well i had a 98 1500 5.2 litre, and it was a total pig when towing, to tell you truthfully your going to hate towing with it for 900 miles, its going to tow like garbage, and get horrible gas mileage.

if i was to do it, i would def use the dolly to save on weight, a full car trailer prolly weights close to 1,500 pounds if not more. while a dolly is like 500-600 pounds maybe.

 

I just got done towing my friends Blazer to the dealer since it had a blown out transmission with my 01 5.2L and I could almost not even feel it back there..but it did drink gas. but you wont have a problem....by the way I only used the two wheel dolly.

 

yeah short distance to the dealer you didnt tow it 900 miles,also you have 4:10's that makes a HUGE diffrence in towing.trust me when i say he will have trouble keeping it at highway speeds with out beating it, im a landscaper i tow everyday with my trucks, and i know the 5.2 is a total pig of a motor for towing anything with some decient weight.

 

yeah your right about the 4:10 gears....the trip to the dealer was about 30 miles...hopefully everything works out.

 

Before I did any mods to my Ram I used a tow dolly and pulled my daughters car from southern Kentucky all the way back to Minneapolis. She had a 4 door car with all of her college stuff. Yes it drank gas but no I did not have any issues. Now I regularly pull a 9000lb fifth wheel with my truck (albeit with a lot of mods including a 360 to replace the 318) and am very satisfied with the performance. It still sucks gas.

Take it easy while pulling and keep an eye on your engine and tranny temps. Drive it within the limits and realize that you're not going to win any drag races up hills or pulling away from stop lights. I believe that your truck will do fine.

 

Thanks alot folks alot of good info.

 

The more I think about this the more I think you should consider a test run. Try to tow something heavy at HWY speeds up and down some hills.... a boat, some fire wood, a car, etc.

 

if you have driven your pick up enough yuo will know what is safe and whats not. i remember my first load an old 68 buick skylark behind a 96 1500 5.2 i was 18 going from evansvill indy to cherry point nc with a car dolly it wasnt to bad. that was 600000 miles and 7 dodges ago . if you take yuor time follow all the speed limits and keep looking in the mirrors you will be just fine

 

honestly man the secret is drive with what is safe, i agree with the test drive just so you can get a feel of how it will pull and handle. i pulled a 72 chevy nova from Carson City NVto Nampa ID no problems but of couse i do have the 5.9, just play it safe!

 

If you make it, post it here. Odds are with the mileage you have, you'll take out the tranny. A fluid/filter change and band adjustment might save you, but I'm gonna err to the side of destruction. Def do not use the overdrive.