towing with Dodge 1500... did the 2009 2010 years lose something?

[barstok]

Friends told me recently that Dodge made a change to the rear suspension of the Ram1500 series starting in 2009 that resulted in them not towing heavy loads as well as the 2008 and before

is this true?

[PJungnitsch]

Edmunds did a comparison test of the 2009 F150, Silverado, Ram, and Tundra and found the Ram with the new coil spring suspension towed very well:

We knew from previous experience that the Ram's coil-spring rear suspension works well when the truck is unloaded, but this time we found it has the chops to handle a trailer, too. The superior lateral stiffness of a five-link rear axle and a rear antiroll bar keep things from getting all swimmy while towing, even when we're late for lunch and with a winding road between us and a burrito plate. Later, the burritos stayed down because the Ram 4x4 is best at smoothing out washboard tracks and putting the power down in sand, as you don't get the insistent rear-axle hammering of leaf-spring rear suspensions.

And the Dodge does better over the long haul up the long grade, where the horsepower and the axle ratio come into play. It clears the top in a virtual tie with the Tundra (12 minutes, 51 seconds) and never once needs full throttle — this from the truck with the lowest advertised tow rating (7,300 pounds) in the test.

Dodge for some reason initially advertised a lower tow rating than the others, but this (from what I understand) was just an attempt to steer people into it's heavy duty line.

[bridgecity]

I heard something similar.  The 2009 rating is  low compared to the competition.  However, for 2010, they raised the rating back to a more competitive level without making any changes to drivetrain or suspension.

[barstok]

I heard something similar.  The 2009 rating is  low compared to the competition.  However, for 2010, they raised the rating back to a more competitive level without making any changes to drivetrain or suspension.

so what is the bottom line I wonder? I pull a heavy load, pushing the limits of ratings, and my 2008 performs great, I would hate to get into a 2010 and then have to start looking at air bags or something

[bridgecity]

I heard something similar.  The 2009 rating is  low compared to the competition.  However, for 2010, they raised the rating back to a more competitive level without making any changes to drivetrain or suspension.

so what is the bottom line I wonder? I pull a heavy load, pushing the limits of ratings, and my 2008 performs great, I would hate to get into a 2010 and then have to start looking at air bags or something

Of course the tow rating depends on engine, diff ratio, cab type, etc, however the  2010 maximum is 10450lbs as per Dodge's website. 

[lindtech]

If you tow with any frequency, consider the heavy duty with the diesel.  It is an all round better vehicle for towing and gets better mileage as a bonus.

[barstok]

If you tow with any frequency, consider the heavy duty with the diesel.  It is an all round better vehicle for towing and gets better mileage as a bonus.

thing is, my 2008 ram1500 is pulling my heavy load fine, it is heavy for it, but it performs great, I am just worried that the 2010 might not be quite as good as my 2008..... should this be a concern?

[Benhaze]

If you tow with any frequency, consider the heavy duty with the diesel.  It is an all round better vehicle for towing and gets better mileage as a bonus.

thing is, my 2008 ram1500 is pulling my heavy load fine, it is heavy for it, but it performs great, I am just worried that the 2010 might not be quite as good as my 2008..... should this be a concern?

Check you this link; I believe you will find out the answers you are lokking for and also see that Chrysler isn't the only one who has followed this path...

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2009/07/2010-dodge-ram-1500-towing-rating-increases-to-10450-pounds.html

[maritime_storm]

If you tow with any frequency, consider the heavy duty with the diesel.  It is an all round better vehicle for towing and gets better mileage as a bonus.

