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Hemi vs v6 towing

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Boater

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
First post, been researching vehicles and found this amazing site. And reading various portions of the subject manor

Considering two.. Citadel with a Hemi, and a limited v6. (Looking at some dealer demos)

Replacing a crew cab ford diesel, but only towing 5, ten times a season. Thus, no longer the need of the big truck.
Typically a 5k wet TT camper or lighter car hauler. Not too many hills, plenty of highway, but county routes as well. The experienced hauler in me says, right tool easy, go Hemi....But I don't want overkill. I love the vehicle in any trim, but just have read enough on the prowess of the ample powered v6.

Any reservations on the V6 for my application?


Update 5/15/16
Updated at the end, but through this thread, I did go with the Citadel /Hemi.

Similarly optioned Limited ended up only $2300 less than a fully loaded Citadel Hemi. Not the 5k difference originally looked at. Favorite option is the rear Buckets!

Although my initial tow was only 12 miles, I was very happy with the results, power, and security...especially coming from a crew cab diesel ford.


5/16/16 did another test loaded proper with all towing and safety. full anti-sway, proper receiver etc.etc.etc.
test included highway speed, and 45/55 mph 2 lane roads, plety of stop and start, with and without brake control.. take off and straight line speed is quite impressive, coming from a big diesel. turning fine, cornering nimble. braking with and without controller excellent. what will take some getting used to is the security of a 3/4 ton pickup and the wheelbase of a truck. you can feel the movement in your seat for sure with bumps around bends. Still feels secure, but noticeable. Stock mirrors seem useless for towing... almost unusable...big gripe for now. So my initial conclusion is that if I was towing more than I do now I would want nothing less than longer wheelbase stiffer vehicle...aka a truck.

Cheers all... Been reading for hours here!
 
#3 ·
Having read a lot of towing threads here, my take is:
- the V6 is pretty good at towing.. but
- the V8 is great at towing. Better torque curve, stronger transmission.

And, the V8 is way more fun to drive, towing or not ;)

Full disclosure: I own two Hemis...
 
#4 ·
2015 Limited with the v6 here. Pull a 22' TT, loaded it's about 5500. Does fine once up to speed, would not say it's quick by any stretch, but it gets the job done. Sure the 8 would be more fun, but I only pull for maybe 3 week long trips a year. I like to save the gas mileage for the rest of the year when I'm just cruising around town.
 
#5 ·
where do you live and how much do you tow? Kansas or Mt?
 
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#6 · (Edited)
I have a 2014 Charger r/t but my wife has a 2015 Durango R/T with factory tow package bought in Dec 2105 towing dual axle horse trailer. Previously, towed with 2004 Durango SXT with smaller v8, maybe 260hp. I had towed a small 4 x 8 trailer for wood with a 94 blazer. Just did my wife's first horse show today and discuss towing with a coworker who has 2013 Durango v6. Go with the v8, when towing you do want to overkill it. Plus the Hemi Durango is just freaking amazing! It is not a Charger but it is just awesome.
Ok maybe part of that is our last Durango we drove for 11.5 years, it's big option was CD player.
 
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#8 ·
First, welcome to the Durango family.

This same topic has been discussed in depth--some might even say ad nauseam--on this forum. I encourage you to search for some of those threads to read what has already been discussed. Like Tom said above, the V6 does fine but the V8 does better. You will read on plenty of threads about how the V6 is "just as capable as the V8" and gets "awesome gas mileage" but then you'll read about how the V8 is "the only logical choice" for various reasons. Some conversations will devolve into V6 owners getting defensive because the V8 owners are "bashing" and "hating on" the V6 owners. :wall:

The bottom line is that the V6 is capable but the V8 has a better torque curve which makes it BETTER suited for towing. I recommend the V8 because:

1) Hemi
2) A 5k load is going to be close to 80% of the V6's max load capacity but it's about 75% of the V8's max. I like having that margin.
3) I lived in Upstate Ny for 5 years so I'm familiar the road conditions up there. I would want the extra torque to get the trailer moving easier.
 
