Most coat effective motor+tran for towing 4500 lbs?

[GlideOn]

New here to Ram Forums (hello), drive a 2010 SLT quad cab with 4.7 & 5 speed. I work with my small family business Pest Control Company in South Florida.

Use it to tow up to 4500 lbs reguarly at highway speeds (65-70 mph) for distances of 200+ miles on a weekley basis.


This next part is a bit tl;dr but expainitory:



The truck is wonderful, leagues better than any truck or vehicle I've ever driven before in regards to refinement, handling and comfort. It has always been a bit sluggish at towing though, not to say that the outgoing 4.7 is a slouch but that it could do better with 5k lbs and 5 speeds to choose from. IIRC, think the axle is 3.41

Anyways, at 125,000 miles it's getting time to trade in to get the best value and the next best vehicle for the job. Have no reason not to look at Ram again, but there are so many new and exciting and costly options since the body style change in 2010.

There is a massive Arrigo Dodge dealer just a few miles away from our office and a trusted repair place literally across the street from our address that has been maintaining our trucks for 10+ years with great service, albeit not the cheapest around. Both places have come in handy for regular repairs and warranty repairs (transmission solenoid, clutch fan).

My question essentially boils down to this: towing at 4500lbs max, what is the most cost-effective motor+transmission combo to get? We're looking to spend no more than $30,000 on a single work vehicle, single cabs are acceptable. Would be great if it got at least 22 on hwy as my current 4.7 w/ cover does.

Is the 3.7 gutsy enough with an 8 speed? Or is the 5.7 6 speed great but too lousy on gas? They have the 5.7 8 speed in stock but configured only as premium trims that go north of 38,000+. The 3.0 diesel is only premium trim too. Not sure if mechanics across from street have extensive experience with 8 speeds either...

Love the Ram 1500, need more power and usability without sacrificing fuel economy and added ruggedness would be great. Don't care about chrome or appearence packages. Hope to keep this new vehicle at least 5-7 years.

Website to Arrigo: Arrigo Dodge Chrysler Jeep: New & Used Car Dealer West Palm Beach, FL | Ram | Florida

 

[ExpressRules]

Look at the Ram web site and build out a Tradesman or base Express. You will find that for $30,000 you can get a truck with all you are looking for in addition to some creature comforts in a regular cab.

You won't see 22 MPG with the 5.7, but will be close in highway driving. In regard to towing that 5K boat, you will forget it is even behind you.

Check this out ---- http://www.ramtrucks.com/hostc/bmo/CUT201413DS1L61C/2TC/summary.do

 

[xrsman]

I'd recommend the hemi but only in the 8 speed. With mine (crew cab 4x4. Hemi 8 speed 3.92 gears) I got 13 mpg US towing a 4000 lb trailer doing 75 mph. I also have a lift kit negatively affects my mileage, however I do have engine mods that help bring some of that back. I don't think you'll get more power by going with the 3.7L. With the 8 speed I think it makes very similar power to the 4.7l. The ecodiesel would be by far your best bet for mpg towing and not towing...however it comes at a cost!

 

[Csanders1992]

You can get crew cab express 4x4 with the 5.7 and 8 spd around here for 32k before ttl. Tradesman is around 28-29k. Reg cab is down in the mid 20s for both


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[14hemiexpress]

I don't normally take this side but I would go for the Eco diesel. Putting that many miles on in 4 years is a lot of driving and should make the premium cost up fairly quickly. The Eco diesel can be purchased in the tradesman platform. You can probably get a 2wd eco diesel quad cab power group for under 30. Build it on Rams website and take a minimun of 5k off msrp and see were you are at.

 

[Csanders1992]

^ I'd have to agree with this. Diesels tend to handle a lot of milage a lot better. Plus they get great gas milage and tow really well


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[Jerry1984]

Here's a hemi 8 speed 4x4 for under 28. It's where I bought my truck. They won't negotiate pricing though.
New 2014 Ram 1500 .Express BEST PRICE IN THE NATION!!! For Sale in Caldwell & Boise, ID | Vin:1C6RR7FT6ES266603

 

[14hemiexpress]

Here's a hemi 8 speed 4x4 for under 28. It's where I bought my truck. They won't negotiate pricing though.
New 2014 Ram 1500 .Express BEST PRICE IN THE NATION!!! For Sale in Caldwell & Boise, ID | Vin:1C6RR7FT6ES266603

Good lord next time I'm flying up there to buy a truck. Bought my truck in Texas and paid 33. Mine has more options but not that much more... You can get a 2wd for that here.

Sorry OP not trying to get off topic.

 

[GlideOn]

Thanks for the responses, good feedback here

I would LOVE to have the diesel and have many, many trouble free miles on it over a gasser, however stock in these ecodiesels are extremely limited and have only come so far in Larmie and SLT trim levels starting @ 40k. I check the inventory reguarly and they last about a week on average on the lots.

