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Old 05-06-2016, 07:25 AM   #1
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What a difference a HEMI makes.....

Wow, what a difference in towing the new (to me) 2013 Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi makes over towing with the 2004 5.3L Avalanche my wife and I had! We figure, loaded out 28DBUD weighs in between 6700 and 6800 lbs. You can feel it when you get it going, but overall, no butt pucker factor.

The OEM brake controller is smooth and functioned great! I have it on Heavy electric with the gain set to about 3 and it seems about perfect.

While no one should ever take towing lightly, the overall experience of towing with an actual capable rig was dare I say, enjoyable?
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Old 05-06-2016, 07:29 AM   #2
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It is amazing.. Those that argue their prius can do it don't know what they do not know.. Makes the trips SO much more enjoyable!

Congrats on the new ride.

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Old 05-06-2016, 07:31 AM   #3
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I have a GMC Yukon XL mostly for the needed passenger space and i like the SUV for traction(weight) (winter and hunting) and hunting gear inside the back end. Also not having a pickup deters people from asking to move stuff lol. But i wish it would tow better, more power and different gear ratio would be nice. Hope to upgrade in next year or so to something that will tow the camper better. guess i will stick to the white knuckles and buttpucker as you called it lol
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Old 05-06-2016, 07:37 AM   #4
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I have a GMC Yukon XL mostly for the needed passenger space and i like the SUV for traction(weight) (winter and hunting) and hunting gear inside the back end. Also not having a pickup deters people from asking to move stuff lol. But i wish it would tow better, more power and different gear ratio would be nice. Hope to upgrade in next year or so to something that will tow the camper better. guess i will stick to the white knuckles and buttpucker as you called it lol

The 5.3L's now are much more powerful than the early 2000's ones, but the whole truck just handles so much better than the Avalanche did. Plus I think the longer wheelbase helps a little bit. Either way, having more motor just makes it almost effortless.
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Old 05-06-2016, 08:10 AM   #5
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Our 2016 RAM 1500 with the 5.7 and 8spd trans is a powerhouse I pulled a 3 mile 6% grade last week and had the cruise set at the 55mph speed limit and it was wanting more.
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Old 05-06-2016, 08:29 AM   #6
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mine is a 2007 that i think is getting tired. Once my mechanic brother has a bit of free time we are going to due some tune ups that i hope helps a little. I haven't checked into it but recently found out this year/model has two different gear ratios, think mine is more for cruising that towing.

Always been a chevy/gmc guy but thinking about Toyota or Dodge pick up next time around. Plus kids are getting older and not always going with us, the passenger space soon wont be as needed. or we drive two vehicles.
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Old 05-06-2016, 08:35 AM   #7
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I just went from an 06 1/2 ton with the 5.7 to a 15 with the 6.4 hemi. HUGE difference in performance. That 6.4 is a beast!!!! Get 8 mph towing and 16 on the highway empty.


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Old 05-06-2016, 08:38 AM   #8
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I traded off my '04 Chevy with a 5.3L when I was pulling a 7k TT.. Hated towing that trailer with that truck... Course I upgraded to a Dodge 3/4 ton with a little 6 Cylinder in it though.... That towed much better :-)
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Old 05-06-2016, 10:50 AM   #9
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I would love to see what that 6.4L can do! But Ill take the 5.7L for now. If I ever get a beater and the 1500 is not my DD, can you say upgrade?
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Old 05-06-2016, 10:54 AM   #10
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The last time I looked the newer Suburban's/Yukon XL's could not be ordered with a 3:73 rear gear unless you stepped up to the 3/4 ton. That is why my friend went from a Suburban to an Expedition. It had the gears needed and she also needed the extra room inside. The engines were about the same. She noticed a difference especially with the trailer anti sway and built in brake controller which came with the tow package.
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Old 05-06-2016, 11:05 AM   #11
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I agree, newer models are different. My cousin did the same, went to ford expedition and is happier towing.
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Old 05-06-2016, 11:08 AM   #12
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Don't get me wrong, my sway, traction/steering and handling overall is fine, just not power, especially on a hill if I don't get in the right gear before I hit it. Before a hill I usually step on it so it shifts down and is ready to climb. Flat ground highway it does 55 fine, anymore and it's a fight to keep it around 60-65, oh well just takes a little longer to enjoy my first cold one
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Old 05-06-2016, 11:11 AM   #13
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Don't get me wrong, my sway, traction/steering and handling overall is fine, just not power, especially on a hill if I don't get in the right gear before I hit it

