I will be in the market for a new truck in the next 6 mos or so. For the past 8 years I have had my 96 2500 ram. The reason I have a 3/4 ton is I needed it to pull my 68 chevelle and other assorted big projects. My question is this... with the 09 1/2 having more horsepower and pulling ability, would I be fine with the 1/2 ton or would you recommend staying in the 3/4 ton class?

 

Dtruck96, I've had my 99 1/2 ton Q/C for 10 years. It has the 360 (5.9l) engine and auto trans. It does not have trailer package. I did add Roadmaster suppension about 2 years ago when I bought a 16' car hauler trailer to haul our 4 wheelers. The 360 is rated at 245hp, I don't recall the torque rating but it pulls this trailer really well. I will be buying a 2009 sport crew with the hemi. I only tow this trailer about 3-5 times per year so I never saw the need for a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. I haven't pulled this trailer with anything other than the 4 wheelers so I don't really know how it would do but I have had all 5 of our atv's in tow at once and didn't have any problems. The only thing on the 09's I'd be worried about with the 1/2 ton is the rear suspension is now coil spring. In 2010 when the 2500 & 3500 come out they will continue to use leaf springs. Since you are towing cars and other big projects you may want to wait and stick with the 3/4 ton. I do have a brochure for the 09 and it states the truck can tow up to 9100 lbs. This is way more than I would ever have in it myself. Attached is the trailer and the atv's after we had returned from a trip to the ranch. Normally my wifes atv would be in the bed of my truck and the utv on the trailer but we were getting ready to put the trailer into storage and put the rhino in the garage. Jeff.