1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
I need a cheap tow vehicle to tow my boat 5-6 times a year. Does anyone know what the towing capacity is of the 1500 with the 5.9 engine? Also, which gears would I need to best tow the boat. Could I get away with the default gearing and the 5.9?
Any help would be appreciated.
Any help would be appreciated.
Professional
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: 33.43.342, 84.21.602
RE: 1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
1500, 5.9L, stock gears. . .it'll pull no problem.
but I do have to ask, does the trailer have brakes? even bringing 5400lbs to a stop behind a 2/3500 without trailer brakes takes a bit.
but I do have to ask, does the trailer have brakes? even bringing 5400lbs to a stop behind a 2/3500 without trailer brakes takes a bit.
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
RE: 1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
The trailer will definitly have brakes. What are the stock gears on a RAM 1500?
From what I can see, it's not going to be easy trying to find a used 1500 with the 5.9.
From what I can see, it's not going to be easy trying to find a used 1500 with the 5.9.
Grand Champion
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 6
From: Colorado
RE: 1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
If I were in your shoes and buying a vehicle specifically with towing in mind, I would definetly spend a little more money and get a 2500 with Cummins diesel. Not only will it out tow the 5.9 gas every day of the week, you will also get better fuel economy and it will likely last longer. My father-in-law and brother-in-law both have '99 2500's CTD's for the ranch, and an 05 CTD for daily driver. The 99's average around 18-21 mpg, and 15-17 mpg when towing. I've seen my father-in-law tow over 10,000 lbs on numerous occasions, no problem at all.
Some other points to consider:
-2500 has heavier duty axles and frame, larger brakes too I think (another plus for towing),
-diesel engines tend to have a longer life then a gas engine too, though I have seen a few gasers go over 200,000,
-you could get a bigger boat, and not have to worry about if you can tow it or not,
-depending on were you live, diesel fuel can be cheaper then gas.
Some other points to consider:
-2500 has heavier duty axles and frame, larger brakes too I think (another plus for towing),
-diesel engines tend to have a longer life then a gas engine too, though I have seen a few gasers go over 200,000,
-you could get a bigger boat, and not have to worry about if you can tow it or not,
-depending on were you live, diesel fuel can be cheaper then gas.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
From: White Salmon Wa
RE: 1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
if you're worried about the gas prices you could go biodiesel eventually. from what i understand it is a pretty easy conversion, i'm not sure on the hp and torque specs but i think they are pretty similar to standard diesel the CTD.
i've got a 1500 5.9, it was bought and was going to be used to tow a trailer or fifthwheel, the dealer said it would be perfect for doing that on weekends and being an everyday driver. be prepared for max 18 highway and max 15 city with the 5.9.
go with the 2500 cummins turbo. it seriously kicks ***. if you need to go uphill, the cummins will win in a heartbeat over the gas. oh and the CTD is also a 5.9 liter, it's just an inline six rather than a V8.
i've got a 1500 5.9, it was bought and was going to be used to tow a trailer or fifthwheel, the dealer said it would be perfect for doing that on weekends and being an everyday driver. be prepared for max 18 highway and max 15 city with the 5.9.
go with the 2500 cummins turbo. it seriously kicks ***. if you need to go uphill, the cummins will win in a heartbeat over the gas. oh and the CTD is also a 5.9 liter, it's just an inline six rather than a V8.
Professional
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 117
Likes: 1
From: 33.43.342, 84.21.602
RE: 1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
just to follow up on some things. the thought of the 2500 with the CTD did cross my mind to mention, but I was figureing you were wondering if you would need a 2500 to do the job better than a 1500 both being equiped with a 5.9L gasser.
now with that said and since I do own a CTD, 5400 is nothing. as stated your realy not working the engine untill about 10K.
finding an older CTD might be a better option than trying to find a 1500 with a 5.9. also you know that even if the odometer does say 100,000 miles you know you still have well over 200,000 left on the engine
now with that said and since I do own a CTD, 5400 is nothing. as stated your realy not working the engine untill about 10K.
finding an older CTD might be a better option than trying to find a 1500 with a 5.9. also you know that even if the odometer does say 100,000 miles you know you still have well over 200,000 left on the engine
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From:
RE: 1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
Stock gears on the 1500 with a 5.9 were normally 3.55, if you have the offroad package you would get 4.11s with a LSD. I use to pull a mower trailer and a fertilizer trailer with my '95 5.9 and it did just fine. Especially if you are only doing this 5 to 6 times a year. I would be carefull about the transmission though. I have had to rebuild 3 transmissions. Two in my '95 and 1 in my '00. I wised up though and did not have Dodge rebuild the one in my '00 and I now have 122K miles on it and the transmission works better than the day it came off the dealers lot.
Trending Topics
Champion
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,287
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Stewart, GA
RE: 1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
ORIGINAL: Silver_Dodge
If I were in your shoes and buying a vehicle specifically with towing in mind, I would definetly spend a little more money and get a 2500 with Cummins diesel. Not only will it out tow the 5.9 gas every day of the week, you will also get better fuel economy and it will likely last longer. My father-in-law and brother-in-law both have '99 2500's CTD's for the ranch, and an 05 CTD for daily driver. The 99's average around 18-21 mpg, and 15-17 mpg when towing. I've seen my father-in-law tow over 10,000 lbs on numerous occasions, no problem at all.
Some other points to consider:
-2500 has heavier duty axles and frame, larger brakes too I think (another plus for towing),
-diesel engines tend to have a longer life then a gas engine too, though I have seen a few gasers go over 200,000,
-you could get a bigger boat, and not have to worry about if you can tow it or not,
-depending on were you live, diesel fuel can be cheaper then gas.
If I were in your shoes and buying a vehicle specifically with towing in mind, I would definetly spend a little more money and get a 2500 with Cummins diesel. Not only will it out tow the 5.9 gas every day of the week, you will also get better fuel economy and it will likely last longer. My father-in-law and brother-in-law both have '99 2500's CTD's for the ranch, and an 05 CTD for daily driver. The 99's average around 18-21 mpg, and 15-17 mpg when towing. I've seen my father-in-law tow over 10,000 lbs on numerous occasions, no problem at all.
Some other points to consider:
-2500 has heavier duty axles and frame, larger brakes too I think (another plus for towing),
-diesel engines tend to have a longer life then a gas engine too, though I have seen a few gasers go over 200,000,
-you could get a bigger boat, and not have to worry about if you can tow it or not,
-depending on were you live, diesel fuel can be cheaper then gas.
Record Breaker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
RE: 1500 or 2500? Need to tow 5400 lb boat and trailer
I'd get a 1500 with the 5.9 gasser if you're only going to tow 5 or 6 times a year. It will do that NO PROBLEM. A CTD would be overkill! It would also kill your wallet. Even the 1st gen diesels are still pricey. The newest diesel I could find that was in the same price range as my V10 was a '90....and that was back in February. And it had 160,xxx miles on it. [>:] Also, I wouldn't buy a diesel older than '91. That's the year they started making a large number of improvements to the motors.
Anyway, a gas 5.9 will tow 5400lbs. no problem. You'd even be good with the 3.55s, but you could upgrade to 4.10s for a little extra power.
Anyway, a gas 5.9 will tow 5400lbs. no problem. You'd even be good with the 3.55s, but you could upgrade to 4.10s for a little extra power.
