2005-2008 Dodge ram 1500 4x4 towing and reliability?
Legend
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 184
From: Fort Worth, TX
Yea, its changed quite a bit. My fault, not trying to be misleading.
When I looked at my trailer weight I was in a hurry and just got the TOTAL weight including the carrying capacity. The trailer itself is 4500 loaded up. I originally thought it was 6000lbs. Then on top of that I added in the weight of all the extra water, generator and junk I take for a ten day trip.
As far as regularly towing, I guess once a week would be regular, not 12 times a year.
So, the engines are strong. You mention worst transmission, how bad are they? The lifetime warranty sounds real good, unless it has to go into the shop all the time.
My Ford was covered for 5 years, 100k. Over the last 2-1/2 years its been in the shop about every 6-8 weeks for the same problems. And I've got the oasis report to prove it.
When I looked at my trailer weight I was in a hurry and just got the TOTAL weight including the carrying capacity. The trailer itself is 4500 loaded up. I originally thought it was 6000lbs. Then on top of that I added in the weight of all the extra water, generator and junk I take for a ten day trip.
As far as regularly towing, I guess once a week would be regular, not 12 times a year.
So, the engines are strong. You mention worst transmission, how bad are they? The lifetime warranty sounds real good, unless it has to go into the shop all the time.
My Ford was covered for 5 years, 100k. Over the last 2-1/2 years its been in the shop about every 6-8 weeks for the same problems. And I've got the oasis report to prove it.
but even with the 17 foot boat, we have to use tow/haul. for your application, you might want to find a superchips and completely disable overdrive.
the 545RFE is a 5 speed with two overdrives and 2 second gears.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-r...e-5-45rfe.html
1st - 3.00:1
2nd - 1.67:1 (upshift)
2nd - 1.50:1 (downshift)
3rd - 1.00:1
4th - 0.75:1
5th - 0.67:1
tow/haul mode always uses the 1.67 gear and locks out 5th completely (i believe). but a load like you're suggesting may warrant 4th getting locked out as well.
again I ask, why was there not a 6 speed NV5600/getrag/mercedes avaliable behind the hemi?
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
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Good stuff in that transmission link. It has me wondering though. I think my wifes Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo has that same transmission.
I had to use her jeep once to tow my trailer and all my stuff. It actually handled it better than I thought it would but about a month after I got back we had 2 different leaks in the tranny. I believe one was somewhere around the transfer case and I don't remember where the other was. Seems to me I was told the leaks were pretty common on those transmissions.
It may have been just coincidence or maybe caused by strain from the towing. I wasn't very happy about the bill to fix it since its only got 60k miles on it.
I'm really trying to find a truck with no weak links like the 6.0.
I had to use her jeep once to tow my trailer and all my stuff. It actually handled it better than I thought it would but about a month after I got back we had 2 different leaks in the tranny. I believe one was somewhere around the transfer case and I don't remember where the other was. Seems to me I was told the leaks were pretty common on those transmissions.
It may have been just coincidence or maybe caused by strain from the towing. I wasn't very happy about the bill to fix it since its only got 60k miles on it.
I'm really trying to find a truck with no weak links like the 6.0.
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
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Has anybody experienced or heard about this on the 1500 4x4 system?
ProsThe hemi is an awesome motor Cons4x4 system is junk, they are having so many problems Bought this truck new, at 6000 mile the truck locked into 4x4 and would not come out, took it to a dalership and was told the electric shift motor burned up, then was told the part was back ordered for 3 months, next call was they had gotten the part but it also burned up and this time it fried the computer.
Next call wasthe computer was replaced, another shifter was put on and truck was ready, picked up the truck and made it about 10 miles before the truck shifted to auto 4x4 and will not change.
We are going to use the Wa. lemon law to see if we can get the truck replaced, only bad thing is that we have read about lot's of other Dodge rams with the same problem.
My 2000 Ford f-250 has 176,000 mile on it and has never failed me, this was my first dodge and not sure I want another.
