I'm new to the forums and I am gladto have found this site. I recently purchased a 26' Sea Ray boat that weighs 4680 pounds dry and the trailer weighs approx. 1000 pounds. I'm wondering if my 07 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab with the 4.7L V8 and factory towing package will handle pulling my new boat. I won't be towing it more than a few miles or anything but I obviously don't want to damage my truck. I have been looking all over for the towing capacity for my truck but have been getting numbers all over the board from different sources. I figure someone here could definately help me. Thanks.

 

I tow my 24' Pathfinder alot. The total trailered weight is around 5500 lbs or so. IfI towed any more, I'd definately be getting rear airbags for the suspension. The rear end is very soft and squats easily. I can't imagine towing anything near the max capacity. The Ram has good power and braking,but I prefer the overall towing personality of my old Avalanche better.

I can't help you with the tow rating, my wife has the truck with the owners manual in it.

 

Yea, you are well within the capacity of your truck. I wouldn't do a lot of long hauls with it on a continuous basis, but a short trip to the ramp and back you'll be fine. If your gears are 3.92's (which I would hope they are with the factory tow pkg.) you shouldbe fine there too. If you have the lame 3.55's, a re-gearing to 4.10's would probably be in order.
I didabout two years oftrips with my bass boat (about 3400 lbs. empty boat, motor & trailer) from '93 to '95 with a six cylinder Grand Cherokee and had no problems, even with an occasional trip to a second lake that was an hour and a half away...

If you find the rear squats a bit more than you like, get a set of these and put them on yourself. Just a couple hundred bucks and a couple hours work in the driveway to install:



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Thanks guys. I was just concerned because I had the 4.7L V8. With boat, trailer, gas, and everything I would be+6000 lbs and wasn't sure if it would handle it without some problems. I also forgot to mention I have the 20'" alloy wheels.

 

Your post reminded me of something that occurred to me a few years ago. I was fishing near a marina in my 4X4 Cherokee. A 2WD pickup owner got into a bad situation at the ramp. The ramp was steep and after he loaded the boat, his rear wheels started floating. Having no traction, he was stuck so I gave him some help and pulled him out.

 

Three times I've had to either hook someone's trailer up to a 4x4 of mine to pull their boat out of the water on a slick ramp or pulled a truck & trailer up a ramp.
Once in my '98 5.9 Magnum RCSB, once in my '02 Chevy Z71 and once with my wife's (now ex-wife) '02 Grand Cherokee as we were just out for a drive checking out lakes and ramp access.
4WD is a good thing to have when you are pulling a boat out of the water...

 

yeah thats why you dont buy a 2x4 (piece of wood lol) if youre gonna launch a boat. floating is an issue, but also just the algae and slim on the lower part of the ramp gives you no traction at all.

 

HammerZ71,

My gears are 3.92, I just checked that out to be sure. You say I am well within the capacity of my truck but what is the capacity? Any ideas? Thanks.

 

According to the '07 American Camper Association trailer capacity guide, a 2007 Dodge 1500 Q-cab with the 4.7 and factory tow package and 3.92 gears is capable of towing 7650 lbs. if it's a 4x2 and 7450 lbs. if it's a 4x4.

Conversely, the same truck with a Hemi is 9200 lbs & 9000 lbs. with the same gears.

4.56 gears up the towing capacities by exactly 1000 lbs. in the Hemi and 750 lbs. in the 4.7...

 

Hammer, you are the man! Thank you very much.