Actually here's one of those places where things are getting to funny. 5 years ago I would have seconded your comment, may'be even 2 years ago. Currently their isn't as much advantage jumping to a diesel as their once was, and this is coming from a Cummins fan. Over the years gasoline engines have improved their efficiency somewhat(VVT being one biggest improvements in this), while diesels on the other hand have gone way down in efficiency. Their are 2 reasons, one the manufacturers need to stop reading Motor Trend, a diesel engine was never designed to live on a dragstrip, we don't need high performance diesel engines in a truck, a diesel lives longest and works more efficiently at low HP, high torque applications. Two Diesel exhaust emissions have gone crazy the past couple of years, this requires more complex injection systems, and exhaust after treatment to reduce emisions(PDF, and Bluetec being the most common ones). So what we now have is a truck that will pull really heavy loads(upwards of 20K lbs) and pull 0-60 in 10 seconds, will maintaining an average of 10 IMPG. Ten years ago, the trucks would pull 16K lbs of trailer, go 0-60 in 14 seconds and get an average of 20 IMPG. I love to use my father-in-law as an example of this, 5 years ago he decided he "needed" a 1 Ton Dually, told him to go down to his local Dodge dealer, and get a Cummins. He ended up going down to his local Ford dealer an picked up an F350 6.8L/V10, for 4 years he averaged 8.5MPG. This past summer he upgraded and bought an F450 6.4L/TDI, he averages 10 IMPG, he calls me up with the WTF in voice, asking what wrong with his truck. The answer, nothing. Welcome to the world of the high performance diesel, this can be best traced back to 2003 when Ford dropped the 7.3L from it's line-up. My 1990 D250 CTD would average 27 IMPG all summer long, I turned in as low as 20 hauling my boat, he can't get 11IMPG out of his unloaded, his truck is turning in the average fuel mileage for the model year. It all comes down to marketing, people want to drive a diesel truck and have it perform the same unloaded as a gas engine. Instead of marketing hype, they should educated their customers to difference between the 2.

[PJungnitsch]

That's interesting. IIRC when Ford and Navistar were fighting over who was responsible for all the troubles with the 6.0 and 6.4 diesels, Navistar pointed out that their own versions had far less issues. The Ford 6.4 Powerstroke makes 350 hp, while the Navistar 6.4 MaxxForce 7 makes 200-230.

Explains why one of the big mods to the Ford diesels is extra strong aftermarket headbolts.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

If you tow with any frequency, consider the heavy duty with the diesel.  It is an all round better vehicle for towing and gets better mileage as a bonus.

Actually here's one of those places where things are getting to funny. 5 years ago I would have seconded your comment, may'be even 2 years ago. Currently their isn't as much advantage jumping to a diesel as their once was, and this is coming from a Cummins fan. Over the years gasoline engines have improved their efficiency somewhat(VVT being one biggest improvements in this), while diesels on the other hand have gone way down in efficiency. Their are 2 reasons, one the manufacturers need to stop reading Motor Trend, a diesel engine was never designed to live on a dragstrip, we don't need high performance diesel engines in a truck, a diesel lives longest and works more efficiently at low HP, high torque applications. Two Diesel exhaust emissions have gone crazy the past couple of years, this requires more complex injection systems, and exhaust after treatment to reduce emisions(PDF, and Bluetec being the most common ones). So what we now have is a truck that will pull really heavy loads(upwards of 20K lbs) and pull 0-60 in 10 seconds, will maintaining an average of 10 IMPG. Ten years ago, the trucks would pull 16K lbs of trailer, go 0-60 in 14 seconds and get an average of 20 IMPG. I love to use my father-in-law as an example of this, 5 years ago he decided he "needed" a 1 Ton Dually, told him to go down to his local Dodge dealer, and get a Cummins. He ended up going down to his local Ford dealer an picked up an F350 6.8L/V10, for 4 years he averaged 8.5MPG. This past summer he upgraded and bought an F450 6.4L/TDI, he averages 10 IMPG, he calls me up with the WTF in voice, asking what wrong with his truck. The answer, nothing. Welcome to the world of the high performance diesel, this can be best traced back to 2003 when Ford dropped the 7.3L from it's line-up. My 1990 D250 CTD would average 27 IMPG all summer long, I turned in as low as 20 hauling my boat, he can't get 11IMPG out of his unloaded, his truck is turning in the average fuel mileage for the model year. It all comes down to marketing, people want to drive a diesel truck and have it perform the same unloaded as a gas engine. Instead of marketing hype, they should educated their customers to difference between the 2.

With routine very heavy loads would still go diesel, but agree 100% with your comments maritime_storm.

