Hello all. I just joined the forum, but have owned a few Rams over the years. I'm hoping someone out there could help me, please.
I am looking to purchase a new Ram for 2011, & am having trouble deciding whether I should get the 1500 or 2500. I primarily use it for transportation & occasional hauling & towing. I tow a 24-foot Wells Cargo enclosed car trailer with a car inside ('68 Charger), maybe 2-4x per year, max. I still want to tow safely, when I do. The trailer has electric trailer brakes, & I use 1000lb weight distribution bars. The car weighs approx 4000lbs, the trailer curb weight is around 3500. Any long-distance towing would be done in under a 6hr trip, max.
Bought my first Ram new in '98: Quad-cab Laramie 4x4 shortbed with the 5.9, 3:55 axle ratio. Towing capacity, if I remember correctly, was around 8400lbs. It pulled it OK, but struggled a bit on hills due to the 3:55's.
Next came a '97 Ram 2500 Quad-cab Laramie 4x4 shortbed, with a Hemi & 4:10's. MUCH better towing! Towing capacty on that truck was 10,850. Really towed nicely, but it turned out to be a lemon (don't ask) & I got rid of it under the NJ Lemon Law.
So... I am looking at another Hemi-powered Laramie 4x4 shortbed. If I go with the 1500, it will be the Quad-cab 4x4 shortbed with 3:92 gears & I was thinking the 20" wheels. If I'm reading correctly the towing capacity on that truck is 10,050 lbs. If I go with the the 2500, it would be the Crew-cab shortbed 4x4 with 4:10 gears. The towing capacity on the 2500 equipped like that is 11,600 lbs.
Do I need the extra power of the 2011 2500, or will the 2011 1500 handle it OK? The towing capacity on the 1500 seems only 800 lbs less than my old '97 2500, which towed great. My local dealer seems to think the 1500 will do fine, but then again that's coming from a dealer.
The only thing that's swaying me to a 1500 is that the incentives right now are really good vs the 2500. I just don't know 100% if it'll do the job.
Sorry for the long rant. Anyone have any input??
Thanks!!
I am looking to purchase a new Ram for 2011, & am having trouble deciding whether I should get the 1500 or 2500. I primarily use it for transportation & occasional hauling & towing. I tow a 24-foot Wells Cargo enclosed car trailer with a car inside ('68 Charger), maybe 2-4x per year, max. I still want to tow safely, when I do. The trailer has electric trailer brakes, & I use 1000lb weight distribution bars. The car weighs approx 4000lbs, the trailer curb weight is around 3500. Any long-distance towing would be done in under a 6hr trip, max.
Bought my first Ram new in '98: Quad-cab Laramie 4x4 shortbed with the 5.9, 3:55 axle ratio. Towing capacity, if I remember correctly, was around 8400lbs. It pulled it OK, but struggled a bit on hills due to the 3:55's.
Next came a '97 Ram 2500 Quad-cab Laramie 4x4 shortbed, with a Hemi & 4:10's. MUCH better towing! Towing capacty on that truck was 10,850. Really towed nicely, but it turned out to be a lemon (don't ask) & I got rid of it under the NJ Lemon Law.
So... I am looking at another Hemi-powered Laramie 4x4 shortbed. If I go with the 1500, it will be the Quad-cab 4x4 shortbed with 3:92 gears & I was thinking the 20" wheels. If I'm reading correctly the towing capacity on that truck is 10,050 lbs. If I go with the the 2500, it would be the Crew-cab shortbed 4x4 with 4:10 gears. The towing capacity on the 2500 equipped like that is 11,600 lbs.
Do I need the extra power of the 2011 2500, or will the 2011 1500 handle it OK? The towing capacity on the 1500 seems only 800 lbs less than my old '97 2500, which towed great. My local dealer seems to think the 1500 will do fine, but then again that's coming from a dealer.
The only thing that's swaying me to a 1500 is that the incentives right now are really good vs the 2500. I just don't know 100% if it'll do the job.
Sorry for the long rant. Anyone have any input??
Thanks!!