First real tow coming up.... questions.

[gtmgooser]

Guys, I am planning a road trip in April and I'm pulling 2 jeeps on a 34 foot car trailer. This is the first time pulling this size load (approx 9K lbs) and I don't want to hurt my truck so I'm wondering what preventative things should I do to help ensure a safe and happy trip. I don't have any mods on my truck, stock exhaust, no gauges for temp readings (EGT, Tranny, Boost), etc.... I'm planning on heading down to southern Indiana from Mid Michigan so hills / mountains are out of the question. Should I have a gauge cluster installed? 4 inch exhaust? help me out.... thanks,.

[Austinj427]

On a stock tuned truck i would be more worried about a tranny gauge then pyro. But if you do one, you might as well do all of them.

Do some driving around with that temp gauge and determine if you need a larger tran cooler.

[gtmgooser]

So gauges before 4 inch / upgraded exhaust?

[chillls]

your truck will love it...thats what it was meant to do
if you have the $$$money$$$
#1-gauges
#2-exhaust
#3-intake
that should put a dent in your wallet

you got rock crawlers or just all around jeeps?

[jethro]

intake exhaust and guages atleast if you have the money a custom chip with a tow tune will help keep you happy while towing along with your truck even if you cant spare the ching for all of that guages and exhaust and a diy intake will work just fine

[icysmooth]

I only pull around 8,000 lbs. on short distance(under 1 hour) but I want to buy a 5th wheel that weighs about 11,000 lbs dry weight --13,000 gvw.
My truck is all stock too,but I want to do 4"exhaust,programmer,air filter --and eventually get gauge tripod.

[tubular031]

First thing to do is get a trans gauge (and EGT if its in the budget)
second more cooling for the trans. Get a 6.0 cooler or a trucool.
next a BTM ($70) or 4inch exhaust ($350). all you really need is to get rid of the stock muffler. that is the restriction.

at 9k your truck will be slow to get going but once rolling it will push along like nothing.

[NEWT92]

Is the trailer a gooseneck or bumper pull?? If its a bumper pull, may want to invest in a weight distribution hitch.

[DieselNoob]

I would get gauges before anything else.

[ianstew]

don't hot rod it while towing, and you'll be good to go. a tranyy gauge would be nice to have , but not a necessity.....