twohorsepower
Junior Member
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):
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):