Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi With A Car Hauler?

[TimeWaitsFNM 16]

In a few months I'll be selling my '92 Bronco to switch to a pickup with more towing capacity. It needs to be a quad cab with enough power to pull a car trailer with the challenger and luggage / tools / etc, without straining. I don't want to pull out a calculator to know if I'll make it on a road trip.

I've looked at the tow charts, but does anyone do that with a 2009+ Ram 1500 5.7 2WD?

Would it be capable even in hills without a lot of stress, or would a 2500 be required?

I'm interested in a 5.7 hemi that's compatible with my 2011 in case I jump ship to twin turbos, I can move my maggie over for a double-win.

Sad to see it go though...

[rdrdr90 40]

HemiSam tows a nice rig with his 10 5.7 Ram. BayouTiger has an 11 5.7 that he tows with too. You should be fine.

[TimeWaitsFNM 16]

Sam's on my left and the Tigers are on my right, geographically. It's all flat down here!

It's the trips to ChallengerFest and ATCO up in them hills that worry me most, getting caught in a rain storm with the 2WD and loaded trailer.

[1FST4DR 85]

You will have ZERO issues towing a single car with the Ram...Heck RTroid used to tow his 28ft enclosed with his.. It was a hairy ride.. But she pulled it

[Andy@PWR 58]

Magnacharger for a car and for a truck are completely different. Wont carry over. Drastic timing cover differences.

[HemiSam 195]

I recommend a crew cab. 1500 will be fine. Just be sure it's got the 3.92 rear, towing package including beefed up trans cooling. I'd add more trans cooling if I had to deal with hills more often. I tow about 8000lbs. It's all good. Add air bags and beefed up bump stops. You'll want the trailer brake controller, which can be added easily enough, the back up camera if possible to nail the hitch more easily....vroom vroom.

I hate my five speed trans but other than that, love my 2010 crew cab....a LOT.

HS

[ironchallenger 108]

Get a 2500 cummins and pull your house

[LUV MY RT 6]

I have a 2012 1500 I tow my car with. It does a great job. I towed my car up to Mike @ OST back in Sept. 1300 miles round trip up through the hills of West Va & Pa. The 5.7 does a good job towing. I pulled my car 70-75 on the interstate & averaged 13.1mpg on the trip. I did buy a trinity & down loaded the 93 octane tune into it. It picked up the fuel mileage on the truck a mile to the gallon. Like Sam said get the 392 gears. I have 18ft open trailer & I am usually towing around 7000 lbs plus when I go to the track. You will like the 1500. It is a very good truck.

[HemiSam 195]

I have a 2012 1500 I tow my car with. It does a great job. I towed my car up to Mike @ OST back in Sept. 1300 miles round trip up through the hills of West Va & Pa. The 5.7 does a good job towing. I pulled my car 70-75 on the interstate & averaged 13.1mpg on the trip. I did buy a trinity & down loaded the 93 octane tune into it. It picked up the fuel mileage on the truck a mile to the gallon. Like Sam said get the 392 gears. I have 18ft open trailer & I am usually towing around 7000 lbs plus when I go to the track. You will like the 1500. It is a very good truck.

Did the Trinity pep it up any, G? I was curious about that.

HS

[lakersfan7272 59]

If you're just pulling an open car hauler with your car and various tools, tires, etc. the 5.7 is fine. However having towed with both the 5.7 and the cummins there's really no comparison. The cummins pulls my 28' enclosed 10 times better than my 5.7 pulled my 18' open. If you can afford it I would definitely get it.

[BayouTiger 104]

I have a 2012 1500 I tow my car with. It does a great job. I towed my car up to Mike @ OST back in Sept. 1300 miles round trip up through the hills of West Va & Pa. The 5.7 does a good job towing. I pulled my car 70-75 on the interstate & averaged 13.1mpg on the trip. I did buy a trinity & down loaded the 93 octane tune into it. It picked up the fuel mileage on the truck a mile to the gallon. Like Sam said get the 392 gears. I have 18ft open trailer & I am usually towing around 7000 lbs plus when I go to the track. You will like the 1500. It is a very good truck.

Pretty much the same story, but I get about 10-12 mpg with my '12. A little aero goes a long way. When I've got tires on the rack it drops to 9-10. But no problems with power at all. Yes it's flat here, as Sam says I would add some cooling in the hills. When we go to CF the truck, car, and trailer are all loaded with the arsenal and Lisa's bags, but no problems at all. Didn't have any with my Titan either.

[toofart 159]

My friends' '09 w/ 3.55s and 4x4 did an acceptable job with a closed trailer, but through hills you have to be patient. The 3.92s and 8 speed make a HUUUGE difference, and a 2wd would be even better. That being said, I'd switch to an open trailer if I had to do this often. The wind resistance is really felt above 65.

[TimeWaitsFNM 16]

Excellent info, just what I was looking for, thanks!

Except for Andy. You made me cry...just a little... Looking at the pic of the Ram version I can see they are indeed completely different designs. Oh well, was hoping for an excuse to go TT, now I'll have to find another one.

[TimeWaitsFNM 16]

Actually, looking closer, it's just the front snout that is different possibly? I already had to swap the snout on mine when it had 2k miles on it, looks like otherwise its the same unit?

[Williams RT 71]

Get a 2500 cummins and pull your house

My friends' '09 w/ 3.55s and 4x4 did an acceptable job with a closed trailer, but through hills you have to be patient. The 3.92s and 8 speed make a HUUUGE difference, and a 2wd would be even better. That being said, I'd switch to an open trailer if I had to do this often. The wind resistance is really felt above 65.

Quit listening to the cheap ass flat landers . Get the 3/4 ton like mani said, no need to upgrade suspension or anything else it has it. Also what Denis said, I have owned both and open trailers are what I prefer. Unless the trailer is going to do dual purpose towing and storage for the car at home.

[TorRed Dave 6]

I recommend a crew cab. 1500 will be fine. Just be sure it's got the 3.92 rear, towing package including beefed up trans cooling. I'd add more trans cooling if I had to deal with hills more often. I tow about 8000lbs. It's all good. Add air bags and beefed up bump stops. You'll want the trailer brake controller, which can be added easily enough, the back up camera if possible to nail the hitch more easily....vroom vroom.

I hate my five speed trans but other than that, love my 2010 crew cab....a LOT.

HS

Sam, how come no love for the 5spd

[Andy@PWR 58]

My 1500 pulls good with its 416ci stroker and 4.56 gears

[ironchallenger 108]

It also becomes a lowrider when weight is applied

[Andy@PWR 58]

It also becomes a lowrider when weight is applied

That was 30,000 lbs

[ironchallenger 108]

Lmao. 417 lbs or less ...

[Goehner 305]

After having a diesel, I would never tow with anything else. Of course you can do it with the 5.7 with prolly not many issues. But once you do it with a diesel, you will never think about a gas burner.

[Guest Daparrothead]

Aren't they coming out with the 6.4 in the 3/4 ton gas model ? If you plan on towing it often I would lean towards the 2500 but as Sam & Chuck have posted their 1500 seems to do pretty good. I'm sure there is a considerable price diff between the 1500 gas & the 2500 diesel, that would be something you would have to weight out.

[BayouTigress 91]

Just make sure an get the one with the built in tool boxes on the side. They are so handy!

[Guest Daparrothead]

^^^ When I decide to buy a new truck, it will definitely be a Ram with the Ram box bed. After looking at Chuck & Lisa's this weekend I was sold, really like the storage boxes.

[ironchallenger 108]

Buy a diesel....... I'm just making sure my point gets out there