I think I found My TV

[augier]

Hey there folks,
I stopped by a dealer on my way ome from HD getting the 5/8 ply for the floor,when I looked over and just saw it with a sale tag on the window. Anyways I'm posting to see if anybody out there has towed or knows something about Dodge trucks.

I'ts a Ram 1500, 6cynlinder,3.7 liter, crew cab It has a SXT sticker on the side but from my understanding I thought that meant 4X4 but it's not 4X4 just a 2wd. I'm really considering it since I have to get kinda moving on getting one. My departure day is March 2nd and I want to be ready...Thanks again...

[shermantic]

Buy a Chevy with min of 6.0! Dodge makes fair diesels I hear!

[StevenG]

I just towed a 32' Excella 800 miles with a 2008 Dodge Ram, 1500, v8, 5.7 Liter Hemi, 425 engine, factory installed tow package, weight distribution hitch, and didn't have any problems whatsoever. Plenty of get up and go, and no problem stopping.... had to do a panic stop once due to an idiot on the interstate, no problem. I'd be leery of a v 6 though, just my personal observation.
Regards,
Steven

[Silvertwinkie]

The 3.7 -6 is not a bad engine, but I really think it's not that meaty to be yanking a trailer. I would think a 5.7L 1500 might be a bit better idea. I know you have a 22 footer, but I just think that having a bit more power, particularly if you get into hills or any mountains, you may be better off having a bit more than you need.

[RBolton]

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

The 3.7 -6 is not a bad engine, but I really think it's not that meaty to be yanking a trailer.

I agree with Silvertwinkie. The 3.7 just won't be enough. The 4.7 would probably be just enough. The 5.7 would be plenty enough.

[augier]

thanks everyone for saving me .....I'll keep looking

[DEITZ645]

Augier,
Yes a V-6 may be a little weak for pulling. There are many schools of thought on what kind of pulling power is required. I am of the school of thought that the more horses under the hood the better. Even better if they are diesel horses.

Last year we had a couple from Canada pull into Penn Wood Airstream Park for a rally and their tow vehicle was a new Cadilac sedan and they weren't pulling a 16' Bambi either. If memory serves, it was either a 30' of 34' .

[hampstead38]

It's a buyer's market. Just be patient. I saw a 2005 F250 4x4 with a decent utility body for sale in PA. The asking price is $11,000. I sent an email and asked if $9,000 cash would take it. They said, "No." I said, "Fine." The bigger trucks are going to get easier to buy over the coming year and part of the stimulus package may be a tax credit on interest. Take your time; wait for the right fit. Oh, and the F250 had the 5.4... not my favorite motor.

[Action]

You didn't state what year the truck was. I picked 2004. Or box size and I picked 6.3.

Manual tranny = 2950 # trailer
Auto tranny = 3400 # trailer

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[augier]

Sorry about that it's a 2007 Ram 1500 6 cyl 3.7lit 5speed autotrans 2wd crew cab. It's actualy something I decided not to go with financing was gonna kill me and it wasn't what I needed for the long run.

I have actualy gone back to looking at my original search a Chevy silverado 3500 03-05 v8 diesel. It's going to give me the the truck I need in the mountains when I do upgrade to a bigger AS and help with the long drives I'll be doing(less Stops). If any of you have any good deals you want to help me out with...or info on a better deisel. Please feel free....

[DEITZ645]

Originally Posted by augier

Sorry about that it's a 2007 Ram 1500 6 cyl 3.7lit 5speed autotrans 2wd crew cab. It's actualy something I decided not to go with financing was gonna kill me and it wasn't what I needed for the long run.

I have actualy gone back to looking at my original search a Chevy silverado 3500 03-05 v8 diesel. It's going to give me the the truck I need in the mountains when I do upgrade to a bigger AS and help with the long drives I'll be doing(less Stops). If any of you have any good deals you want to help me out with...or info on a better deisel. Please feel free....

Augier,
I don't think you need the 3500, a 2500 should be plenty to pull the largest / heaviest Airstrem they make. I pull our our '06 30' (with 1,100 pound tounge weight) and our '87 34' with an '06 2500 GMC quad cab with 8' bed and a cap. She has the 6.6L Duramax diesel and the six speed autmatic Allison transmission with the transmission braking and she pulls the PA hills like a banshee.

[utee94]

This is one of those subjects where you'll get as many opinions as there are Airstream owners.

I can tell you that for years I pulled my 18' ski boat (boat/motor/trailer GW = ~3500 lbs and ~22' bumper to ball) with a 4.3L V6 1995 Chevy Blazer, and it was just fine. It did slow down on the big hills though, and my 5.7L 2005 Tahoe pulls it a lot better, and pulls my 26' Airstream just fine as well.

The 2500 would leave you PLENTY of "safety margin" for a trailer that size. Good luck!

[Sixty3TW4US]

Augier, So you gona tow the AS from Flordia to San Diego (Carlsbad)on March 2 kool! Take your time and you should have no probs. My 4.6 toy struggles on the hills towing the TW. Good Luck on the trip.

[Action]

The 2007 Dodge does not have different designed towing limits than the 2004. The axle ratio must be a 3.92 to get those ratings. BTW that engine is only available in a short box version.

2004 Chevy 3/4 ton HD 4X2 long wheel base with 6.6 TD and 3.73 axle ratio is rated for 12,000 pounds towing. With this model variables are;
Cab design
4X2 or 4x4
wheel base length

There are ten different 3/4 ton HD combos. It appears that with the diesel and axle ratio you should come up with 12,000 pound tow rating for all models. I checked two.

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[hampstead38]

I'm with Vitamin C (Deitz) on this one. I don't think you need to think 350/3500 unless you are pulling a very serious load.

[augier]

Ok one more option....I know this subject is beaten to death but I just want to make sure one more time....

Ok it's a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limitted 4x4 5.2lit V8 with 148k mles
no visible leaks drove smooth 4x4 works fine a couple of dings but thats expected for $1,500.

Now the Chevy is going for $h13,500 basicly my down payment would buy this other truck .....

I'm going crazy here I know I should take my time but it's been 3 months ive been looking ...any good thoughts??

[Action]

If you are towing a 1960 Safari that is listed in your profile ....

Airstream does not list a 1960 Safari. For 1961 the Safari dryweight was 2900. Say fully loaded you were at 3500, the 3/4 ton Chevy would be far overkill. In fact there might be some negative towing issues with that combo.

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[Action]

The Jeep was designed to do 6500 pounds of trailer with the following:
Requires automatic transmission. Requires Trailer Tow Package. Requires weight-distributing hitch.

This all assumes it is in good condition. If it is, it would be a better choice than anything else you have brought up.

A TV with the capacity of 4 to 6 thousand pounds would be a great choice, if the total towed load is 3500 pounds or less.

My next recommendation would be to run the trailer across the scales in full towing set up. This will give you a better place to start. Many things can and do happen over the years.

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[augier]

hey there thanks for the help I think I'm going with the Jeep for now to good of a price hope I didn't just jinx myself

About the year it's whats on the title...How would I find out what year it was actualy made?

Wish me luck folks I'm going to the bank.....

[Action]

I believe the VIN stamped on the side of the trailer would do it. My 1966 has a VIN plate on the curb side just ahead of the door under a side window.

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