I am new to travel trailer towing and need to learn about towing capacity. I am looking at a travel trailer that has an empty weight of 5,700 and a Gross Weight of 8,700. My 2016 Ram pickup is a 4x4 5.7 Hemi with a 3.21 ratio rear end. it has a maximum stated towing capacity of 8,100 lbs. Will my Ram pickup be adequate to pull this trailer as long as I keep the real weight of the trailer at 8,010 lbs. or below? What else should I be thinking about here?

That trailer will throw your half ton all over the road. Just my experience, of course*... YMMV. I'd be looking about 1K# lighter UVW.*This was actually mostly solved with a Propride 3P, but not everyone is willing to spend over $2k for a hitch.

GCWR - Actual weight of the truck = What you can tow.But you need to worry about the Ram's payload too:GVWR - Actual weight of the truck (loaded, gas, people, gear, pets, etc, including hitch weight) = what you can carry.Oh and then there's Front (FAWR) and Rear Axle (RAWR) ratings to stay under also.Get both weighed, and do the simple math....

I concur. The number you need to focus on is the payload, found on the weight sticker in the driver door. Even if you kept the real weight at 8,100#, your potential tongue weight is over 1000#, plus the 100# the WD hitch weighs. That's most likely the bulk of your payload. Add your wife, dog, anything you carry in your truck, and you'll be over your payload real quick.

I think they determine towing capacity based on towing something that has 4 or more wheels on the ground so that there is 0 tongue weight. This allows manufacturers to claim 10k towing capacity when payload would never support towing a TT/Fiver of that size.

The listed payload on my Ram is 1,520 lbs. It sounds like I need to stay in the Gross Maximum Trailer Weight of 6,500 lbs. or less for my Ram. And a tongue weight of 500 or less. Does that make sense?

towing capacity | Good Sam Community

35 Replies

rmgozia
Explorer
Sep 16, 2016
The listed payload on my Ram is 1,520 lbs. It sounds like I need to stay in the Gross Maximum Trailer Weight of 6,500 lbs. or less for my Ram. And a tongue weight of 500 or less. Does that make sense?
braindead0
Explorer
Sep 16, 2016
I think they determine towing capacity based on towing something that has 4 or more wheels on the ground so that there is 0 tongue weight. This allows manufacturers to claim 10k towing capacity when payload would never support towing a TT/Fiver of that size.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Sep 16, 2016
I concur. The number you need to focus on is the payload, found on the weight sticker in the driver door. Even if you kept the real weight at 8,100#, your potential tongue weight is over 1000#, plus the 100# the WD hitch weighs. That's most likely the bulk of your payload. Add your wife, dog, anything you carry in your truck, and you'll be over your payload real quick.
sch911
Explorer
Sep 16, 2016
GCWR - Actual weight of the truck = What you can tow.

But you need to worry about the Ram's payload too:

GVWR - Actual weight of the truck (loaded, gas, people, gear, pets, etc, including hitch weight) = what you can carry.

Oh and then there's Front (FAWR) and Rear Axle (RAWR) ratings to stay under also.

Get both weighed, and do the simple math....
n0arp
Explorer
Sep 16, 2016
That trailer will throw your half ton all over the road. Just my experience, of course*... YMMV. I'd be looking about 1K# lighter UVW.

*This was actually mostly solved with a Propride 3P, but not everyone is willing to spend over $2k for a hitch.

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towing capacity

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