Hemi with 3.21's or 4.7L with 3.55's ??
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
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I have the Crew Cab with 5.7l and 3.21 rearend. It was not because I wanted the gears but because I forgot to look or ask before buying it. That said I use it to tow about 4200lbs and it has no problem. I just got back from sking and averaged 20.5mpg round trip from Dallas to Red River NM. I think the around town mileage suffers some due to the 3.21 gears as this is about 80% of my driving and I usually average 15mpg in the city.
Professional
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 143
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From: SoCal
I have the Crew Cab with 5.7l and 3.21 rearend. It was not because I wanted the gears but because I forgot to look or ask before buying it. That said I use it to tow about 4200lbs and it has no problem. I just got back from sking and averaged 20.5mpg round trip from Dallas to Red River NM. I think the around town mileage suffers some due to the 3.21 gears as this is about 80% of my driving and I usually average 15mpg in the city.
But you'll get great HWY mileage with the 3.21 and Hemi.
Professional
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 143
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From: SoCal
I've gotten as high as 23.6 before out on a flat road.
Champion
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,497
Likes: 1
From: MN
The 4.7 should be fine for your needs. I run a 2009 SLT Hemi with 3.21's and it tows 5K with no problems. Headed out to Montana again in May to haul my kids stuff and tow a car back, hardly notice its there.
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
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On my trip from Dallas to Red River I went from about 600ft asl to 9980ft asl and back and still averaged 20.5mpg. And when pulling the 4200lb trailer I usually average between 11mpg and 12mpg with the 3.21 rearend. Now the towing milage would be better with the 3.92 but the hwy wouldn't be 20.5mpg...lol
Champion
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,497
Likes: 1
From: MN
On my trip from Dallas to Red River I went from about 600ft asl to 9980ft asl and back and still averaged 20.5mpg. And when pulling the 4200lb trailer I usually average between 11mpg and 12mpg with the 3.21 rearend. Now the towing milage would be better with the 3.92 but the hwy wouldn't be 20.5mpg...lol
Professional
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 143
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From: SoCal
I also forgot to mention at one point we hauled about 2000lbs of stuff up to the condo and still managed 15mpg going about 75-80.
Dodge is offering the Hemi as free. The deals are coming. Right now the Hemi is free......
The 4.7 got a nice HP upgrade in 07 and does not feel underpowered when compared to the Hemi. With the lower rear end, it will feel even closer. I had an 02 4.7 QC and liked the engine with the exception of a lack of torque at highway speed. It will tow trailers fine, but will drop out of OD quite often unless you lock it out. My 09 Hemi does the same thing much to my disapointment due to the extra gears in the tranny. Drive them both and choose which one you want. The resale of the hemi will no way come close to the extra $3K in cost. The hemi alone does not cost that much more, must be a bit of apples to oranges on the equipment on the trucks. If the 4.7 had 3.92 LSD, that would be the way to go IMO.