I currently pull a 4100 lb travel trailer with a '96 Ram 1500 with a 318(5.2) and 3.55 gears and yes its slow. I am looking at a '05 Ram 1500 with a Hemi and 3.55 gears in the pumpkins. What does everyone think yes or no and why. I did pull the trailer with a Hemi Ram with 3.73's and it did'nt even feel like the trailer was there. I don't imagine the 3.55's will be much different, and it's gotta be way better than what I now have.

Thanks
Bro D

 

Gotta say, Gen 2s and the 5.2 were an awesome combo. Also gotta say my '01 RCSB wasn't a happy boy with just a utility trailer. I'd think 4100# would be a handful, too. Maybe not. Can you find one with a 3.92 diff?

 

Are you sure the Hemi Ram you pulled with didn't have 3.92s? I didn't think think that 3.73 was an option in the 1500 Rams. Was it possibly a 2500 Ram?
Personally, I wouldn't tow with 3.55s, I'd either put a little cash in the current Ram for some power upgrades and re-gearing or if you need/want a new truck, either buy the one your looking at and plan a re-gear to 4.10s or find one with 3.92s stock...

 

i've pulled about 6k# with my 1500 4x4 with 3.92, no problem at all. if you're going to be pulling often, i'd get the 3.92. they aren't hard to come by on a 1500 at all, so why settle for something less? 3.55s on 31-33 inch tires seems like a bad idea to me anyway. really with my stock 33s i feel like i should have 4.10s.

 

I called a driveline shop today and they quoted me $3000 approximately so I am not sure that changing the diff's is the answer. Maybe I will try the dealer. Just called the dealer and they said most likely in around the $3000 area as well. OUCH!

 

You need to find another shop. I got 4.56s front & rear, Auburn Gear LSD, installation and a 500 mile check with fluid change for $1400 and change after tax.
Granted it was almost three years ago, but I just advised a member here on a gear & lsd swap and he got it done for just over $1500 and that was using a Detroit TruTrac LSD which sells for about $100 more than the Auburn unit. So the prices have not changed.
The parts for a straight gear swap on a 4x4 (front & rear needed) without adding a limited slip is about $500 your cost. A shop or dealer would of course pay less, so they are whacking you at least $2500 in labor. I'd expect that from a dealership but not an independent shop!!!
If you settle on that truck or just can't find one with the 3.92 rear end, let me know what part of the country your in. I might be able to find a shop that can do the work for what we spent.

The 3.92's (or higher) are really big when it comes to towing, Dodge's own specs list towing capacity at 1000 lbs. higher than for identical trucks with 3.55 gearing. That's a big difference.

 

Yeah, I thought those prices were a little heavy on the pencil. I guess I'll look around some more.