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So, I've just bought my 06 2500 QC Hemi with 6 speed and 3.73 gear ratio, and I've not yet towed with it...
Our trailer is only 22 feet and is only 3800#. Not too worried there... However my wife wants a new trailer now that Ive got the ability to tow more, and Im not sure how far to go.

So, factory spec says something like 8500 or 8600 towing cap on my truck (which I actually thought sounded low)
What are you towing? Anyone pulling close to that 8000 range, how does it do? Think it could handle more?
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General rule of thumb is don't tow more than 3/4's the rated weight. I have the 4.7 and 3:73's that is rated at 7500ish and there is no way in he!! this truck would tow that unless I'm on a flat surface. I have a 26' Skamper in the 5000# to 6000# weight range and on mild to moderate hills, it will cause this little engine to scream. That stupid tow/haul button on the automatic letting the truck go into 4th does not help matters at all. Some Dodge engineer really had his head up his @$$ on that one. You having the stick will solve that problem. You have better than 100 Hp and torque so you will do better than I but a vehicle with lower gears will tow better. I'm doing the 4:56 swap next week so I will update once I get to do a test run with towing the trailer. Strange thing I cant come across anyone who has done the gear swap for towing purposes. Seems as if everone does it for street racing......
In your case towing that much weight I would look at the gear swap, overload springs or air bags, anti sway hitch and make sure you have trailer brakes.

 

about a 10,000# boat w/ the 2003 ram 6 mile trip once or twice for friend and no prob. just kept under or no more then 50 local transported, from home to launch point

 

I pulled a 3500# trailer with 6000#'s of lumber and the HEMI pulled hard[>:] but i never had a problem.
Just make sure the trailer brakes work and that you take your time; let the trailer haul the weight.

2005 Reg. Cab HEMI 4X4
3:55 Gears
Flowmaster Exhaust

 

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26' scamper huh? what does it weigh? (if you don't mind my asking!) Thanks for the response!
Changing gears for towing is what its all about to me... I could care less about racing! I know its important for alot of people though. I actually thought my truck had the 3.92's till I had the spec sheet printed up for my truck, boy was I disappointed to find it has the 3.73's (which I will say do feel adequate, just not what I thought it was going to have.) I did some research and discovered also that the trucks with the manual trans came with a 3.73, 4.10, or the 4.56 from factory, they didn't even make (unless special order) the manual 2500 with 3.92 rear's.
The dealer told me, and there was a poster on the wall at the dealer's stating very clearly
"ALL BIG HORNS.....(this that and the other)EQUIPT WITH 3.92" etc etc etc...
Oh well, anyways, my f-150's supposed towing cap was 7000, and loaded up with all I carry I was probably close to 5,000# and It was as far as I wanted to go in that truck. I was climbing over canyons at 65, never hurting for power, and thats the way I like it. Ya I could've towed more... If I wanted to travel at about 50 the whole way!
Forget that! I want all the power I need-WHEN I want it.
So thats why I posted the Q. Like you said staying about 3\4 of recommended capacity like in my old ford?
Or can the hemi handle the whole thing- and still drive like I want to drive?
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Hey ramsport! thanks for the reply!
So what is your gear ratio?
10 grand eh? in a 1500? or did I understand that wrong?
Canyon driving at all?
Thanks
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I tow my 27 foot boat with no problems. I'm guessing it is between 8,000 - 9,000 pounds with the trailer.
I get about 7mpg when I pull it.
No changes to the gear ratio or anything else.

 

I have a 04 Hemi quad cab,4x4 . I pull a load rite trailer dual wells and a 21 ft I/o boat. total weight about 5500 lbs. With the tow package. I get 13.5 mpg average with this combination . Pulls very easily, I have 17 in wheels. 3.55 rear. and I always use the tow button.

 

Stumpy - I put in the 4.56's last week, broke them in Friday night on an empty road trip & then hooked up the trailer Sat AM for a trip up the AZ mountains..... this gearing works much better for towing with the 4.7 - instead of running 55 at high RPM's in 2nd gear - I was able to pull the hills in 3rd gear - about 3600 RPM at 65 mph..... even though it still took full throttle to run the hills, it was much better than a screaming engine. Even towing on flat areas or with a head wind worked fine. The bonus is that you also get a real fun truck running around empty.

 

SWWWEEEEEETTTT! Finally someone in a 4.7 who has done the swap for towing. Hopefully mine will be in the shop tomorrow. I would do it myself but 1. the smell of diff fluid makes me want to puke, 2. I don't wnat to risk screwing up the backlash and 3. I'm just generally lazy (moreso on point 3). We are still considering a larger truck but we are going to try the 4:56's first. You can add all the bolt on stuff you want but what it comes down to is you still have a small engine. Good thing is if I'm still not satisfied with the towability sfter the gear swap, with all the gadgets and gizmos I should be able to sell it pretty easily (keeping my fingers crossed). Have you done any mileage estimates yet? BTW, White Jeeps rule more.......

Jager, as far as the weight, I'm estimating between 5000 and 6000 lbs. The title says 4000 but there is no way this trailer weighs that little. If that was the case, my Unlimited could pull it and that aint happening! It has been remodeled on the inside - all wood cabinetry (tons of closets and cabinets), carpet, furniture etc. etc. - and is really nice. I'm sure this greatly added to the weight. All I know is a 05 1500 with 3.92 gears (supposidly) and the 4.7 automatic with that stupid tow/haul button strainged mightly on inclines. Like Green Jeep said, 60 mph in 2nd gear. Running that for extended amounts of time will make you start to sweat!