Posted By: 6PKRTSE
03' 3500 DRW with Hemi's - 03/25/13 05:47 PM
I know a Diesel is the way to go. I rarely trailer over a 3 hour drive anywhere. Mostly less than an our to our local track. Anyone own a 03' & up 3500 dually with a Hemi? How do you think it tows. What do you tow it with? (how big of a trailer)? I know mileage will not be the greatest.
Posted By: TMCCuda
Re: 03' 3500 DRW with Hemi's - 03/25/13 08:49 PM
My uncle had one. 03 DRW 5.7 quad cab automatic. He towed a large fifth wheel camper / car hauler with his Superbird in it. I'm gonna guess 11000-13000lbs.
I rode with him from S.C. to the Nats in Columbus in '04. Lots of West Virginia hills along the way. It did it at 9 mpg. The motor is heavy duty enough to do it. But there were some times I was cringing as it was turning 4500 going up hill to maintain speed. It didn't get hot, just burned a lot of fuel.
For what you do, I think it will be fine. There have been plenty of 360s in ton trucks over the years and the Hemi will do it better than a 360.
With that being said, he now has an 07 3500 Mega Cab 5.9 Cummins that sits because of diesel fuel prices.
Since you are looking used, replacement parts, including the motor will be a whole lot less for the Hemi versus the Cummins. The front end will stay together better (less weight). There are benefits.
Posted By: sportfury70
Re: 03' 3500 DRW with Hemi's - 03/25/13 10:20 PM
My 04 2500 barely has enough power to pull itself let alone a trailer behind it.
Posted By: Silver70
Re: 03' 3500 DRW with Hemi's - 03/27/13 06:15 PM
I've towed with a 04 hemi ram 1500 before and I thought it did ok, definitely better than a 360 I had before. However I tow 4-5 times a week now with my cummins, I wouldn't want to do that with the hemi. Unless I have a really heavy load, I barely even notice there's a trailer hooked up.
Posted By: 6PKRTSE
Re: 03' 3500 DRW with Hemi's - 04/04/13 05:34 PM
Dang, will have to reconsider. I did find a real nice deal on a 3500 Hemi Dually. Figured the Hemi was way under powered for any real towing.
Posted By: Challenger 1
Re: 03' 3500 DRW with Hemi's - 04/04/13 07:37 PM
I have towed with a hemi in a 05 durango pulling a open car trailer at 7500 pounds, that's the limit, imo.
Don't see how a hemi is going to pull anything heavier in a truck.
Posted By: Bad340fish
Re: 03' 3500 DRW with Hemi's - 04/05/13 11:51 AM
My sister has an 05 2500 4x4 hemi that she has towed some very large gooseneck horse trailers with many times. She has even towed into Colorado before with the big trailers. Gets bad mpg but handles everything fine.
Remember the early cummins trucks only had 160hp and there was one ton trucks with only 200hp gas motors. My dads old 80 crew cab dualy with a 360 towed a fully loaded enclosed trailer and a bed full of gear down the road at 70mph. I don't see how the extra 100 or more HP from the hemi is going to make it tow less, sure to might turn some more rpm but nothing it's not designed for.
