Possible Purchase-Opinions Please

We downsized from a class A as well, so I have an idea what you are going through. However, we went smaller than you probably intend to go, although I thought I would share our story so you realize that smaller is not always bad.

We have a non slide 25 foot Rockwood. It works perfectly for us. We are not apposed to slides, but when we were looking for a good used TT, this rig was as clean and fresh as a brand new TT at 1/4 the cost. We couldn't pass on it. 4 years later and we are still in love with it.

We Full-Timed in it 2 summers ago while our new home was closing. Never felt confined or closed in.

Good luck in finding the right sized trailer for you, and one that will not push the threshold of towing.

thomasmnile not only that, the printout also shows every option and standard equipment for your truck including the axle rating.

thomasmnile wrote:

Flyboy320 wrote:
And the drama continues...LOL.......Checking the door and frame stickers.......ARGH......max payload is 1113 lbs...even lower than originally thought. Bloody heck.......going to end up with a pop up camper!!!!! LOL.

You might try this, as it was suggested on the Tow Vehicle Forum by a person seeking payload & towing data for their truck. Copy down your truck's VIN number and call Dodge Customer Service. As the story goes, you supply them the VIN # and they can tell you the EXACT "as built" ratings for your truck. Hope this will help.

Thank you thomasmnile. Yes, into the dealer I just bought the truck from(Jeep,Chrysler,Dodge) tomorrow.
Checking out the brake controller..it`s a Draw-Tite Activator II. Just watched an online video. Good stuff. Anyone using this brake controller? Thoughts, impressions?

Flyboy320 wrote:
And the drama continues...LOL.......Checking the door and frame stickers.......ARGH......max payload is 1113 lbs...even lower than originally thought. Bloody heck.......going to end up with a pop up camper!!!!! LOL.

You might try this, as it was suggested on the Tow Vehicle Forum by a person seeking payload & towing data for their truck. Copy down your truck's VIN number and call Dodge Customer Service. As the story goes, you supply them the VIN # and they can tell you the EXACT "as built" ratings for your truck. Hope this will help.

handye9 wrote:

Flyboy320 wrote:
Thanks for all the replies and info folks. keep em coming!
Internet search on "payload" brought this up...
"The 1500 4x4 Laramie luxury trim, also only available with the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, achieves a maximum towing rating of 9,800 lbs. and a maximum payload of 1,280 lbs."
With this info it becomes very evident that when you add fuel, etc to the truck, stuff in the bed of the truck and any stuff in the trailer that the useful payload can easily be exceeded.
Thoughts?

1280 lbs payload will go away very fast. WD hitch and sway control will eat 100 lbs.

Average load we campers put in our trailers (dishes, bedding, chairs, BBQ, fishing gear, etc) is about 1200 lbs. That 6250 lb trailer would become at least 7500 lbs. Average tongue weight for 7500 lb trailer is 900 lbs. Take that away from 1180, and you have 280 lbs left for driver, passengers, and cargo in truck bed.

I looked at towing guide on Dodge.com. It showed max towing capacity at 8500 lbs and 1362 payload.

Thanks "handy9". Lots of different numbers from different "official" sources. Don`t want to be near any of the max numbers for sure.

Flyboy320 wrote:
Thanks for all the replies and info folks. keep em coming!
Internet search on "payload" brought this up...
"The 1500 4x4 Laramie luxury trim, also only available with the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8, achieves a maximum towing rating of 9,800 lbs. and a maximum payload of 1,280 lbs."
With this info it becomes very evident that when you add fuel, etc to the truck, stuff in the bed of the truck and any stuff in the trailer that the useful payload can easily be exceeded.
Thoughts?

1280 lbs payload will go away very fast. WD hitch and sway control will eat 100 lbs.

Average load we campers put in our trailers (dishes, bedding, chairs, BBQ, fishing gear, etc) is about 1200 lbs. That 6250 lb trailer would become at least 7500 lbs. Average tongue weight for 7500 lb trailer is 900 lbs. Take that away from 1180, and you have 280 lbs left for driver, passengers, and cargo in truck bed.

I looked at towing guide on Dodge.com. It showed max towing capacity at 8500 lbs and 1362 payload.

And the drama continues...LOL.......Checking the door and frame stickers.......ARGH......max payload is 1113 lbs...even lower than originally thought. Bloody heck.......going to end up with a pop up camper!!!!! LOL.

The reason I did not buy a Ram was the payload. 1,250 payload for your family, stuff that you put in the truck, your weight differential over 150 pounds assumed driver weight, plus the weight of the tongue is not enough. New Chevy and Ford have a better payload for whatever reasons.

This is NOT a done deal, as per my original post! It is in the research mode. That`s why I`m asking you fine folks for info.
thomasmnile...each axle 3900 lbs.
Because of everyone here and the info you are providing, keep it coming, I`ll be going back to the dealer and salesman to set new parameters/guidelines.
I am not comfortable towing at or near max weights and beating the******out of my first ever truck.

Done deal or not - that is too much trailer for that truck! Should have been looking at Ultra Lights.

I have a 29 foot travel trailer at 29 feet at 4,500 pounds dry. Filon/Aluminum construction.

Not as well built as yours but well within my 1/2tons specs.