what is the most anyone has towed with a 1500 sport 4x4, rcsb and how did the truck handle? tks all

 

I've pulled an enclosed trailer across the country and through real mountain passes (Hwy 14/14a, Chief Joseph Hwy). With four cycles and gear it was probably close to 8,000 total. No problems with power or brakes. The gearing left some to be desired in the steep twisties, because I was always revving WAY high in 2nd or running out of steam in 3rd. The Hemi has great power but the RAM needs another ratio in there.

I've also pulled larger skid-steer loaders (Bobcat T250, JD 323D, about 8,500#) with a 1,500# brush mower on trailers that probably go 2,000#, resulting in roughly 12,000# trailer weight. Again, no lack of power and the brakes worked well. They had to, because these were rental trailers with surge brakes instead of electric and they're always a blast to deal with (...no assist, ...no assist, ...SLAM activation!). These pulls were on flat MN roads at highway speeds or less - not interstate speeds. The RAM has been rock solid for my towing needs.



Rob

 

You asking about the 5.7 or 4.7

 

5.7 hemi, concerned about my shorter wheelbase and towing about 8500 lbs. tks blueEdge.

 

my 2012 Ram, 5.7, 3.56 gears is the biggest pain in the butt I ever had for towing. Boat & trailer only weigh about 4000 lbs. There is no way to lock it out of 6th gear. In 6 it turns 1600 RPM at 65 MPG. Not enough torque to maintain 65 in 6th, i'm not surprised at only 1600 R.P.M. sooo, no matter wether in tow mode or the manual **** mode truck keeps going in 6th, can't maintain, drops to 4th for a couple seconds then 5th. at 65 in 5th it turns 2000-2100 R.P.M. Engine maintains speed well so it shifts to 6th. Then back to 4th, then 5th then back to 6th. On about 150 mile trip it did it at least 30 times!! Told them when I bought it I need gears for towing. Got build sheet from Chrysler, it has 3.56, the highest they make!! After fighting 3 weeks dealer FINALLY are gonna plug it in computer and se if they can reprogram tranny. If no then I'll haul boat to keys, 350 miles round trip, it should go thru this shifting sequence about 150 times, that should polish her off! I hear they have LOTS of trannies. They SHOULD put 3.92 gears in it, whatever. I'll just keep burning them up till they fix it!! Other than that, I love the truck. Before you reply, remember, I KNOW i shouldn't run in 6th BUT it will NOT lock out, period!!

 

With those gears your going to fluctuate. I guess the answer to your question is in the year model and gears. The 5.7 can handle it.

 

I am actually sitting in the camper I pulled up into the hills. About 6k dry so I figure about 7k loaded up. Pulled just fine.

That said, I have a tuner, dumped the 20" p rated tires for 18" with E rated Nittos, air bags. Currently has the 3.54 gears in it but I'm having 4.10's put in in about 3 weeks to make it a little less doggy and less gear changes on the hills.

 

2009 5.7 , 150,400 on the clock ..
pull 31' forest river flagstaff 6,000 #s

 

How do you like the nittos on 18's? Terra or Trail?

 

I'm towing a 33' camper, 7100 pounds empty and 8500 pounds gross weight. I have an 09 Laramie crew cab, with 5.7, 3.55 gears, 20" wheels with Nitto Terra grapplers, air raid intake and I'm running the superchips towing tune. The truck does seem to downshift quite a bit but I've pulled through some crazy mountains without a problem. It just screams a little sometimes. Gotta put the hemi to work once in a while, right? Lol