I know this question has been asked before, but I need to know what everybody thinks. I have a 2006 Ram 1500 Quad Cab. 4x4, 5.7 liter HEMI with 20 inch tires. 6.5 foot bed. Its the Big Horn Edition. It had the towing package already installed on the truck. I am not sure which gears are in the truck. There are 9000 miles on the truck. I have been asked to pull a cargo trailer for my sons marching band that weighs about 6800lbs loaded. I will be pulling it about 160 miles round trip. About 90% of the trip will be interstate. My concern is how much strain would this put on the transmission and shocks. Everything is still factory on the truck. I would have to pull this coming Friday, so I wouldnt have time to have any additonal springs or anything else put on the truck. Any help would be appreciated.

 

You'll pull it just fine. Gas mileage will suck but the Hemi will have no problem.

 

Ditto. Red

 

You'll be fine ... 6800 isnt too bad. I pulled 12K for about 100 miles a few weeks ago with a 4.7. Man that thing took awhile to get moving but she handeled her fine! (Although I wouldn't reccomend doing that on a regular basis, lol)

 

The truck will be fine, just use tow/haul mode if you have it. I'd be more concerned with the brakes on the trailer, since it's not yours, and you don't know how they're maintained. I towed someone elses heavy trailer with my 2001 ram and found it had no brakes.Iused extra caution, especially when it started to rain.

 

Not a problem on towing, but a word of advice. I would have a waiver printed up for them to sign in the event there is a problem that you won't be held responsible for. God forbid, but if you wreck or something happens to the trailer, make sure you are protected since it is not yours.

 

You'll be fine, even without the tow package installed, the hemi is fitted with every cooler known to man. With the 20" wheels, you should have 3.92's (look inside your glovebox at the sticker). I had to install a hitch on my Lonestar, then I pulled a 6000-6500 lb load (Jeep Liberty on a flatbed) from TX to CT. Gas mileage WILL suck, but it won't hurt anything as long as you use your tow.haul mode. The other thing that'll suck is how bad you slow down if you have to go up any mountains. I definitely agree about the waiver.

 

I hauled my 26' box trailer from AZ to FL with my house of furnature...thing ways 3500 empty, I'm guessing I had close to another 3k with 2 bedroom sets (dresser's w/mirrors, night stands, and hutch), couch, loveseat, lazyboy recliner, entertainment center, ect... made the truck squat ALOT, but the Hemi pulled it with NO problem... take it slow on excel... it will clime fast if you need it but it will drink gas...I managed about 11mpg on flat highway doing 65.... total travel 2163 miles and still runs strong.

 

That's good. I have an older 5th wheel camper that's 9600lbs empty that drops me down to 9,5 or 10mpg.

 

I tow a 25' gooseneck, 14,000 gvwr, with an '04 2500 4x4 QC, Hemi/automatic, 4:10 gears. At times, I'm towing between 9000 and 10,500 lbs. In 3-3/4 years, I've logged almost 36,000 miles of towing. (Truck has a total of 76,000 miles) The truck is different, but the Hemi is the same. The 4.7 Hemi is up to YOUR task. It does just fine with mine. Gas milage will suck though. My truck gets an average of 15.5 empty on a combination of highway and rural side roads. Towing 9000lbs +, that average drops to around 10 mpg.