Choosing right truck for me

[AKadventures]

I recently bought a new boat it’s about 6000 pounds loaded, I’ve had a 2017 ram 1500 with the 5.7 hemi. It’s kinda struggled to pull this boat. More so stopping this boat, the trailer does have trailer breaks. I’m heavily considering moving up to a used 2018 or 2019 ram 2500 with the 6.4 hemi. I found a 2018 tradesman it’s got 85k miles on it with the 6 speed transmission. I’ve also found a 2019 big horn with the 8 speed but it’s got 100,000 miles on it. Everything I’ve read online makes it sound like the 8 speed it better. However I’m not sure that justifies the extra miles. Or would I be better off looking at a different 1500? Only thing I do know is in an emergency situation I really can’t stop that boat in a hurry with my current set up. This truck would probably also be my commuter vehicle at least for the winter. I drive about 4 hours to and from work once a month.

 

[K2maan]

I used to pull a 6500 pound boat and trailer with a 1983 Chevy Blazer (full size) with a 5.0 V8. I pulled it all over the Ozark Mountains in Missouri and Arkansas. The carburated 5.0 would really struggle going up the hills. But braking was not a problem. The trailer brakes were a self contained on the trailer setup - there was a master cylinder on the tongue and when the trailer tried to push the truck, it was like putting your foot on the trailer brake pedal. I really couldn’t tell the boat was there when stopping as it worked so well.

I would think if you have trouble stopping, maybe your trailer brake controller isn’t set or operating properly, or the brakes on the trailer have a problem. I’m just guessing, but it would be good to verify everything is operating properly on your current setup before getting a new truck.

 

[crash68]

I would think if you have trouble stopping, maybe your trailer brake controller isn’t set or operating properly, or the brakes on the trailer have a problem.

^^^ this
Lots of trailer brakes are on the neglected side and boat trailers brakes should be inspected more often since they get submerged on a regular basis. A 6K lbs boat shouldn't be a problem for a 1500 to stop if all the brakes are working correctly.
A 1500 w/Hemi even with 3.21 gears and the 8 spd will pull the boat just as nice as 2500 but will ride better. There a few on this forum that tend to think a 1500 shouldn't tow anything but if this boat is just towed to/from the boat launch through the season there probably no reason to go with a 2500. One might consider a 2500 if the boat was going to be doing a bunch of traveling.
@AKadventures as for the 6spd/8spd debate, I would side with the 8spd unless there was major difference in price or miles but 15K wouldn't be enough. It's not that the 6spd is a bad transmission, the 8spd is that much better especially when it comes to towing. The gear staggering of the 6spd has some big leaps, and basically 1st gear of the 6spd speed is equivalent to 2nd gear of the 8spd. Just use the Tow/Haul mode with the 8spd does an excellent job of knowing what gear to be in.

 

[AKadventures]

^^^ this
Lots of trailer brakes are on the neglected side and boat trailers brakes should be inspected more often since they get submerged on a regular basis. A 6K lbs boat shouldn't be a problem for a 1500 to stop if all the brakes are working correctly.
A 1500 w/Hemi even with 3.21 gears and the 8 spd will pull the boat just as nice as 2500 but will ride better. There a few on this forum that tend to think a 1500 shouldn't tow anything but if this boat is just towed to/from the boat launch through the season there probably no reason to go with a 2500. One might consider a 2500 if the boat was going to be doing a bunch of traveling.
@AKadventures as for the 6spd/8spd debate, I would side with the 8spd unless there was major difference in price or miles but 15K wouldn't be enough. It's not that the 6spd is a bad transmission, the 8spd is that much better especially when it comes to towing. The gear staggering of the 6spd has some big leaps, and basically 1st gear of the 6spd speed is equivalent to 2nd gear of the 8spd. Just use the Tow/Haul mode with the 8spd does an excellent job of knowing what gear to be in.

