Dodge Ram 1500 Tow rating HELP!!!

[cobra93]

Guys,
Please help me out. My father has a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Short Bed, Xtended cab with the 5.9L engine and full towing package and I assume the 3.73 rear axle based on the gas mileage. Can anyone tell me the max towing weight for this truck? I have looked everywhere and can't find it. Thanks!
-Don

[Kajtek1]

For new mega cab it is 7800 towing, 8510 gross Dodge - Vehicle Lineup
For Quad cab, short bed towing is only 2900 lb, long bed 6900.

[azflycaster]

The best place to get these numbers would be from the owners manual or a plate inside the door, if they did that 10+ years ago.

I found this:
1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Specifications, Data, and Car Specs at Autobuyguide.com
It says that the tow limit is 2109 kg which is about 4640 pounds.

[Motoman]

Cobra, don't assume on the rear end ratio. The mileage for mid 1990's truck was not always good. The 318 were pretty thrifty until the switched to fuel injection and increased the horse power. The 360s (5.9) were thirsty also. 3.73 is awful low for a stock mid nineties 1500. Get underneath and look for a tag attached to the rear cover of the rear housing. It should have the ratio stamped in. If its not on the back see if it is attached to the front near the input shaft. Another solution is to look in the glove compartment or in the engine compartment; they sometimes had a sticker attached that listed some of the options. Lastly, write down the VIN number and either talk with a dealer nearby or search the internet for 1996 Dodge VIN codes. You should be able to find out the ratio from the VIN also.

[Motoman]

Found this web site on decoding the Dodge Ram VIN.


How to read the vehicle identification number VIN on your Ram truck

[Chuck]

I can check my owner's manual later on...I have a 2000 ram, and it should be very similar to the '96.
What I can tell you from memory is that about the only feature that affects the tow rating significantly is the tranny. all combinations of half-tons have the same gcwr...so, its just that, minus the curb weight. (which isn't published anywhere). bigger bodies (long bed, extended cab) weigh more, so that comes off the tow rating. 4x4 weighs more. Engine and rear-end doesn't make a difference in their "rating"; the limiting factor must be something else...frame/wheels/brakes/suspension.

Oh, and 3.55 is a very common rear-end for these, so don't be surprised. It should be listed on a sticker inside the engine compartment.

anyway, the TR on mine (quad cab, short bed, 4x4) is 7200. Yours probably isn't alot different, if its an automatic.

[wbrownrr]

Our 1997 Ram 1500 came stock with a 3.55 rear end, which we've swapped out for a 4.10. Follow the suggestions already posted for locating the ratio either on the door frame or in the engine compartment... it should be there someplace.

[RBolton]

From 96 Owners manual. the manual does not differentiate between cab and bed configurations

2 Wheel Drive 5.9 Auto All Ratios Max Trailer Wt. 8,100# GCWR 12,500#

4 Wheel Drive 5.9 Auto All Ratios Max Trailer Wt. 7,700# GCWR 12,500#

Max Tongue Wt. All 1500s 700#


If you can give me your VIN, I can tell you the axle ratio.

Roger

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by RBolton

From 96 Owners manual. the manual does not differentiate between cab and bed configurations

2 Wheel Drive 5.9 Auto All Ratios Max Trailer Wt. 8,100# GCWR 12,500#

4 Wheel Drive 5.9 Auto All Ratios Max Trailer Wt. 7,700# GCWR 12,500#

Max Tongue Wt. All 1500s 700#


If you can give me your VIN, I can tell you the axle ratio.

Roger

Interesting that the Max Tongue weight is less then 10% of the Max Trailer weights.

[GreatPumpkin]

Send your VIN to customerassistre@daimlerchrysler.com They will completely decode it and send you a build sheet. If that email doesn't work try this link: DCAnswers

Incidently, my '99 (quad cab, short bed)
has the 3.55 Rear
Max Towing 7400

1999 Dodge Ram 1500 - Features & Specs - Engines & Performance - MSN Autos

[RBolton]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Interesting that the Max Tongue weight is less then 10% of the Max Trailer weights.

That figure was taken from a chart in the owners' manual labeled "Allowance Tongue Weights." This chart shows 900# for 2500s and 1200# for 3500s. Still at just less than 10% of their respective max trailer weights.

The text reads "Always load a trailer with 60% to 65% of the weight in the front of the trailer. This places 10% to 15% of the GTW on the tow hitch of your vehicle." It also states that trailer sway control and equalizing hitch are required for tongue weights above 350lbs.

[dodgeramv10]

idk if this helps or not but i got a 97 dodge ram long bed 5.9 that the rear end ratio is 4:10 i think the manual said max pulling weight was about 7500 so i dk but but gl on the rest