Ram 2500 5.7 Hemi

Seems like they are plenty strong. Towing a 28' Vintage trailer, opinions on if the 5.7 is enough to tow it. Seems to work it some, but otherwise tows pretty well.
Just curious if others have some input or experience. Sorry looking at 2500 series only for proper towing capacity. Let me know please
Thank you, Ken Michalik

I'd say it depends on where you live and the geography you're asking it to traverse. A 5.7 will do better hauling a box in Ohio than it will in Pa.

Close buddy pulled a 26' box with his 5.7 2500 without issue, but it was a stick and had 4.10s out back.

Just thinking about all us guys that pulled car trailers through most of the 80s with an LA 360 (or gasp, even a 318) in a 3/4 or 1 ton Dodge truck. We weren't pulling big boxes, but we didn't have 300 + hp either.
That 5.7 looks pretty good to me. Gene

I have towed my open trailer with a 318, 5.9, and a 5.7. I don't think I would try a 28' unless it has a really good brake setup on it. Going is easy, stopping not so much.

Sorry, I missed the 2500.

I used a 2004 1500 QC 4wd Hemi to pull my 28ft enclosed loaded with a heavy b body, quad, fuel and tools and never had an issue. It was at the limit of weight being it was a 1500 and a 2500 would have been ideal. Went out of state many times for over 6 years before I bought a 2500 diesel.

My sister put lots of miles on a Hemi 2500 4x4 pulling gooseneck horse trailers. Never got good MPG but never failed her. She upgraded trucks but kept the hemi 2500 and I believe it has well over 200K on it now.

If it's within your budget, a 6.4 would be a better choice.

I did a 29', big single slide travel trailer with my 360 Magnum and 4.10's and it struggled on 6% grades. My weight was 14,100 combined. Flat ground it was okay. The 360 has roughly the same torque numbers as the 5.7. Put any bit of wind to it and I may as well have been parked and wait it out for a calm day. Side wind and headwind absolutely tore the heart out of that 360.

But, towing an open car hauler with an E-Body on it? Don't even feel it.

It's more than capable in a 2500 but how far and how often enter into the equation.

Towing a few times a year totalling 1000 miles, a /6 in a 3/4 ton chassis can get the job done and you just accept it's going to take a while. Towing 600 miles a day, every day requires a better tool for the job.

Kevin

Jim Rhinehart has been using a 2500 with a 5.7 for a couple years to tow trailers including a number of long hauls. Last I heard he’s been really happy with it. I don’t think he’s even lost a transmission yet like he did on a regular basis when he towed with diesels!

My dad used to pull a 25 foot 4300 lb travel trailer with a 1970 Satellite wagon with a slant 6 and three on the tree. It was close to overheating all the time going through PA. After installing a big block radiator, it never overheated after that. He replace it with a 77 Pontiac Grand Safari with 400. I think it was about 170 horse power. We thought this car was an amazing tow vehicle. This was probably just because the Satellite was so bad. The Pontiac may have a shift kit in the trans and a RV cam.

I towed my 28 ft with my dragster in it all over Montana with a 2015, 2500, 5.7, 3.73 gears just fine. Mileage wasn’t great, but it got up and down the hills just fine. I was impressed, beings I had always used diesel before. Jim.

Yes I have been very happy with my 2015 2500 4x4 with the 5.7 Hemi. I just turned 200K miles and have towed about half that mileage. IMy heaviest trailer is 11,400 lbs which is getting close to the limits. I have taken it from Chicago to Carlisle the last 4 years. If you buy new, you can no longer get the 5.7 in a 2500, only the 6.4 is available.

Rhino, if that doesn't sell a 2500 Gaspot......nothing will. Very impressive. And, excellent choice on the RC Longbox, first time I've seen a photo of it.

I still think the Manufacture that puts a twin-turbo V8 with about 600-650 torque in a 2500 will crush the other two in sales.