3.92 or sell

[wwest]

I am looking for honest answers to my dilemma...should I keep my 1500 or trade.
The Ram is a 2018 tradesman 3.6L v6 8spd with a gross weight of 6025#s, max load weight of 1485#s, wheel base of 120", and a 3.21 rearend. Next week the Ram dealer is to change out the 3.21 to a 3.92 which I had special ordered.
The trailer I just bought and pick it up Jan 8th is a 26' TT with a gross weight of 7300#s and a tongue weight of 837#s. Unloaded weight is 5900#s. It is only my wife and me so I doubt if we would ever load more than 500#s.
My question: should I proceed with the rearend change or change to another Ram? And if I change, to what??? The dealer said they would ship the parts back if I decide to buy another Ram. They have a 2019 new 2500 at $40k with tow package, 4wd, and offroad package, and also two 2016 1500 diesels at $32-34k with around 30k miles.

 

[dls56]

My two cents is this. Get the 2500 it will not have to labor like your existing truck will, it's designed for heavier work than a 1500.
Trucks are inherently task specific.

 

[Ohio5pt7]

I am looking for honest answers to my dilemma...should I keep my 1500 or trade.
The Ram is a 2018 tradesman 3.6L v6 8spd with a gross weight of 6025#s, max load weight of 1485#s, wheel base of 120", and a 3.21 rearend. Next week the Ram dealer is to change out the 3.21 to a 3.92 which I had special ordered.
The trailer I just bought and pick it up Jan 8th is a 26' TT with a gross weight of 7300#s and a tongue weight of 837#s. Unloaded weight is 5900#s. It is only my wife and me so I doubt if we would ever load more than 500#s.
My question: should I proceed with the rearend change or change to another Ram? And if I change, to what??? The dealer said they would ship the parts back if I decide to buy another Ram. They have a 2019 new 2500 at $40k with tow package, 4wd, and offroad package, and also two 2016 1500 diesels at $32-34k with around 30k miles.

That trailer weighs what mine does I have a 18 1500 hemi with 3.21s tows it great. Another 1500 with a hemi would be fine.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk all grammar errors brought you by fat fingers and auto correct.

 

[wwest]

I neglected to mention the existing truck is a regular cab since we have no need for the quads.
Thanks dls56.

 

[PoMansRam]

A regular cab 2wd, pentastar powered Ram 1500 w/ 3.55 gears is rated to tow 7350 lbs.

I'm not sure how much more "rating" 3.92s would add, but based on what you describe, the numbers easily fall in place.

Does this mean it's going to be an excellent tow rig? No way, because there's so many factors as I'm sure you know.

You have to keep in mind our V6 trucks do have a slightly lighter duty 8HP45 transmission as opposed to the 8HP70 in the hemis.

The engine and trans is only part of the picture. If you're going to tow a gazillion miles, do you need the brakes and suspension of a 2500?

No matter what engine choice, they're all going to suck fuel towing a travel trailer

 

[pacofortacos]

IMO, if you plan on doing a lot of towing or towing long distances, cut your losses now.
I have the 3.6 in a Pacifica and it doesn't like just having a bunch of people in it, I couldn't see it towing 5-7000 lbs over a long term or any elevation. That poor little motor will be in the higher end of the rpm range most of the time.

So, if only towing in Fl and only for short distances at speeds less than 60 mph, your current truck is probably fine.
If trying to tow at highway speeds and/or over any decent size hills/mountains, I think you will not be happy with it - even with the 3.92's (they really don't add that much extra oomph).

 

[dhay13]

Just to add, changing to 3.92's will help but it will not change your listed (legal) tow rating. That is set from the factory and cannot be changed no matter what you do. Doesn't sound like you will be over that anyway but wanted to be sure you were aware.

 

[RamInfo]

You really want at least a HEMI for towing that weight trailer, and at 26’ if it were me I’d be looking really hard at that 2500. Especially with the 6.4if you’re using it as a daily driver.

Just MHO,
DG

 

[mtofell]

I agree with the others - cut bait now and go for a 2500. You will look back and laugh that you even hesitated. The difference is substantial and leaves the door open to a bigger trailer later. The gears help you pull but do nothing to help with carrying capacity or payload (although the 1400# for that truck is somewhat respectable).

