2013 ram 1500 truck... 5.7 hemi-will this work??

thanks brian, and In all honesty, I don't tow that far or often... we camp every other weekend, and the most distant campground I go to is around 65 miles one way...not too bad..i just have to watch my payload..but once again, not too worried.

Your maximum hitch weight would be the ACTUAL weight of the truck, loaded for towing, subtracted from the trucks GVWR (from the DOT Safety Plate mounted on your door post.) The trailers loaded hitch weight is almost ALWAYS a lot more than the empty weight listed on the brochure. The RANGE is 10% to 15% of the trailers ACTUAL weight. The SAFE way to estimate is to use 15% of the trailers GVWR (from the DOT safety plate mounted on the side of the trailer, usually near the front end). My suggestion is to take the trailers GVWR and use THAT to determine if it's towable with your truck. Nobody tows around an empty trailer so dry weight is useless. I DOUBT if you would have any problems with that combination but if you DID have any it would most likely come from the payload and how it relates to the tongue weight of the trailer. That's the number you want to keep track of.

Good luck / Skip

The maximum hitch weight is probably around 1,000 lbs with a weight distribution hitch set up properly. I would be happier with a 3.7 axle ratio, but the truck as is is actually well suited to your planned trailer. You will probably end up around 6500 - 7000 lbs fully loaded, and tongue weight of 750 - 800 lbs, well within the truck's ability.

Brian

and as always NEVER look at max tow rating...in your case 8500 lbs....although your truck can PULL that much weight it will never be able to CARRY it...it is a useless figure


and btw your hitch weight will be closer to 900lbs....way too much trailer IMO.

But a cat scale run through ready to camp would be the only true way to know...hard to do on a trailer you are looking to buy.

look at your payload sticker on your drivers door jamb. "total weight of ALL passengers and cargo.
Subtract the weight of the people and pets and gear in the truck and what is left will be your allowable TW.. it likely will not be much...do not forget to add the weight of the WDH.....
Someone may say this quicker as I am being moderated :)