Exactly my issue with the Avalanche. The suspension handles it fine, but the engine and transmission has no balls to them.....A few times, I crested hills in 1st gear with it damn near to the floor chanting "come on truck, come on truck, you can do it"
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Old 05-06-2016, 11:13 AM   #14
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Lol I know that chant. " come on old girl you can do it"
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Old 05-06-2016, 11:13 AM   #15
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I was happy with my 2010 5.3 in my 1500. Did the job. I think I had the 6 speed trans.
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Old 05-06-2016, 11:18 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by stevensmith2859 View Post
Wow, what a difference in towing the new (to me) 2013 Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi makes over towing with the 2004 5.3L Avalanche my wife and I had! We figure, loaded out 28DBUD weighs in between 6700 and 6800 lbs. You can feel it when you get it going, but overall, no butt pucker factor.

The OEM brake controller is smooth and functioned great! I have it on Heavy electric with the gain set to about 3 and it seems about perfect.

While no one should ever take towing lightly, the overall experience of towing with an actual capable rig was dare I say, enjoyable?

I'm pulling a 30 footer (6000 lbs) with a 2014 ram 1500 with a 5.7 L HEMI. You are correct. Makes for a nice ride.
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Old 05-06-2016, 01:17 PM   #17
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Unti recently I had a 2007 Avalanche. I used it to pull a Road Ranger Monterey 18D and then moved up to my Microlite 21DS. Both trailers are in roughly the same weight range. The AVI just wasn't geared right for towing. No problem on slight grades but down to 2nd or 1st gear on some mountain passes. Never overheated but always kept an eye on the transmission temp. Had to rebuild the rear end because as the me hanic said, it isn't a truck. Now we have a 2012 Silverado. Same engine but 6 speed trans and better gear ratio. Pulled the trailer out to the coast twice this year;once with each vehicle. What a difference! This trailer is supposed to max out at around 5000 lbs so I can't say how I would do at 8000.
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Old 05-06-2016, 01:20 PM   #18
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I'm pulling a 30 footer loaded at about 6800 with my grand Cherokee with the 5.7 Hemi. No problems at all with power. Would like to have longer wheelbase and more ccc but until I get a truck this does very nicely. Gotta love those Hemi's.


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Old 05-06-2016, 06:06 PM   #19
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The new 5.7 Hemi combined with the ZF designed 8-speed transmission is nice. Almost 400 hp, 420 ft/lb torque and a huge gear spread.

I'm towing with 3.21 gears and don't have any issues with power. My MDS still activates while towing even in tow/haul mode lol.

I'm getting about 11-12 mpg towing and of course near 20 mpg unloaded.

What kind of WDH are you guys using?
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Old 05-06-2016, 07:18 PM   #20
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In 2013 I found a 2 year-old Ram 2500 CC ST w/5.7 Hemi & 85K miles for $14K. At 96K miles it dropped a valve & self-destructed. However, Ram replaced it under their 100K Powertrain Warranty - no questions asked. Ram took great care of me even though I was the 2nd owner w/no records (paper or online) from previous owner. So most likely, my next TV will be another Ram when I am ready to pass this along to one of my boys...

Both engines handled our nearly 15,000 GCVW with ease. Last summer the new engine maintained the speed limit throughout the Smoky Mountains - typically just dropping 1 gear & rarely 2 except on the steepest grades.

Yes, it would be nice to have a diesel w/engine brake but I'm not paying $10K extra (used) for something I can live without. Yes, it would be nice to get better commuting MPG like with Ford's EB, but I would need the pricey HD upgrade which takes me into the Ram 3500 w/Cummins price-point.

So IMO the Ram w5.7 Hemi (or 6.4) offers the best bang/buck towing. Everything else this capable will cost more... The new engine is not broken-in yet, so it gets about 8-9 mpg towing & 15-16 commuting vs. the old engine which did about 1 mpg better at both ends.

Compared to the 1/2 tons w/same 5.7 Hemi, my 2500 has a payload of 3,000. Our TT is 8,000 loaded w/tongue weight of 1,100+ and our family of 5 & 1 dog weigh 700+, so the 1500 was NOT an option for us. Because we have plenty of payload I added a like-new fiberglass cap for $500 which keeps our bikes, scooters, firewood, rugs, additional camping awning, etc. nice & dry.
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