Recommendations to Improve Towing Experience with 2003 Ram

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Question:

me and the wife plan on getting lost in the usa, raised our kids now its our time, I have a 03 ram 5.7l hemi 4wd quad cab, 5sp automatic/over drive, factory tow pkg, with a 3 in body lift, it also has after market kandn intake, 180 degree thermostat, jet stage 2 chip,with 130 thousand miles, I dont want to worry about pulling a 5000-6000 lb travel trailer, my budget is 5 grand, not a lot I know, so do I throw it all at tuning up the tranny or half at trans and half at the motor, suspension, cooling system? I hope that you get what Im wanting to do, guidance mainly. thank you in advance, any and all advice/suggestions/opinions are greatly appreciated..

asked by: Jim C

1

Helpful Expert Reply:

It sounds like your truck is pretty well equipped to handle you and your wife's upcoming adventures. To enhance your towing experience and ensure your 2003 Ram has as much fun as you I recommend starting with an aftermarket transmission cooler.

This is a great idea especially on an older truck like yours to not only prolong the life of the transmission but also improve its overall performance when it's pulling a heavy load. The Derale Series 8000 # D13503 is a great option that uses 3/4 inch wide turbulator plates for efficient cooling. The unit measures 11 inches wide, 8-3/4 inches tall, and 7/8 inches deep so it is a good idea to measure the space between your truck's grille and AC condenser core to make sure you have enough room to mount it.

Then to enhance your towing experience and ensure that you and your wife are comfortable in between US landmarks I recommend adding a rear suspension kit. For your Ram and application I really like the Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System # TDR2500CA. These durable jounce-style springs will support the rear axle of your truck to increase stability and level everything out when hooked up to the trailer. These will simply replace the factory bump stops on your Ram and after the initial installation this is a maintenance-free setup.

I have attached an installation video on the 2003 Ram that you can use for reference.

Just these couple items will make a big difference in your towing setup. With any truck I do just recommend taking a look at your copy of the owner's manual to verify that it can handle the weight of your trailer. If you have any other questions along the way please don't hesitate to ask. Happy travels!

expert reply by: Chris R

1

Answer 1

You are on the right track. Since your vehicle had a factory 4-way and you installed a 7-way the brake output circuit has been partially ran on your vehicle. It stops at the connector that is located under the driver's side wheel well. In order…

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Answer 2

Timbrens add quite a bit of suspension support to the vehicle. If you want your rear end to articulate a lot these honestly would interfere with that. This is designed to give more suspension support to a truck when towing and aren't ideal for…

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Answer 3

Installing a Timbren Suspension Enhancement System is a great way to stabilize and level your 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 and also provide a more comfortable ride when carrying heavier loads. For the rear axle, I recommend the Timbren #TDR2500CA. This…

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Answer 4

That's a cool set up you have there, and the best option for suspension enhancement for your 2022 Toyota Tundra is going to be Timbrens to help support the added weight in the rear. The correct part number for your '22 Tundra is the…

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Answer 5

If your Ram has the under-bed heavy-duty towing option, there will be a series of mounting holes or pucks in the bed of your truck, most likely covered by rubber or plastic plugs. If your truck is equipped with the pucks, you can use either an…

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Answer 6

Alan, that’s a beast of a truck, I bet you love it. The Romiks Romik ROB-T 6" wide Running Boards Aluminum Black #RMK69DR will fit fine and bolt up like normal, but since you’re lifted, the step height might still be a little tall. Luckily it…

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Answer 7

Hey Brit, Yes, the Timbren Rear Suspension Enhancement System #TDR2500D would be a fit for your 2021 Ram 2500 Power Wagon. These jounce springs have a 8,600lb load leveling capacity so I do want to warn you that the ride will be pretty stiff when you…

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