QuestionDear Shayne,
Probabably a dumb question, hopefully not the dumbest one you've ever received. I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 quad cab with the 4.7L engine, auto trans, and the 3.92 rear axel. It did not come equipped with a hitch or brake controller, but was pre-wired with for the hookups and has a trans cooler and (I assume) an additional radiator cooler, or something that looks like an additional small radiator. Do these additional items,(wiring harness,trans cooler and supplemental radiator), constitute a "towing package"? Thanks in advance for your help.
AnswerPaul,
A "Tow Package" varies not only from make to make, but also from model to model and year to year. The other small radiatior you see is probably a power steering cooler.
I have never seen a Ram with brake control wiring that didn't have a hitch. That's not to say there isn't an option combination that provides the truck this way, there could be a fifth wheel setup or even a camper setup.
If there is a factory trailer plug mounted in the bumper, the truck is indeed wired for a brake control. If there is only a plastic block-off plate then I'm afraid the wiring will have to be run along the frame. Dodge has two different rear wiring harnesses in the Ram depending upon whether or not you got the trailer wiring.
If everything is present but the hitch, I would call it a fifth wheel package, or a heavy use package. If you put on a hitch, I would call it a towing package. The terms are so loose, you could really call it whatever you want.
For it to be called a towing package, however; it would need to have a hitch. (In my opinion)
Best of luck,
Shayne Peterson
MobileHitch
http://www.mobilehitch.ca
ps. This isn't even near the radar of the dumbest question I've received.
