Towing with a 6.4 hemi

[2018 Hemi]

Made a mistake trading my 6.7 Cummins for a 2018 6.4 Hemi very nice truck 8’ box 373 gears but what a power difference. Please do your homework better than me when looking for a new truck. Didn’t think about having to use gas pumps that can be difficult to get into compared to truck diesel pumps with a 36’ RV in back of you. As long as I stay out of the mountains it does a good job but a 12,000 lb RV needs the 6.7.

 

[Mountaineer83]

I tow a 13k+ 5th wheel with my 6.4. I had 4.10 gears stock. It will do just fine for a gas enginer. Won't run with the diesels, but it will get you where you are going, just a bit slower.

I recently did a gear swap to 4.88 but I haven't towed my 5th wheel yet. I should be soon hopefully. But I'm in WV and she does ok. Now I'd love a Cummins, dont get me wrong! Just not in my cards right now.

 

[68PowerWagon]

Yeah for towing, going from a Cummins to a 6.4 Hemi is a step backwards. If you tow a lot & tow heavy, a diesel is the way to go. With that said, my 5th wheel is just over 13k loaded & it did ok last year towing. Just as Mountaineer did I re-geared over the winter, except I only went with the 4.56's. I just pulled my 5er to the shop last week so I could do some interior upgrades, & I was very happy the way it is now pulling. Don't get me wrong, it is still heavy for a gasser, but it pulled & shifted so much better with the lower gears.

 

[sandawilliams]

I tow 8800# TT with another 1500 in the bed. Does great but if I was towing any heavier I would go diesel. 60K towing with this setup and no complaints. Prior to buying the truck I put a pencil to it and it would take a loooong time to get the $9100 diesel cost back.

 

[2018 Hemi]

Yes it does ok and drives and handles great, had many big dollar problems with the 6.7 and just got pissed and said that’s it. Can’t afford to trade again and have 20,000 miles on this now so it’s here to stay. It tows my 12,000 lb RV great on flat land but kind of afraid to try the mountains. Biggest issue is refueling as not all stations have room when towing. On I -10 in Florida they have a little RV sign on the exit gas stations signs which would be nice all over.

 

[Mountaineer83]

It isn't too bad in the mountains if you have to. I never had lower than 4.10 when towing though. But on flat land, when i was living in near Jacksonville, she did great! Now I know what you mean about gas stations. It does make it difficult.

Not sure if you have one, but there are apps to find stations that accommodate larger vehicles and Rvs. I actually need to find an app to do as such.

 

[NewBlackDak]

I haven’t had the problem with fuel. Seem like the Flying Js and Love’s all have RV islands, or plenty of space to get under.


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[mtofell]

The 6spd in the pre-2019 Hemi trucks is just such a POS. The new 8spd with the same engine gets great reviews and reallly ups the max weight that I'd consider running a gasser to maybe 12 or 13K. The Hemi puts out loads of power but it just gets lost trying to find it's way through the crappy 66rfe tranny and to the rear wheels.

 

[tron67j]

For gas stations, I have had good luck finding them large enough. But sometimes I look on Google maps for stations near where I will stop for two things. One is cheap gas, the second would be to click on the map view to see what the station looks like. Good luck.

 

[GsRAM]

The 6spd in the pre-2019 Hemi trucks is just such a POS. The new 8spd with the same engine gets great reviews and reallly ups the max weight that I'd consider running a gasser to maybe 12 or 13K. The Hemi puts out loads of power but it just gets lost trying to find it's way through the crappy 66rfe tranny and to the rear wheels.

I have to disagree with you in part.

Yes when your close to or over 10k with the 6.4 and 3.73s or 4.10s, its going to work.
At the weights I'm towing, 6-7k I have zero complaints. The 66rfe and throttle response of my ram compared to the pos 2015 Silverado 5.3/ 6 speed is like night and day. The gm 6 speed is absolutely the worst shifting, clunking, refuse to down shift unless you floor it pile of garbage I've ever driven.

Yes it is that bad. Just my .02.

 

[NewBlackDak]

I have to disagree with you in part.

