Have a question for you guys. I need to know about how much can safely be towed with my setup. I have towed before and proper driving is not a problem, but I'm planning to do a little more towing in the near future, more than I've towed with this vehicle before, and I want to make sure my truck is up to the task, as well as finding out aproximately how much I can pull.

1995 Ram 1500 Regular cab
4x2 318ci Auto tranny in good condition (would like to keep it that way)
3.55 rear end
Class 3 hitch

No aftermarket transmission cooler, but is soon to come.
Mods: 180* T-stat
Mopar air cleaner assembly w/ K&N filter
50mm fastman TB on order
Magnaflow cat. and Flowmaster 50 series to be installed within the next two weeks

I'm planning to tow a 1978 Toyota Corolla on a Uhaul auto transport for a little over 100 miles. The transport weighs 2,000 lbs empty, and the Corolla weighs 2,200 lbs.

-Steve

 

It should be in your manual----- but taking a good guess 7500 lbs.

I have a 98 quad cab 360
3:55 axle
8200 lbs. towing capacity

 

I have a 99 Dodge quad cab 4X4 with the 318 Cu.In. and I tow a 6900 lbs camper with no problems.

 

I did found a site that said 5.2 liter/318 4x2 manual only had a towing capacity of 4900 lbs.????
I think you will find it in your manual or call your local dealer.

 

Your truck should be ok to trailer your Corolla. My brother uses my truck to trailer his dodge stealth on a tandom axle trailer to Road America race track, about an 100 minute drive from his house and the only trailering mod I have is the Hayden tranny cooler.

shameless plug for his car.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...jessesride.jpg

 

eww?

jk.

 

I have read in my manual that my truck in its configuration is rated to tow 8,100 lbs, I was just wondering if this Auto tranny would really hold up. I imagine it will since I'll be just over half of the rated towing capability. I know that some of these transmissions don't always hold up as well as Dodge thought they might.

Side note:
I see that the manual transmissions for the 95 year are not rated to tow as much as the automatic in the same configuration. Why might this be? I have always thought that manual transmissions (especially in these Rams) were stronger than an auto?

 

all years with the NV3500 are lower...the tranny just isn't rated as high, the GCWR (gross combined weight rating) with the manual is 11,000 lbs i believe, whereas the 46RE is 14,000 lbs.

 

As I recall the tow rating on that truck is about 8000 lbs.. If you have the factory tow package you will have a tranny cooler. Even though the rating is 8000 lbs. you must also consider gvwr and gcwr. These ratings will be on the factory tag found on the driver door post. Add up the truck weight with passengers andany cargothat will be loaded in it along with the weight of the trailer and stay under the gcwr. You will also want to consider the tongue weight add it to the truck weight with passengers and cargo and you do not want to exceed gvwr. In your case 4200 lbs should be well within your limits. There are alot of guys that recommend that you only tow 80% of the vehicle rating for safety. Even if you follow that reasoning you will be ok. Your automatic transmission should do fine in most situations. On grades I would recommend locking out overdrive.

 

another thing to keep in mind is your hitch type...not sure what it's like where you're at, and i don't think it'll come into play here, but in MB you're not legally allowed to tow a trailer weighing more than your tow vehicle unless you're using a weight-distributing hitch or a 5th-wheel (reduces a "tail wagging the dog" situation). but i've never seen a GCWR posted on the door of a light truck....it's definitely not on mine.