I need to pull a camper from Houston to South Padre island, about 7 hours. I have a 2013 Dodge ram 1500 4x4. My max axle weight is 3900 a piece. I have a weight distribution hitch and trailer break controller. Camper comes in at 7200 pounds with the minimum of stuff I need to take. I haven't pulled anything this heavy with a half ton. I have pulled heavier with my old diesel but I totalled it not to long ago. Is this asking to much from a half ton?

What is the maximum towing capacity per the door sticker?

It's not the towing capacity that's most important - it's what you have left for payload (tongue weight and the hitch) after the truck is fueled and loaded with occupants in it. Only the scales can tell you that. The TT you describe will put about 750 lbs. of tongue weight on the truck. If the rear axle weight rating minus the scale weight on the rear axle (unhitched) is significantly less than the 750 lbs., you'll be over the axle rating. Being that the route is so flat, I don't think you'll have any problem pulling the trailer. We pulled a TT that weighs about what yours does with a Tahoe and WD hitch. It did OK.Rob

Sounds like I will be fine then. I don't see it going over the rear axle weight I. The way you describe. Thank you for the thorough explanation.

7200 lbs will be close to the limit on your 2013 Ram Truck 1500 (Not a Dodge), as long as you have a Hemi. A brake controller (Not Break) is required in most states, and only a fool wouldn't use one, especially that size trailer.

Did that amount of weight with my sons GM 1500, he has a 4.8 V8 motor, around 300 ponies......never went below 50mph on the steepest grades, ~4 percent in 2nd gear of 4.......In a nut shell, no problem! You will not be the fastest on the road.....I usually figure no trailer bigger than 2xGRAWR. 2x 3900 is 7800. Sounds like you will be under that, granted not by much.....its doable.MartyMarty

7200 pound camper and half ton Dodge? | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Binfordtexas
Explorer
Apr 30, 2017
Sounds like I will be fine then. I don't see it going over the rear axle weight I. The way you describe. Thank you for the thorough explanation.
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Apr 30, 2017
It's not the towing capacity that's most important - it's what you have left for payload (tongue weight and the hitch) after the truck is fueled and loaded with occupants in it. Only the scales can tell you that. The TT you describe will put about 750 lbs. of tongue weight on the truck. If the rear axle weight rating minus the scale weight on the rear axle (unhitched) is significantly less than the 750 lbs., you'll be over the axle rating. Being that the route is so flat, I don't think you'll have any problem pulling the trailer. We pulled a TT that weighs about what yours does with a Tahoe and WD hitch. It did OK.

Rob
romore
Explorer II
Apr 30, 2017
What is the maximum towing capacity per the door sticker?

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7200 pound camper and half ton Dodge?

13 Replies

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