This weekend i drove a 04 ram 2500 with a Hemi. I was hauling stone in a dump trailer. We started out Hauling in my 01 ram 2500 360 motor with 3.55 gears. Needless to say it did not like the 5 ton of stone and 3500Lb trailer. My truck was struggling bad. After one load my uncle says lets go get my truck. He owns a 04 ram 2500 with a Hemi (373 gears). It was a major difference in overall power. We towed several loads with no issues at all. At first I was wanting to trade my truck in on a 3rd gen but after really thinking about it. I like the way my truck handles and looks vs his. Granted he can smoke me pulling heavy loads. That just gives me motivation to get my plenum and 4.56 gears installed. After that I want to try it again.

 

IMO 4.56's would be to big if you run those tires still, i think 4.10s would be perfect for your truck..

 

Planning on 285's when these wear out. Just doing some pre planning.

 

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/proto...gear-ratio.pdf

This is what I am going off of for my opinion. My truck is used for towing 90% of the time.

 

Hauling that kind of weight a little extra gear couldn't hurt.

 

I have the 97 version of your truck with the 4.10 gears and easily tow 16,000 lbs trailer. The 4.10 will more than make up the difference in hp between magnum and hemi with 3.73. If you really want to upgrade for towing then get the cummins and leave the hemi for the challengers.