Wind scares the **** out of me

First. Get rid of the p rated tires and get lt version. Get a shank clamp to eliminate any wiggle at the source. I tow 6-8 k with my 1500 but its the eco diesel with full air suspension and the 3.92 dif.

I use the Andersen wd sway hitch. My max weight Has been 8400lb. But usually in the high 6k.

Thats your problem, towing with a 1/2 ton, I've towed my 30' triple axle WW in 35-50 mph winds with a GMC 2500 and now a F350 and never felt unstable or even pushed out of my lane, but might have something to do with 3 axles vs 2, because I have watched trailers in front of me get thrown around by wind on the fwy and I grab the wheel expecting the worst and hardly nothing. Tires make a huge differnce too.

htwheelz67 wrote:
Thats your problem, towing with a 1/2 ton, I've towed my 30' triple axle WW in 35-50 mph winds with a GMC 2500 and now a F350 and never felt unstable or even pushed out of my lane, but might have something to do with 3 axles vs 2, because I have watched trailers in front of me get thrown around by wind on the fwy and I grab the wheel expecting the worst and hardly nothing. Tires make a huge differnce too.

I have to agree. I had a Silverado 1500 towing a 24' Wanderer. When fully loaded with family, bikes, etc. I know I was at or over the GCWV of the truck and it was NOT a good experience. Also toasted 2 transmissions before I put on a REAL trans cooler. Suggest adding a decent trans cooler to your Dodge if you want it to survive.

Steve92004 wrote:
OP here...
I'm pulling the toy hauler with a new Ram 1500. I know it's not ideal It's a shortbed crew cab and I'm not sure if it has the 3.21 rear end with 8,000 towing capacity or the 3.92 with 10,000 towing capacity. The toy hauler is about 8,000 loaded
I had a new heavy duty Ram 2500 Cummins diesel long bed before this one because I was pulling a 12,000 pound boat. That thing was a train.
I got rid of the boat and then one day I dismantled two cars in a school drop off zone. I didn't even realize I grabbed them until I completely took them apart. Everybody was yelling at me to stop and I looked in the mirror and saw a trail of bumpers, fenders and grills behind me.
I figured I should get something that wasn't a weapon of mass destruction so I traded it in on the 1500 and now I have another trailer.
I retire next month and I'm pulling the toy hauler from my place in San Diego to Idaho in August and staying a month or so.
I'm worried about the hills on the way with that 1500 tow vehicle
Maybe I'll put one of those Hensley hitches before I go. Right now I have WD hitch and a friction sway control bar

EDIT... I just got off the phone with the dealer and they went through the whole thing and said I have 8,750 capacity so I'm getting close to max with my rig

I don't understand this thought process at all.
You had a capable tow vehicle and because you got in an accident you went to a less capable tow vehicle?

Anyway, your decisions, but that 1/2 ton is gonna be scary towing that much weight up and down hills.....

Tail wagging the dog.

lincster wrote:

Steve92004 wrote:
OP here...
I'm pulling the toy hauler with a new Ram 1500. I know it's not ideal It's a shortbed crew cab and I'm not sure if it has the 3.21 rear end with 8,000 towing capacity or the 3.92 with 10,000 towing capacity. The toy hauler is about 8,000 loaded
I had a new heavy duty Ram 2500 Cummins diesel long bed before this one because I was pulling a 12,000 pound boat. That thing was a train.
I got rid of the boat and then one day I dismantled two cars in a school drop off zone. I didn't even realize I grabbed them until I completely took them apart. Everybody was yelling at me to stop and I looked in the mirror and saw a trail of bumpers, fenders and grills behind me.
I figured I should get something that wasn't a weapon of mass destruction so I traded it in on the 1500 and now I have another trailer.
I retire next month and I'm pulling the toy hauler from my place in San Diego to Idaho in August and staying a month or so.
I'm worried about the hills on the way with that 1500 tow vehicle
Maybe I'll put one of those Hensley hitches before I go. Right now I have WD hitch and a friction sway control bar

EDIT... I just got off the phone with the dealer and they went through the whole thing and said I have 8,750 capacity so I'm getting close to max with my rig

I don't understand this thought process at all.
You had a capable tow vehicle and because you got in an accident you went to a less capable tow vehicle?

Anyway, your decisions, but that 1/2 ton is gonna be scary towing that much weight up and down hills.....

Tail wagging the dog.

It was just too big and long for me, crew cab with an 8' bed
It was also black and impossible to wash
I sold my boat and thought my towing days were over
I retire next month and might be towing more now that I will have free time
I'm looking at trading in my 1500 and leasing a short bed crew cab cummins
I seem to trade in my vehicles and lose money on them every few years so it might make sense to just lease them.
I'm comfortable with the payment and I won't be upside down every time like now

Steve92004 wrote:


It was just too big and long for me, crew cab with an 8' bed
It was also black and impossible to wash
I sold my boat and thought my towing days were over
I retire next month and might be towing more now that I will have free time
I'm looking at trading in my 1500 and leasing a short bed crew cab cummins
I seem to trade in my vehicles and lose money on them every few years so it might make sense to just lease them.
I'm comfortable with the payment and I won't be upside down every time like now

You'll not be happy staying with the 1/2 ton if you tow very much. most of my tows with the old truck were less than 200 miles one way and were white knucle tows if it was very windy (it never blows in the So Cal desert does it?). Towing clear to Idaho with a 1/2 ton would not be a very enjoyable trip IMHO. I've towed the 5er with my Duramax up and down the coast, to New Mexico and AZ and it's always been a very pleasant experience; personally I'll never go back to a tag trailer again.