2003 Dodge 2500 Hemi towing improvement advice

Thanks for the responses. I am running 295 tires on stock wheels, 265 are stock. The tires are 1.5" taller per tire calculator. I am towing out west on 7-8% grades. I guess the consensus is the truck should tow much beter than it does. That's what I was wondering was if others had the same experience towing with the Hemi and 3.73 gears as I do. My Cummins with 10,500 lb 5th wheel towed great, I wasn't expecting diesel towing power but 5500 lbs is light.

Desert Captain wrote:
Something is seriously wrong with that truck. The Hemi should pull your trailer all day long without even breathing hard. You have a little more weight with the 3/4 ton but not enough to make that much of a difference. A lot of folks here with Dodge half ton Hemi's pull a lot more trailer than you without a problem. Have you had the drive train checked? The power is there in the Hemi but is it getting to the rear wheels? What does the Dyno show the Hemi actually putting out? Quite the mystery, be sure and keep as posted as to what you discover. good Luck! :h

I have to agree. I used to pull a FunFinder 210WBS loaded to just shy of 6K with a Hemi Jeep Commander (and the Commander, also a fulltime 4x4, is heavy, right at 6000 lbs, fairly close, I would think to your truck), same hemi, same 3.73 gears. Never had any problems pulling that load and it could have happily pulled more, never needed more than 4th gear at 4,000 rpms on the steepest grades at 45 to 50 mph. I have a friend that went out and bought the same setup (Commander and FunFinder), but, with a slightly bigger and heavier trailer (6900 lbs on the road) and his pulls just fine. I would have to think you have something more going on with the output of the engine or getting it to the ground... :?

Slated4Greatness wrote:
AFE intake, Magnaflow Exhaust, and see what that does for you. If it isn't enough go with a tuner of choice. An engine is an air pump so the more you get in and out the better it will run.

And if that still doesn't get you up the hilss like you want to go then add a procharger! :D

Don't waste your money on an intake or exhaust. All that will change is it will be noisier. Your engine has electronic controls that only allow it to use as much air as it needs. Making more available won't change anything. The companies that sell this junk always start their claims with "adds as much as". If it was this easy to make more power the factory Engineers who designed these engines would use it.

B.O.

;)

Something is seriously wrong with that truck. The Hemi should pull your trailer all day long without even breathing hard. You have a little more weight with the 3/4 ton but not enough to make that much of a difference. A lot of folks here with Dodge half ton Hemi's pull a lot more trailer than you without a problem. Have you had the drive train checked? The power is there in the Hemi but is it getting to the rear wheels? What does the Dyno show the Hemi actually putting out? Quite the mystery, be sure and keep as posted as to what you discover. good Luck! :h

Only problem with switching gears is I have 2 sets being a 4x4 making that very costly, but it does seem more like a gearing problem than a engine power problem. Like I said earlier no tune up needed truck is in tip top shape and runs awsome just doesn't pull very well at all.

I agree with all the other posts here, you should have absolutely no problem pulling 5500 LB'S......i would reccommend a tune up and switch the gearing in the rear end! That will definately add some pulling power!

djcjc.... The 2003 only has overdrive off that locks out 5 th gear. I do always tow with OD off

Thanks for the advice. The pedal is to the floor although I let up when it shifts into 1st gear cause it will push 6000 rpm. The truck is not in need of any Maintenance it is very well maintained. I do keep track of the mileage every tank gets very consistent 11.5 mpg in town, Freeway 15-16, Towing gets 8-9 mpg. I don't know if it's a gearing problem or what but it feels like 9000 lbs not 5500 lbs.

Just traded my 2004 ram 2500 4x4 hemi for a 3500 dually diesel mega cab. I was pulling a 29 ft jayco lot heavier than yours I also had the 3.73 rear end. Are you running in tow haul mode if not do so. I got 7.5 mph only reason I moved up was to get more stability and better mileage. Had one hill on the way to Bristol Tn that I couldn't get over 45 with engine at 5000 rpms. Might be time for a tune-up with that wieght you should not be having issues.