 

[reek]

if you tow more often than not, go 2500. I had a hemi 1500. My travel trailer is about 8000 lbs. My work trailer is a bit more. a year into ownership, I made the switch to a 2500 with a 6.4 hemi. Lost a bunch of money but lesson learned.

the 1500 pulled the trailers OK but everything else felt a bit too much 'white knuckle'. when the trailer weighs more than the tow vehicle, it really effects the dynamics of turning, stopping, swaying…

towing, gas mileage is a moot point, they both suck. as a daily driver, the 1500 really is better on gas. probably about 5-6 mpg better with my city/highway driving. having said that, you only need to poop your pants once and 5-6 mpg seems a small price to pay.

 

[csuder99]

A regular cab short bed is not a good tow vehicle to begin with. It's lighter and shorter than the more common QC and CC models so the 26' trailer will manhandle it more. Changing the gearing is not going to change that.

 

[arthur dwyer]

get the 2500!

 

[mjpep]

Just a word of warning on the 1500 Diesels, there's a lot to be concerned about including an open recall on the egr cooler that still has no fix. The general performance of those trucks saw a big decline after the emissions recall and that;s why you're seeing a lot of used ones on the market.

 

[2019RamInSC]

[QUOTE="
The trailer I just bought and pick it up Jan 8th is a 26' TT with a gross weight of 7300#s and a tongue weight of 837#s. Unloaded weight is 5900#s. It is only my wife and me so I doubt if we would ever load more than 500#s.
.[/QUOTE]

 

[2019RamInSC]

We just upgraded to a Ram 1500 from a Chevy Avalanche.
Our existing trailer is 900 lbs lower than yours. Its just me and the war department and a 80 lbs Rottie

My point is that I weighed the trailer fully loaded for camping. We added 750 lbs of stuff. That is with no water in any tanks. So be careful estimating what the wife will stuff in your trailer. Haha I learned my lesson.

We are also looking at upgrading our trailer.

Good Luck!!!!

OOPs sorry about the post #14. My nimble fingers grrrr

 

[Jerrybob]

Bigger is better....go with the 2500. Also....see what they have with the 5.7hemi.....my new 1500 with hemi...3.92 and tow package is rated at 11K+ for towing.

 

[rvance]

I had the exact truck (except a 13) that you are looking at. Pulling a 3300 lb load sucked. I considered getting a 4800lb trailer until I pulled the 3300 lb.
Get the 2500.

 

[Quyonmob]

Just to add, changing to 3.92's will help but it will not change your listed (legal) tow rating. That is set from the factory and cannot be changed no matter what you do. Doesn't sound like you will be over that anyway but wanted to be sure you were aware.

This is hugely important here as the truck came with 3.6/3.21’s, making its max trailer tow under 5klbs (4600lbs IIRC?).

Even with 3.92’s the 3.6 wont be happy, weight aside, the aerodynamic drag from a 26’ is a big deal.

If you plan on towing a lot, 5.7/3.92 in a 1500 would be my minimum choice, a 2500 would be much more comfortable.

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

I am looking for honest answers to my dilemma...should I keep my 1500 or trade.
The Ram is a 2018 tradesman 3.6L v6 8spd with a gross weight of 6025#s, max load weight of 1485#s, wheel base of 120", and a 3.21 rearend. Next week the Ram dealer is to change out the 3.21 to a 3.92 which I had special ordered.
The trailer I just bought and pick it up Jan 8th is a 26' TT with a gross weight of 7300#s and a tongue weight of 837#s. Unloaded weight is 5900#s. It is only my wife and me so I doubt if we would ever load more than 500#s.
My question: should I proceed with the rearend change or change to another Ram? And if I change, to what??? The dealer said they would ship the parts back if I decide to buy another Ram. They have a 2019 new 2500 at $40k with tow package, 4wd, and offroad package, and also two 2016 1500 diesels at $32-34k with around 30k miles.

Buy the 2500.
I have a '17 2500 CCLB 4X4 6.4 6spd 4.10's .
I previously had an '09 1500 QC 6'4" bed 5.7 with 3.92's
There is no way I could ever go back to a 1500. 2500 feels like you could pull your house if you had to. Much less dicey if you need to get on the brakes a bunch too. It doesn't get pushed around like a 1500.

 

[Mopar73]

Get the 2500.
I had a 2012 1500 5.7 for two summers that I pulled a 33 foot travel trailer 7500 pound empty weight. Even being very judicious in the amount of weight I pulled to stay under the 8500 pound towing capacity As others have mentioned it was not a fun experience. I never Felt really comfortable. this fall I upgraded to a 2014 2500 with a 6.4. And just driving it around without towing anything it is so much more solid and I’m really looking forward to camping this coming summer and not being white knuckled.


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