[maritime_storm]

Even to an extent on that side too, the towing company we contract with has a fleet of trucks from 3500 Dodges and up to a Volvo Class8, his last purchase I was asking him if he needed his head examed. He just bought a 2010 GMC 5500, 8.1L/V-8/5psd/4.11:1, flatbed. I said "Jason man, eww Gas, get your head examed man", He said "might have to" "figure this, the damn thing was $8grand cheaper, we can work on the engine for most stuff, and here's the kicker, we're getting 9 Miles to the Gallon with it, the new other 2 with a Duramax, with same set-up we're getting 8 out of it, and Gas is cheaper"  "What about power?" I ask. "Not that much different" he says  Certainly makes one wonder. Now Jason, started out about 5 years with 3 trucks, currently running 15, the oldest one being 3 years old and subsribes to my father's way of thinking, pay em off, get another 6 months out of it with no payments and trade it on a new one. Down time kills him, especially in a storm. Kinda of scary when you can get fuel mileage out of a big block gas then you can out of a well built, smaller diesel. It's obvious the manufacturers are screwing something up.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

From the article:

A regular cab Ram 1500 with a 3.21 rear axle is rated to tow up to 6,100 pounds with 17-inch wheels or up to 5,900 pounds with 20-inch wheels. The Crew Cab can pull up to 5,700 pounds and a Quad Cab can tow up to 5,800 pounds. A 17-inch wheel is the only wheel option for the Quad Cab and Crew Cab configurations.

6100 lbs tow rating for a regular cab ram?  Am I missing something?  My 4.0 Ranger is rated for 6000 lbs.  Is there something I'm missing?

[rrocket]

From the article:

A regular cab Ram 1500 with a 3.21 rear axle is rated to tow up to 6,100 pounds with 17-inch wheels or up to 5,900 pounds with 20-inch wheels. The Crew Cab can pull up to 5,700 pounds and a Quad Cab can tow up to 5,800 pounds. A 17-inch wheel is the only wheel option for the Quad Cab and Crew Cab configurations.

6100 lbs tow rating for a regular cab ram?  Am I missing something?  My 4.0 Ranger is rated for 6000 lbs.  Is there something I'm missing?

HA!!  I'd pay money to see it tow 6,000lbs.  Would be good for a laugh anyways....

[Great_Big_Abyss]

HA!!  I'd pay money to see it tow 6,000lbs.  Would be good for a laugh anyways....

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd even try that.  That being said, I've had 700lbs of wood in the back, and 1000lbs of wood on a trailer for a combined load of 1700lbs, and not once did I ever lack for power.  The wood in the box raised the center of gravity though.  I sure had to take it easy going around corners.

That being said.  Why is there a rating of 6100lbs for the Ram?  I thought it was up closer to the 10 000lb mark.  Is it for the V6 model of the truck?

[rrocket]

HA!!  I'd pay money to see it tow 6,000lbs.  Would be good for a laugh anyways....

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd even try that.  That being said, I've had 700lbs of wood in the back, and 1000lbs of wood on a trailer for a combined load of 1700lbs, and not once did I ever lack for power.  The wood in the box raised the center of gravity though.  I sure had to take it easy going around corners.

That being said.  Why is there a rating of 6100lbs for the Ram?  I thought it was up closer to the 10 000lb mark.  Is it for the V6 model of the truck?

Bear in mind, the new RAM has that near rear suspension.  Not sure if that has anything to do with it....

Just found this from the RAM site:  When properly equipped RAM 1500 can tow up to 4750 kg (10,450 lb).

[barstok]

what do they mean by "properly equipped"?

are there some options we should make sure we are getting if we go with a 2010 ram1500?

[rrocket]

what do they mean by "properly equipped"?

are there some options we should make sure we are getting if we go with a 2010 ram1500?

I would guess you need tranny cooler, weight class rated tow hitch, etc...

[madjak30]

It comes down to engine choice, gear ratio, and the weight of the truck.  The ram you are talking about with 6100lb tow rating is with the 4.7L V8 and a 3.21 rear gear...probably pretty good highway mileage, but not a great tow rating. (I had a Dakota with the 4.7 V8 and a 3.92 gear...rated for 6850lbs...pulled 5000lbs decent, but 6400lb was too much for it...) 

The new 5.7L V8 Hemi with a 3.73 or 3.92 in the Ram 1500 reg cab 2wd with tow package is rated to to 10450lbs.  If you add QuadCab, or CrewCab, the truck will weigh more and reduce the tow rating by the same amount...same with adding 4x4...the strength of the frame will play into it as well, that's why a Ram 2500 with the same drive train will be rated to tow more...

As for the diesel, the 6.7L Cummins isn't any more efficient when unloaded.  Towing with it may be a little better, but if you tow often it will outlast the gas engine.  They are built a lot tougher...a V8 will weigh 700-800lbs where a Cummins weighs in the neighbourhood of 1100-1200lbs.

Hope my rambling helps.