I have a 97 Ram 1500 5.2l with 3.5 gears. It doesnt have a trans cooler but one will be installed along with a HD alternator, perf plugs and wires, and all the plug ins.

My question is how much can I look to tow with the 3.5 gear ratio?
I am wanting to tow a small travel trailer(not picked out yet) with a stove,sink, toilet, and shower.
There will be a few long distance tows planned.

The truck is stock height and stock tire size.

 

I see numbers ranging from 2700 pounds, to 8100 pounds...... have a look at the sticker in the drivers door frame, should give max capacities there.

 

what hitch do you have? if your hitch is only rated for 5000# 500#TW then you can't tow over 5000#. if you have a 5th wheal hitch and air bags you could haul a pretty big camper trailer. i know my bother-in-laws parents have a trailer that looks like it is twice the size of there dodge but they haul it with there dodge ram 1500 with fifth wheal and air bags and electric brakes.

 

You probably have a class 3, so no more than 5000.

 

My sticker on the door says 3300 front and 3800 rear but from what I read pretty much all of them say that.

I am assuming by air bags you mean bags over the rear axle to level the rear out? I dont think I will get a trailer that will weigh that much but a brake controller will be installed.

 

ya. bags over the rear axle is exactly what i mean. it is cool how they have the valve to fill up the bags come out through the holes in the rear licence plate.

 

On this same topic of towing. I have a light 5x10 trailer. It weigh's approx 350lbs. Should I still shut off the overdrive when towing it empty?

 

I wouldn't worry about it. You put more weight than that in your truck with four people...... and i don't turn off O/D when I am just carrying passengers.

 

My rule of thumb is anywhere near 1000 lbs, I turn off O/D, but I might just be overprotective (especially since I have the original transmission).

Oh, and BTW... it doesn't matter whether you are on flat land or even going down hill, if you are towing anything substantial, turn off O/D.

 

Pulling a trailer is worse than hauling the same amount of weight in the bed. The extra drag of the tires and aero drag of the trailer creates a lot more load than carrying the same weight on the truck's wheels.