Towing with a 3.23 rear end

[Dutch]

I am looking at getting a different truck to tow my boat.  I have only had 3/4 ton trucks with 6 litre or diesel engines.  I am looking at 1/2 tons with 5 litre engines and am being told that a 3.23 rear end will do fine on our Ozarks terrain.  My rig weighs somewhere north of 4500 lbs.  Will it or is somebody blowing smoke?

[Gavin]

Should do fine. Have a 3/4 ton to tow my 32’ camper. Most boats weigh allot less.

[snagged in outlet 3]

It’s definitely going to be working a lot harder.  99 Yukon had I want to say 3:23 but not sure of the exact ratio with 5 liter and yes it towed a heavily weighted work trailer ok but always wanted a bigger truck.  
Currently ram with 5.7 liter 6 speed 3:93 and pulls my little jet boat like a champ.  Plus it has a little pep when not towing.  Theoretical weight of 2400 pounds for boat and trailer.   
You’re at twice the weight and I would go 3/4 ton and bigger motor with the new 8 and 10 speeds with a higher gear ratio. I tow a lot since I’m in a metro area and every trip is at least 120 miles round.  Plus 8 hours round to Taney at Least 4 times a year.
Last week 3 trips 8.5 hours towing.   
 

[MrGiggles]

My Silverado has 3:42s and tows fine. Had it loaded to ~5k or so and pulled it around KC, wasn't a rocket ship but never felt like I needed more gear. 

These new gazillion speed automatics are shifting all the time anyway. Rear end ratio has a lot less importance now than it did when 4 speeds were the standard.

[snagged in outlet 3]

12 minutes ago, MrGiggles said:

My Silverado has 3:42s and tows fine. Had it loaded to ~5k or so and pulled it around KC, wasn't a rocket ship but never felt like I needed more gear. 

These new gazillion speed automatics are shifting all the time anyway. Rear end ratio has a lot less importance now than it did when 4 speeds were the standard.

Exactly. 8 and 10 speeds are the norm.  I brought how much I tow.  If I were just going to tow it a few miles to a put in or only a couple times a year it wouldn’t matter.  

[Dutch]

What I am looking at has a 10 speed transmission.  I am color specific and all of them in this area have the 3.23.  I may just have to keep my F250 even though I don’t need that much truck since I sold my 5th wheeler 

[Terrierman]

What does the spec sheet say about towing capability?

[Dutch]

46 minutes ago, Terrierman said:

What does the spec sheet say about towing capability?

I don’t know.  I can’t find it on the web site window sticker, however, I wonder if that is truly applicable for our hilly terrain.

[Terrierman]

26 minutes ago, Dutch said:

I don’t know.  I can’t find it on the web site window sticker, however, I wonder if that is truly applicable for our hilly terrain.

I towed a 3000 pound camper in Colorado with a 1500 Ram.  No problem.  Now I tow a 5000 pound camper with a 2500 Ram Cummins.  Kind of overkill.  But that's the way I like it.  Brakes and suspension are as important in towing as is pulling power.  That's why I like the 2500.

[Basfis]

Rear gear ratio isn’t what it used to be with all the extra gears in the transmission. The final ratios are relative. 
 

Fishing boats are no big deal for current gen 1/2ton 4x4 trucks. Press the tow haul switch and shifts firm, points change and engine braking kicks in.