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Looking for real life examples on how the ram sizes up against the 5.3 for pulling 5000 lbs of trailer.

Ecodiesel is a $300 oil change

change can be done for half of that if you do it yourself and it's only required at 16000-17000 km. And the ecodiesel has amazing towing capabilities. 5000 lbs will be handled very easily.

$300 oil change? NOPE.  
Less than $200 every 16k km. Not bad.  
 
I have a '14 EcoDiesel with 125k km. I pull a 7100# TT. I get 14-18L /100km pulling that trailer. The worst mileage pulling the trailer was in an extreme head wind and I averaged 21L/100km.  
 
Daily driver we get 8.5L-10.5L /100km give or take. Great truck. No regrets.

Eco diesel will pull that weight no problems. I recommend getting the "limited" edition to get the air ride. You won't regret it guaranteed. By the way I would buy a ram over a gm any day!!

I would recommend the air ride as well for levelling the rear end but you don't need to get a limited to get it as it's an option on almost every model in the half ton ram line up.

You can upgrade to the gm 6.2 for less than the eco diesel option and it will totally embarrass the dodge in every way.

I could be wrong but you can get an ecodiesel on a base model ram were as you have to go to the top model chev/gmc to get the 6.2 v8 which costs significantly more and you certainly wouldn't embarrass the ecodiesel with the 6.2s fuel economy especially not while towing as it's almost double the mileage and with the ecodiesels 420 foot pounds of torque vs the 6.2s 460 ish which is barely more you would be able to tow 5000 pounds with ease

U have no problem with 5000# trailer I pull t t no problem I have 4000# dump pills good u won't get fuel mileage outta 6.2 and u don't need limited for the air bags I got Laramie I love it I got air bags off amazon.com 88$ us

5000 lbs will be no problem for either. The ecodiesel should get better mileage.  
 
If you are talking new, the ecodiesel is 240hp 420torque while the 5.3 is 355hp 383 torque. Based on those specs the only advantage the eco has is mileage.  
 
At the end of the day either will pull 5000 no problem so buy the truck you like the most.

Go to you tube and see what happens to all 3.5 dodge diesels at about 200000km. Exhaust gear slips and the valves pile into the pistons making an engine a great boat anchor. New engine is $20 000. To fix it before this happens will cost close to $5000. Wouldn't think of buying one till dodge addresses this problem. Its not a matter if will it happen, its a matter of when it happens.

What 3.5L Dodge diesel? Don't think they exist.