im not sure on the gear, i have drove it in the "tow/haul" mode and with the OD off neither one seamed to make a difference, i tried the cruse control BUT every time the truck struggles it downshifts to 2nd gear and at 65-70mph that runs the tac all the way to about 5000 and it sounds like its screaming at that rate...

 

You def want to tow with OD off. Your on the fast track to cooking your trans if you let it hunt gears like that. I find it odd you can't find plugs. I got plugs at farm and fleet for my truck, they probably had 100 of them in stock.

 

Bosch is factory for the 08 16 plug 4.7L heads I think. Copper plugs for the top ones every 30K and platinum for the bottom ones every 100K.

The owners manual has the part numbers in it.
Towing a brick in the wind is going to kill your mileage. The frontal area of an enclosed trailer has a lot or resistance at highway speeds.
If you are going by the overhead display for accurate mpg, it ain't usually right.
Always use tow/haul mode when towing. Even though 1200# isn't much.
My empty flat 20ft trailer weighs 2600# and I can tow it with ease with my Hemi.
The plugs look fine. You might try unhooking the battery for about an hour to let the PCM reset and see if it acts any better.
The 310hp 08 4.7L should tow 1200# without breaking a sweat really. I would see what gears are in the rearend. 3.92 is the desired oem gearing on the 1500.
I am guessing that you have 3.55 or worse for gearing.

 

I'll take Bosch over Champion any day... Kinda disturbing someone working at a dealer is not aware of them using Bosch. Not surprising, just disturbing.

 

thanks

i dont have an overhead readout, i filled the truck up full and drove the 68 miles home (some up hill) and then filled the truck up again because it was way down, then divided the gal and millage thats how i got the number, il try the batt thing and see, nothing to loose but the radio stations lol. we had a 19 foot camper that weighed in at about 3900 when we bought the truck we pulled this camper back home and it struggled bad, BUT it was the first time i had drove the truck so i had to "learn" how to drive it, but it still was only getting 10-11mpg on that trip home... now its even worse with a smaller and lighter trailer (and my utility has a V nose) thanks again

 

not in this part of the woods this is the 3rd time this dealer has steered my wrong OR lied to me, first time i cant rember what it was second time they told me my truck didnt come from the factory with electric brake plug under dash and wanted to charge 140.00 to put one in..(the guys here made me look again and i found it ) this last time they said that dodge NEVER used bosh plugs it there engines!! then they sell me bosh plugs

thanks

 

Auto parts stores didnt have them? HUH? 4.7L guys got it tough....

Well for them 5.7L HEMI guys, here are the plug numbers and prices.
^ ^
Champion #570 (RE14MCC4) are $2.09 at AdvanceAuto
NGK 5306 are $2.79 at AdvanceAuto

Autoparts stores dont often carry the 2009+ Hemi plugs just yet either.