Towing my trailer with my Hemi

Cam3428 · Apr 19, 2026

Hello, new to the forum. I have a 2016 5.7L Hemi 4x4 reg cab short box with full tow package. Going to pull a 4095 lb Freedom Express travel trailer dual axle. GCVWR will be about 6700lbs. I have a 650lb pin weight and full weight distribution hitch. Will I be ok?

crash68 · Apr 19, 2026

You'll want to adjust the WDH with the truck and trailer fully loaded. The best way is adjust them is by using a CAT scale to weigh the truck and trailer together, then drop the trailer and weigh just the truck.
The 6700 is probably the GVWR of the trailer which sounds a little heavy for a 4K dry trailer. The GCVWR of the truck and trailer is going to about 14K lbs.
Use the Tow/Haul mode and let the transmission do its things. The torque peak of the Hemi is 4K RPMs, it's normal for the engine to need to rev higher while towing. Run 89 octane fuel, but 8-10 mpg fuel economy numbers are likely..
Keep in mind that at 100 km/h you'll be covering the length of a football field every three seconds. It takes approximately 1 second to realize what's happening and another second to actually react to the situation. It takes about about half a football field to stop just the truck traveling at 100 km/h, that length can double to triple easily while towing.

rzr6-4 · Apr 19, 2026

If you have a wdh then go for it but even without, turn on tow/haul and go. No need to overthink such a light load. Easy on the brakes, easy on the gas, be aware of your surroundings, and go.

inuyasha-rules · Apr 19, 2026

Use the gear selector to downshift going down long grades is the only thing I have to add

Grams · Apr 19, 2026

Pulling is not the hardest part of towing.

STOPPING is the hard part. Stopping while going down-hill is jack-knife territory. Be cautious out there.

One more bit of advice, if you don’t mind: When that thing begins to sway…. Resist the temptation to let up on the gas and step on the brakes.
Instead, use the TRAILER brake controller to apply Trailer brakes to impart a “pull” from the trailer…which will immediately solve the poblem.

Good luck!. Enjoy!

04fxdwgi · Apr 19, 2026

I towed my 6.5k boat / trailer (22.5 ft Searay w/ a 454 Mag in it.) load all over the place with exact same setup you have. I did have electric over hydraulic Kodiac disc brakes on both axles and it stopped / towed like a dream. No WDH, but tongue weight required on boat trailers is usually lower than a utility trailer, due to the length of the tongue.

Using tow / haul is a must.

MPG was averaging between 10 and 14, depending on conditions. I didn't even look at the MPG going up hill, didn't have to to know it was zilch..

The 8 speed xmission is sooooo much better for towing than the 5 speed I had in my older F150

crash68 · Apr 19, 2026

04fxdwgi said:
MPG was averaging between 10 and 14, depending on conditions.

Your boat is a little more aerodynamic than travel trailer. The difference between towing my 18' boat vs 24' enclosed car hauler is solid 4 mpg less for the car hauler even though both weighed about 3K lbs.

Johnny Paycheck · Apr 19, 2026

crash68 said:
The torque peak of the Hemi is 4K RPMs, it's normal for the engine to need to rev higher while towing

The good thing is the Hemi kicks out about 300 ft/lbs at 1300 RPMs, so the run up to the peak is just gravy.

dhay13 · Apr 19, 2026

I towed our 7500lb boat and trailer with my 2013 1500 3.55's hemi and averaged about 10 mpg. towing my sons 7000lb TT I got 6.5 mpg. aerodynamics makes a big difference

Cam3428 · Apr 19, 2026

Grams said:
Pulling is not the hardest part of towing.

STOPPING is the hard part. Stopping while going down-hill is jack-knife territory. Be cautious out there.

One more bit of advice, if you don’t mind: When that thing begins to sway…. Resist the temptation to let up on the gas and step on the brakes.
Instead, use the TRAILER brake controller to apply Trailer brakes to impart a “pull” from the trailer…which will immediately solve the poblem.

Good luck!. Enjoy!

Cam3428 · Apr 19, 2026

May get sway? No body i have talked to has said anything about it. Just dont drive fast?

