On a Four Winds Kodiak 32B RV that we pick up on Aug. 6th, and has a towing capicity of 10k lbs before adding the Banks Power to the Kodiak 5500 diesel. Also installing a backup camera & security system too. Now to do some research on properly towing the ST with it.
Banks Power & Firestone Ride-Rite
- Thread starter Rodger Tellefson
- Start date
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Brett Wustman
Active Member
Hey Roger, I work at an RV dealership. What year and 4x4/4x2 is your trac? I can help you with getting it ready to tow.
Brett
Brett
Thanks, we have an '01 job 2 4x2. Check out our profile.
George C
Well-Known Member
Banks makes some pretty aggressive systems and they are able to get a lot of power out of the diesels. What type of setup are you getting?
George
George
George, It's a Chevy Kodiak 5500 diesel. I would say pretty much equivelent to the Ford F-550. It was the last '07 diesel of that type on the lot. Dynamax Corp makes an Isata model with the F-550 series in either gas or turbo diesel, but would have had to travel too far according to their dealer look-up.
Brett Wustman
Active Member
Hey Rodger, I contacted my supplier and this is what they told me. He said you need to find out if you have the "Mazda" trans or the "Ford" trans. If you have the Mazda, you are able to flat tow without a drive shaft disconnect. However, if you have the Ford manual transmission, you will need a drive shaft disconnect. I am sure someone on this site knows which transmission you have. Let me know if you need anymore help!
Brett
One more thing, we are a dealer for Dynamax/Isata and have a dealership in San Diego, you should have checked out! We have 3 of the Isata F-550 on our lot in Michigan, and I actually just drove one.
Brett
One more thing, we are a dealer for Dynamax/Isata and have a dealership in San Diego, you should have checked out! We have 3 of the Isata F-550 on our lot in Michigan, and I actually just drove one.
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Dune,
Rodger has a manual tranny on his Trac. He can put it in neutral and go.
Rodger, you have a vew choices. Towing 4 down is the easiest way to tow, though can be expensive. A Blue Ox tow bar will cost about $1,000.00 installed. I do reccommend getting a brake buddy. That will apply yoiur brakes on your Trac, wirelessly, to help your RV overcome the weight. A Brake Buddy will cost about $1,000.00. Lastly, you need to wire lights on your Trac. You can buy magnet lights, or wire the system into the factory lights and charging system to make sure the battery on the tow vehicle, your Trac, remains charged all the time. Not sure what that costs, though I can imagine, that will be expensive.
You could go the more economical route, though more of a pain, and get a Tow Dolly with Electric Brakes. With a tow dolly, you have brakes, "a tow bar", and lights all in one unit. You can buy them for about $1,250.00. The Master Tow 80T HD EB (80" wide, Heavy Duty, Electric Brakes). Sure you have to strap it down and climb on the ground to put a pin in it, but at almost 1/3 the price, it is hard to beat.
Dad has a Tow Dolly and it works great. I towed a car back from St. Louis, Missouri in excess of 80 MPH and it rode right along without one hastle one bit. It is more of a pain to use a tow dolly than a tow bar, but depending on what type of RV'ing you are doing can help deciding on what to use. If you are going full time, get the tow bar, brake buddy, and lights, if you are going on weekend trips, save the money...unless you have disposable inclome. (Want to adopt me?)
Just some suggestions.
Tom
Rodger has a manual tranny on his Trac. He can put it in neutral and go.
Rodger, you have a vew choices. Towing 4 down is the easiest way to tow, though can be expensive. A Blue Ox tow bar will cost about $1,000.00 installed. I do reccommend getting a brake buddy. That will apply yoiur brakes on your Trac, wirelessly, to help your RV overcome the weight. A Brake Buddy will cost about $1,000.00. Lastly, you need to wire lights on your Trac. You can buy magnet lights, or wire the system into the factory lights and charging system to make sure the battery on the tow vehicle, your Trac, remains charged all the time. Not sure what that costs, though I can imagine, that will be expensive.
You could go the more economical route, though more of a pain, and get a Tow Dolly with Electric Brakes. With a tow dolly, you have brakes, "a tow bar", and lights all in one unit. You can buy them for about $1,250.00. The Master Tow 80T HD EB (80" wide, Heavy Duty, Electric Brakes). Sure you have to strap it down and climb on the ground to put a pin in it, but at almost 1/3 the price, it is hard to beat.
