towing question???

[ramdriver]

I am wondering if anyone with towing experience can help me out. I have an 01 Ram 1500 4x4 Quad cab with a 5.2 magnum and a 3.5 rear end that I want to use to tow a camper with this summer. The trlr is just shy of 6000lbs according to the manufacturer. I am having it set up with the proper wieght distribution hitch and electric brake controller. My question is does anyone have experience pulling that kind of wieght with a 1/2 ton? Will I be alright for power? Should I consider moving to a 2500 or 3500 series? What are your thoughts?

[tony36]

You are fine with what you have. I tow 7000 with a 99 1500 with the 318. I am a bit under powered. If you have an auto tran I highly recomend a tranny cooler or you will loose your tranny eventually. If you like the ride of the half ton you can stick ith it, I did, But it is alot easier on the truck if you had 2500, with hemi or cummins. I tow 7000 with my 1500 and I tow a 36ft 19000lb 5th wheel with a 2004 cummins high output. I get 12mpg with the cummins pulling either trailer. I get 9mpg pulling small trailer with the 318. I pull trailer about 20000 each year. I would also highly recomend using the Prodigy electric brake unit, It Is a DREAM. You can't even feel the braking and once you set it you never have to set it again IE:city to hwy driving. It is incredible. If you don't want to buy a new truck, you can make it with what you have, if you plan on a new trk, 2500 would be great, 3500 is way overkill.

[ramdriver]

Thanks for the answer Tony36. The more I research the more I think I will be fine with my truck. Local dealers are looking for a 2500 for me with under 80k on it, but your reply and others input has got me thinking that it would have to be an amazing deal for me to trade up. I really like my current truck and I would not be travelling anywhere close to the 20000 that you put on each yr. As luck would have it, the dealer is installing a prodigy brake controller! There were two types to choose from and I didn't know anything about them so I chose the one that he recomended. Thanks again for the input.