Shortly after making this post my coworker asked about the brakes on the trailer, that’s one thing I didn’t check. I wasn’t sure if towing that boat with the 1500 would kill the transmission. Specifically going through the mountains, average trip to a weekend location is 3+ hours through the mountains. I believe my 1500 has a 6 speed transmission, would a 8 speed be more reliable

 

[AKadventures]

I used to pull a 6500 pound boat and trailer with a 1983 Chevy Blazer (full size) with a 5.0 V8. I pulled it all over the Ozark Mountains in Missouri and Arkansas. The carburated 5.0 would really struggle going up the hills. But braking was not a problem. The trailer brakes were a self contained on the trailer setup - there was a master cylinder on the tongue and when the trailer tried to push the truck, it was like putting your foot on the trailer brake pedal. I really couldn’t tell the boat was there when stopping as it worked so well.

I would think if you have trouble stopping, maybe your trailer brake controller isn’t set or operating properly, or the brakes on the trailer have a problem. I’m just guessing, but it would be good to verify everything is operating properly on your current setup before getting a new truck.

I’ll have to check that when I get a chance. I know the brakes are working but maybe I can turn up the sensitivity? I’ve got it on 10 settings for the trailer breaks which did help compared to a lower set.

 

[HemiLonestar]

2017 half ton, you have an 8sp and even with different gearing options that truck should have no issues towing 6500 lbs. I mean you're gonna know it's back there at that weight but with 3.92 gears and 8sp that's 10k+ lb tow rating.

 

[crash68]

I believe my 1500 has a 6 speed transmission, would a 8 speed be more reliable

If you have a shift knob it's the 8spd, if you have a column shifter it's the 6spd.
Also with the 8spd there's a Gear +/- buttons on the steering wheel, you can use those to limit what gear the trans shifts into and that gear will display on the dash. If you have the color EVIC it will also show the current gear.
If you do have a 6spd it's most like a truck that was built for Canada or fleet use. You may want to consider upgrading to a 1500 with an 8spd instead of a 2500 unless future endeavors include a heavier boat/trailer

 

[62Blazer]

I would question how well the brakes on the boat trailer are working. From my experience pulling multiple different trailers with properly working brakes the stopping distance is not affected that much.
Most boat trailers have surge brakes and are not connected electrically to the truck or controlled by the truck brake controller. Your comment about the sensitivity settings or adjusting them on the truck makes me question what is going on.

 

[AKadventures]

I would question how well the brakes on the boat trailer are working. From my experience pulling multiple different trailers with properly working brakes the stopping distance is not affected that much.
Most boat trailers have surge brakes and are not connected electrically to the truck or controlled by the truck brake controller. Your comment about the sensitivity settings or adjusting them on the truck makes me question what is going on.

Yeah I’m not sure, this is my first trailer with trailer breaks, it’s got surge breaks and drum breaks. The setting on the trucks maxed out but I believe on drum breaks you can adjust the sensitivity. Not sure I can’t check on that for another month until I get home.

 

[AKadventures]

If you have a shift knob it's the 8spd, if you have a column shifter it's the 6spd.
Also with the 8spd there's a Gear +/- buttons on the steering wheel, you can use those to limit what gear the trans shifts into and that gear will display on the dash. If you have the color EVIC it will also show the current gear.
If you do have a 6spd it's most like a truck that was built for Canada or fleet use. You may want to consider upgrading to a 1500 with an 8spd instead of a 2500 unless future endeavors include a heavier boat/trailer

I’ve got a 8 spd then. I will say then it’s not that smooth shifting towing or just regular drives in the mountains.

 

[AKadventures]

2017 half ton, you have an 8sp and even with different gearing options that truck should have no issues towing 6500 lbs. I mean you're gonna know it's back there at that weight but with 3.92 gears and 8sp that's 10k+ lb tow rating.

