Towing an RV with a new 6.4 Ram and 3.73's

[bad_karma101]

So, I recently bought a new 2024 Tradesman 2500 with a 6.4 HEMI. It has 3.73’s ,the 8 spd. 8HP75-LCV auto trans., a crew cab and long bed. I have had a few diesel trucks in the past, but really, I never had anything quite heavy enough, or at least I never would tow regularly enough, to justify buying another one. I went with the gas Ram because I will occasionally tow my 26 ft. fifth wheel that has a dry weight ( according to a mfgr. spec sheet) of 6,505 lbs. The pin weight says 1300 lbs. , and it’s a goose neck.

My question is for anyone that has towed with the 6.4, and about the same tow weight, what kind of performance to really expect. Should I just drive it ( I usually drive about 60 mph.) and let the auto trans. do its thing? Using Tow/Haul? I have read somewhere that there is a way to cancel 7th and 8th gears while towing manually ( I see a button on the side of the steering column- this is news to me though, and I havent played with it yet.) In Tow/Haul mode, wouldn’t the truck / trans. select the proper gearing while towing/ driving, anyway?

I will be making a long trip in a couple of weeks, from MN. to Nevada, and back, around 3,000 miles, with my RV.
Thanks!

 

[06 Dodge]

So, I recently bought a new 2024 Tradesman 2500 with a 6.4 HEMI. It has 3.73’s ,the 8 spd. 8HP75-LCV auto trans., a crew cab and long bed. I have had a few diesel trucks in the past, but really, I never had anything quite heavy enough, or at least I never would tow regularly enough, to justify buying another one. I went with the gas Ram because I will occasionally tow my 26 ft. fifth wheel that has a dry weight ( according to a mfgr. spec sheet) of 6,505 lbs. The pin weight says 1300 lbs. , and it’s a goose neck.

My question is for anyone that has towed with the 6.4, and about the same tow weight, what kind of performance to really expect. Should I just drive it ( I usually drive about 60 mph.) and let the auto trans. do its thing? Using Tow/Haul? I have read somewhere that there is a way to cancel 7th and 8th gears while towing manually ( I see a button on the side of the steering column- this is news to me though, and I havent played with it yet.) In Tow/Haul mode, wouldn’t the truck / trans. select the proper gearing while towing/ driving, anyway?

I will be making a long trip in a couple of weeks, from MN. to Nevada, and back, around 3,000 miles, with my RV.
Thanks!

Put it in Tow/Haul mode and let her rip, btw get use to sounds of that screaming Hemi

 

[ramffml]

Definitely use Tow/Haul, and you can lock gears 8 or 8 and 7 like I do in my truck. The truck will tow my trailer in 7th on the flats, but is happier in 6th at about 2200 RPMs so I use the gear limiter (those buttons you mentioned) to limit it to 6th.

btw get use to sounds of that screaming Hemi

Heresy! Get use to sounds of the v8 winding up and making beautiful music and poetry! Some of us enjoy the sounds of a big v8 getting after it.

 

[mtofell]

8 spd. 8HP75-LCV auto trans.

This should be a night and day difference over the 6spd 66rfe that came in the earlier 6.4 Hemis. I towed an 11,000# (loaded weight) 5th wheel with the 6spd and it had some challenges. Your weight is quite a bit less and the favorable gear spacing on the 8spd should make for a great experience. I was always so frustrated because the Hemi is a beast with so much power but the tranny kept me from really getting to it at certain speeds.

By far the biggest problem was the large 1-2 gear gap. Trying to pull grades around 30-40 was miserable. If I could hold second and keep the RPMs up over 3500 or so the Hemi had a ton of power.

Anyway, your set up sounds great.

 

[crash68]

Should I just drive it ( I usually drive about 60 mph.) and let the auto trans. do its thing? Using Tow/Haul?

Yes do this exactly, use the Tow/Haul mode and let the transmission do it's thing. The ZF 8 spds are smarter than your average bear on knowing what gear to be in.

