1500 vs 2500 hemis

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Heavy

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Hi I'm new to the forum my question is I'm thinking about Upgrading my 2011 1500 hemi I would like to know if a 2500 hemi would pull a 6500# trailer better or worse then the 1500.?
 

h2oman

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The actual pulling will be the same. The 2500 will be more stable. There will be more weight on the front axle for control and less sway. And you'll have the heavy duty brakes. 6500 lbs isn't a big trailer so it isn't totally necessary but it will be very nice.
 

RobbyD

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A 3/4 ton is overkill for a 6500 lb trailer.
 

Wchnu

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I agree. A personal thing. The 1500 will be fine with that trailer. Just depends if you WANT a 2500.


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Brakelate

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Power is the same. Rear end gear ratios and weight carrying capacity of the suspension and size of the brakes change going from a 1500 half-ton to a 2500 3/4 ton.

Question is ride quality and fuel mileage that will suffer when NOT towing. How many miles to you plan on hauling something around?

A 1500 with a "trailer towing package" that has better cooling and a better suited rear end gear ratio would do fine.

Depending on the tongue weight of the trailer, the half ton could also experience some "tail squat" when loaded down, where the beefier truck would not, even if it could start and stop the weight.

So, again, it comes down to give and take; Harsher ride, losing a little mpg with a trailer tow package or 3/4 ton, vs. a nice soft ride, and more efficient cruising at freeway speeds when empty... at the price of the headlights aiming high, the rear looking squashed and it hunting around for the right gear and straining a little more on the long uphills without.

Up to you.
 

audio1der

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@OP- you don't mention the length of your trailer.
I ask, because a 2500 may be a better match if your trailer is long. I pull a 6500# dry (7K loaded) 32'(35.5' ball to bumper) trailer around all summer, and am seriously considering a '14 2500 w/6.4L when they arrive before next summer. The 5.7 is OK for power and een brakes, but having more truck in front of that much side area would be reassuring. Weight is not equal; a very long trailer presents a HUGE amount of side area to wind and passing vehicles that a half ton can have trouble controlling, and not get pushed around.
Just food for thought.
 

Bigdaddy

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Yep, what have being said this is what I did, I went from a 2011 1500 to the 2014 2500. I like that fact that it's a little heavier and all depend your lenght and tongue weight you would have more room. My payload on the 2500 is 2,500 and with the gears that I have which is 3.73 and that will give me about 11,500lbs of towing. I will be getting a traveler trailer soon but I didn't want to be limited on what to get.


Can that 1500 do it, yes you're bet it can you just have to worry about getting to your payload before you get to your tow weight. Right now I haven't have my 2500 to long, only about three weeks and I'm getting now about 13-14 city with the hemi. I haven't taken it out on the highway to see what I will get but in about a week the wife and I will be taken it for a little highway trip.


The 2014 2500 ride better because of the coil spring and the blisten shock in the middle of the rear axle. The ride is so much better and if I would you I would just go and test drive one. The wife and I went to one of the rv's show and the one's we like the 1500 could do it but I didn't have to much room because of the payload of the 1500.

So you would need to check the tongue weight of that trailer you're talking about because about time you add people, etc and tongue weight you might be a little over.
 

smiley

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@OP- you don't mention the length of your trailer.

I ask, because a 2500 may be a better match if your trailer is long. I pull a 6500# dry (7K loaded) 32'(35.5' ball to bumper) trailer around all summer, and am seriously considering a '14 2500 w/6.4L when they arrive before next summer. The 5.7 is OK for power and een brakes, but having more truck in front of that much side area would be reassuring. Weight is not equal; a very long trailer presents a HUGE amount of side area to wind and passing vehicles that a half ton can have trouble controlling, and not get pushed around.

Just food for thought.


Great point and another thing would be width. 7ft wide is nice behind a 1500 but an 8 ft sucks unless you have some big flip out mirrors which are less common on the 1500.

Also the Hemi is a bit different programming wise on the 1500 vs the 2500. I believe on HD it is setup with less HP but flatter curve for torque at at lower rpm. I have no idea if the difference is felt or not I doubt it.
-On 1500
5.7-liter V8 HEMI that puts out 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque.
-On 2500
Standard 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 delivers 383 horsepower (286 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 400 lb.- ft. of torque (542 N•m)



$miley
 

Donelam304

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I have towed with my Silverado from 6,000lbs to 10,000lbs and just recently done the same trailers with my new 2014 Ram 2500 4X4 Crew Cab with 6.4 Hemi in it and OMG. What a difference. I couldn't imagine having a 5.7 in a 2500 truck. And the 6.4 is unbelievable at towing. I will gladly take it over any gas engine any day. When you can go from 0 to 75mph just as fast as if you were not towing and get 14mpg. The only thing I could imagine better for towing would be a cummins. But if your under 10,000lbs it would be overkill. The 6.4 is definitely the way to go.

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Btp 2332

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drove a 2500 6.4,4.10 geared truck today was not impressed after it shifted in to 2nd gear
 
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Heavy

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My trailer is a 28' I'm not sure on ball to bumper length, the 1500 hemi pulls it fine and with the Equalizer hitch I have gotten most of the sag out of the rear end, but with the trailer weight I'm limited on hauling the rest of my camping gear that why I'm wondering about a 2500 hemi and its pulling power. Thanks for everyone's advice.
 

ramguy11

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Why would anyone buy a 2500 and above without the Diesel engine??
If you can do it with the 5.7 then just get bags in the rear on a 1500 and save the money.

If you need a 2500 then you need the diesel.
It is a waste otherwise.


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h2oman

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Airbags will only take out sag. They won't increase payload?
 

Bigdaddy

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Ahhhh I guess because everybody don't like diesel, that's the only reason I can come up with.
 

JohnD72

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Are you going to spend your money on what you need or spend it on what everyone else likes?
I agree with the replies above; if you need a 2500, you probably need the Cummins to go with it.
 

Bigdaddy

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Yep, I agree buy what you want I did and have no regret.
 

Donelam304

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Why would anyone buy a 2500 and above without the Diesel engine??
If you can do it with the 5.7 then just get bags in the rear on a 1500 and save the money.

If you need a 2500 then you need the diesel.
It is a waste otherwise.


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For me it is a dollar thing is why I didn't buy a diesel. It's an over $7,000 option. I can't afford a $50,000 truck on a military salary. Lol. With a wife and kids and grand kids. Lol. Then when you figure in fuel costs, at ¢.75 more per gallon.

And why spend the same price for a 1500 when I can get the 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi in it.

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Brakelate

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I LOVE having the "gas" motor in my Power Wagon. It hauls what I have just fine.

I DID NOT want a Diesel. Didn't want to pay for it initially, don't like the off road balance or throttle response of a Diesel and didn't want to fiddle with the maintenance, filters, particulate burn offs, etc.

They may be fewer than those who want or NEED a Cummins, but we are out there.

:Moon:
 
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Heavy

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Ya I'm a utility worker for the city I live in buying a $50,000+ truck is not in the budget sometime I wonder how guys ever afford them, but thanks for all the suggestions.
 

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