I just recently purchased a 2002 dodge 1500 with thew 4.7L engine in it. my friend also has one and he says that i can tow a good bit but i just want to see sum pics and how much weight i can pull going to tellico.

I tow with my 96 half ton, but it's got the 5.9L and as far as I can tell the factory computer had been reprogrammed to performance before I got it. It burns 92 octane minimum.

As for how much weight you can pull - start with the owners manual. ;)

EDIT: typically I get 10-11mpg while towing, but dipped as low as 2mpg(guess based on ~1/4 tank consumed in 12 miles when I asked it to hold 55mph up a 4.5% grade grossing 15,000lbs.

I'm also, always overloaded. I could run under, but would need a different trailer to pull that off, my trailer empty comes in at 2,500lbs.

we tow our wrangler with ours.does ok but sucks down fuel, 8-9 mpg with the 5.9 in ours.be careful it is easy to overload ,we went thru the CAT scales last week and were actually over couple hundred lbs gross weight with weeks worth of camping food and stuff,we tow a 20' car trailer. good luck

I got a 2005 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive with 4.7, 6 speed and 3.92 gears. I towed my jeep on a u-haul trailer from Des Moines, Iowa to Kansas City. It did fine. Not going to win any races but it held its own. I finally got a trailer 1 1/2 years ago and have only towed the heep once and it did fine again.

I don't tow my rig but I do tow my 21' boat a lot. If I'm on the highway I'll get 12 towing the boat but only 9 in traffic. I get 12 city, 14 highway empty.2005 1500 quad cab, 4x4, Hemi, lifted on 35s. I'm able to hold 55-60 going up the passes. It would be much better if I had 4.56 gears.

I've owned 2 second gen Dodge 1/2t pickups (a '95 and a '97 FWIW). Both had 3.55 gears, auto trans and the 5.9L motor. I towed semi frequently with them and was always right at the maximum weight limit for the trailer and the truck. The truck handled well with the additional weight and I had no complaints with it. It religiously got 10 mpg going about 70 - 80 mph.

I was happy with the way they handled the weight and had no complaints with it. I only sold my last one because a friend offered me more than it was worth for it. I have a CTD pickup now but was seriously considering another 1/2t Dodge if I couldn't find a reasonably priced diesel.

Nobody for long I would say.

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i127/thebonez84/DSCN1412.jpg

2003 ram 1500 4.7 stock minus a kn air filter + three peole foru wheeler full size 1977 k10 chevy camping gear did great minus the 9.2 mpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i127/thebonez84/DSCN1412.jpg

2003 ram 1500 4.7 stock minus a kn air filter + three peole foru wheeler full size 1977 k10 chevy camping gear did great minus the 9.2 mpg

Your nuts :eek:

I towed with an 03 4.7. It did okay. Some of the big hills slowed it down quite a bit. As long as you aren't in a hurry, it'll do fine. It's a little tough to get used to that motor spinning at 4000-4500 RPM on the hills. I was pulling probably 5500 lbs at the time.

Later, I went to an 04 Hemi, again in a half ton. I was overall pretty satisfied with the power while towing. As my trail rig got heavier, i was not happy with the half ton suspension though. So i went shopping for a 3/4 ton Hemi. I stumbled upon leftover a Cummins and bought that.

Whats nuts about towing with that just take your time and cruise on flat ground i was running between 2500 To 2800 rpm about 65 mph

I would be interested in seeing the printout from the scales.We took ours thru the CAT scales on the way to camp jeep last week and I was surprised to find We were over by several hundred lbs on the gross weight rating and that was with a wrangler,2 adults and a weeks worth of camping gear and food.I do use a WDH so the truck rode and handled fine and we got just under 9mpg for the trip.We plan to go again but will wait next trip to buy food,drink and fuel til after we arrive.My truck does have the 20" wheels which lowers the GVWR and i plan to trade those for 17s soon to be closer or below the limit.
JERRY

here is mine, not a ram but an 06 dakota. could actually pull out of lights with the flow of traffic and got 16mpg highway according to the computer. it has a 4.7

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Pullingchevy002.jpg

I have a 2005 Hemi. I tow a XJ and have a camper in the bed. Motor does fine. The auto trans runs hot on the up hills.

ya, I need a tranny guage for mine

Whats nuts about towing with that just take your time and cruise on flat ground i was running between 2500 To 2800 rpm about 65 mph

Note the RPM, class. This gentleman is showing the proper technique for towing with a 1/2 ton (especially a Dodge) - Overdrive OFF.


