Help with Towing Options

[Squattingdog]

First post - looks like a great forum.

I'm new to towing. Need to pull a 2 horse trailer - 2,800 pounds empty, about 5,200 pounds fully loaded.

I will only be towing about 5-8 times a year, normally under 200 miles each way with minimal hills. Once or twice a year it might be a 700 mile trip each way. I live in the southeast US, so temps often in the 85-95 degree range.

I'm looking to buy a 2014 1500 with the 5.7 Hemi, 8-sp auto. I need some help with the options -

1. Looks like 3.21 or 3.92 gears are the only option. Should I really go with 3.92 even though I will only be towing occasionally?

2. Should I just get the factory brake controller, or are the Prodigy's better?

3. Does the factory air suspension work as good as the Airbag 1000 to prevent rear sag?

4. Standard mirrors or factory tow mirrors? I hate that the tow mirrors don't power fold, they stick out a ton and this will be a daily driver.


Thanks for any advice you can give!

 

[smurfs_of_war]

For a horse trailer, I wouldn't worry about the tow mirrors. If you find you need them, you can get some decent clip ons.
3.92 would be the only gear I would consider personally. The mileage on mine with the 3.92 unloaded isnt that bad, and its sure nice to have them when I need them. You just never know when those few trips on flat land turn into lots of trips in hills.
Factory TBC is great. Just got to use mine and I am happy with it.

I cant speak to the air suspension, but there are many posts that say and show the air suspension handling sag without issue, even quite overloaded.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[Squattingdog]

For a horse trailer, I wouldn't worry about the tow mirrors. If you find you need them, you can get some decent clip ons.
3.92 would be the only gear I would consider personally. The mileage on mine with the 3.92 unloaded isnt that bad, and its sure nice to have them when I need them. You just never know when those few trips on flat land turn into lots of trips in hills.
Factory TBC is great. Just got to use mine and I am happy with it.

I cant speak to the air suspension, but there are many posts that say and show the air suspension handling sag without issue, even quite overloaded.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

Thanks for the info. What's your RPM on highway speeds, and what mpg are you getting?

 

[smurfs_of_war]

Thanks for the info. What's your RPM on highway speeds, and what mpg are you getting?

About 19 mpg, 1800 rpm or so at 110km/h

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

 

[audio1der]

Another vote for 3.92. If you have a truck, why cut it off at the (capability) knees when it can do more? Having the higher gears barely touches the MPG but helps if you ever need to lend a hand.

 

[Diller]

Vote for 3.21s here. If you are only towing that much and not that often, you will like the lower gearing for fuel economy. FYI I tow the same weight but a car trailer and do it 20-30 times a year.

 

[smiley]

Hey sorry to respond so late did you buy one? If it were me I would go with lowest gears possible so the highest number. The 3.92 and the 8 speed are killer together for towing. 3.55 would be okay too since the 8 speed has such a low first gear and then you lock into 6 to keep RPM's up. Curious to hear what you bought.