Dodge 4.7 ltr maxed out ? - Montana Owners Club

G McCall · 05-15-2009, 03:56 AM

Will a 1/2 ton Dodge with a 4.7 gas pull this TT ?

A friend just purchased a 25 CK Prowler TT and his 2005 1/2 ton Dodge with a 4.7 gas engine gets too hot while pulling this trailer.
The trailer has a GVW of about 6800 lbs.

His truck has 68,000 miles on it to date with the small V8/automatic
The truck has a 3.92 rear ratio gear. Also, I see 2 different coolers (oil and tranny ?) under the hood beside the AC. No advertised tow package.

Should this truck be getting hot ? Is there a bigger radiator he could install ?

JimF · 05-15-2009, 08:36 AM

Sounds like you need more Truck. I did the same with a 1500 w/360 V8, the trailer was 7200 and it just was not enough truck. I was destroying the truck pulling hills at 45mph in second gear, brake wear, over heat, etc., etc., went to a 2500 Cummins, no problems since. Now we have a 3400RL at 14,000, still no problems.

Art-n-Marge · 05-15-2009, 08:55 AM

I had a 5.4L Expedition with ratings to pull 7500 lbs with 750 lbs on the hitch. I also never exceeded the GVWR. I also had a trailer that weighed 7200lbs dripping wet and the vehicle stuggled. It did not overheat, but any significant incline or decline and I felt like I was driving a VW bus.

You might consider a bigger radiator and even trans oil (or additional engine oil) coolers and stay within the weight ratings. These are cheaper than a new vehicle but you still won't be able to drag race the rig.

ols1932 · 05-15-2009, 10:21 AM

Get more truck! I tried that once with a small F-150 and even that was too small.

Orv

richfaa · 05-16-2009, 09:13 AM

At the risk of offending the..It will pull it just fine...crowd. Your friend could use a bit more truck.

TLightning · 05-16-2009, 09:35 AM

Any idea what the GCWR is for that truck?

G McCall · 05-17-2009, 11:28 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by TLightning

Any idea what the GCWR is for that truck?

My friend said his truck was rated to pull the weight of his trailer.
I don't know the know the actual tow ratings.

He was going Saturday to have his radiator checked to see if it had restrictions and even investigate a larger radiator.

exav8tr · 05-17-2009, 12:56 PM

I think maybe the larger radiator is the only difference in the 1/2 and 3/4 ton Dodges....

bigmurf · 05-17-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by exav8tr

I think maybe the larger radiator is the only difference in the 1/2 and 3/4 ton Dodges....

Troublemaker.

richfaa · 05-17-2009, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by exav8tr

I think maybe the larger radiator is the only difference in the 1/2 and 3/4 ton Dodges....

I knew that.... I knew that ...

clutch · 05-17-2009, 06:00 PM

He can solve the heating problem with a radiator with more cores like one out of a 3/4 ton. The last 4.7 with an automatic I drove was on the anemic side. Just not enough engine there in my opinion.

G McCall · 05-18-2009, 02:13 AM

I have suggested "more truck" to the friend and he is thinking about it.
As soon as he starts towing the new trailer with the 4.7 ltr proving he resolves the heating problem, I think he will come around to more truck and maybe go all the way to a diesel.
He may not like the 3/4 ton as a dailey driver though, and he definately will not go to a 1 ton he says.

Still, a strong 1/2 ton gas would pull his trailer with no problem. FTR... I use to pull a 7800 lb TT with a Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 Z71 with no problem. I did have a small power box that helped a little.

In conclusion if he ever discovers diesel (especially with a power adder) he will be looking for hills to climb.........

G McCall · 05-19-2009, 02:16 AM

Problem solved for 4.7 Dodge overheating

Friend said his radiator on his 2005 1/2 ton Dodge was 3/4 plugged according to the radiator shop. The radiator shop told him that Dodges were notorius for plugged radiators.

He pulled his trailer yesterday to test the new cleaned radiator and he experienced no overheating as before. He is a happy Camper now.

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