Tongue weight, revisted
My TH has a 13,000gvwr sticker, but in reality probably closer to 15,000 loaded. Thank God for 6 Michelin Ribs...
Did an experiment a couple years ago with reducing my tongue weight to a minimum. Still was probably close to 1700lbs, but made the handling very bad. With excess sway and the need to constantly correct steering to stay in lane with any little gust or a passing vehicle.
Last weekend took my TH back to Phx from Glamis for off season covered storage, about a 218 mile trip.
Loaded my toys over the axles, centered, with nothing behind the axles. Kept about 100gallons of water in the tanks, all in front or over the axles. Full propane up front and holding tanks all empty. All tools/stuff/supplies/etc, everything, either over axles or in front of axles. Tongue weight came in at 3180lbs.
In the past, a 3180 TW would have caused me to change things up. Not any longer. Towed around the storage yard with no WD bars and the Ram3500 barely squatted down at all, still level more or less.
Had a new 2018 Ram 3500 srw crew cab to use for the trip.
The WW TH never towed this well before. Towed like a fifth wheel. No sway at at, none. No bounce at all. Going over the big no stop dips from Glamis to Blythe, around the Border patrol stop, was like no TH was behind me. No pushing/pulling/bounce of the truck or un- steady handling over those dips/whoops. It was a first, incredible.
Then on 10 going to Phx it was amazing how well it tracked at speed with no sway from passing 18wheelers. Even tried to see if at high speed it would sway. Brought it up to 80mph for a short test burst. No sway at all. Even when passing a double 18wheeler.
Some might say its all in the truck. The new Ram3500. But I have towed with them before, with sway and everything else a light a TW causes.
I am a Ford guy and own a Ford F350 Platinum. Have towed this WW with all the big 3, many times. I do like the new Ram's handling and suspension. The motor to me is not as good as the Ford power stroke engine, or the duramax engine. But realistically they all are very very good capable trucks that all can take the big TW needed to have a great handling TH.
The new found superb towing of my TH is from the big TW no doubt.
So, don't be scared of big tongue weight with this crop of new trucks.
They can take it no problem. And the big TW makes towing a pleasure.
jmo
Did an experiment a couple years ago with reducing my tongue weight to a minimum. Still was probably close to 1700lbs, but made the handling very bad. With excess sway and the need to constantly correct steering to stay in lane with any little gust or a passing vehicle.
Last weekend took my TH back to Phx from Glamis for off season covered storage, about a 218 mile trip.
Loaded my toys over the axles, centered, with nothing behind the axles. Kept about 100gallons of water in the tanks, all in front or over the axles. Full propane up front and holding tanks all empty. All tools/stuff/supplies/etc, everything, either over axles or in front of axles. Tongue weight came in at 3180lbs.
In the past, a 3180 TW would have caused me to change things up. Not any longer. Towed around the storage yard with no WD bars and the Ram3500 barely squatted down at all, still level more or less.
Had a new 2018 Ram 3500 srw crew cab to use for the trip.
The WW TH never towed this well before. Towed like a fifth wheel. No sway at at, none. No bounce at all. Going over the big no stop dips from Glamis to Blythe, around the Border patrol stop, was like no TH was behind me. No pushing/pulling/bounce of the truck or un- steady handling over those dips/whoops. It was a first, incredible.
Then on 10 going to Phx it was amazing how well it tracked at speed with no sway from passing 18wheelers. Even tried to see if at high speed it would sway. Brought it up to 80mph for a short test burst. No sway at all. Even when passing a double 18wheeler.
Some might say its all in the truck. The new Ram3500. But I have towed with them before, with sway and everything else a light a TW causes.
I am a Ford guy and own a Ford F350 Platinum. Have towed this WW with all the big 3, many times. I do like the new Ram's handling and suspension. The motor to me is not as good as the Ford power stroke engine, or the duramax engine. But realistically they all are very very good capable trucks that all can take the big TW needed to have a great handling TH.
The new found superb towing of my TH is from the big TW no doubt.
So, don't be scared of big tongue weight with this crop of new trucks.
They can take it no problem. And the big TW makes towing a pleasure.
jmo