Sure wish the Ford had the Hemi in it...now that would be a truck......read morehide
ProsThe hemi is an awesome motor Cons4x4 system is junk, they are having so many problems Bought this truck new, at 6000 mile the truck locked into 4x4 and would not come out, took it to a dalership and was told the electric shift motor burned up, then was told the part was back ordered for 3 months, next call was they had gotten the part but it also burned up and this time it fried the computer.
Next call wasthe computer was replaced, another shifter was put on and truck was ready, picked up the truck and made it about 10 miles before the truck shifted to auto 4x4 and will not change.
We are going to use the Wa. lemon law to see if we can get the truck replaced, only bad thing is that we have read about lot's of other Dodge rams with the same problem.
My 2000 Ford f-250 has 176,000 mile on it and has never failed me, this was my first dodge and not sure I want another.
Sure wish the Ford had the Hemi in it...now that would be a truck......read morehide
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,686
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From: South Georgia/East Florida
I've been working on Dodge Trucks since the 2nd Gens hit the market, never for a living, mind you, but more as a hobby. Mainly lifts, exhausts and bolt ons, but I've only seen one problem that was not caused by use/abuse off road, and it was a bad relay in the push button type 4 wheel drive system. So I'd say that post is NOT indicative of a common Dodge truck problem.
I'm not a fan of the CV axles, and the transmissions are without a doubt the truck's Achille's Heel, but the 4 Wheel Drive system seems to be as solid as anyone's...
By the way, I agree with you about the Grand Cherokee's, I've had four. Three were the ex's daily drivers. My current '02 Overland with the 4.7 H.O. is a beast...
I'm not a fan of the CV axles, and the transmissions are without a doubt the truck's Achille's Heel, but the 4 Wheel Drive system seems to be as solid as anyone's...
By the way, I agree with you about the Grand Cherokee's, I've had four. Three were the ex's daily drivers. My current '02 Overland with the 4.7 H.O. is a beast...
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Gibsonton, FL
On another note.. I thought about buying a Humvee from the military just for offroading. They are fun to drive. Full time 4WD. You can beat on them and all they will do is beg for more! Put a deep water fording kit on it and it will drive in 5 foot deep water. Let's see a ram without a lift kit do that..
Record Breaker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,394
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From: Bakersfied, CA
Has anybody experienced or heard about this on the 1500 4x4 system?... took it to a dalership and was told the electric shift motor burned up, then was told the part was back ordered for 3 months, next call was they had gotten the part but it also burned up and this time it fried the computer.
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
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Just want to say thanks for all the replies. I'm asking alot of questions and it seems like I'm looking for a problem. Truth is, I guess I am. I thought the Ford was going to be the last truck I bought. If I had done a little internet research and asked some questiong prior to buying I wouldn't be in this boat right now. The old 6.9 and 7.3's were bullet proof so I had no reason to doubt.
Hammer Z71 - anything specific I should expect with the transmissions on these trucks? Is it the same tranny thats in the jeep? My wifes is an 01. The engine, from what I can find is solid. I'll give the 4x system in the one post a pass. What about the tranny
Hammer Z71 - anything specific I should expect with the transmissions on these trucks? Is it the same tranny thats in the jeep? My wifes is an 01. The engine, from what I can find is solid. I'll give the 4x system in the one post a pass. What about the tranny
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I've noticed on the dashboard pushbutton 4wd that it says 4 lock and 4 low. Is the 4 lock a locking rear diff in 4 hi mode? No diff lock in 4 low?
Record Breaker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,152
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From: Milledgeville, GA
A truck with the "4 lock" position means it has the automatic 4WD feature. Those without it have the standard 2wd, 4hi, and 4lo options.
The "stick" 4x4 systems simply do the same thing the **** does except you're actuating it with a stick. As I understand it, the transfer case is always engaged so you're just waiting for the hubs to lock and that's a solenoid whether you have the **** or the stick -- none of it is actually a manual process.
The "stick" 4x4 systems simply do the same thing the **** does except you're actuating it with a stick. As I understand it, the transfer case is always engaged so you're just waiting for the hubs to lock and that's a solenoid whether you have the **** or the stick -- none of it is actually a manual process.
