We have a 02' 1500 Quad Cab Long Bed with the 5.9L V8.

The manual states that 8000lbs is the max towing.
We are getting a trailer that is 5000lbs and will probably be around 6000lbs when it is loaded.
We will be towing it at the most two times a month (travel trailer)

Are we going to destroy our Truck towing this Trailer?

All input is appreciated!

Thanks

Karna and Justin

 

Not on an everyday basis, but occasionally you should have no problems. It would not be a bad idea to have a tranny temp gauge installed, you can get a really cool setup that replaces your driver side pillar. Fairly cheap, I'm thinking maybe $200for pillar & gauge.
The tranny is the one component more likely to fail during towing so monitoring the temp. would be a good safeguard. Also, servicing the rear differential and tranny fluids about twice as often as the manual calls for is another pretty good safeguard. With a lot of towing, you should also think about changing engineoil & possibly radiator fluids more often than when you didn't tow. Of course, brakes will wear out faster stopping a heavy load so just keep an eye out there too.
That should really about do it. I'll try to find a pic of that replacement pillar & gauge and possibly a link to purchase it.
Here is one for about $50.00, the actual temp gauge is probably about that much and to have someone run the wire might cost you $100 tops as it's only about a half hour job.

 

Does it have a tow package? A tranny cooler would be a worthwile investment. Deeper tranny pan and diff cover couldn' hoit either. Won't be cheap, but neither is a new/rebuilt tranny.

 

Yes on the Tow Package. I think it already has a Tranny Cooler: Is the Tranny Cooler the extra (smaller) radiator?

 

Yes, it is. I was going to ask about the tow package also, but seeing that you said your tow limit was 8000 lbs. I assumed you had it. Although I've assumed things before that I shouldn't have.

 

It can't hurt to put a larger Trans cooler on you can run then in one after anouther or just get one big one Summite racing is a good place to look for one just find out how much room you have to install one or replace the stock one.

 

Excellent question, and really good advice.. Can you guys advise, i have a 4.7 LTR V-8 and when i purchased the truck it had a tow hitch already equipped. Does this mean that i have a tow package?

 

maybe even an e fan...

 

One other question also, If i decided to have the tranny cooler temperature gauge installed, who could i get to do it? Also, if a tranny cooler temperature guage is so important, why doesn't Dodge, have them installed at the factory?

 

Did your truck come with a trailer hitch? If it did you should be able to tow most anything .Ask the dealer.






[/align]