Best gas 3/4 ton TV to pull 7000lb TT

[The_Rhino]

My lowly entry-level Ram 2500 w/5.7 Hemi, 3.73 gears, and 5 speed tranny had no problem towing our loaded 8,250 lb. TT (TV & TT = 15,000 GCVW) throughout the Smoky Mts. last summer. My engine/tranny temps barely increased after spending hours in the mountains in 80 degree temps...

For a number of years I towed loaded construction trailers, flatbeds, etc. behind a variety of 1/2, 3/4, & 1 ton trucks. IMO my Ram 2500 could handle 17,000 GCVW more safely than the F150 EB that is rated @ 17,000 even though my sticker is only 15,000... I think marketing departments play with the GCVW, payload, etc. numbers depending on what else they have rolling off the line at the time & what other manufacturers are doing.

For example, regarding the lesser Ram 1500, PickupTruck.com noted in 2009,

Ram's maximum towing capacity has been bumped from 9,100 pounds to 10,450 without any apparent hardware changes.

Later, in 2012, the only change for the stock 2500 was a slightly improved torque converter and a change in the electronic shift sequence so their 5 speed tranny uses gears 2 & 3 in succession vs. choosing one or the other based on acceleration & load. Because of this, it is now referred to as a 6-speed even though it uses the same parts w/different shift pattern...

Although Ram's stock trannies are not the best in the market, I'm sure my tranny is capable of handling a GCVW of 17,000. So far I've always hit the CAT scales at just below GCVW but should we go slightly over, I still feel safe... In comparison, I have towed with 1/2 ton trucks well under GCVW & did NOT feel safe. The soft rear-end felt very squirrely to me & I was glad to snag a 3/4 or 1 ton from the boss the next time I needed to haul the same load...

[opie]

In preparation for our TT, we shopped the big 3 for a 3/4 ton. It took me about a month of research and wheeling with dealers before settling on a 2016 Ram 2500, 6.4, 3:73.

Just over 5000 miles in and it has not disappointed. I spent a little over a month hauling crushed asphalt home in a 14,000 dump trailer and the truck didn't sweat pulling it loaded to capacity.

We ruled out a diesel because I don't do anything to justify the additional maintenance expense.

I ruled out Ford because the 6.2 didn't have the numbers the 6.4 does and I don't like the styling.

Chevy got ruled out because I wanted a solid front axle.

The suspension on the 2500 Ram is phenomenal. Coil springs all around and it handles tongue weight like nobodies business.

IMO, the 18,000 GCWR of the truck is conservative. It shares the same frame and brakes as the 3500. I though I read somewhere that the 2500 6.4 chassis cab has the Aisin transmission as an option. If so, a swap shouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. But I haven't been able to prove its true.

[jgroff]

glad to hear you are happy with your combo. I bought a similar truck just a 2010 2500 laramie. not many around here that are maintained well. so i jumped on this one. cant wait to tow with it!! I am coming from a ram 1500. how is your gas mileage loaded and unloaded?

Originally Posted by The_Rhino

My lowly entry-level Ram 2500 w/5.7 Hemi, 3.73 gears, and 5 speed tranny had no problem towing our loaded 8,250 lb. TT (TV & TT = 15,000 GCVW) throughout the Smoky Mts. last summer. My engine/tranny temps barely increased after spending hours in the mountains in 80 degree temps...

For a number of years I towed loaded construction trailers, flatbeds, etc. behind a variety of 1/2, 3/4, & 1 ton trucks. IMO my Ram 2500 could handle 17,000 GCVW more safely than the F150 EB that is rated @ 17,000 even though my sticker is only 15,000... I think marketing departments play with the GCVW, payload, etc. numbers depending on what else they have rolling off the line at the time & what other manufacturers are doing.

For example, regarding the lesser Ram 1500, PickupTruck.com noted in 2009,


Later, in 2012, the only change for the stock 2500 was a slightly improved torque converter and a change in the electronic shift sequence so their 5 speed tranny uses gears 2 & 3 in succession vs. choosing one or the other based on acceleration & load. Because of this, it is now referred to as a 6-speed even though it uses the same parts w/different shift pattern...

Although Ram's stock trannies are not the best in the market, I'm sure my tranny is capable of handling a GCVW of 17,000. So far I've always hit the CAT scales at just below GCVW but should we go slightly over, I still feel safe... In comparison, I have towed with 1/2 ton trucks well under GCVW & did NOT feel safe. The soft rear-end felt very squirrely to me & I was glad to snag a 3/4 or 1 ton from the boss the next time I needed to haul the same load...

[The_Rhino]

At 96K miles Ram replaced my 5.7 Hemi under their 5 year/100K mile powertrain warranty....

The 96K mile engine got 16-17 mpg on my daily commute & 9-10 mpg towing w/out fiberglass cap.

The new engine gets 15-16 mpg on my daily commute & 8-9 mpg towing. In the TN mountains I only got 7-8 mpg towing w/fiberglass cap & close to my GCVW of 15,000. As the new engine breaks-in the numbers will get better...