TEX

Note the RPM, class. This gentleman is showing the proper technique for towing with a 1/2 ton (especially a Dodge) - Overdrive OFF.


TEX

that's got nothing to do with it being a 1/2 ton. That goes for any auto found in a dodge. :laughing:

btw - I'll run 15,000GCVW and run OD, but only when I'm doing 70-75mph on flat ground. Any slower and it starts lugging down.

I had an 01 1/2 ton with the 5.9 engine. Towed up to 6000 lb with it occasionally. The OD was off When towing. When it turned over 75,000 miles, the tranny needed rebuilding. Overall it did well. No problem with the power, just all the minor mechanical things I had to keep fixing.

that's got nothing to do with it being a 1/2 ton. That goes for any auto found in a dodge. :laughing:


The newer trucks like what is being discussed here don't have the same tranny as the older Dodges. I spoke with a reputable tranny rebuilder in my area and he said that he has only had to do ONE of these trannys. That would lead me to believe that they are a vast improvement over the previous design.

BTW - the tranny in question has been around since '99 in some applications. I think that would give the shop plenty of time to have someone burn more than one up. ;)

Here's mine.

01 QC, 5.9, auto, 4x4. Scaled out close to 12K for the half way across the country trip in this configuration. 1K of stuff in the bed and almost 5K worth of heep on the back end. Did just fine, used the OD on flat stretches, turned it off as soon as the tranny downshifted on a slope to keep it from hunting.

http://www.the-jersey-devil.com/photopost/data/619/101towbar7-med.JPG

I was kinda suprised the truck weighed 5900 lbs with the bed empty, no wonder my milage sucks so bad.

I still need a trailer.

03 1500 Hemi tow our 18" trailer with a 89 s-10 2 quads and gear.. No problems.. Tranny doesnt really get hot either.. If you're towing with a 1/2 ton GET a tranny Temp Gauge !! buy the Gauge pod for the SRT-10 rams and it makes the gauge look factory

Here's my load before picking up the other quad.. ahh and i had 4 fullsize adults in the truck..
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/Muddinguy/Trucks/DSC01615.jpg

I used mine ('01 1500 5.9, 4.10s, auto, custom tuned -- 91 octane) and it sucked. Springs were way too soft (but they work well for wheelin) brakes sucked, and power was marginal at best. 30 mph towing a YJ up the hills...

Hell it wouldn't even hold the speed limit towing an empty trailer!

The same thing with a co workers Durango 5.9, 2nd gear bouncing off the rev limiter, no way to get into 3rd, on the interstate, with an empty trailer!
I do know Fred towed the Ultimate JK all over the place with a late model hemi, so sounds like the new ones do better, but the 2nd gen were sad.

FYI, I tow with a BBC now and get better milage empty and loaded (with a heavier vehicle) and can maintain the speed limit on all but the steepest passes with 12k lb in tow (19klb GCW).

here is mine, not a ram but an 06 dakota. could actually pull out of lights with the flow of traffic and got 16mpg highway according to the computer. it has a 4.7

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/turbot-bird/Pullingchevy002.jpg


funny how my 06 dakota in tow/haul mode only gets 11 mpg highway. oh sorry did i mention i was FLAT TOWING a zuk. Ill bet im towing 2k less than you. 16 sounds to high, 11 sounds more like it. even the guys with the 1500's arent getting anywhere near 16

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i127/thebonez84/DSCN1412.jpg

2003 ram 1500 4.7 stock minus a kn air filter + three peole foru wheeler full size 1977 k10 chevy camping gear did great minus the 9.2 mpg

I gotta say, that is one ugly load job. Was the steering a little light?

