4.7 trailer towing

I never expected to tow a travel trailer with my 4.7 but here I am. What mods if any would be advisable? Towing limit is 7600 lbs. and my trailer axels are rated at the same. Trailer dry weight is 6000 lbs. so I am right on the top end of the towing rating.

 

Never expected but now plan on doing so regularly?

 

Thanks for the reply. Occasionally, Taking a trip from DFW to San Antonio. My ram only carries 5 and I need six passengers 4 are kids.

 

Ahh. Is it fairly flat? It may pull it just fine.

Does the truck have trailer package with trans cooler?

The weight is likely gonna be close when Loaded up with passengers and gear

 

I have an 06 with the 4.7

The reason i got an 07 with the more powerful 5.7 is that the 06 just can’t handle the loads the way the 2nd gens do

 

Fairly flat. It has the tow haul on it but no trailer brake. I will have to add the trailer brake. Looks like the tranny cooler just goes through the radiator. Thanks for talking to me about it. I would just go buy a big SUV to handle my surprise family. I will have to wait awhile since I added the kids to my family.

 

First thing to be aware of is not the towing capacity Curly but your payload capacity. And forget about that "dry weight" number, it's fantasy, look at GVWR of trailer, that's the number you'll most likely be hauling.

Not knowing the year of truck and it's specs let me throw this out rhetorically. Payload is 1500#. You, wife and kids are 550#? You should have minimum 12% of trailer weight on your hitch (I believe Toyota wants to see 15% but we'll cut you some slack) that's 720# of your empty trailer. And that WDH receiver is another 80#
Put stuff in the trailer increasing tongue weight, put more stuff in back of your truck, see where I'm going? You're running out of payload before towing capacity. And fuhgedaboudit if you haul water.

Research your numbers Curly, find your GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) for your truck, your curb weight, GVWR - curb = payload. Find your GCVWR rating for your truck, Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating is the total weight limit of your truck, trailer, passengers and stuff. Load it all up and get weighed because imho you're too close or possibly over your limits.
I tow with a 4.7 but being out West I factor in a 20% buffer off my numbers to accommodate our mountains. My ol' 1st gen gets cranky at 7K elevation and white knuckles don't become me.

Good luck and safe travels.

 

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply. The trailer is 7600 gvwr and the towing capacity is 7600. The payload is 1620. The hitch weight is 768 on the TT. That puts me a 1658 total if I carry nothing in my bed. Safety is first. I need to weigh the trailer now that I have it loaded to see where I am at. Dry weight means nothing I know but 1000lbs would be a lot of clothes and and kitchen utensils and other things. Without weighing it I am guessing no more than 7000. I was hoping to add a tranny cooler and be good to go. I am still contemplating and your reply was very helpful. Thank you.

 

Be sure you fully understand how the OD and lock-up torque converter work together.

When you’re going say 60 mph in normal drive (“Overdrive Off” NOT engaged) and you come to a slight hill, the transmission unlocks the TC and downshifts. Now you’re in 3rd gear with TC slipping (generating heat).
If you then press the “Overdrive Off” button, the transmission remains in 3rd gear but the TC locks up again.

 

Dal to SA is easy peasy as far as grades and altitude of course.

I'd suggest if you don't do so already is to monitor trans temps (torque app for example), do that in advance so you'll know what is normal and not.

As others suggested, use OD override when attempting to climb up hills, but there really aren't much of any in that route.

Perhaps fresh trans fluid to help it along?

Luck.

 

Johnson and Ty, both of your replies are great information. Ty, the TC explanation was great. It now makes sense why a tranny would get hot with excessive down shifts. Johnson the new tranny fluid is a great idea. Thanks for taking the time to reply!

 

The thing to remember is this:
- If the trans selects the downshift, the TC unlocks.

- If you manually select the downshift (by pressing the Overdrive Off button) the TC stays locked. A locked TC makes for a MUCH cooler running/happier transmission.

 

I don’t have an overdrive off switch but I do have the s mode which allows me to manually shift. I assume it would keep the tc locked when I manually downshift going up a grade. Is that right?

 

We're talking 1st Gen with 4.7 ltr. Yours is a later Gen -- I don't have any experience with how those operate.

