Making an '04 Ram 1500 more tow capable!

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twohorsepower

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Hi, this is my first post. I am mike, in northern arizona. Like many folks here do, I own horses, and I use my '04 1500 laramie 4x4 to tow my 3 horse bumper pull trailer with a front tack room. I've put all the miles on this truck, which is now at 186K, as my daughter drives 30 miles to school each way, every day. I want to make this thing more capable as we're doing more shows and I need to do bigger mountain passes - the way from Sedona up to Flagstaff is pretty steep for a good 40 miles.

This vehicle came with factory tow package, 5 speed auto trans with od, and 3:92 gearing.

Work so far:

At about 118K I changed the ball joints, control arms, stabilizer bushings, etc, using all moog parts. I also put on rancho 5000 shocks all around, and upgraded the brake rotors to the powerstop fleet brakes (i think that's the maker).

When I first started towing the bigger horse trailer, the back end had serious sag. After looking at all the options, and even trying some super springs, I had general send me a set of 2500 leaf springs, made to fit (with special links included) on my 1500. No more sag, certainly not enough to budge the front end upward at all.

What I am looking for:

The transmission has not overheated yet, but obviously I do not have a transmission temp gauge.

Bigger rear end and transmission pan?
Hopefully one that won't restrict 4x4 usage, as we use the truck to go fossil hunting in some pretty rugged country. It is a beast!

Temp guages?
I'd like to find something that goes on the pillar, so i don't have to tear up the dash.

Beefier trasmission & rear end?
Is that doable?

Improved oil cooler for engine?
I've not had any cooling issues so far, but the engine is getting older now.

Thanks for any advice!

(requisite pic, taken this summer up by my daughter's school):

35ttNVd.jpg
 

HemiLonestar

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So you're not really looking for increased capability so much as longevity according to your questions. Increasing capability would entail gear swaps, increasing engine power, etc. To answer your questions:
Bigger rear end and transmission pan?
Do you mean bigger rear cover, say with fins for cooling or do you mean actual bigger rear axle? Plenty of tranny pans, a nice deep one with cooling fins is a good choice (like mine)

DSC01056.JPG

Temp guages?
Very easy to do, I used a factory SRT Ram A pillar with an Aeroforce Interceptor, plugs right into the OBD port. My usual setting is digital speedo & water temp; when towing I switch to water temp and trans temp.

IMAG3358.jpg

Beefier trasmission & rear end?
Doable yes, worth it though; the only real semi-easy rear end upgrade is the Dana 60 from an SRT quad cab but you'd need a custom driveshaft plus have to swap the front gears to match. With a stock engine, you don't need to. As for the trans, no one has yet to come up with a successful stronger 545RFE that's really any stronger than stock.

Improved oil cooler for engine?
Your engine does not have an oil cooler, only power steering and trans coolers. You could add one, they came stock on police 5.7's and later 392's and Hellcat engines. You could install one, but you'd have to adapt the hoses from an LX police car; these are significantly different from the 3rd gen Ram version.

p324.jpg
 

sandawilliams

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You cant make a 2500 out of a 1500. Believe me- I've tried twice. You would be money ahead to just buy the truck you really need.
 
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twohorsepower

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You cant make a 2500 out of a 1500. Believe me- I've tried twice. You would be money ahead to just buy the truck you really need.

I don't want or need a 2500.

The total weight of the trailer with horses, tack, water, at a weigh station is 6250 lbs.

I just want to make it more robust, so I don't have to worry as much hauling my horses up a grade 40 miles.
 

HemiLonestar

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Oh yeah, adding the 1 ton trans cooler from a hemi 3500 is a good one as well

DSC01036.JPG
 

Marley

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Yes adding a high capacity cooler and I'd recommend a weight distribution hitch like a Reese dual cam which would keep your truck level and prevent sway.
 

Spsully

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Temp guages?
Very easy to do, I used a factory SRT Ram A pillar with an Aeroforce Interceptor, plugs right into the OBD port. My usual setting is digital speedo & water temp; when towing I switch to water temp and trans temp.

View attachment 182751

Wait .... interceptors work on these trucks? I thought it spoke a different computer language.
 

HemiLonestar

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Wait .... interceptors work on these trucks? I thought it spoke a different computer language.
Couple different kinds. One speaks PCI, the other CAN. As you can see a few posts back, I have one in a 2003.
 

Spsully

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How do I not have you on fb or speed dial or my Christmas mailing list or married to one of my daughters lol
 

HemiLonestar

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