Do you need to tow a trailer with a 2004-2005 Dodge Ram 1500 but aren’t sure what the maximum weight is? Perhaps you have never towed before and want some more information about it? Or maybe you are curious and want to know more? Whatever your reason might be, we have the answer for you!
We know that towing a trailer can be a stressful time. Especially if you aren’t sure what the maximum capacity you can tow is. The last thing you want to do is overload your vehicle and break down in the middle of nowhere or damage your truck!
You try to find out your towing capacity, but no matter what you do, you just can’t get the answers that you need. Frustrated and disappointed, you resign yourself to a tow-less life, afraid of damaging your truck.
Well, no more! Today we are here with the answers that you need! Keep reading to find out how much your Dodge Ram 1500 can tow and get any questions about it answered today.
How Much Can I Tow With A 2004-2005 Dodge Ram 1500?
Let’s get straight into it! How much you can tow with your truck will vary depending on the truck and engine that you have.
Providing you have the right motor and truck, then you can tow up to 8,900lbs! This weight does include any cargo that is in your truck’s bed too.
The weight your truck can tow depends on the style of the engine and the horsepower the engine has. It’s worth knowing these and the weight of your truck so that you know exactly what you can tow.
Remember, that this towing capacity will vary depending on the truck and motor that you have, so might not be able to tow the top capacity.
Don’t worry, we will go through the different Dodge trucks to show you the different capacities so that you don’t overload your truck.
Let’s see what truck you need to tow 8,900lbs!
Towing With A 2005 Dodge Ram
Kicking off our list today is the 2005 Dodge Ram, which can tow roughly 7,500lbs. With a quad cab and standard bed, you could tow up to 13,000lbs, but remember you would need the correct tow package for this!
The GCWR includes the weight of the truck, so you won’t be able to attach a heavier trailer to your Dodge Ram and expect it to tow it with ease.
Let’s look at a real-life example. A 2005 Dodge Ram with a 3.92 rear end and 4 x 4 5.7 Hemi was able to tow a 6,300lb TT without any issues.
Providing that you have the correct tow package, you too should be able to do this with ease.
Towing With A 2005 Dodge Ram 1500
As we mentioned earlier, the maximum towing weight for your truck includes the weight of your truck and trailer without any cargo in.
To accurately know how much you can tow, it’s best to take your truck and trailer to a scale where you can see the combined weight of the vehicles.
Be sure to include the supplies, passengers, and other items in the truck and trailer so that the weight is as accurate as possible. This will tell you if you need to lighten the load or not to help you stay within the maximum gross weight that you can tow.
Once you have the weight of your trailer and truck, you will know how much you can tow without overloading the truck.
If you aren’t able to weigh your truck on a commercial scale, you can usually find the weight of the truck online, but be mindful that this won’t include the weight of your trailer, any passengers, or equipment.
How Much Can A 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Tow?
So how much can you tow with a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500?
Well, this will depend as we mentioned earlier, based on the type of engine that you have and the horsepower it can generate. Some of these models can tow up to 8,200lbs!
Remember, this will include the weight of the truck, you would need to subtract that from the weight to find out how much you can tow.
The 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 can tow up to 8,900lbs. Changes to the engine in between these models meant that the tow weight fell to 8.750lbs.
You can use your owner’s manual to check the engine and see how much weight your truck can tow.
If you have misplaced your manual, you can usually find a copy online that you can download for free. Just be sure that the information matches the model of your truck.
Towing With A 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi
If you have a Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi, you will have some strong towing capabilities! With this engine, you can expect to tow 8,200lbs.
Now, this weight does not include the weight of your truck and its cargo, which allows you to tow far more than other trucks!
This means that the gross weight you can tow will be between 10,000 and 13,000lbs. That’s a lot of cargo that can be towed!
Before you load your truck and trailer, be sure to check your user manual to ensure that you can carry the weight. The last thing you want to do is apply too much weight to the trailer!
Towing With A 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab
If you have a Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab, then you can tow a maximum of 7,500lbs. Now, while this is less than the other trucks we have looked at, you can change the capacity depending on the axle ratio.
To check this and see if you can boost your towing capacity, you will want to pop into your nearest Dodge repair shop or dealer.
They can confirm the weight, and you might be able to haul thousands of pounds more cargo than you originally thought! It is always worth querying this to get a more accurate picture of your towing capacity.
Towing With A 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5.9 Cummins Diesel
This truck is a fine choice for those looking to tow heavy loads. You can haul 13,000lbs with a payload of 2,760lbs. Now, the amount that you can tow will vary depending on your engine and the horsepower it can generate.
