Hey guys,

I'm moving to Florida next month and I'm planning on pulling a uhaul trailer behind my truck. At most it should be about 5000 pounds. My truck has the tow package with 3.55 gears and I'm pretty sure it doesn't have the trans cooler. Should I be worried or should I go ahead and install one anyways? Thanks!

 

A trans cooler is alwaya a great idea, it will keep the temps what ever they maybe to less than what it normally would be, just good insurance, the 3:55"s will pull that weight with NO problem at all . Depending oin the tongur weight, you may want to look into a set of air bags for the rear, but they are not required, it handles the load better , and when you are done pulling can be deflated to give you back your ride, best of both worlds.

 

The 09-10 ram 1500s all have a trans cooler and there is no factory option for a bigger one.

 

Good to know. Thanks!

 

And if you're going from Swamp Lejeune to Florida you'll have no big hills to climb unless you're taking the scenic route thru the Smokies! I grew up in Swansboro!

 

Yea I'm going from Camp Lagoon to MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL. I'm pretty much taking 95 the entire way.

Regarding my 3.55 Open Diff I plan to keep the 3.55's because I like the gas mileage (A little better than my 2006 2WD with 20's and 3.92) but I do plan to put in either a DTT or Auburn LSD for christmas.

 

My camp trailer is 5,000-5,500 lb loaded and my 3.55 geared Ram handles the load quite nicely. Easily cruises at 70 on the flat. The engine does rev a bit if I try to keep that speed on steep hills, but I back off to 60-65 and the tranny seems to work the situation just fine.

 

That's good to know. Did you have to get a brake controller and if so, what kind?

 

Dude, you will be fine.

A uhaul that can be loaded that heavy will have built in surge brakes... essentially the tongue can slide back and forth slightly and it has a master cylinder built into it. When you hit your brakes your truck slows down, but the trailer tries to keep going. This causes the tongue to slide back engaging the master cylinder that engages the brakes that makes the trailer slow down until there is a balance between the force being applied to the tongue by you slowing, and the force being applied by the breaks at the behest of the tongue... Buying a TBC is pointless: no interface on the trailer (I am on a "sabatical" from uhaul).

5k lbs is not a bad haul... honestly unless you get sway or a bad crosswind you will hardly notice it.

 

Good info. I appreciate it.