I have a 2002 Dodge Quad cab 4x4 with a 5.9 liter Magnum V-8. I recently purchased a 95 Wilderness fifth wheel camper. The weight for the camper I believe is about 7650 lbs. I wish to upgrade the suspension on my truck to accomodate the load. How might I achieve this and what pros and cons are associated with adding to the suspension. Also what problems can be associated with traveling along extreme grades with the trailer weight pushing or pulling the truck as I need to travel through some mountainous regions. Last question is should I just upgrade to a larger truck?

Is it a 2500 or 1500 Dodge?

1500

You can add SuperSprings to level your truck when towing and give your truck better handling. That weight of trailer is at your trucks maximum capacity though and if just a few times a year and not in the mountains, it would work. But your truck has a semi-floating rear axle and not designed to be loaded all the time. I think the 5.9L only came with the auto tranny in the 1500, can't remember but a manual tranny would help you in the mountains both in holding speed and slowing down. So if you travel often, get a heavy duty 3/4 ton. If you travel just a few times a year get the SuperSprings and be sure you have an external tranny cooler and good trailer brakes and controller.

I only have a 26 gallon fuel tank what can i do to extend the mileage between fillup

http://www.TransferFlow.com makes a nice larger tank kit. The newer Dodges are 34 gallon in a short bed. As a new body style you must have a single cab short bed to be that size of tank. Or you could slow down to 58 mph and gain 20%.

I had a 2003 1500 HEMI package and I pull a 2004 34 foot Fleetwood Prowler with 2 slide outs with a weight of 10600 and I have no problems pulling it. I can actually go about 70-75 with no problem unless it's a big hill then it drops down to 45 or so. Now I have a 2004 same everything and still no problems pulling it.

I have a 1994 Dodge 2500 Cummings diesel with a transmission cooler installed and a 1998 rear axle. I am contemplating buying a 5th wheel camping trailer. I can't make sense of the towing capactity numbers and I'm hoping you can help me sort it out.

Dodge 2500 truck: The book shows GCWR of 14,500 and a tongue weight of 900. The door tag shows a GVWR of 8800 lbs.

Trailer: GVWR 9820, Dry hitch weight 1480, dry ale weight 6400.

Is this a good or a bad match? If the truck will be stressed pass on the 5th wheel RV camper.

Also, what is the vote on 5th wheel vs bumper pull? Better, worse?

Your truck shouldn't have problems with that trailer weight. The tranny is the weak leak, you'll want to change the tranny oil twice as often as it says in the manual if you tow much. 5th wheels tow and back up easier, but you loose the cargo space in the truck bed. A good WDH can help the handling of a bumper pull. But overall it's hard to beat the handling of a 5th-wheel or gooseneck.

The RV dealer said I should get a "chip" to improve the trucks power and therefore take some load off of the transmission. He said he buys "chips" for his Dodge trucks for about $200. I checked online and found "modules" priced at close to $600. If they're so good why doesn't Dodge sell them?

More power increases the load on the transmission if you use the extra power. They are all connected. Edge seams to be the best power mod. Dodge worries about warranty issues, thus doesn't want you to modify anything.

I too have a concern that I have more travel trailer than my truck can pull. I would like some advice on what I need to do to my truck to make it pull better. I have a 99 Dodge Dakota, V8 5.2 liter, 2 wheel drive pulling a Keystone Outback 25ft trailer weighing approx 6300# wet. I think my towing capacity is 6700#. Although I have never pulled a trailer before, it seems very difficult to pull and starts pinging/ knocking if I go up a steep hill.

Outback : I can't advise you on engine modifications on your truck, Don't know Dodge products.... besides getting a bigger truck (lol) The knocking and pinging is from the load on the engine pulling the hill. You're likely losing even more power as the engine controls retard the spark timing to the max limit to reduce the knock. I would suggest you fill the tank with premium octane gas if you're going to the mountains. Maybe even just towing your trailer. Again the engine controls will retard spark timing to reduce knock which reduces engine power at the same time. It's just you don't notice the power loss since you're on the flats. It'll be a small price for a performance bump.