funny how my 06 dakota in tow/haul mode only gets 11 mpg highway. oh sorry did i mention i was FLAT TOWING a zuk. Ill bet im towing 2k less than you. 16 sounds to high, 11 sounds more like it. even the guys with the 1500's arent getting anywhere near 16

thats what I was geting. I checked the overhead and manualy. it was doing 65 down the turnpike. I usually get about 16 city and 20-22 highway.

thats what I was geting. I checked the overhead and manualy. it was doing 65 down the turnpike. I usually get about 16 city and 20-22 highway.

i aswell was driving 65 down the highway for about 2 hours flat towing my zuk, id guess about 3k lbs, and i was getting 11 mpg. care to explain how you could have such a large increase in mileage towing alot more? Im not saying your lying, so much as i want to know how your getting it, because i want 16 mpg.

I had no problems steering of course it wasnt as good as it is empty but it was fine my truck is not equiped with a break controller thing and the trailer breaks dont work so that was my main concern

hell now that i think of it my dakota doesnt even get 16 mpg empty in the city.

idk, I have the 4.7, auto, 3.55 with 9.25 rear, 4x2. thats what it has gotton since it was new. mow it has 22,000 on it and running synthetic motor oil. it runs 16.446 in the 1/4. oh, and it is the non ho 4.7

I used mine ('01 1500 5.9, 4.10s, auto, custom tuned -- 91 octane) and it sucked. Springs were way too soft (but they work well for wheelin) brakes sucked, and power was marginal at best. 30 mph towing a YJ up the hills...

Hell it wouldn't even hold the speed limit towing an empty trailer!

The same thing with a co workers Durango 5.9, 2nd gear bouncing off the rev limiter, no way to get into 3rd, on the interstate, with an empty trailer!
I do know Fred towed the Ultimate JK all over the place with a late model hemi, so sounds like the new ones do better, but the 2nd gen were sad.

FYI, I tow with a BBC now and get better milage empty and loaded (with a heavier vehicle) and can maintain the speed limit on all but the steepest passes with 12k lb in tow (19klb GCW).

Dude... there must have been something wrong with that truck.

The only time my truck does what you described is when I had a GCW of 17,500+lbs.

I got a 1999 Dodge, 3.55 gears, Auto, and the 318. I flat tow my buggy (4000 lbs) and it does OK. I keep the over drive off and just hum at 55 MPH. I average around 9 miles a gallon.

Dude... there must have been something wrong with that truck.

The only time my truck does what you described is when I had a GCW of 17,500+lbs.


I don't think so, the truck runs great, only things i have done to the engine is regular maintenance and new plugs and wires ever 40-50 k. I guess I have a new fuel pump now (went to a Grand Cherokee tank) but there was no difference in that. Hell, its even on all original sensors and exhaust.

This is all at altitude, primarily whe n the truck had less then 50 000 miles I really am un impressed with the 5.9l. The dealer in Rock Springs verified, they said it drove as well as any of their 5.9 trucks on the lot. Not to mention the co-workers '00 Durango. I couldn't hold the hills at 75 mph going to Denver with an empty trailer. Just like my 5.9. Of Course his had an exhaust, chip and intake but stock tires and 3.92 gears.

6500' as a starting point tends to hurt power, 11 000' is substantial decrease in power in NA engine.

I don't think so, the truck runs great, only things i have done to the engine is regular maintenance and new plugs and wires ever 40-50 k. I guess I have a new fuel pump now (went to a Grand Cherokee tank) but there was no difference in that. Hell, its even on all original sensors and exhaust.

This is all at altitude, primarily whe n the truck had less then 50 000 miles I really am un impressed with the 5.9l. The dealer in Rock Springs verified, they said it drove as well as any of their 5.9 trucks on the lot. Not to mention the co-workers '00 Durango. I couldn't hold the hills at 75 mph going to Denver with an empty trailer. Just like my 5.9. Of Course his had an exhaust, chip and intake but stock tires and 3.92 gears.

6500' as a starting point tends to hurt power, 11 000' is substantial decrease in power in NA engine.


