Ram Newbie towing question

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

S

SC-Ram

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2016
Posts
6
Reaction score
5
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I am looking to purchase a 2015 Longhorn, 5.7, 4WD, 8 speed, 3.21 rear end. The description on the dealer website shows "Towing w/Harness and Trailer Sway Control" I see that it is rated to tow 7790 lbs. My boat weighs about 6000 lbs on a tandem axle trailer with surge brakes both axles, (SC law). I had a 5.3L Suburban that I pulled with but the 3.21 is a tall gear. I like the truck but would like some opinions from owners with this setup and towing.

Boat-Trailer_zps0yxsj8r4.jpg
 
C

coldfusion73

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Posts
74
Reaction score
44
Location
Ontario, Canada
Ram Year
2012
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I have a 2016 Ram SLT crew cab with 5.7, 8 speed, 4x4, 3.21 rear. I tow a 2016 Jayco Jay Flight 29 ft...6000 lbs loaded...pulls great. The 8 speed with the tall 3.21 almost feels like my old 6 speed with the 3.55's...


39fb53925baf9f83a37101fb85647cd9.jpg

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
silver surfer

silver surfer

Senior Member
Joined
May 11, 2015
Posts
294
Reaction score
96
Location
South Brunswick, NJ
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
You won't have any trouble pulling that boat. I have a 2015 QC Express 5.7 with 3.21 rear. Pulled my 25' Sunline tt (around 5500 loaded) to Sturgis and back last summer. 4000 miles without a problem. Could even accelerate going uphill.
 
cgeorgemo

cgeorgemo

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Posts
1,647
Reaction score
529
Location
Joplin, MO
Ram Year
2014
Engine
3.6 Pentastar
The 8 speed has super low 1st and 2nd gears...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
crash68

crash68

ACME product engineer
Staff member
Administrator
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2016
Posts
10,787
Reaction score
16,924
Ram Year
2015
Engine
3.0 EcoDiesel
14hemiexpress said:
The 8 speed makes up for the tall gear ratio.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately you lose the torque multiplication of lower rear end ratio.
Taller gearing puts more stress on the engine/trans despite being able to run a lower gear with the trans. Spinning a transmission faster builds more heat.

With a taller ratio, the transmission will hunt for gears more, use the Tow/Haul mode. Tow/Haul also enables the Trailer Sway Control.
 
BossHogg

BossHogg

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Posts
1,935
Reaction score
2,456
Location
Oakland Township, Michigan
Ram Year
2015
Engine
6.7L Cummins
crash68 said:
Unfortunately you lose the torque multiplication of lower rear end ratio.
Taller gearing puts more stress on the engine/trans despite being able to run a lower gear with the trans. Spinning a transmission faster builds more heat.

With a taller ratio, the transmission will hunt for gears more, use the Tow/Haul mode. Tow/Haul also enables the Trailer Sway Control.
Click to expand...

I think what hemiexpress was suggesting was the eight speed transmission has lower transmission gear ratios with respect to the six speed transmission. When the eight speed is coupled to a 3:21 axle, the drive-train has lower gearing through fifth gear than the six speed coupled to a 3:92 axle. Once the eight speed hits seventh and eighth gears, it has a higher ratio.

Gear hunting is a result of the weight pulled with respect to the road. On a flat road gear hunting is minimal. Manual transmission over-ride can be used to lock out higher gears or tow/haul mode and the the computer figure it out. The benefit of using tow/haul it is engauges engine braking more aggressively.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
S

SC-Ram

Junior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2016
Posts
6
Reaction score
5
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 5.7
So I can pull 6000 lbs OK? Funny thing, I am driving a 2WD Ram rental now and I hooked up to the boat, the trailer wheel was in a hole so all the truck did was spin in the grass. I hooked up our old 1989 350 4WD Suburban with 250,000 miles and it pulled it right out. Gotta have 4WD.
 
14hemiexpress

14hemiexpress

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2014
Posts
3,654
Reaction score
1,197
Location
Texas
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4l
crash68 said:
Unfortunately you lose the torque multiplication of lower rear end ratio.
Taller gearing puts more stress on the engine/trans despite being able to run a lower gear with the trans. Spinning a transmission faster builds more heat.

With a taller ratio, the transmission will hunt for gears more, use the Tow/Haul mode. Tow/Haul also enables the Trailer Sway Control.
Click to expand...

You still get a final ratio advantage in the lower gears. Will it hunt more possibly but it had more gears to play with vs my 5spd. Obviously a 8spd 3.92 is best but 8spd 3.21 vs 5spd 3.55 I would take the 3.21 all day long.
 
14hemiexpress

14hemiexpress

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2014
Posts
3,654
Reaction score
1,197
Location
Texas
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4l
SC-Ram said:
So I can pull 6000 lbs OK? Funny thing, I am driving a 2WD Ram rental now and I hooked up to the boat, the trailer wheel was in a hole so all the truck did was spin in the grass. I hooked up our old 1989 350 4WD Suburban with 250,000 miles and it pulled it right out. Gotta have 4WD.
Click to expand...


Yes you can pull 6k with the 8spd 3.21.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

C
Options for towing
2
Replies
26
Views
4K
Ramfanski
Ramfanski
G
High oil temperatures while towing
Replies
14
Views
2K
danielmid
danielmid
S
newbie to towing
2
Replies
29
Views
5K
Ratman6161
Ratman6161
6
Power Wagon Towing - real life experience
Replies
19
Views
6K
62Blazer
6
ram71093
Towing help for someone brand new to trucks and towing.
3 4 5
Replies
80
Views
12K
Tulecreeper
Tulecreeper

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

... and 17 more.
Total: 1,404 (members: 67, guests: 1,337)
Robots: 2,155

Forum statistics

Threads
195,617
Posts
2,872,608
Members
156,445
Latest member
SickHD

Share this page

Top