1998.5-2002 Dodge 5.9L Cummins Towing Parts

Towing with the 1998.5-2002 Dodge Ram 5.9L Cummins

Every Cummins truck in this generation is a Ram 2500 or 3500, and every 3500 is a long-bed dually. The 24-valve 5.9L Cummins makes 420 to 505 lb-ft of torque at 1,400 to 1,600 rpm depending on year, transmission and output, and the 2001-2002 High Output version came only with the NV5600 six-speed. Out back, 2500 automatics ride on a Dana 70 with a 10.5-inch ring gear and roughly 7,500 lb GAWR. Every 3500, and 2500s with a manual transmission, got the full-floating Dana 80 with an 11.25-inch ring gear, rated up to 11,000 lb GAWR and often derated by Dodge. Those are axle ratings, not tow ratings. Your truck's real limits are on the door-jamb label, and that is the number to tow by.

What fails and why

A trailer finds the weak links on a second-gen Ram quickly. These are the documented ones:

• 47RE heat and converter slip. The automatic runs hot under a trailer, and the factory calibration does not hold torque-converter lock-up on deceleration, so an exhaust brake does little on its own.
• Lift-pump pressure sag. Supply pressure drops under sustained load. Turbo Diesel Register testing measured 8 psi at 20 psi of boost and 3 psi at 30 psi. Below 5 psi while towing, replace the pump. Bucking or skipping under load is the symptom, and running the VP44 injection pump short on fuel damages it.
• Dead headlight switch. Trailer clearance lights overload the parking-lamp circuit and kill the headlight switch. A relay is the fix.
• Sag and wander. Heavy tongue or pin weight on a high-mileage truck with a tired track bar and bushings shows up as wander that gets worse when towing.

Stock replacement vs. upgrade

Start with the hitch that fits how you tow. A receiver handles bumper-pull trailers, and a weight-distribution hitch moves tongue weight forward when the trailer is heavy. A gooseneck ball sits fixed over the rear axle for large loads, while a fifth-wheel head is adjustable. Beyond the hitch, the common towing upgrades for this truck are an exhaust brake with a lock-up controller on 47RE automatics, air springs to keep a loaded truck level with an adjustable spring rate, deeper differential and transmission pans with synthetic fluid, an auxiliary transmission cooler for heat, and an upgraded lift pump with filtration plus a fuel pressure gauge. Sort out fuel supply before you add power, since low lift-pump pressure is what hurts the VP44.

What we carry

B&W Trailer Hitches supplies Tow & Stow adjustable ball mounts in standard, MultiPro/MultiFlex and pintle versions with 2-, 2.5- and 3-inch shanks and a wide range of drops, plus a triple tow ball mount, heavy-duty ball mounts, hitch balls, reducer sleeves, the WDHK4500 weight distribution hitch and the GNRK1394 Turnoverball gooseneck hitch. Big Hitch Products builds receiver hitches for 1994-2002 5.9L Cummins trucks in stock-bumper, below-roll-pan and hidden behind-roll-pan versions, along with 2- and 2.5-inch adjustable pulling hitches. Air Lift covers load leveling with WirelessONE and WirelessAIR compressor systems, tank kits, single and dual load controllers, a replacement on-board compressor, a LoadLifter 5000 Ultimate Plus stainless upgrade and air spring spacers. Lucas Oil 5th Wheel and Slider Lube rounds it out. You can also shop every truck's hitches at hitches.

Fitment notes

Receiver hitches and gooseneck or fifth-wheel base rails for this truck are specific to the 1994-2002 2500/3500 frame. The third-gen frame that started in 2003 is different, so do not assume a newer Ram's hitch will fit. Bed length drives gooseneck and fifth-wheel kit choice: the 3500 and the regular-cab 2500 are long bed only, while a Club Cab 2500 could have either bed. Choose a receiver by your rear bumper, stock or roll pan. Ball mounts, balls and air controllers fit by size or system rather than by truck. Use the hitch maker's vehicle selector by year, cab and bed length, verify by VIN, and stay inside the lowest rating in the chain and the door-jamb label.

Frequently asked questions

How much can my 1998.5-2002 Ram 2500 or 3500 tow?

We do not publish a single number, because the rating depends on axle, gearing, transmission, cab and bed. The rear axle sets a ceiling: about 7,500 lb GAWR on the Dana 70 in 2500 automatics, and up to 11,000 lb on the Dana 80, often derated. Those are axle limits, not tow ratings, so go by the door-jamb label and the lowest-rated part of your hitch setup.

Why does my exhaust brake barely slow the truck?

On the 47RE automatic, the factory calibration does not hold torque-converter lock-up on deceleration, so the exhaust brake does little. A lock-up controller holds the converter locked and lets the exhaust brake work. NV4500 and NV5600 manual trucks do not need one.

My truck bucks and skips pulling a grade. What should I check?

Check lift-pump pressure under load. On these trucks supply pressure sags when the engine works hard, and below 5 psi while towing the pump should be replaced. The VP44 uses fuel to cool and lubricate itself, so low pressure can damage it. Do not keep towing on a weak pump.

Why do my headlights quit when the trailer is plugged in?

Trailer clearance lights load the truck's parking-lamp circuit, and on this generation that overload kills the headlight switch. A relay takes the load off the switch. If the switch has already failed, replace it and add the relay so it does not happen again.

Should I run a gooseneck or a fifth wheel?

A gooseneck ball sits fixed over the rear axle and handles large loads; a fifth-wheel head is adjustable. Long-bed trucks are the natural fit for a fifth wheel. In most cases your trailer's coupler decides it.

Not sure what fits? Call the shop at the number in the header, or use the fitment checker on any product page. We install everything we sell.