For example, the engine has roughly a 305hp motor. But if we gave it a boost and put in 2006 with a 325 hp motor, you could then tow over 13,000lbs in one go!
Now add in the 9,000lb weight of the truck and a payload of over 2,000lbs and you could transfer around 23,000lbs!
That is some serious towing capacity and the perfect solution for those with heavy loads that frequently need to be towed.
Towing With A 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 4×4 5.7 Hemi
This truck can haul up to 7,200lbs of cargo thanks to the 345 horsepower engine at 5,400rpm and 375-foot lb torque at 4,200rpm.
This version of a Dodge Ram also features a V8 engine that helps you get up tougher and steeper hills.
You will be glad of this extra power when you are hauling heavy cargo over steep inclines. It shouldn’t be too difficult for you, helping you have a smoother and more enjoyable ride.
While 7,200lbs is more than enough for most people, you can upgrade your truck and tow even more!
If you upgrade to the 2500 2WD, then your gross weight would reach roughly 11,000lbs. Think of all the things you could tow with that weight!
Towing With A 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 5th Wheel
The 5th wheel truck comes in two different models, the 3.73 or the 4.10. Each model comes with a different towing weight, so be sure to check which version you have before doing any towing!
The 3.73 can tow roughly 13,000lbs with a payload of 2,000lbs. The 4.10 can haul more than the 3.73, thanks to the pin weight. On some models the pin weight is 1500lbs, offering a dry weight of 9,700lbs.
Towing With A 2005 Dodge Ram Daytona
The Ram Daytona is lighter than other Dodge models meaning that its towing weight is lighter. You can expect these trucks to have a towing capacity of 9,300lbs.
It’s worth noting that this weight does not include the 1,750lbs payload weight that the truck can also carry.
Finding Out Your Towing Capacity With A Vin Number
If you are looking for an accurate towing capacity for your truck, then you can use the VIN.
There are lots of different factors that can influence your towing weight capacity, and your VIN will give you an accurate number instead of us offering you some rough numbers.
So what can impact the weight of your truck? Any of the following factors will influence the weight your truck can safely tow:
- Axle ratio
- Chassis and suspension
- Hitch class and type
- Trailer type
- Engine type
- Transmission
- Gross vehicle weight rating
- Gross combined weight rating
- Tongue weight
You can check the accurate towing capacity of your truck by entering your VIN online.
What Is A Tow Package?
You’ve seen us mention a Dodge Ram tow package a few times in this article, and might be wondering what it is.
Well, it is a series of parts that work to improve your towing capacity and make it safer for you to tow these heavier loads.
Back in 2009, Dodge changed its name to a trailer tow. These days trailer tow and tow packages are used interchangeably, so you can expect to hear both phrases when discussing trailers and their tow capacity.
Haul Mode
If you aren’t sure, Haul Mode is a feature installed on Dodge trucks. The feature helps you when hauling heavy cargo up steep inclines and larger hills.
To activate, simply press the tow haul button and select tow haul mode. Your transmission will be better protected this way and you can enjoy a smoother performance.
You will also not need to worry about any overheating issues or engine failure as a result of frequent shifting. When haul mode is on, a light will appear.
Once you are finished, you can press the button again and your truck will return to its usual mode.
Related:
2005 Dodge Ram Tow Test
Performing a towing test is fairly simple. Just attach a trailer to the hitch of your 2005 Dodge Ram and give it a test drive.
Ideally, drive up some steep hills to test the trailer and ensure that it is suitable for any driving you intend to do.
We suggest changing gears, monitoring the Tach, and so on, recording your results as you go. You will want to see the performance of the truck and check that it is suitable.
Ideally, you will want to keep an eye on the following categories:
- Braking performance
- Flat out acceleration
- Highway gradability
- Launch on grade
- Total control
Once you have your results, you will be able to see if the trailer is suitable for your towing needs or not.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, a complete guide to towing with your 2004-2005 Dodge Ram truck! Dodge trucks are capable of hauling heavy loads over steep hills and a range of terrain, meaning that no adventure will be out of your reach!
Just be sure to check the maximum weight of your truck beforehand and to make use of the VIN if you want an accurate number. Don’t forget to include the weight of your truck and payload before checking the weight and setting off.
Through this blog, I want to share all of my hints and tips, along with reviews of the best RVing accessories. I hope this blog will help others with their RV trips, and make traveling easier for you.
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