 

No Tow/Haul mode button?

Edit: if you have the S mode to manually shift, you can keep it out of the top gear (can't remember if your year is a 5 speed or 6 speed) but keep it out of the top gear so the TC is locked up. I had to do this with my 14 Tacoma when pulling a 6x12 enclosed trailer. Weight was only about 2500lbs but that's a lot for a Tacoma lol

 

Yes mine is a 5 speed. I will keep it in 4th if it down shifts much. I just hope the wind is in my favor. This time of year in Texas we get a lot of strong South winds.

 

Yeah if it’s very flat too, you’ll be able to keep in 5th. You’ll feel the TC locking and unlocking. If it does, then time to drop to 4th. Plus a front wind will give you a lot of drag too.

lastly, I’m sure it would take some time (more than just a couple random trips) for it to ultimately ruin your TC if you left it in 5th.

 

I agree. I had the transmission serviced at the dealership Friday so maybe that will help. This will be something I do occasionally. Taking my kids and one grandkid on spring break and need to carry 6. My ram only hauls 5.

 

Just keep it in 4th. The revs wont hurt at all and your trans will be happier never shifting

 

You can just keep it in OD on downhills and flats. If the transmission downshifts when you hit an uphill, take it out of OD and the TC will lock back up.

 

I will keep it in 4th and I think I will be ok. Good advice. Thanks

 

Ok so something is wrong with your math I believe.
If the payload is 1620 and the hitch “tongue” weight is 768 the. You have 852 left. Subtract weight of passengers and cargo and any mods besides wheels and tires.
A few things to remember
Hitch weight will vary!! It all has to do with how loaded the trailer is and weight distribution in the trailer. Generally 10-15 percent of the total weight.

If you fill the trailer with water, food, dishes, luggage, board games, bedding? Propane etc... you will increase hitch weight.
Do you said 6000 dry, if you have two 40 gallon tanks filled that’s almost 6700 lbs not including any of the stuff mentioned above.
Based on a rough number of 7000lbs loaded trailer weight, Your hitch weight can be anywhere from 700-1150lbs.

I tow a 6000 lb trailer regularly with my 5.7. I have sway bars, control arms, upgraded suspension, air bags and a weight distribution hitch and I couldn’t imagine having a lower tow capacity. Especially in the wind or mountains.

You’re too close my friend on your numbers in my book. If you estimate the higher hitch weight you’re only left with 470 lbs of payload for all passengers, and whatever else you have In your cab, drinks, snacks, purses, bikes,iPads....everything.
If you add a generator or something you blow right past your limit. You might as well buy an SUV because with a trailer you basically will have to leave your bed empty.

Please be careful and allow yourself time to learn how to tow YOUR trailer with YOUR truck if you end up changing it.

PS I think 7000 lbs is a conservative estimate noting what I mentioned above. Just your water sewage and propane will get you to almost 7000. And since you most likely won’t have much payload left you’ll have to store a lot of gear in the trailer

 

Great reply. I will not be hauling any water or waste as I am going to a rv park with full hook ups. No groceries just clothes and kitchen utensils and only one full propane tank. I know dry weight doesn’t matter after you load it but the trailer weighed 5600 off the lot. I just can’t see clothes, bed linen and kitchen stuff adding 1000#. I have a load leveler hitch. I know I am pushing it. We inherited 4 kids from a family situation. I have a Ram that pulls the trailer no problem. I am 58 and won’t be in a position to get an suv until next year. I didn’t want to take two vehicles from Dallas to San Antonio but I may have to. Life throws us curves sometimes and maybe I am just trying something I shouldn’t. Thanks for your input.

 

So it sounds like you got my gist. I’d say you do a test drive and see how it feels. If it feels ok then go for it. Knowing you already are in this situation I’ll recommend a rear and front sway bar, as well as airbags for load leveling and handling. They don’t increase your payload just make it easier to handle since you can level your load better and they add load support in the rear. Good luck and enjoy your new family! DM me if you need any info about towing as I have become accustomed to it. Of course brake controller is essential.

 

Thanks for your help. Brake controller installed. I think I will test drive and while I have it out get it weighed. Have a good one.