 

[Bearcatrp]

I have a 2021 3500, long box, crew cab with the 6.4, 8 speed and 3.73 rear end. I pull my 11,000 lb 5th wheel without much issues. Tow haul will keep it in an optimum gear . Had a 2017 3/4 ton with a 6 speed. That sucked. The 8 speed is very smooth. Just put it in tow haul mode and enjoy the ride. Nice thing about the long bed is you can get it with the 50 gal gas tank. Great for long trips.

 

[2003F350]

Agree with most of the guys above, put it in tow/haul, put it in gear, and let it rip. You won't win any races pulling, but the 6.4 has plenty of power to do the job. I haven't towed with the 8 speed behind a 6.4 but the one in my wife's 1500 was really smooth with our flatbed loaded with quads on it.

 

[Motoman501]

My 5th wheel is 30ft long, 7800lbs dry, and has about a 1300lb pin weight, so pretty close to yours. My truck is a 2019, 3.73's, and 8 speed also. Around Nevada and through the Sierras it does pretty well. I can hold 60-65 mph on the big hills just be prepared for high rpms and frequent shifts.

The transmission is really good and should serve you well. I wouldn't want to be much heavier, probably just under 10,000lbs loaded, with the hills and elevation around here, but for occasional towing I'm pretty happy with the performance.

 

[joesstripclub]

I've got a similar sized but heavier toy hauler bumper pull that I tow with my power wagon. I'm at the top of or slightly over the PW tow ratings, but still way under what a normal 2500 would be rated for. I'm guessing about 11,000 lbs fully loaded. Dry pin weight is 1100. Anyway the truck tows it as good as I could expect it to. Definitely won't win any races like others have said, but it has enough power to run 70 maybe 75 mph depending on conditions and terrain. Gas mileage sucks as well. If I'm doing a lot of hills I will keep it in tow/haul, but for flat ground I will typically leave it off. It likes to run a gear lower in tow/haul which feels unnecessary sometimes. There are times I'd rather have a diesel but its hard to beat just putting gas in and driving without all the extra emission maintenance.

 

[OC455]

I have a 19 Mega cab dually with the 6.4 Hemi, 3.73 gear ratio, my 5'ver is about 30ft, dry weight 7600lbs and about the same pin weight. Put it in tow/haul mode, and just drive it. No need to lock out any gears. It pretty much does it already.

 

[Ikreider]

With tow haul on it won’t leave 6th gear. I just towed home this 32’ TT 95 miles today with my 1500. I Set the brake controller, put in tow/haul and took off. it did great, never left 6th gear.

 

[Grams]

Yep. Don’t try to outsmart it. Put it in Tow/Haul and let it do it’s thang.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Tow/Haul and Long Tubes

 

[FF22]

I tow around 8000 LB TT with my 2023 2500 6.4 Hemi 3.73. I use tow/haul and cruise control all the time. I'm mainly traveling around FL. But in the north Florida small rolling hills I'll get the Hemi screaming, just sounds like dollar signs as I watch the gas gage drop. Regardless, I love how my truck handles the trailer.

 

[NewBlackDak]

I spent 11 years towing all over Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and even up to Banff with my 2014 6.4 and crappy 66RFE. The first half was a 29’ travel trailer(8400 dry) with factory 4.10 gears. The second half was a 36’ Fifth wheel Toyhauler(10,100 dry) with an AAM 5.13 gear set. Put it in tow/haul, keep it under 65mph, and let the truck do its job.
The absolute worst thing was fueling up at random little gas islands with a big trailer, and only having 32G of fuel when towing in the mountains getting 7-8 mpg.

 

[Slick61]

That's why I LOVE my 4.10s in my '16 Tradesman (6 speed)... I put 'er in tow/haul & am on my merry way. Set the cruise on 65, & let the truck figure it out. I've often wondered if I'm being ridiculous for insisting on 4.10s if I upgrade, since the final gearing is likely identical... can't help it. I was surprised to get 11-12 mpg on the highway (towing a 28" Lance TT).