Cam3428 · Apr 19, 2026

crash68 said:
You'll want to adjust the WDH with the truck and trailer fully loaded. The best way is adjust them is by using a CAT scale to weigh the truck and trailer together, then drop the trailer and weigh just the truck.
The 6700 is probably the GVWR of the trailer which sounds a little heavy for a 4K dry trailer. The GCVWR of the truck and trailer is going to about 14K lbs.
Use the Tow/Haul mode and let the transmission do its things. The torque peak of the Hemi is 4K RPMs, it's normal for the engine to need to rev higher while towing. Run 89 octane fuel, but 8-10 mpg fuel economy numbers are likely..
Keep in mind that at 100 km/h you'll be covering the length of a football field every three seconds. It takes approximately 1 second to realize what's happening and another second to actually react to the situation. It takes about about half a football field to stop just the truck traveling at 100 km/h, that length can double to triple easily while towing.

Cam3428 · Apr 19, 2026

Thanks. Set up the WDH with it somewhat loaded. Difference was little less than an inch on back and 3/4 in on front. Yes have to get on a cat scale. Was told if you are going to be heavy a little make it the truck not trailer.

star_deceiver · Apr 19, 2026

I towed that size of trailer with my pentastar… you’ll be fine.

04fxdwgi · Apr 20, 2026

crash68 said:
Your boat is a little more aerodynamic than travel trailer. The difference between towing my 18' boat vs 24' enclosed car hauler is solid 4 mpg less for the car hauler even though both weighed about 3K lbs.

Thanx. Fully aware of the aerodynamics of the two, Was just trying to show the trucks pull that weight with no problem. MPG aside because we all know the MPG goes in the C*R*A*P*P*E*R when towing.

crash68 · Apr 20, 2026

Johnny Paycheck said:
The good thing is the Hemi kicks out about 300 ft/lbs at 1300 RPMs, so the run up to the peak is just gravy.

That comment was geared twords the OP because he sounds new to towing and there people that think there's something wrong when they're Hemi starts singing in the high rpm ranges. For some strange reason they think they'll tow a trailer down the road at 2 RPMs, to which I answer if you want to do that then buy a diesel.
The EcoD does 480 ft/lbs at 2K and I honk and wave at the Hemis stopped to refuel as I pass them.

ramffml · Apr 20, 2026

crash68 said:
That comment was geared twords the OP because he sounds new to towing and there people that think there's something wrong when they're Hemi starts singing in the high rpm ranges. For some strange reason they think they'll tow a trailer down the road at 2 RPMs, to which I answer if you want to do that then buy a diesel.
The EcoD does 480 ft/lbs at 2K and I honk and wave at the Hemis stopped to refuel as I pass them.

My truck pulls that trailer weight down the road at 2100 for hours on end, it will even drop into 7th at about 1800 ish rpms if I let it but definitely more comfortable at 2100.

Yeah it sings a little more climbing grades for a minute, 3000 to 3500 or steeper grades will hit 4000, its a glorious sound. Gassers are designed for this, the 5.7 was used for a decade in the 2500 so OP can stop worrying about working it too hard, it's the only engine in a half ton that saw heavy duty usage and did very well there.

I can go for about 3.5 hours before I start looking for a fuel station, 4 is tops but by then I need to get out and walk before I go crazy. 9 to 11 mpg is where I sit on average towing.

Edit: and btw, the ED would do better with more downshifting, it's weakness is the bottom end where bearing failure is common, and part of this is because of high load at low rpms. It was originally designed as a car engine for use by Cadillac in Europe, and doing truck duty was not part of the plan where high load at low rpms is more common. The diesel can put the power out there, but its very hard on the bearings. Engines working hard like that need to keep oil viscosity up to maintain that film strength, so you have to pick heavier grade oils or run them faster (RPMs). The ED is no cummins that's for sure.

rvance · Apr 20, 2026

Cam3428 said:
Hello, new to the forum. I have a 2016 5.7L Hemi 4x4 reg cab short box with full tow package. Going to pull a 4095 lb Freedom Express travel trailer dual axle. GCVWR will be about 6700lbs. I have a 650lb pin weight and full weight distribution hitch. Will I be ok?

You will be fine. I pulled that much with my 2wd V6 10 trips between Houston and NE Texas with no issue at all. I did put Airlifts on the back along with 10 ply tires to cut down the sway

jh90731 · Apr 20, 2026

Here's the chart for your model. As long as you stay within its limits you should be good.

Gary Fields · Apr 20, 2026

Crash 68- Is that a Canadian football field or American?

Towing my trailer with my Hemi

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