After Market Tow Vehicle

[marielw824]

Do people find they NEED/HAVE to do aftermarket work on their TV to get it 'fit' to tow large trailers or 5th wheels?

I don't have technical details ... we got our '04 23' Attitude Toy Hauler in 2004 ... put a 'heavy duty ATS transmission' and a 'compression brake' in our 1997 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel ... more was done too.

Bought truck Dec. 1999 and we have 140,000 original miles. Haven't replaced brakes in ??? years .... LOVE the compression brakes! Mechanically .... haven't done much except maintenance since buying this truck and having upgrades done. We've replaced the windshield more than anything. We live in IDAHO where they LOVE to tear up perfectly good roads and repave EVERY spring.

2007 while hubby was on a business trip for 5 weeks ... I had truck painted! YES, everyone! including the OWNER of the auto shop told me they would KILL their wife if she did that to their truck! Now ... come on ... I had it painted original factory colors ... it wasn't PINK! Also had new lettering, trim, headlights, bumbers, wheels and tires, etc... all the body work done on it. A good sprucing up. She (her name is Connie after the USS Constitution ... hubby was a submariner at 6' 4" tall!) looks brand new still!

[450Donn]

There are two schools of thought. Spending a couple thousand dollars to fix up what you currently have is by far the least expensive. Unless, it is not a large enough truck to pull/tow the intended load. Then there is nothing you can do to increase the GVWR numbers as found on the drivers door post. In that case I always suggest replacing for a more appropriate truck.

[wingnut60]

If the truck is enjoyed by both of you with no thoughts to replace it--I would be amazed and happy that my wife got a cosmetic makeover for it--after all, makeovers are what women do best! On the other hand, if I had been shopping and hinting for a NEW DODGE and all I got was the makeover, well............
Joe

[Bill1374]

There are days when I would love to have my 96 12 valver back. Had the engine perked up quite a bit but was on the verge of seriously needing a transmission transplant. I was also maxed out with a 30 foot Kountry Star on the stock suspension and was thinking of a bigger trailer.
Now a couple of changes later, my current rig is considerably heavier, has a ton more pulling power stock and handles better. My towing mileage is down but my empty mileage is about the same. My only downer is that I'm again bumping my max towing weight.
What you've done sounds like a great deal and a well matched package. Sometimes I wish I could go back until I remember all the times I banged my head on the slideout ceiling.

Bill

[Ray,IN]

"Do people find they NEED/HAVE to do aftermarket work on their TV to get it 'fit' to tow large trailers or 5th wheels?"

Not if they properly and safely matched their tow vehicle to the trailer in the beginning. Any vehicle will tow safely if it is properly matched to it's load ratings.

Someday I've got to getaroundtuit- posting a picture of my joke rig. I backed my old 82 Chevy LUV under our 40' 5er and let it sit in the driveway(150' from road) for a week. Some folks stopped in the middle of the road to gawk, but not one came up to the house and inquired.