How long a camper can I (should I) tow?
I have a new 2014 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi (8 speed) with approximately 9000lbs tow capacity. Looking to buy a travel trailer and trying to understand what is a safe camper length for this vehicle. I would...
Forum Discussion
95jersey wrote:
No teenagers, just my wife and 10 year old son. Dirt bike is for me only. Payload on the Ram is a bit low because of the coil springs (1280lbs). Dirt bike only weights 215lbs, so that gives me 1000lbs of remaining payload and a class IV hitch. I am sure I am within my limits, and I can put the luggage in the trailer. No steep mountain grades like out west, just rolling hills of the NE & SE.
So I think I am fine on the weight, but I have heard stories of pulling 30'+ trailers that it can be a handful with wind and lighter trucks. Just don't want to spend $10-20k and find it to be a very un-pleasurable experience.
No, you are not fine with weights. Remember a 6000 lb trailer will have anywhere from 600 to 900 lbs of tongue weight. There goes your 1000 lbs without you, wife, and son ever get into the truck.
You are not taking into consideration the actual weights that a trailer can have. Dry weight advertisements can be notoriously under what the actual weight will be once the trailer is loaded.
You need to rethink this and think about "actual" weights before actual purchase.
As far as lengths go, yes longer trailers can be more to handle especially during windy conditions as they become a huge sail. I, for one, would not consider pulling anything longer than 25' with a half ton....but that's just me. I pulled our 25' trailer for six years and even that was taxing on me and my truck....of which I had to replace the rear gears (differential) when I sold the trailer.
good luck
Ron