It probably would have been a good idea to mention the altitude in your first post then. ;) I could see altitude creating the effects that you have, but when used at a lower altitude the 5.9L gasser motor has enough power to pull decent size loads.

It probably would have been a good idea to mention the altitude in your first post then. ;) I could see altitude creating the effects that you have, but when used at a lower altitude the 5.9L gasser motor has enough power to pull decent size loads.


Not trying to hide anything, my location was Rock Springs (6200')when I joined the board and Denver (5280') currently. The lowest altitude I have towed anything was Moab, and its (literally) all up hill from there.

When we did Ultimate adeventures, in Ok, Mo, Ill, Mn, Wi, and Ar, the truck felt fine, but it was empty so hard to say. I did drag 5500' lb Amigo on a strap to Rockport from nowhere Missouri, but I don't think that counts as towing.... (considering we never encountered a hill and the biggest obstacle was crossing the Mississippi on a narrow bridge)


The gist of what I am saying is that I wouldn't tow with one of thse if you expect to be able to drive through the mtns and maintain speed. The brakes and suspension would be an issue at any altitude though. I guess if you upgraded to rear discs, and maybe ran some Timbrens and a WD hitch (I was only using a tag hitch since I was towing ~ 6000 lb). The new ones of course have much better brakes so that is a nice upgrade.

I have towed a lot of miles, in a lot of vehicles, and although my current tow rig is far from overkill it is nice to have big factory brakes and a decent suspension.

I dont have any pics to post but i just towed my 77 blazer from yuma az to round rock texas and i had the bed loaded with my kids buggy ( i did have air bags ) and i was getting 11mpg with my 2003 1500 qc 5.9L gas hog. I drove 65 the whole way with the OD off. 1200 miles and she didnt skip a beat. 91 and 93 when i could get it.

The gist of what I am saying is that I wouldn't tow with one of thse if you expect to be able to drive through the mtns and maintain speed. The brakes and suspension would be an issue at any altitude though. I guess if you upgraded to rear discs, and maybe ran some Timbrens and a WD hitch (I was only using a tag hitch since I was towing ~ 6000 lb). The new ones of course have much better brakes so that is a nice upgrade.

mtns/speed - that depends on altitude. I don't have power issues when I'm in our mountains at 3-5,000ft.

brakes - agreed, they are too small for the truck (mines a 96) even when not towing. Upgrading to ceramic pads made a big difference though. Slotted/cross drilled will be next, the combination did wonders on the 2000 durango.

suspension - I never found it soft. The factory shocks on the other hand sucked royal ass and made for too much suspension movement. Upgrading to RS9000's did wonders to the overall handling. I went to 2500# overload springs to help absorb the bigger bounces better.

http://members.cox.net/tehmidget/jeepandtruck.jpg

2 1/2 tons and a 1 ton. I have an 04 Hemi with 3.73's. I have to say its not ideal, but I dont feel like the ram is going to die on me.

idk, I have the 4.7, auto, 3.55 with 9.25 rear, 4x2. thats what it has gotton since it was new. mow it has 22,000 on it and running synthetic motor oil. it runs 16.446 in the 1/4. oh, and it is the non ho 4.7

hmm ours is ho 4.7 auto 4x4, with about 27k on it.

hmm ours is ho 4.7 auto 4x4, with about 27k on it.

that might be why it uses more gas then, there was a post in dodgeforum.com in the 3rd gen dak forum that another guy got 14mpg with a 5000lb 16ft encolsed

02 Dakota 4.7 3.92 gears. I averaged 11.5 MPG driving 70 mph with the cruise on. OD off of course. Had plenty of power on the hills, kept up with the diesels I was running with. I think the Dakotas do a little better since the trucks are lighter with the same drivetrain. The diesels would kick my ass from a start :flipoff2:

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6295/dsc01252dr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

What do you guys reckon your total towed weight (rig/trailer) is?

Scout tipped scale at 4800 and the trailer is pretty average. Its got brakes on one axle and 70mph wasnt an issue. The 9mpg HEMI was!! That was with 35s and 3.92's. Im sure with 4.56's in it now will help ALOT.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v418/KowboyKyle/mem%20day%2006/trees039.jpg