Yes when your close to or over 10k with the 6.4 and 3.73s or 4.10s, its going to work.
At the weights I'm towing, 6-7k I have zero complaints. The 66rfe and throttle response of my ram compared to the pos 2015 Silverado 5.3/ 6 speed is like night and day. The gm 6 speed is absolutely the worst shifting, clunking, refuse to down shift unless you floor it pile of garbage I've ever driven.

Yes it is that bad. Just my .02.

Been dragging a ~13K fifth wheel toyhauler around Utah since July in my ‘14 6.4/4.10s. No complaints. I cruise at 62-63 mph, so that might part of it. I’m in no hurry with that kind of load.

I should say the trailer is 9400lbs dry. Adding toys, food, water, and fuel gets it up there in the 13K range.

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[68PowerWagon]

I have to disagree with you in part.

Yes when your close to or over 10k with the 6.4 and 3.73s or 4.10s, its going to work.
At the weights I'm towing, 6-7k I have zero complaints. The 66rfe and throttle response of my ram compared to the pos 2015 Silverado 5.3/ 6 speed is like night and day. The gm 6 speed is absolutely the worst shifting, clunking, refuse to down shift unless you floor it pile of garbage I've ever driven.

Yes it is that bad. Just my .02.

He is getting ready to be on his 3rd tranny, so he gets the right to slander them all he wants! But yes you are right about the GM's 6 speed. We have had some 6L 6 speeds that shift worse than the Ram. We haven't had to replace any, but man they sound like they are going to slam out onto the ground! Since I have changed to 4.56 gears my truck is making much more sensible up shifts & down shifts.

 

[AFMoulton]

My truck does just fine with this 11,000 and I life out west, so the Rockies are a real thing.

I’m not in a hurry and don’t need to drive 80 mph. Truck does just fine.


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

 

[Emmonsram]

I have a 2017 2500 mega cab 6.4 with 4.10's and just had the tranny replaced at 40,000 miles. I tow two different trailers one travel trailer and a car trailer both at about 10,000 lbs. The service manager told me if I want to tow alot get the cummins with the 68rfe. The 66rfe is good for those who like to use the truck as a car but not great for towing heavy loads. Good luck watch the tranny temp closely or you'll need AAA.

 

[dhay13]

My son has a 2018 2500 with the 6.4 and 4.10's. We just towed his TT 1400 miles to Baytown, TX this week. I'm sitting here in the TT right now. Weighed everything at the CAT scales on the way here and it was 16,180lbs total combined. He has towed this TT over 5000 miles since he got the truck just over a year ago and now has 66,000 miles on the truck. Not a single problem other than the AC sucks

 

[pcschwenke]

I have a 2016 crew cab 3500 with 4:10s and tow a 9200lb trailer most of the summer. Zero issues so far. Wish I had the 8 speed, but mine has been great.

 

[dhay13]

My son has a 2018 2500 with the 6.4 and 4.10's. We just towed his TT 1400 miles to Baytown, TX this week. I'm sitting here in the TT right now. Weighed everything at the CAT scales on the way here and it was 16,180lbs total combined. He has towed this TT over 5000 miles since he got the truck just over a year ago and now has 66,000 miles on the truck. Not a single problem other than the AC sucks

Just an FYI I have the same truck as my son and tow our 9500lb boat but I only have 18,000 on mine and have only towed about 500 miles with it

 

[68PowerWagon]

I have a 2017 2500 mega cab 6.4 with 4.10's and just had the tranny replaced at 40,000 miles. I tow two different trailers one travel trailer and a car trailer both at about 10,000 lbs. The service manager told me if I want to tow alot get the cummins with the 68rfe. The 66rfe is good for those who like to use the truck as a car but not great for towing heavy loads. Good luck watch the tranny temp closely or you'll need AAA.

I know one thing that helps the 66RFE & 68RFE out a lot is to get that poorly designed bypass valve out of there! My temps dropped 20-30* during all driving conditions.

 

[AFMoulton]

I know one thing that helps the 66RFE & 68RFE out a lot is to get that poorly designed bypass valve out of there! My temps dropped 20-30* during all driving conditions.

Best mod to date! Towing 10,000# up a mountain and my trans temps never got over 160*


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

 

[GsRAM]

Best mod to date! Towing 10,000# up a mountain and my trans temps never got over 160*


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

What is the purpose of the valve? I'm not familiar with it, where or why its there.

Thanks