What kind of mods can I do to my 02 Ram1500 4.7L if I'm towing around 7k almost daily? I believe the max GVWR is around 7k correct? I've been told I need some sort of cusion (something around 30% or so?) but I bought the truck because they dealer told me it can tow 10k (I know I know, I should've done my own research).

Anyway, what kind of mods can I do? Stiffer springs? Air bags? Change the gears? Any other suggestions? I'm new towing so give me some ideas guys!

 

Check sway-a-way's website and they have losts of helper load springs and air bag helper options. The gear change might be drastic cause it will kill your gas milage... but it might be needed. If you need more power, look into exhaust change, intake, power chips, and programmers. Those together might be cheaper and better than a gear change.

 

Ok I'm under the impression that the main difference between 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks is the strength of the frame correct? If I recall corrected, the 2002 Dodge Ram 1500, 2500 and 3500 all offer the 5.9L V8, yet each has a different towing capacity. So I'm guessing it has a more reinforced frame between the models? So power mods are not a big concern (although my 4.7L is a bit sluggish when towing 7k lbs). I'm more interested in suspension or frame mods. Anyone have any websites that sell towing springs or other mods?

Any other suggestions?

 

You are right, the frame is thicker and reinforced, in the 2500 and 3500. The springs are also more heavy duty. So you can put in heavier duty springs or helper springs to better support the load, now if you are talking about putting a whole bunch of wieght in the bed, you might be SOL. I really would not know what to do in that case.

 

No, there's no weight in the bed itself. Just the trailer with a tractor on it.

Where can I find stiffer springs? I also heard that a thicker rear sway bar would help. Where can I find any of these parts? Online or at a specialty store. I looked on SummitRacing.com but couldn't find anything for the 02+. Lemme know guys, thanks for the help so far

 

Something to ponder is the stress your putting on your rear axle and transmission. To make them run cooler and last longer, you might consider running synthetic lubricants that not only reduce temps, withstand higher temps, they also increase mileage:

A couple of links you may find interesing:
http://www.amsoil.com/products/gearlubes/index.htm
http://www.amsoil.com/products/atf.html

 

OK so a different rear gear, stiffer rear springs, synthetic fluids, anything else?

 

If it's a 4x4 then you need to do both front and rear gears, all the parts plus install around here usually will run you $500+, more if you put locker/limited slip in.
Definately look into overload springs or an airbag system. Also look into a load leveling hitch. You'll want your tranny to last, so put a huge tranny cooler on it along with some sort of shift kit to firm it up and reduce slippage. You may even want a different torque converter, but I'd wait on that until your tranny fails. Electronic trailer brakes are a must.

Another difference between the light duty 1500 and heavy duty 2500/3500 is the brakes (or it used to be anyway). bigger brakes, larger rear axle, bigger stiffer springs, stronger wheels and tires with higher load capacity, etc.

When you're towing make sure overdrive is off. You might want to get a tranny temp guage too, and perhaps an auxilary electric cooling fan.

 

First off what gears are in the truck? Secound off get a Weight distributing hitch. Its not woth modding the truck to handle the weight when you can get a hitch to take some wieght off or at leat spread it out. I tow a 4000lbs rockcrawler on a 1500lbs trailer. Thats 5500lbs but i live on the side of a mountain and my truck only has the 3.50 gears. Mines a 02 with a 4.7. I since owned it recently put on gibson 3 inch sideswept cat back and AEM air intake. I dont know how that affects towing to much yet hasnt been hooked up since. I havent had any trouble towing but it works the truck a little harder than I'd like.

BTW the dealer told me the same crap. I told them i wanted a tuck that could easily tow 7K and this is what i got. I should have gotten a CTD or a Hemi

 

Add a hitch