Not easy to find these ecodiesels in So Flo :-/


Very interested in hearing more towing experiences with the 8 speed though

 

[Grad12]

I've towed with mine (v6 8 speed). At that not even 4500 lbs, more like 3000. The v6 is sluggish with a tow, but grest gas milesge when not towing. It will do the job, but it is not meant for it always.

 

[atticusfaul]

If your not in a bind you can order something that fits your needs and budget.

 

[smurfs_of_war]

8 speed is absolute gold for towing. It's more about the mannerism than the extra gears- although they help.

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[14hemiexpress]

The 3.6 will need to rev to be a good tow rig. It'll do it but you'll probably be working it. If your in no big hurry why don't you order one? I will say anything you get it should have the 8 speed. The 6 and Eco diesel have the 8 speed as the only option and I would choose the 8 over the 6 with the hemi.

 

[Bigbird]

In September I pulled our 4500# travel trailer over 2400 miles with a 2014 RAM 3.6L, 8 speed, and 3.21 rear end. It is a very good towing combination and I do recommend it. 65 - 70 is easy. Besides I get 25 - 27 MPG when not towing. I have no plans to trade for a V8. You can buy a Tradesman regular cab way under the $30,000 you mentioned.

 

[Grad12]

In September I pulled our 4500# travel trailer over 2400 miles with a 2014 RAM 3.6L, 8 speed, and 3.21 rear end. It is a very good towing combination and I do recommend it. 65 - 70 is easy. Besides I get 25 - 27 MPG when not towing. I have no plans to trade for a V8. You can buy a Tradesman regular cab way under the $30,000 you mentioned.

As you pulled so many miles, you probably kept a good log. I realize the mileage would be very low, but I'm interested in how you did. I've only towed 30 minutes out of town with the truck yet, but I have a trip coming soon with just about the same weight (maybe a little under) what you have. How was the mileage?

 

[Bigbird]

As you pulled so many miles, you probably kept a good log. I realize the mileage would be very low, but I'm interested in how you did. I've only towed 30 minutes out of town with the truck yet, but I have a trip coming soon with just about the same weight (maybe a little under) what you have. How was the mileage?

We will start with June. I towed a 6x10 utility trailer round trip from Texas to S. Carolina. the trailer probably weighed around 1400#. On that trip I got 16.5 MPG. In September the round trip to Florida got 12.2 mpg. As you probably realize the cross sectional area makes more difference than the weight. Lots of hills between Texas and Florida and several rain storms. It is going to take just so much energy to move a trailer of a certain weight whether it is a V6 or a V8. I never expected to get great milage pulling a trailer but I accept that every time I pull and I don't worry about it.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Just a heads up 3.6l 8 speed 3.21 is only rated for 4800lbs towing on reg cab tradesman. If you plan on getting the 3.6 get the 3.55 gears. What cab configureation and do you want 2wd or 4wd? That makes a pretty big difference.

 

[Noved]

I recently Moved back to Connecticut from Kansas City my wife drove her car and I drove my truck towing 4-6k pounds of our stuff including the trailer in weight. I have no complaints and it handled the grades in Penn state New York and Connecticut on I-80, I-81 and I-84 with ease and my truck did not struggle at all. Sometimes I even had to slow down a bit lol.
I would recommend the Hemi or Ecodiesel if you are towing frequently. I am sure the V6 can handle the job but I am one of those guys that goes by the saying better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[hounddog]

I don't normally take this side but I would go for the Eco diesel. Putting that many miles on in 4 years is a lot of driving and should make the premium cost up fairly quickly. The Eco diesel can be purchased in the tradesman platform. You can probably get a 2wd eco diesel quad cab power group for under 30. Build it on Rams website and take a minimun of 5k off msrp and see were you are at.

I have to agee.

Look around, the RAMtruck site let's you shop for trucks by package, engines, distance, etc.
You should be able to find a lesser cost 1500 eco-diesel that gets 28mpg highway in the low-mid $30s. With incentives applied, which RAM is being very aggressive with, you can easily get below $30 if you find one in that low to mid $30 range.

Don't be in a hurry and look out 100-200 miles. They're out there if you're willing to do the homework to locate.

 

[hounddog]

I recently Moved back to Connecticut from Kansas City my wife drove her car and I drove my truck towing 4-6k pounds of our stuff including the trailer in weight. I have no complaints and it handled the grades in Penn state New York and Connecticut on I-80, I-81 and I-84 with ease and my truck did not struggle at all. Sometimes I even had to slow down a bit lol.
I would recommend the Hemi or Ecodiesel if you are towing frequently. I am sure the V6 can handle the job but I am one of those guys that goes by the saying better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Boats create more drag via wind resistance on the bow. A v6 might handle it OK, but it will have to work to pull that. Fuel economy will probably suffer for it.