Hi everyone,
I got a 95 Ram 1500 2WD with 50,000K on it. I'm going to be pulling a 20' enclosed trailer with an old jeep in it and a bunch of tools too. The main haul will be from South Carolina back to Vermont. After that, it will just be using the trailer whenever I need it around Vermont. This pull will be happening in a couple years here. I was just wondering, do you think I will kill my transmission doing this? I dont see how auto's can pull good, I would think standards would do so much better....

So what do you think the price range would be from getting transmission and all the linkage and clutch lines from the junkyard/autoparts?

Would it even be worth it?

So how hard will the pull be on my truck do you think?

Anything I should do to prepare for the pull?

Thanks alot everyone.

 

just get a trans temp gauge and trans cooler... and adjust the bands... check fluid level.. and drive with the overdriver turned off.... you'll be fine! you might want to get some air bags for the rear.. and brake controler and new brakes

there's not reason to get a manual.. it'd cost thousands!! even from the junk yard!

 

why od off?
EDIT NVM.

 

Ok thanks for the input.

So what do you mean "adjust the bands?" And also, what is the normal transmission temp range for my truck? Any suggestions for a good gauge kit?

 

OT: Where abouts in Vermont?

 

i have auto lite tran on my piller and the norm drive away like 100 or 150 towing it getting little hotter i would diff look into a cooler and a shift kit

 

Wow, thats dang cold. You sure your gage is working properly? Wheres the sensor mounted?


To the original poster, 150-200 degrees F is a safe operating range for the tranny. Much hotter and damage can start to occur. An aftermarket tranny cooler will greatly help keep the temps down. And a gage is also a great addition to monitor what its at. Because, by the time the factory "temp warning" light comes on, its too late. Trust me, been there. When I overheated mine I didnt know until it was boiling out the dipstick... then the light came on. I could have simply pulled over and let it cool down had I known the actual temp.

 

it mounted on the side the pan close to the bottom were esle would it be my buddy has one and it the same way 100 to 150 i drive home 3hours and it stay between there. If you run our trans at 200 for a couple hours you kill it oil start to brake down and burn stuff up.

 

Where in Vermont are you and what are the grades of the roads you will be towing on? Best to plan the route well in advance to make sure you can make it safely.

I strongly suggest swapping gears to 410, getting an electronic brake controller as well as class IV wt distribution. Sounds like you will be towing in the 7200lb to 8000lb range which is getting close to the max rating for that truck.
Tranny as mentioned, adjust the bands, add shift kit, deep pan, temp gauge(crucial), if you dont have a cooler get a good one, with fan preferably.

I was towing with a new 318 4x4 w/3.55s (r/c) and found it really struggled with 5600lbs on the hitch going up 2mile 6% grade on the way to the track(lights at bottom of hill). Ended up trading it in with only 9600miles on it cause I didnt like towing with it, terrible mpg (9 at best) and figured once off warranty it was going to have major repairs needed.

 

I'm in the Essex and Grand Isle area. Yes, I know they are like 30 min away from eachother, but I basically live in both places. I will be towing from there to there, and some up into the Northeast Kingdom, like to Coventry.

What what exactly is adjusting the bands? Also what is a shift kit. I would think that the temp guage would be priority because you might have a cooler in there, but theres no way to even know if it's working!

Yeah, I got 3.55's. I suppose it wouldnt be too hard to swap, since I've only got 2WD. But thats a last resort for right now I think. I like my MPG and for the little that I will be pulling, I dont know if it would be worth it?

I was pulling a fully loaded 6X10 inclosed trailer up to Coventry, and if you know Coventry, it is hiiilllyyyy!! It did struggle some going up those inclines, truck was down to second gear and the torque converter was locked all the way. (I think thats how you would explain it...there was no more slip...)