth of July, my birthday. I didn't care one damn bit about administrative matters, there were missions that had to be executed, intelligence to be gathered, and Viet Gong and NVA Soldiers that needed to be killed or captured depending on my orders. No orders to capture. Oh well. A greater personal body count. My follow-on assignment was with the 82nd Pathfinder Detachment, 82nd Airborne Division here at Fort Bragg, NC
/signed/ Very Respectfully, Jack R. Arnold, Sergeant First Class, 18B-SF Weapons Sergeant, U.S. Army Special Forces (Ret.) and born on the Fourth of July. Rangers Lead The Way. Hooah, Hooah.

.

 

[u2slow]

Bad idea. That hitch can go on anything from a Dakota to a 1 ton, and is still rated the same. Where the possible trucks it'll fit are vastly different.

There's no enforceable limit difference for towing based on Dakota vs 1ton vs Ramcharger. It comes down to the limits of the hitch, axle/tires, and road regulations.

 

[volaredon]

Disagree.
the HITCH limits have nothing to do with axle/tires, truck frame limits, engine HP/torque, transmission capacity.
When Reese (or draw Tite, curt,etc) see ends that newly built hitch down the line they have no idea what exact vehicle it may wind up on. I wouldn't want to try to tow as much with my slant 6 powered D150 as I would with my former 78 d350 duallie. So just because I bolt a hitch onto that slant6 powered truck that says 5000lb weight carrying/10000lb weight distributed does NOT mean that all of a sudden that slant 6 gained a whole lot of muscle. So no, you can't go by what the hitch says.

 

[SuperBurban]

There's no enforceable limit difference for towing based on Dakota vs 1ton vs Ramcharger. It comes down to the limits of the hitch, axle/tires, and road regulations.

Sure there is. A standard ball type pull trailer has at least 10% of its weight carried by the tow vehicle. in quick math, a 10,000 lb trailer will put 1000 lbs on the back of the two vehicle. Without a weight distributing hitch that will easily over load the 9&1/4 diff in the rear of the RC. With a weight distributing hitch that weight will still likely overload the whole RC, depending on what else is in the RC. Dodge did publish trailer tow limits for the 70's and 80's trucks. they are just not easy to find. In general they were based on the model, axle ratio, engine, trans, and any tow packages. Many states have been cracking down on non commercial vehicles for years, you just do not hear about it much.

 

[u2slow]

Like I said... Hitch, tire, and (rear) axle ratings. Weight distributing or not is also part of the hitch rating; two different capacities.

Options, axle ratios, and 1990 brochure data are not verifiable at the roadside.

 

[SuperBurban]

Optional packages, axle ratios, and 1990 brochure data are not verifiable at the roadside.

They have access to all that by the vehicles VIN, and a new thing called computers. At least here in the states, one cannot change the rated capacity from the factory. Some states one can have a dealer modify the vehicle, and go through the paperwork to change the rating, but otherwise what came from the factory is the highest that can be legally hauled. Yes, chances of getting caught are slim, But you can bet if involved in a big accident, regardless of who is at fault, the insurance investigators will look to pass as much blame around as possible.

 

[u2slow]

Dealer could not provide an axle ratio from a 92 vin back in 2001. Old factory towing specs are advisory at best. If it were real, would appear on a nameplate with the vin and gawr/gvwr.

I suppose we agree to disagree.

 

[RCCADMAN]

 

[RCCADMAN]

This book is on Ebay and the looks like it has a lot of the info you want...

1990 Dodge Pickup Truck Brochure Ram Dakota Ramcharger Ram 50 Original Canadian | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1990 Dodge Pickup Truck Brochure Ram Dakota Ramcharger Ram 50 Original Canadian at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com