Forum Discussion

mr61impala's avatar
mr61impala
Explorer
Oct 23, 2020

Maximum towing

Hello. It's been awhile since I've been here and I had forgotten how much fun this forum can be. Awhile back we decided to buy another travel trailer and we picked out one that weighed #5700 with a tongue weight of just under #800.

We purchased a new half ton Hemi crew cab with every available towing option including 3.92 gears, Ram rates it to tow #11,400 with a bed capacity of almost #1800.

Since we got this truck we started thinking maybe we could tow a little bigger camper and are wondering what would be a comfortable match to this particular vehicle. If you are towing with a 3.92 Hemi truck I would love to hear your story.

I am not into anything approaching it's maximum values as I don't want to hear the engine screaming up every hill, just wondering if #7000 or even #8000 trailer was a reasonable option. I will say when I'm towing my small tractor and bush hog on a #1550 tandem trailer (total weight of about #4500) you can barely tell it's back there.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Tow Vehicles
  • pitch's avatar
    pitch
    Explorer II
    Oct 23, 2020
    You can tow to ratings. Personally I would not go over #8000 gross. That is just me, for no reason, other than me being a belt and suspender type guy!
    That engine "screaming" up hills is doing just what it is designed to do. Hemi makes its power at I think around 3600 rpm,(screaming). If you don't want to listen to an engine running well within its design parameters, sell your truck and buy a diesel!

    I have a '13 Ram and it gets my juices flowing when tugging up a hill in third gear, the thing just pullin like a freight train!
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Oct 23, 2020
    If you are talking about GVWR (not empty weight)...I would say around 7000-7500 is probably going to be the comfortable limit (keep gear in the truck limited).

    That will put the hitch weight a bit under 1000lb. Assuming combined weight of passengers of around 500lb, that leaves you around 300lb for running boards, truck cap, etc... plus any gear in the bed.

    The "tow rating" is likely not the limiting factor.
  • APT's avatar
    APT
    Explorer
    Oct 23, 2020
    The general feedback for people towing over 8000 pounds loaded with half tons is not positive. How much is your as equipped payload and receiver rating? 8000 pounds loaded means 1000-1200 pounds of tongue weight. How much stuff/people do you put in the vehicle when towing? That Tire and Loading sticker will likely be your limit well under 11,000 pounds for a TT.
  • mr61impala's avatar
    mr61impala
    Explorer
    Oct 23, 2020
    APT wrote:
    The general feedback for people towing over 8000 pounds loaded with half tons is not positive. How much is your as equipped payload and receiver rating? 8000 pounds loaded means 1000-1200 pounds of tongue weight. How much stuff/people do you put in the vehicle when towing? That Tire and Loading sticker will likely be your limit well under 11,000 pounds for a TT.


    Just the two of us in the truck and we have always packed with weight in mind.

    This truck came from the factory with a class 4 hitch which I believe is rated up to #10,000.

    The larger trailers under consideration have the following specs:

    1). UVW of #7050 and hitch weight of #710,

    2), UVW of #6500 and hitch weight of #735.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Oct 23, 2020
    That drivetrain is bulletproof and will rip the hitch off of most any TT. It’ll have similar power to all the new 3/4 ton gassers.
    Only downfall IMO is the relatively compliant rear coil spring suspension which can be overcome with an appropriate wdh and/or a set of airbags.
    I’ve hooked some heavier trailers to a rental Ram 1500. (I’m in construction, so “weights “ are relative. If it ain’t on the bump stops it’s good enough).
    The rear is a little squishy-er than leaf spring “normal” half tons. Not including the heavy payload F150.

    I wouldn’t blink an eye at an 8000lb TT.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Oct 23, 2020
    Any buddies with an 8,000 pound trailer that you could try out? Around the block, up and down a hill.
  • goducks10's avatar
    goducks10
    Explorer
    Oct 23, 2020
    Anything over 6,000 lbs and you'll join the 1/2 ton towing issues crowd.
    Rams coil suspension is not a rigid as leafs. If you do go heavy I would invest in some air bags for the rear coils. My son has an older coil sprung Ram 1500 and is loaded to the max and tows a 4,000 lb ski boat. He added bags to the rear and says it really help with stability.
    Power wise you're good to 8,000 IMO if you like the sound a V8 wound out in the mountains.
    From a BTDT perspective I'd stay at 7,000 lbs or less.
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    Oct 23, 2020
    When I shop, I look at the GVWR of the trailer.. Not the UVW, as that's a meaningless number to me... I pack heavy, admit to it and proud of it! :)

    I went from a #5000 GVW TT to a #7000 GVW last year and with my max tow F150 with the Eco, it's about all I want to tow with it and STILL have a comfortable tow... (My F150 is rated for #11,300)

    Here are my door stickers to compare to. I know I'm pretty much maxed out, as I said, I pack heavy and load up the bed and the trailer.




    Good luck! Mitch
  • Terryallan's avatar
    Terryallan
    Explorer II
    Oct 23, 2020
    MitchF150 wrote:
    When I shop, I look at the GVWR of the trailer.. Not the UVW, as that's a meaningless number to me... I pack heavy, admit to it and proud of it! :)

    I went from a #5000 GVW TT to a #7000 GVW last year and with my max tow F150 with the Eco, it's about all I want to tow with it and STILL have a comfortable tow... (My F150 is rated for #11,300)

    Here are my door stickers to compare to. I know I'm pretty much maxed out, as I said, I pack heavy and load up the bed and the trailer.




    Good luck! Mitch


    Looks like if you load both to max. You are over weight by more than 3000lb
  • MitchF150's avatar
    MitchF150
    Explorer III
    Oct 23, 2020
    Please show me your work on that math that I am 3,000 over weight on my combo Terry?

    I do include the TW of the trailer on the trucks payload too.... I've been around the block a few times and here longer than you have been... ha, ha... Mitch

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