I'm considering a 4x4 in1500 or 2500 gasser new body style and crew cab or a 2005/06 2500/3500 megacab with 5.9 to pull my 31' bumper pull travel trl. It weighs in dry around 8000lb and probably 9000 with stuff in it.

Now I won't be towing it a bunch maybe 3-4 times a year but do want pull from dallas to or Orange beach AL. Once a year for family vacation. Maybe dallas to northern ark mountains.

I will also drive it 1-2 days a week to work 70 miles round trip.

Can I get buy with 1500 Hemi. How bad would the 2500 gasser mpgs be towing and commuting.? I know about the 5.9 performance but to get into my price range the truck will have 125-175k miles on it?

Currently I have a tundra love it accept for its 2wd and bad on gas. Towing my bassboat I less that 10mpg and pulling 20 utility trailer with 4 wheeler to deer lease I get about 10.

Thoughts

 

I just googled and found "Truck and SUV Towing Capacity Charts" @ http://www.onlinetowingguide.com/gui...apacities.html
According to them the 2500 with the 5.7 HEMI and 4.10 rear gears is rated at 10,150 to 11,350 depending on body style and 2 or 4 wheel drive. In the 1500 it looks like the max you can find properly equipped is around 10,000. New 2014s 1500s are rated at just over 10,000 properly equipped. None of these say wether that is standard hitch or fifth wheel rated but I am sure with your bumper pull trailer you will want a receiver hitch with load leveling head for that much weight. Be sure to verify these numbers and good luck.

 

Get a 2500/3500 with the cummins. You're gas mileage with be at least a few miles better than if you got the hemi.

Edit: I do believe that you can only reach the tow limits on the 1500s with 5th wheel hookup.

 

I have pulled a 28' bumper hitch trailer with our Razr (atv) on a ramp in the truck box with both a 2012 1500 Quad and a 2500 Crew, both hemi's. The 1500 has the lower geared rear end ratio, I thinks it's a 3.90 and the 2500 has the 3.63, or thereabouts. The trailer loaded weighs about 8500 lbs. the razr and gear between 1500 and 2000 lbs. I did add air bags to the 1500 for towing. In my opinion the 1500 with the lower rear end ratio pulls as good or better than the 2500, the 1500 is considerably lighter and the rear end ratio is key when towing. Both trucks get close to the same mpg towing, but non towing the 1500 gets a lot better mileage than the 2500. I have also pulled with a diesel (Duramax) and there is no doubt any diesel powered truck regardless of make will out perform any gas job when towing. My issue with diesels are if your only towing short distance a few times a year, is it worth the extra maintainance costs to have a diesel, oil changes are double, plus the price of diesel fuel vs gas is a factor. Just my opinion from towing trailers for years.

 

If you go 1500 Hemi, you will need to find one with the 3.92 gears, and towing package that includes the heavy duty Trans cooler and engine cooling. 9000 lbs loaded is a lot of camper. rather or not you want to go with a 2500 would depend solely on the tongue weight of that camper and what else you are going to put in the bed of the truck on your trips. My tongue weight is only 600 lbs, with my weight distribution hitch my old Silverado dropped about 1 inch... plenty of suspension. Problem I had with that truck was the 285 HP, pulled great on flat ground...but pulled 25-30mph mashed to the floor in the mountains in route to Gettysburg.

My camper is 29' long, but only weighs 6200 dry, I never haul with loaded tanks, and I probably only put 500lbs max worth of food, clothes, gear etc

5.7 Hemi, 3.92 gears, heavy duty towing package, get a good WDH and sway control...you will pull just fine. 3.92 truck is rated for 10,200, but a 3.55 truck is rated in the mid 8000 range.

 

Sorry, threadjacking and learning.. So I have an 09 with the 3.92 diff with the class IV reciever from the dealer. I does state that I do have the towing package on it. How would I know if it truley does have an upgraded hd trans cooler and engine cooler? Just curious. I hardley tow but will be investing in the long run do to so with my truck. I currently have very low mileage and I love this truck. Cant beat that warrenty. Thanks felllas.

 

I'm pretty sure heavy duty engine cooling and transmission cooling were standard features on the trucks, at least for the first few years of Gen 4 (2009-2011?).

Rob

 

You can go register on the dodge website... http://www.dodge.com

go to owners, register, add your truck by entering the VIN number... go to "Learn and use" then hit the equipment tab. It will list all of your standard and optional equipment.

 

Could have been, on my 2012 on the Dodge site owners area... it lists the class IV trailer hitch, Heavy duty engine cooler and Heavy duty transmission oil cooler as optional equipment on my truck.