I definitely notice it’s back there just breaking sucks and I’m more worried I’ll cook my transmission towing through the mountains

 

[ramffml]

I definitely notice it’s back there just breaking sucks and I’m more worried I’ll cook my transmission towing through the mountains

Put it in Tow Haul, then watch the transmission temps.

 

[HemiLonestar]

Tow/Haul and put the ERS on 6. Maybe 7 if you get to long stretches of flat land anywhere.

 

[AKadventures]

Tow/Haul and put the ERS on 6. Maybe 7 if you get to long stretches of flat land anywhere.

Yeah in Alaska we don’t really have that much flat land

 

[CamperMike]

If it's working right your trans should not be overheating. I have towed my 5500lb travel trailer thru mountains quite a bit. The trans never gets hot. The engine however can if you push it too hard up hill... if you're evic can show the transmission temp use that setting and monitor to see if it ever gets hot.

 

[AKadventures]

If it's working right your trans should not be overheating. I have towed my 5500lb travel trailer thru mountains quite a bit. The trans never gets hot. The engine however can if you push it too hard up hill... if you're evic can show the transmission temp use that setting and monitor to see if it ever gets hot.

Yeah I’m just thinking longevity, it’s working now. Just thought it might kill it quicker then say a 2500

 

[CamperMike]

Yeah I’m just thinking longevity, it’s working now. Just thought it might kill it quicker then say a 2500

I don't think it'll be a problem. I have towed my travel trailer around 20k miles total. Truck has 108k. I changed the trans fluid once so far. It shows no signs of trouble and i expect a long life. Some of the older 2500 with the 6 speed are more widely known for transmission issues than the 1500 with 8 speed anyway.

 

[joesstripclub]

Yeah I’m just thinking longevity, it’s working now. Just thought it might kill it quicker then say a 2500

A 2500 is definitely a heavier duty truck, but a 6000 lb boat should not be overworking your 1500. A little lighter, but I pulled a cargo trailer with a SxS all over Colorado with my 1500 (4000 to 4500 lbs probably) without issue. Watch your oil temps as hemis run real hot up a long grade. Like others said, check your trailer brakes. You should be able to manually engage them with your trailer brake controller and tell how well they are working.

 

[crash68]

I’m not sure, this is my first trailer with trailer breaks, it’s got surge breaks and drum breaks. The setting on the trucks maxed out but I believe on drum breaks you can adjust the sensitivity.

The brake controller on the truck means nothing if the trailer has surge brakes. Surge brakes are 100% mechanical based on how much the trailer pushes into the truck. It wouldn't be surprising if you need a new surge master cylinder and brake assemblies. If the boat goes into salt water, especially makes sure everything is corrosion resistant. The trailer probably already has free-backing brakes assemblies, if not there should be a reverse lock-out solenoid (trailer will have a 5-flat or use a 7-pin plug that has reverse wired).
I rebuilt the surge brakes on my boat trailer, found out the boat dealership had two left brake assemblies installed on a single axle trailer.

FYI the truck brake controller will "sense" if a trailer is connected with properly working brakes and if it loses that connection while the truck is running a trailer disconnect light will turn on the dash. The light will go out if the trailer is reconnected or the truck is turned off.

 

[62Blazer]

Yeah I’m not sure, this is my first trailer with trailer breaks, it’s got surge breaks and drum breaks. The setting on the trucks maxed out but I believe on drum breaks you can adjust the sensitivity. Not sure I can’t check on that for another month until I get home.

As mentioned above, if you have surge brakes the brake controller in the truck as zero affect on how the trailer brakes work. Most trailers have drum brakes. While most on-road trailers pulled by pickup trucks have electrically operated brakes, most boat trailers have mechanically operated surge brakes. The reason is that electric and being submerged in water usually don't go together very well!
Trailer brakes are usually neglected and never serviced. Especially boat trailers that tend to sit for long periods of time. Back the trailers into the water a few times, never service them for years, and they just turn into a ball of rust that is doing nothing. I would pull them apart and take a look at them.