I am looking at an 02 1500, 4 door, 4wd, 4.7 motor, 140xxx miles. My question is about the abilities of the 4.7 motor. I need something to pull my boat. It is a 17' bay boat with total weight of about 2500 lbs. If it had a 5.9, I wouldn't be asking. A 5.2 and I would be changing gears, but I don't know anything about the 4.7. It seems kind of small. Can somebody inform me of any problems I will have with this motor/transmission/gears combo? Do I want a 4.7?

 

2500 lbs.? Your run of the mill 4 cylinder SUV can handle that. I've had a couple 4.7s in Grand Cherokees, one a standard the other an HO. I'd say any occasional towing up to 4500-5000 lbs. would not be any problem for the 4.7. I'm not going to look it up, but I'd imagine capacity would be around 6800# with 3.92 gears and 17" wheels down to about 5800# with 3.55s and 20" wheels.

Engine is fairly solid, many have gotten 200k out of a 4.7. The key is NEVER let it overheat and they can be prone to overheat issues. DOHC also isn't the easiest engine to work on. Also tend to have sludge issues in engines that dont get extended highway runs once in a while. Transmission is first of the German designed Daimler Chrysler and tends to be pretty reliable. Also, if you can find a dealer willing to do it, it can be converted from a 45rfe to a 545rfe with just a software update.

If its in really good shape, at a really good price - jump on it. I will make mention though, if you can find a 2003-05 Hemi you'll get about the same fuel economy while getting 100+ more HP and Torque. 2006 and newer Hemi have MDS and actually get 2-3 more mpg than a 4.7 with even greater HP and Torque...

 

Yeah...your 4.7 will be fine with 2500lbs.

 

Well, my Jeep with the 4.0 can pull it, but can't stop it. I don't want to put strain on a vehicle either way. The Dodge looks pretty good, and the price? Guy wants my Jeep(approx. $4000-$5000) So I'm looking at an even trade.

 

Yeah, I know what you're saying. I had a 94 YJ and 98 Ram 5.9 back in the day I was heavily tournament bass fishing. Just for a change I pulled my 18' boat to a tourney with th YJ once and had to slam brakes when a pre dawn deer decided to be in the road.

Never pulled the boat anywhere but around the yard with that short wheel base Jeep after that...

 

As someone who towed a lot with a 5.2L (refer to the 2nd Gen section for some of my feats), you would *not* have to change any gears to tow 2,500lbs with a 5.2L equipped truck.