The 4.3l V6 in the "double cab" truck is rated for 7100 pounds. The trailer would be 4000 pounds wet. The truck would have two adults and 500 pounds of supplies. The trailer would have a frontal area of 60 square feet. GCWR is 12,000 lb, so we have 2,400 lb of margin on that account. Is this truck a good match?The obvious upgrade is to buy the V8 engine, but I am interested in fuel economy. The V6 is 4% better on the highway.We are going to cross windy prairies and high passes out west.A nod to Terryallan on July 18 about the frontal area: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27837874/srt/pa/pging/1/page/2.cfm Thanks all!

From your post, it sounds like you haven't purchased the truck yet. You would be well within the weights for the V6 model and I'm sure it would tow just fine. Out in the windy prairie and in the mountains, you will probably wish you sprung for the V8, and quite honestly, I don't think you'd see the 4% fuel economy difference in the real world with the V6.That said, if you do get the V6, I'm very interested to hear your towing reports and the mileage you are getting.Best of luck!

We pulled two light weights including our present unit with a Chevy V-6. our issue was not power but transmission over heating (220-250 deg), I would recommend a good transmission cooler if you go this route. Also we get better fuel economy (10-20% better) with the Ram Hemi versus the V6 chevy when pulling, Non pulling Hwy mpg is also better with the Hemi. Enjoy your travels.2013 Bullet 217 RBS2013 Ram Hemi 1500

The numbers work and you have plenty of reserve capacity. You should be fine. However, if you have not purchased the truck, seriously consider the V8. 4% sounds like a lot but its not. You would be amazed at how well you can do with the V8. The mileage you get has a lot to do with driving habits. And you'll find the V8 so much more capable and pleasurable to tow with. You may also find that your towing mileage with a V8 is better than the 6. I get 11 towing the combo below. The same trailer with my old Trail Blazer that had an I6 got 9 towing. That's an almost 20% difference. I would never buy any truck without a V8 again. Seriously, if gas mileage is that much of a concern you might want to consider a different way to vacation.

You might be really surprised at real world results with the V6. Its been my experience that the smaller engine on a larger truck is always working a little bit harder than a V8 would. Especially towing, that V6 is going to be working harder than the V8. That harder work will equate to real world mileage being roughly the same. If the V8 is getting 18 mpg (which is attainable), then the V6 at 4% better would be 18.7 MPGs. Now if you are towing a lot, that V6 is probably going to be getting 7-8 MPG (estimate) and the V8 would be getting more like 10-11 (estimate). I would seek out real world numbers from people and make an educated decision armed with those facts.Honestly, for a minimal (and less than 1mpg is minimal) loss in unloaded mileage, you are getting a HUGE bump in power when towing/hauling. It was a no-brainer for me going from the 4.6 V8 to the 5.7 V8. I leave 1 or 2 MPG on the table with the big V8, but man does that big V8 produce some power!!! I can always drive more gently to squeeze out a little better mileage... its a LOT harder to squeeze out an extra 80hp...

7100 lb-rated new Silverado towing 4000 pounds | Good Sam Community

Campfire_Time
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
The numbers work and you have plenty of reserve capacity. You should be fine.

However, if you have not purchased the truck, seriously consider the V8. 4% sounds like a lot but its not. You would be amazed at how well you can do with the V8. The mileage you get has a lot to do with driving habits. And you'll find the V8 so much more capable and pleasurable to tow with. You may also find that your towing mileage with a V8 is better than the 6. I get 11 towing the combo below. The same trailer with my old Trail Blazer that had an I6 got 9 towing. That's an almost 20% difference. I would never buy any truck without a V8 again.

Seriously, if gas mileage is that much of a concern you might want to consider a different way to vacation.
RamRider
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
We pulled two light weights including our present unit with a Chevy V-6. our issue was not power but transmission over heating (220-250 deg), I would recommend a good transmission cooler if you go this route.

Also we get better fuel economy (10-20% better) with the Ram Hemi versus the V6 chevy when pulling, Non pulling Hwy mpg is also better with the Hemi.

Enjoy your travels.

2013 Bullet 217 RBS
2013 Ram Hemi 1500
kvangil
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
You should be fine.
mcsurveyor
Explorer
Jul 21, 2014
From your post, it sounds like you haven't purchased the truck yet. You would be well within the weights for the V6 model and I'm sure it would tow just fine. Out in the windy prairie and in the mountains, you will probably wish you sprung for the V8, and quite honestly, I don't think you'd see the 4% fuel economy difference in the real world with the V6.

That said, if you do get the V6, I'm very interested to hear your towing reports and the mileage you are getting.

Best of luck!

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