Just a quick question. Suppose I am pulling a travel trailer, 6500lbs. What would be the maximum safe temps for the engine and transmission? At what temps should I start getting concerned? And, yes, I DO realize I would be right at the limits of my truck. The truck is a 2001 Ram 1500 Laramie, 5.2L 2wd, automatic.

 

Anything above 215 as far as I'm concerned, as the transmission will likely be hotter than that.

 

No real way to tell tranny temp unless you install a gauge yourself.

Just keep it out of OD and try to minimize shifts as much as possible.

Even towing and hauling I've never noticed these engines running hotter than otherwise

 

I always keep it out of OD when towing pretty much anything with any real weight to it and it will have an auxillary trans cooler and a gauge before I tow this camper. Just redid my brakes so they will be up to the task. Brand new rotors and pads. Still a while off before I will be towing it. It's undergoing a major renovation.

 

You should get a tuner and some 4.10 gears before you tow it.

But then you'd be spending close to 2 grand on the truck before you started towing....

 

The only towing it will be doing is 50 miles, twice a year. And I was a bit misleading. I said 6500 lbs. The GVWR is 6400 lbs. Thats fully loaded. It likely weighs much less. Maybe as little as 4500 to 5000.

 

Info that can't be found in the FAQ/DIY section, along with ton's of other great info.

 

^ that chart for transmission temp. if you don't have a gauge, you can get an idea by using an infrared thermometer on the hot line and cold line.

for engine temp, i don't like to see it over 210.

 

Mine has hit 210, towing a 16 foot car trailer with a Volkswagen Passat on it, but didn't get over that. I don't think the camper itself would be much heavier than that. Hell the car trailer is right about 2000 lbs empty. Its one of the heavy duty ones with the thick wall tube steel construction.

 

your fine to tow it without worries I am constantly towing 7000-8000 lbs for short trips just keep your speed down and take your time