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#9 ·
I'm in MA and I had a '14 V6 limited. It certainly was quick for what it was, but i traded it in for an RT w/ HEMI just bc of the towing. If you get the V6 be sure it has the factory tow pkg with load leveling shocks etc
 
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#10 ·
if you're comfortable cruzing and not wanting to pass other, slower vehicles while towing, and you like the 55mph or slower towing restrictions (Cali has a tow speed limit of 55 and it gets down to 45 on certain hilly grades) the v6 will handle the 5k wet towing, just have the tow package and trailer brake controls, sway bar, weight management, tow stuff. Change trans fluid sooner. 5 times a year, a week at a time, I'd buy the v6. unhook trailer and you have a nice vacation vehicle as well!
 
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#11 ·
Hello, Boater Guy
I to was contemplating same thing 3 months ago. I tow a 5k fully loaded up travel trailer so was thinking v6 would probably be enough. Then I test drove a new 2015 citadel w/hemi and thought wow! That was all she wrote and am happy to say no regrets yes fuel eco is less but the smile on my face is well worth the difference in fuel cost. I also will always fell more comfortable towing and if I ever decide to get a little bigger travel trailer then I am all set already. On a side note I have never heard anyone say I wish I would have bought the v6 just saying.
 
#12 ·
There is no such thing as too much power, nor is there such a thing as enough when pulling up a hill.

There would be no question for me, v8 all the way.
 
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#13 ·
No doubt the V-8 will get you there faster.

For towing in the midwest, even up to full tow ratings, the V-6 is more than just adequate. It has 300hp--that's more than big-block V-8s had 30 years ago, and they were pulling with 3 and 4 speed autos. A 300hp engine with 8 speeds is a versatile towing machine. On grades, it will easily hold its speed--if you're comfortable letting the engine do its job and rev a bit. Would it work harder in the mountains? Absolutely--no doubt about it, as would the hemi. But it has the same size brakes, an excellent transmission and engine cooling system, and again, 300hp and 8 speeds. I packed a fully loaded (overloaded) Durango up into Vail a few months ago and had no problem holding 85 the whole way. With a trailer, I'm confident I would have had no problem pulling those same grades, albeit at a much slower, trailer-appropriate speed.

If you're towing something with large frontal area and into a strong headwind, you'll know it. But I've not had any concerns with towing at all. It's funny to see how much attitudes have changed. As noted above, the Durango has more horsepower and more gears than one-ton duallies had not that long ago. Now, we're getting used to seeing 600hp diesels that tow 25,000 pounds as pickup trucks, and everyone thinks you have to tow everything and every grade at 80mph. If the V-6 meets your needs, get the V-6. If not, get the V-8. If you're towing in the mountains a lot, get the V-8. Otherwise, don't be in a rush to rule out either engine.
 
#16 ·
vrodguy said:
There's the truth right there
Click to expand...
I agree, excellent point on the difference in torque, that's really the story on towing. My '98 diesel pickup has under 200 HP but around 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It tows very well.

Many of the very-oversquare V-6's today make great HP and have good economy, but torque ratings are modest and max torque happens high in the rpm range, I think on the 3.6 torque maxes out in the mid 4,000's. I guess it would help this discussion to find a torque curve for both engines.
 
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#17 ·
GreenD said:
I agree, excellent point on the difference in torque, that's really the story on towing. My '98 diesel pickup has under 200 HP but around 400 lb.-ft. of torque. It tows very well.

Many of the very-oversquare V-6's today make great HP and have good economy, but torque ratings are modest and max torque happens high in the rpm range, I think on the 3.6 torque maxes out in the mid 4,000's. I guess it would help this discussion to find a torque curve for both engines.
Click to expand...
I managed to find these, torque on the v6 is surprisingly flat across for an NA motor, but you still can't beat the v8! No idea how accurate they are, and notice how the v6 starts about 1,000rpms higher

Image
 
#18 ·
Skippy426 said:
I managed to find these, torque on the v6 is surprisingly flat across for an NA motor, but you still can't beat the v8! No idea how accurate they are, and notice how the v6 starts about 1,000rpms higher

Image
Click to expand...
Indeed, look carefully at the scales on those graphs. The V6 starts at about 3000rpm, the V8 at 2000rpm. At 3000rpm, the V8 would be just off the top of the chart on the V6 graph (which stops at 230ft-lb).
 
#19 ·
I'm not sure the numbers on those charts make sense for the current 3.6 and 5.7. Assuming they are correct, I'm surprised the 5.7 doesn't get into the 200's until close to 3,000 rpm.
 
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