OK, here it is.....I found a '96 1500 SLT Laramie shortbed loaded to the max....318 and 4x4, it is the sport model and I can get it for $6000....since I am a chevy person I am unfamillar w/ dodges and I want your opinion on the towing capacity of this truck....My rig and trailer weigh about 4800lbs...I don't think it will be a problem, but has anybody had any bad luck w/ a truck like this?? It will more likely be a DD and tow maybe 12 times a year.....thanks again for your opinion.....Dave;)

I'd hold out for a 3/4 ton.

I have a loaded '99 1500 (my first, and last, 1/2 ton), standard cab short bed, with a 360 and an auto tranny (rated at about 7800 lbs towing capacity). I recently towed my Ramcharger on a trailer (about 6500 lbs total) on a 600 mile round trip.

The truck was entirely too short and light, the trailer pushed me all over the road (even with the equalizer hitch). I could run the flats at interstate speed if I wanted, but it was way too squirrely. On the mountain passes I maxed out at about 45mph.

Despite the factory tranny cooler, the tranny got hot and cost me $500 to get it repaired (gov. pressure sensor and a solenoid). My next truck will be a Cummins 2500.

I have a 97 1500 clubcab shortbed that I have used to tow a 84 F150 on a 18' steel deck trailer and a 53 Chrysler windsor on the same trailer.. I did not have any trouble maintaining the speedlimit+ some and their was no problems with stability..One thing to remember is to shut the OD off when towing.. If you tow with the OD engaged you WILL overheat the tranny..Two things that I would add to that truck are an auxillary tranny cooler(If it doesn't already have one..They are included in the factory tow package on all trucks) the second thing I would add is the air bags so you can level the truck up when loaded..


tv_larsen your weight estimate for the RC on the trailer sounds a little low to me.. The RC by its self should weigh around 5600 lbs and I would guess about 2000 for the trailer(mine weighs 2300)

Originally posted by hy_desert_4wheeler
tv_larsen your weight estimate for the RC on the trailer sounds a little low to me.. The RC by its self should weigh around 5600 lbs and I would guess about 2000 for the trailer(mine weighs 2300)

Well, my RC weighs about 4900 lbs, I didn't have the top on it, and my 16' wood deck trailer weighs 1700 lbs. So 6500 lbs is pretty close to what it weighed together. Regardless, the truck is factory overrated tow over 1000'bs more than that.

Towing with the OD off is an excellent point. I kept mine off, but even in 3rd gear, when the TC locked it didn't have the power to pull most hills, but I could run 75 mph on the flat no problem. So the TC was unlocked most of the trip building heat. 3.91 gears instead of 3.54s may have made all the difference, I'm not sure.

My truck does have the factory tow package, but the tranny still got hot. I don't have a gauge so I can't say how high exactly. I'm sure thats what caused the damage, I'm just glad I didn't have to rebuild it.

I'll be towing with my '75 Powerwagon untill I trade this 1/2 ton for a 3/4 ton Cummins.

What kind of mileage are you guys getting??? about 15 hwy and 10-12 towing???? about right??

I've got a travel trailer that weighs in around 4000 lbs. and tow it with my 98 Durango - 318. Pulls straight and true. I use a LL hitch and no additional sway control. My WB is 116". I'm getting around 8-10 mpg towning - depending on terrain. To put that in perspective (see mods in sig), I get 11-12 town and 14 highway when not towing. Gas Dodge's suck for fuel efficiency.

In eastern OK we've got rolling hills and can comfortably maintain 65-70 mph no problem. In the mountains (New Mexico just last month - up to 7000 ft), I don't expect much. On a few passes I'll drop down to 2nd gear and cruise on up at 45 mph. Just allow speed to drop somewhat, let off the gas and maintain. If you're in a hurry and expecting more than that (and it kinda sounds like TV-Larsen was :flipoff2: ), You need 3/4 diesel or better - not a gasser. BTW.. I was regularly getting passed on the mountain climbs by Cummins and Powersmokes pulling horse trailers with 6-10 horses inside. :eek: Other gassers (Chevy, Dodge, Ford - didn't matter) took the ~far~ right lane with me.

Few things... OD never on when at that weight (not talking little UHauls)... A properly loaded trailer is key to stability. AND set reasonable expectations based upon the terrain you tow on.

Originally posted by suspect
What kind of mileage are you guys getting??? about 15 hwy and 10-12 towing???? about right??


Thats about what I am getting.. 16 hwy and 10-12 with a load

Originally posted by hy_desert_4wheeler



Thats about what I am getting.. 16 hwy and 10-12 with a load

There's definately a clever comment somewhere in there.... But I'll leave that for GenChitChat.. :flipoff2: :D

Originally posted by suspect
What kind of mileage are you guys getting??? about 15 hwy and 10-12 towing???? about right??
Pretty close, I get 14-15 highway when empty, and around 9-10 towing the RC.

Originally posted by SolidAxleDurango
If you're in a hurry and expecting more than that (and it kinda sounds like TV-Larsen was :flipoff2: ), You need 3/4 diesel or better - not a gasser.
:flipoff2: I wouldn't say I was rushing anything. Intersate speed limit is 75 mph, I ran closer to 65 (but it would pull at 75mph, it was just too loose). On the steeper grades I dropped to 2nd and ran about 45 mph.

I may have been expecting more. I've owned, and towed, mostly with 440 powered 3/4 tons in my life. Compared to a lot of the loads my Powerwagons have towed, the RC was a reasonably light load. It was still too much for the 1/2 ton.

How do ya guys get such good gas milage? I get 16 mpg at 45mph on the highway, other than that i get 12at 70 with the od on, 10 at 80 with the od on, and 12 at 80 with the od off. Normally i am at 11-12.5 mpg when i fill up 90% of the time. And i havent hauled more than a 700 lb load for any long trips so i cant say the gas milage there. I kinda expect around 7-8.

Garrett

I towed a truck weighing approx 5K from Dallas, TX to Moab, Utah with a Ford 2x4 with the big Triton V-8 and averaged about 8.5 mpg roundtrip (2,100 miles). I drove most of it 70, and it was mainly interstate miles.

The entire towing experience sucked. The truck got terrible mileage and wouldn't really get about 70 mph. It really lagged in hills - down to about 48-50 mph. It was an auto and I think had the optional lower gears (4.10?).

Based on that I wouldn't tow with the 318 unless you have to.

Ryan