Planning to tow 7500 pounds with Ram 6.4...ok??

[Davezogg]

We bought a 2016 Ram 4x4 crew cab with the 6.4 gas motor and 3.73 rear end gears.
We have a small older 5th wheel (6000 pounds) and are looking at a new Keystone Hideout 5th wheel with a dry weight of 7500 pounds.
I'm relatively certain that I have enough truck, but I would like any opinions that folks might have.
Thanks in advance....

[zogg]

Blazing Zippers wrote:
We have a 2016 6.4 4x4 CC----and tow a new 5th wheel weighing 10K. Love the combo! MPG between 9 & 10. No power problems at all.

Can I ask, is your fifth wheel nose high and do you have much chucking ???

[Blazing_Zippers]

We have a 2016 6.4 4x4 CC----and tow a new 5th wheel weighing 10K. Love the combo! MPG between 9 & 10. No power problems at all.

[whjco]

Several months ago I was driving a charter bus down I-64. A black Ram was puling a large 5th wheel trailer and was having no problem keeping up with my bus. I was thinking that his Cummins was doing a great job. I slowed down for a construction zone and he pulled into the left lane and went right by me. I then saw that it had a 6.4 Hemi in it. Quite impressive! I think that you're going to find that your truck will have no problems with a 7500# trailer. 🙂

[hawkeye-08]

Davezogg wrote:
We picked up the camper yesterday. Loaded it with our "stuff" so are probably around 8,200 pounds or a tad more. We traded in a 6000 pound camper.

Only went about 50 miles but everything went great. Truck had plenty of power, truck handled the wait fine and even with a cross wind the whole rig was very stable.

The 6.4 is surely pulling a little harder so the mpg will no doubt drop some from our prior 10+ mpg, but I think we'll be fine.

We are about 3-4 inches nose high. The dealer raised the pin box all the way up, and the hitch is all the way down and the axles are under the springs from the factory. So I guess it's as level as its going to get.

I'll post an update after our next trip from Illinois to southern Missouri.

Thanks for all of the positive replies.

Glad it seems to be working out for you.. I see alot of 5th wheel travel trailers going down the road on newer trucks with the nose high. It would seem to put a heavier load on the rear axle, some have talked about flipping axles to gain some height, not sure your situation, but something to consider..

[travelnman]

I pull a TT factory weight of 6,200lbs, loaded must be 1,500lbs more with a 04 Burbon with the 5.3 liter and a 3.73 axel. Have been doing this for years,towing some pretty good steep grades like in Branson. Truck now has 175,000 miles on it. Same trans, motor, and axel. It handles perfect no sway from trucks, wind, or anything else. At times wish it had the 6 liter or 6.2 but when I look at new pushing $70,000 plus $5,000 in sales tax and doc fees it feels good to own this one. I will say turning off the air on steep grades is not only helpful but necessary at times to prevent over heating. I don't know how much longer this suburban will go but so far there is nothing to indicate I should trade it in and clean out my kids inheritance. Going big is always better pulling a RV and you won't have to turn off the air on steep grades but I'm a happy camper with the 5.3liter and could always move to a cooler climate and not use the air. One final thought gas mileage is poor compared to new TV I get 8-9 depending on the wind and using premium does help this a little but I don't notice any increase in power over using regular and premium has been running as high as seventy cents more.

[Davezogg]

We picked up the camper yesterday. Loaded it with our "stuff" so are probably around 8,200 pounds or a tad more. We traded in a 6000 pound camper.

Only went about 50 miles but everything went great. Truck had plenty of power, truck handled the wait fine and even with a cross wind the whole rig was very stable.

The 6.4 is surely pulling a little harder so the mpg will no doubt drop some from our prior 10+ mpg, but I think we'll be fine.

We are about 3-4 inches nose high. The dealer raised the pin box all the way up, and the hitch is all the way down and the axles are under the springs from the factory. So I guess it's as level as its going to get.

I'll post an update after our next trip from Illinois to southern Missouri.

Thanks for all of the positive replies.

[MVH1]

Not a problem! I tow 7,000 lbs with my 2013 ram 2500 5.7L Hemi and it does a fantastic job.

[Muddydogs]

blt2ski wrote:

Muddydogs wrote:
Hell I pull 10000 with my 5.7 Ram and have no problems maintaining 70 on all but the steepest hills.

No one has said anything about maintaining a given speed. Just no issues. Slowing down for some of us on 3-5 percent freeway grades and shifting out of OD to direct or the gear below is a common and expected outcome from towing a trailer, depending upon the size. For me, this is no issues!
Yes I can pull 12K with my truck. But on a 3 percent grade, I am going 45 mph or so in 2nd, ie gear below direct in the 4000 rpm relm. Sons truck was also in the 4000-5000 rpm relm doing mid 50's. For some, said rpm relm is out of the question. Others, truck/engine is doing what it is supposed to do/react etc. So no issues!

marty

Wow 45 up a 3 percent grade? I'm sorry. I pull the sisters in Wyoming which are 4 to 5 percent grade at 60 to 65 with my Ram 2500 5.7 hemi and 3.42 gears most the time in a stiff head wind. I don't mess around shifting gears on my transmission unless I'm going down a forest road and need to keep the transmission in first, I let the truck do its thing in tow haul mode going up and coming down the transmission will hold its gear or downshift when the brakes are applied in tow haul mode.

[CampingN_C_]

It'll do fine and may even surprise you with the MPG. I was VERY close to buy the 6.4 towing 9,000lbs.

[blt2ski]

Muddydogs wrote:
Hell I pull 10000 with my 5.7 Ram and have no problems maintaining 70 on all but the steepest hills.

No one has said anything about maintaining a given speed. Just no issues. Slowing down for some of us on 3-5% freeway grades and shifting out of OD to direct or the gear below is a common and expected outcome from towing a trailer, depending upon the size. For me, this is no issues!
Yes I can pull 12K with my truck. But on a 3% grade, I am going 45 mph or so in 2nd, ie gear below direct in the 4000 rpm relm. Sons truck was also in the 4000-5000 rpm relm doing mid 50's. For some, said rpm relm is out of the question. Others, truck/engine is doing what it is supposed to do/react etc. So no issues!

marty

[Muddydogs]

Hell I pull 10000 with my 5.7 Ram and have no problems maintaining 70 on all but the steepest hills.

[blt2ski]

I've pulled 12K with my 2000 GM C2500 with a 255HP 5.7! If I can do that.....a 6.4 with what, 50% more hp, more torque........

Then my son pulled my truck a week or so ago sunday 60 miles when I lost the fuel pump on a car hauler. Total 7500 lbs. He has 1500 with 3.42 gears and a 290hp or so 4.8L V8!

Your worried about this because Y?!?!?!?!?!?

Marty

[Davezogg]

I guess I should apologize for the confusion. I should have noted that I have a 2500 with a 6.4 hemi. The 1500 only comes with a 5.7. Sorry

[drittal]

No 6.4 in 1500.

I've dragged close to 12,000 and right at GCWR with mine before moving to 3500.

6.4 will have no issue with 7500.