So I had to haul some rock yesterday, I was impressed with the towing of my 2009 1500 4.7, SLT 4x4, towed a 3000lbs 4yrd dump trailer with 7k of rock in it, 10K total. Made 4 trips, 50 miles each trip, towed great. This truck is a work horse even without the Hemi engine, Trailer had surge brakes, so stopping was no problem.

My truck has been leveled, running a/m billet wheels with E load rated Goodyear 285/60R20 tires, and air bags in the rear. AirAid CAI, stock exhaust.

So if anyone is wondering how much towing weight a 1500 can pull safely with good power. 10k is close to the top, provided the trailer is loaded correctly!!!

 

The 4.7 actually puts out more torque than the Hemi at lower RPM's, so I have no doubt it can tow just as well unless you are looking to do some tractor pulls.

 

The 4.7 became a really formidable engine in '08 when they re-designed it and it's true that the Hemi has never been a real good low end torque engine in it's stock form. The Hemi really doesn't "put it to" the 4.7 until it gets up around 2200 rpm or so.

How you likin' the bags? I have a buddy with an '09 Hemi QC 4x4 and the only complaint I had with it was it was hard to control pulling any real weight. It really squatted badly and wanted to wonder all over the road pulling a 7700# tractor on a large double axle trailer. Something I'll pull with my '04 (bagged) a few times a year with no problem...

 

for your air bags, did you use the level II command kit? If so, where did you mount the regulator? I can't figure out where to mount it other than under the passenger side glove box.

 

I have the firestone ride right coil bags on mine and it made a night and day difference for me. I pull a tandem enclosed trailer in the spring delivering seed and had no problem with it squatting badly with a pallet in front of the trailers axles. Before i got the bags it would look like my a$$ was sitting on the ground. Also have pulled our super H around to parades on our car trailer and it handles that fine as well. It takes a lot of the bouncing out of the rear end when going over bumps pulling the trailer.

 

Im running the AirLift bags in the rear, no comp. on board, I just air them up to 30lbs when I need to tow the heavy stuff, otherwise I leave them at 7lbs.

I did not want to deal with any extra wiring and lines for the few times I tow heavy.

Great info guys.......

 

Yeah I'm running the Air Lifts, have been for about four years now. No onboard anything.

But I noticed pulling with my buddy's '09 that the tractor squatted the rear a LOT more than it ever did mine even before I bought the bags.
I'd imagine you give up a little weight support for ride quality with the rear springs as opposed to leafs?

A set or $200 bags would give you the best of both worlds I guess...

 

This myth has been discussed many times. Direct comparison of the torque curves proves it. The myth started when the dodge website put up a wrong plot for the 5.7. I just looked at the site and the correct plot is available now. Go here and compare yourself.

http://www.dodge.com/en/2010/ram_150...ty/powertrain/

The max torque the 4.7 produces is 330 LB-FT at around 4000 RPMs, the 5.7 produces 330 LB-FT at around 1500 RPMs. There is really no comparison between the two.

 

that chart also says at 5000+rpm you get 410hp

 

Did you take the time to look at it or just glance. There are two sides of the chart, one for hp and one for tq. It reads 390hp and 410ish ft.lbs. of torque.