V6 - 3.55 rear axel - pulling 7500lbs

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Chris Graff

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Road trip 400 miles. Im pulling a 7500lbs RV Trailer with my 7500lbs max Ram 1500.

Do I need a fire extinguisher?
Yes
No
Yes, two of them

“I don’t see fire but I smell smoke”

image.jpg
 

Ohio5pt7

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And I thought I was pushing the limits with my hemi @ 5807 dry weight lol

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GrumpyOleMan

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a fire extinguisher is always a smart thing to have, but... depending on where you plan on pulling that trailer, you should be fine. I too have the 3.6 w/3.55 and I pulled 6600# well over 400 miles with no problems at all...

https://www.ramforum.com/posts/2011271/
 

Loudram

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Can it pull it? Yes. Will it be an enjoyable tow? Probably not. Towing at your limit is doable however it usually isn't fun. Is that 7500 loaded or 7500 dry?
 

Ohio5pt7

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To the point above a tundra pulled a spaceship on live tv. My lawn mower could pull my camper but would it be stable no and would it stop it no.

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crash68

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Well I've towed at least 8K with my V6, granted I do have 3.92 gearing
.
.
...and a turbo :-D
 

Ohio5pt7

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I've also seen a ranger tow a semi with a trailer... just saying.

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Marine Les

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What are you thinking will burn, the trailer or the truck? I always make certain all propane appliances are off because Az. highways have many burnt marks from rv fires due to propane fixtures with pilot lights on.. Please post on how your 3.6/3.55 does pulling max weight.
 

GsRAM

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That's a huge trailer for a 1500 series V6 truck. If that rig is 7500 dry your really pushing it.
 

BWL

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Go slow. Test your trailer brakes before and at least once during the trip. I'm sure it will be fine, but definitely watch your temps. Fire extinguisher is always good to have.
 

Ohio5pt7

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That's a huge trailer for a 1500 series V6 truck. If that rig is 7500 dry your really pushing it.
This^^^

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crash68

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Go slow. Test your trailer brakes before and at least once during the trip. I'm sure it will be fine, but definitely watch your temps. Fire extinguisher is always good to have.

Your advice about checking the brakes is something everyone should do.
The brakes on the V6 (both of them) are the same ones used on the Hemi, so having enough brakes isn't the problem. Setting the WDH properly is just as important, maybe even more so with the 3.6(it weighs less, so more load needs to be transferred).
What the 3.6 does lack is the torque available to control the load if needed.
 

VernDiesel

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Proper weight distribution is always the key to having a safe stable tow with a 7,500 pound TT & a 1/2 ton. As Crash points out even more so with the lighter Pentastar up front.

Set your WDH & loading by CAT scale results to replace your unloaded steer weight when loaded and to get your tongue weight in range. I would adjust toward 12.0 percent IE 900 pounds. BTW when using a WDH tongue weight is found by subtracting the unloaded combined axle weight slip numbers from the loaded combined axle weight slip numbers.

Now she will be stable when semi’s pass and handle that TT like a boss. Lol at least at low speeds. The Pentastar even with 8 speed 3.55 won’t like towing that up highway grades. Lol keep your extinguisher. Think peak torque is about 4,200 rpms so you are not pushing the motor unless you need more rpm than that to maintain speed. Enjoy your trip.

BTW I transport TTs with a 1500 Ecodiesel so a 7,500 TT isn’t unusual for me, towed lots of different ones all over the west. I have success with Andersen WDH with built in sway control, axle to frame air bags such as Timbergroves for better suspension control & dampening and the factory TBC trailer brake controller. Load rated tires can also help firm up the wallow you will get from a long 7,500 pound leverage sail. But it’s primarily controlled with the hitch & proper weight distribution.
 

fivestar

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Just talked with a co-worker today to discover that he just signed a lease on a new 2019 1500. Thought for sure he'd go with the Hemi, but instead he opted to go with the 3.6L. Knowing him and his lifestyle, I was surprised by that, but during our conversation he made a couple of interesting points. He has already towed 2 horses and trailer with a weight of about 6000-6500 lbs. According to him, the Pentastar pulls it just fine. Now...we're in Ohio so no mountains, and each tow is about 50 miles one way....not exactly a long distance hauler. The other interesting point he made was the fact that he isnt concerned with longevity. Being a lease....if he burns up the tranny or something else, he said it'll go right back to the dealer. That being said, per him his salesman (which really cant be trusted) even said the V6's seem to be doing fine with that much weight behind them. Maybe not as a dedicated tow vehicle....but infrequently they seem to be just fine. MPG while pulling is about 8.5.

The only reason I mention this is because I've been regretting not getting 3.91 gears in my Hemi.....mind you im only pulling about 1800 lbs with a small trailer and sport bike. Definitely made me feel better with my purchase last year. Even if I had intentions of going bigger, it sure seems the new 8 speed's and Hemi's can pull quite a bit more, safely and easy.
 

Marine Les

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Just talked with a co-worker today to discover that he just signed a lease on a new 2019 1500. Thought for sure he'd go with the Hemi, but instead he opted to go with the 3.6L. Knowing him and his lifestyle, I was surprised by that, but during our conversation he made a couple of interesting points. He has already towed 2 horses and trailer with a weight of about 6000-6500 lbs. According to him, the Pentastar pulls it just fine. Now...we're in Ohio so no mountains, and each tow is about 50 miles one way....not exactly a long distance hauler. The other interesting point he made was the fact that he isnt concerned with longevity. Being a lease....if he burns up the tranny or something else, he said it'll go right back to the dealer. That being said, per him his salesman (which really cant be trusted) even said the V6's seem to be doing fine with that much weight behind them. Maybe not as a dedicated tow vehicle....but infrequently they seem to be just fine. MPG while pulling is about 8.5.

The only reason I mention this is because I've been regretting not getting 3.91 gears in my Hemi.....mind you im only pulling about 1800 lbs with a small trailer and sport bike. Definitely made me feel better with my purchase last year. Even if I had intentions of going bigger, it sure seems the new 8 speed's and Hemi's can pull quite a bit more, safely and easy.
I test drove an 18 4wd w/3.91 gears and was impressed with that setup. The 8 speed tranny allowed for very low rpms at freeway speeds and that bodes well for high mpg and the pulling power was great but being what I needed to tow was light ( mostly 2k#) I opted for the 3.6 3.55 and its all I need. For what your towing the 3.21s are all you need.
 

Walkdog

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Just pull it and you will realize you need a new truck afterwards. Simple
 

Neil E

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If it's 7500 dry, you are not only pushing it, you are towing too much. My RCSB with 3.55 is rated at a max of 7700 lbs. If it's 7500 dry, you are surely going to be over 7700 lbs with the gear in it. The good news is you should be fine, but you are pushing it. Hopefully you have a weight distributing hitch and anti sway bar(s).
 

Sweetee

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I don't have the BodyBuilder link for 2018 on my laptop, but I do have the 2017 version. Accordingly, a CC 4x4 V6 has a base weight of 5200lbs. Add 7500lbs dry weight for the trailer and you are at 12700. That leaves you a cushion of 200lbs. for cargo, people, supplies etc. before you exceed the GCWR of 12900. This is not a reasonable situation. If you have an accident or cause an accident, you are facing great liability if you are overweight. I don't know how you are licensed, but you may be overweight for your license on your truck with with tongue weight added into whatever you already have in the truck. This just seems like too much a "tail wagging the dog." After pulling a 4200lb loaded cargo trailer with my V6, 3.55 4x4, I just cannot imagine feeling comfortable with an additional 2300lbs . Be safe!
 
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