Ram 1500 5.7 towing recommendation
Have a 2014 Ram 1500, 5.7 Hemi. Looking for first trailer. Manual says max towing is 10,400lbs. Looking at Cougar 28ft trailer @ dry weight of 6400 and a Cougar 5th wheel, 28ft at 7000 dry. It looks l...
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Walt either trailer should work fine. Both trailers wet will be at the upper limits of what the suspension will comfortably handle. You would benefit from air bags such as https://timbergroveenterprises.com/old-home/
If you get the Bumper pull you will also need a good WDH such as https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=Husky+Weight+Distribution+Hitch
In either case The key to assure a safe comfortable tow that would survive an emergency accident avoidance swerve around will be to take the load to a Truck stop CAT scale that weights your steer drive & trailer axles separately at the same time. CAT has a free smart phone app with info locations & gps directions. It's usually like $12 first weigh $2 per additional.
My 14 Ram ED unloaded steer is 3,340. Weight your truck for your unloaded steer weight. My first goal in setting up a wet trailer on the scale is to try to at least replace the unloaded steer weight. My Second goal is get the drive axle down to as close to 3,900 as reasonably possible. IE max axle rating. Personally I'm not comfortable for long drives with a drive axle weight that's more than 10 percent over ie 4,300 here. Third goal is to get drive & steer as close to 50/50 bias as is reasonably possible. Take a tape measure to make sure your TT measures as close as reasonably possible to being level ie same distance to the ground front & rear.
You will need a trailer brake controller & can add the factory unit if your truck doesn't have it. 3.92s would be preferable but if trucks a 4WD it is what it is. IMO At tire replacement time an ideal tire would be an E load such as Michelin Defender or General Grabber offered in a 265/60/20 if you have 20" wheels.
If you get the Bumper pull you will also need a good WDH such as https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=Husky+Weight+Distribution+Hitch
In either case The key to assure a safe comfortable tow that would survive an emergency accident avoidance swerve around will be to take the load to a Truck stop CAT scale that weights your steer drive & trailer axles separately at the same time. CAT has a free smart phone app with info locations & gps directions. It's usually like $12 first weigh $2 per additional.
My 14 Ram ED unloaded steer is 3,340. Weight your truck for your unloaded steer weight. My first goal in setting up a wet trailer on the scale is to try to at least replace the unloaded steer weight. My Second goal is get the drive axle down to as close to 3,900 as reasonably possible. IE max axle rating. Personally I'm not comfortable for long drives with a drive axle weight that's more than 10 percent over ie 4,300 here. Third goal is to get drive & steer as close to 50/50 bias as is reasonably possible. Take a tape measure to make sure your TT measures as close as reasonably possible to being level ie same distance to the ground front & rear.
You will need a trailer brake controller & can add the factory unit if your truck doesn't have it. 3.92s would be preferable but if trucks a 4WD it is what it is. IMO At tire replacement time an ideal tire would be an E load such as Michelin Defender or General Grabber offered in a 265/60/20 if you have 20" wheels.
