Hi, looking for some advice. I'm about to purchase a 2010 1500, 5.7L Hemi. I tow a 20 fiberglass boat a lot (weighs roughly 5-6k lbs). This truck would be my primary vehicle as well. I live in WI, not too many hills but a few here and there. I have a lot of short (30-60 minute) trips I haul the boat to as well as several 500+ mile trips throughout the year. I think MPG trumps over towing power for me but I'm not educated enough on the gearing ratios to know which way to go. It's either the 3.55 or 3.92. I currently have a 4.7L Durango (don't know axle ratio) which gets me 9-14mpg towing my boat on a regular basis on my trips.

I was leaning towards the 3.55 as I was worried about the drop off in mpg going to the 3.92. Another thing I'm curious about is the limited slip which I think I saw only offered in the 3.92. It snows a lot up where I live and this is something to consider as well.

Any suggestions/comments are much appreciated! I am going to ask the dealer I'm working with to test drive both while towing if possible and see for myself.....

 

I just purchased a Hemi 1500 4X4 with 3.92's and limited slip. Went from a 04 2500 Diesel w/3.73's that got 12mpg avg pulling a 14' enclosed trailer with a Polaris Ranger inside. Believe the MDS system will make up for the gears when not towing. Had a 2000 Dakota 4X4 w/360 and 3.55 gears....10 1/2mpg was as good as it got. It costs a lot of money to upgrade gears after the fact.

 

You should bring your trailer to the dealership, and ask to give a quick tow with 2 trucks with different gears. If you are buying 4x4 you don't need limited slip, and the ESP does work really well actually if you are not. Now in 8 inches of snow any pickup unless 4x4 would be crap, you would think but this one is so high off the ground, hard to bottom out which is how you get stuff most often in a truck.
Good luck.

 

i tow a baja 27 feets about 7000 7500 lbs with trailer and gas...... with a 3.55 with no problems.i am from canada lot of snow but it is a 4x4.but if i buy again it will be a 3.92 for the LSD and most of my driving is city and the 3.92 is supposed to be better on gas in city?.

 

Thanks for the info so far, much appreciated. I should have pointed out that I'm going to get the 4x4. Another question I had was about the tires, 17" vs 20". I'm all for functionality over form here, I want good handling, the best mileage, etc. Not worried about what I look like. I would assume to stay with the 17" but I think 20's come standard with the Laramie package....

 

If you get the 20's you could maybe get $1000 to $1200 for tires and wheels and buy some 17's for less than that.