Dad has a Tow Dolly and it works great. I towed a car back from St. Louis, Missouri in excess of 80 MPH and it rode right along without one hastle one bit. It is more of a pain to use a tow dolly than a tow bar, but depending on what type of RV'ing you are doing can help deciding on what to use. If you are going full time, get the tow bar, brake buddy, and lights, if you are going on weekend trips, save the money...unless you have disposable inclome. (Want to adopt me?)
Just some suggestions.
Tom
Dunerunner, We are in Northern California, so driving to Michigan is definately out of the question; and San Diego is about 1-1/2 days drive south.
Anyone know how to read the vin nos. to tell whether we have the Mazda or Ford manual tranny? The only info. that I could find doing a web search was that Ford uses the Mazda manual tranny in Explorers and Rangers.
Tom, Thanks for the input.
Anyone know how to read the vin nos. to tell whether we have the Mazda or Ford manual tranny? The only info. that I could find doing a web search was that Ford uses the Mazda manual tranny in Explorers and Rangers.
Tom, Thanks for the input.
Rodger, not need to know which tranny you have. You have a manual tranny. That is all you need to worry about. Manual tranny's can be towed in neitral without anything being hurt.
An automatic tranny is a different story.
Tom
An automatic tranny is a different story.
Tom
Brett Wustman
Active Member
Roger, here is the number for Remco Manufacturing. You can call them and they will explain the tow-ability of any vehicle. 800-228-2481
Thanks for the input guys. 
No need to call Remco.
He has a manual tranny. No towing kits required for a manual tranny. With the electronic speedometer the Trac's has, no miles are added to the odometer.
Tom
He has a manual tranny. No towing kits required for a manual tranny. With the electronic speedometer the Trac's has, no miles are added to the odometer.
Tom
If I recall in that last couple of months a post about towing an ST. So givin the above info. all I need is what kind of hitch to put on the front of our ST as for towing it.
Blue Ox makes about the best tow bar setup. You seriously need to consider a brake system for your Trac. Safety first, above all. Lighting is another one.
Contact the nearest Camping World. Join the presidents club and save even more. I have noticed Camping World beats just about everyone in price and service. Figure about investing about $2,500.00 in getting your Trac ready to tow behind your Motorhome.
My father-in-law was towing a small car on a tow dolly on a trip to Mass. He did not have his brakes on the dolly turned up high enough and melted the ABS sensors on all 4 wheels. He was towing a Chevy Malibu on a Master Tow tow dolly running a Workhorse C3500 chassis (Chevy Van Cutaway chassis). Fortunatly, it was covered under warranty.
Tom
Contact the nearest Camping World. Join the presidents club and save even more. I have noticed Camping World beats just about everyone in price and service. Figure about investing about $2,500.00 in getting your Trac ready to tow behind your Motorhome.
My father-in-law was towing a small car on a tow dolly on a trip to Mass. He did not have his brakes on the dolly turned up high enough and melted the ABS sensors on all 4 wheels. He was towing a Chevy Malibu on a Master Tow tow dolly running a Workhorse C3500 chassis (Chevy Van Cutaway chassis). Fortunatly, it was covered under warranty.
Tom
Rodger,
looks like you got the Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel. The Banks power kit should net you an additional 150 LBS, if not more, of torque while increasing your MPG's by 1 or 2.
Honestly, I do not think you need it. The Duramax has been a good engine for GM. They are getting some good numbers out of those engines. A guy at work has one in his truck. The engine is more than his truck can really handle.
I see no reason to spend the thousands of dollars for the Banks kit. Take it on a few trips and see how it does. Heck, take it across the country. We would give you a place to park it if you ever came through our area. You have my phone number, give me a call anytime.
Tom
looks like you got the Duramax 6.6L Turbo Diesel. The Banks power kit should net you an additional 150 LBS, if not more, of torque while increasing your MPG's by 1 or 2.
Honestly, I do not think you need it. The Duramax has been a good engine for GM. They are getting some good numbers out of those engines. A guy at work has one in his truck. The engine is more than his truck can really handle.
I see no reason to spend the thousands of dollars for the Banks kit. Take it on a few trips and see how it does. Heck, take it across the country. We would give you a place to park it if you ever came through our area. You have my phone number, give me a call anytime.
Tom
