Mid 2000’s Ram Hemi 1500

"Smallish" as in how heavy wet/loaded and how long? Engine "muscle" isn't an issue most of the time even in the Rockies and Sierras.

I can’t imagine you having trouble if you stick to the lighter end of the travel trailer and hybrid selection. I pull my 3000 pound hybrid trailer with my 210 HP 4.0 L V6 Explorer and 180HP 3.3 Xterra. I’d be mostly concerned with exceeding your rear axle weight rating due to people and stuff in the bed, in addition to trailer tongue weight on the hitc i’d be mostly concerned with exceeding your rear axle weight rating do to people and stuff in the bed, in addition to trailer tongue weight on the hitch

Well, you're in luck.

I currently have a 2007, Quad cab, 4x4, 5.7L Hemi (345hp/375tq), 5 speed auto, with 3.55s. It pulls my 17' hybrid much better than the 2006 Chevy, extended cab, 4x4, 5.3L (295hp/335tq), 4 speed auto with 3.73s it replaced. The 5.3L just seemed down on power compared to the Hemi; much more than the specs would lead you to believe, even when going from 3.73s (Chevy) to 3.55s (Dodge). The 3.55s are the ones to get for light towing IMO. The Chevy in 3rd was at about 2800 RPM @ 60mph, the Dodge is about 2400 RPM at 60 mph in 4th(?). Neither truck will use their top gear when towing. The RV is a light weight, but it is a 2010, and therefore is a full 8 feet wide.

I use the Torque App to keep an eye on engine and transmission temperatures while towing and, as you can imagine, neither truck had any issues there. The 5 speed transmission is the biggest improvement. With GMs 4 speed 4L60E, it had 2 ratios to use. Direct (3rd) and 2nd. With the 545RFE, it uses 2nd, 3rd and 4th depending on the terrain and wind. The Dodge also has a bigger fuel tank.

Both get about 10 mpg pulling the RV in the pictures.





I also towed this RV for a few trips with a 2006 Pontiac Torrent. It did ok on flat terrain with no wind, but was all over with side winds and really worked hard on grades. I only used it for short local trips on the prairies, but there are a few valleys here, and it got up to 3/4 on the engine temp climbing them even though they were short climbs. Definitely tail wagging the dog some there. I knew it was only temporary so I didn't invest in a WD hitch though I should have.

I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab with the 5.7 hemi and the 3.92 gears. Purchased it new in August of 2005 so it's just over 13 years old. I have 105,000 miles on it and it has been the best vehicle I have ever owned. The only thing I have done to it is tires, brakes and oil changes. I had all the fluids changed at 80k and got the spark plugs changed as 80k as well. The only repair I can think of is I did have a leaky pinion seal that was replaced under warranty. I had two recalls for air bags. It was my daily driver for the first 10 years of it's life and I still drive it a couple of times a week.

I pulled a boat and a 30' travel trailer with it. The TT was probably around 6500lbs loaded and it pulled it great. I live in Florida so most of my towing was in flat lands but the few times I was in the hills it pulled just fine. I got about 9-10mpg while towing. I probably put about 30,000 miles on it towing my 4500lb boat and 6500lb trailer.

Burch

A little tidbit...not sure the exact years, but mid 2000 mega cab 1500's had 3/4 ton 8 lug differentials.

Looked at the door card for a 2006 and did a double take when I saw the front and rear GAWR's(~5k/6k) and the GVWR(8500lbs).

parker.rowe wrote:
A little tidbit...not sure the exact years, but mid 2000 mega cab 1500's had 3/4 ton 8 lug differentials.

Looked at the door card for a 2006 and did a double take when I saw the front and rear GAWR's(~5k/6k) and the GVWR(8500lbs).

Yep, gotta love that. Basically a numbers game to give people a 1/2 ton mega cab back then. The only difference was a 1500 badge and a door sticker!

Unsolicited - But have you looked at an '07 or '08 Tundra? When it comes to a mid 2000 1/2 ton truck they are one of the best.
They haven't updated the **** thing in over 10 years - but it was one of the best 1/2 tons when they initially released that model.

I traded my Chevrolet 2003 1500HD for a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi with 3.92 rear end. It took me a while to get used to the Dodge and its instrumentation, but when I got used to it I really liked it. This was prior to the recession and it was a Dodge Ram and not a new FCA Ram. I never had a single probem with it for 60,000 miles when I traded it for a 2010 Chevy 2500HD with the gas 6.0. Going back to the Chevy from the Dodge Ram was like going backward. Its instrumentation and handling was like going back in time. I still have the Chevy almost 9 years later. It is a truck and very reliable. Most of its 111,000 miles is towing, very reliable and durable, but I have always missed that 2007 dodge Ram, it was a great truck.

At the time I was towing a modest fifth wheel around 8k lbs using a 275 hp Powerstroke. That was a more than adequate combo at the time and I was well satisfied. Had the opportunity to tow through a section of the Appalachians next to a Hemi with a similar trailer one day. He could overtake me almost any grade unless the slope was just perfect for my gears.

I had an 02 and an 08. The 02 Ram gave me a few problems. Both the diff and front hub bearings failed pretty early on. The dash turned to dust and random interior plastic cracked. The radiator tanks leaked and I blew a few coolant hoses. Those problems were not uncommon with the 03.

My 08 was a great truck. I would still have it if I didn't outgrow it and had room for an extra truck. The only problems I had with it was the front hubs also failed early and a leaky water pump was replaced. The hub issue is fairly common with that generation of Rams. That truck had 3.92 and it was pretty fun. We always towed ± 20 lbs of the GVWR. We never had any driveline or powertrain issues. The 06-08 refresh addressed a lot of the problems with earlier year trucks.