Ram 1500 or 2500

I saw a Ram 2500 diesel with 15xx pound of payload at the North American International Auto Show this week. Crazy! But the 2500 gassers are much better and right in line with the competition at 3000 for crew cab 4WDs.

camp-n-family wrote:

The new 2014 Ram 1500 Bighorn pickup has a payload of 1800 lbs

Not sure where you're getting that number from? It appears that the Ram has improved it's payload across the board but there is only one with a payload that high, a base regular cab long box 4X2 with a V6. The Big Horn ranges from a max of 1632lbs to as low as 1077lbs.

See here for all payloads by engine and body configuration.

The 1500 may be ok for the TT but it all depends on the configuration and trim level. Or just get the 2500 and have no worries.

Even the Ram 2500 is not worry-free when it comes to payload. If you decide on a 2014 Ram 2500, suggest carefully verifying the payload rating for your specific configuration. Some of the payload ratings can be surprisingly low.

Payload ratings for a Ram 2500 4x4 SRW (single rear wheel) can vary from approx. 1620 lbs. (Longhorn, MegaCab, RamBox, 5.7 Hemi) to 3600 lbs. (Tradesman, RegCab, LongBox, 6.4 Hemi). Believe it or not, a Ram 2500 SRW 4x4 Longhorn, MegaCab, RamBox, automatic, with the 6.7 Cummins diesel has a payload rating of only 1670 lbs! Payload for one of the more popular Ram 2500 SRW 4x4's (Tradesman, CrewCab, ShortBox, automatic, 6.7 Cummins diesel) is 2340 lbs.

OP, take your questions over to www.airforums.com, the giant AIRSTREAM site. Plenty of threads on this question.

You don't need a truck to haul one around. That comes down to how much extra junk you want to carry with you while on the road. A tow vehicle that is also the daily driver can be made a better match with this type of trailer design in terms of operational expenses. And, better stability while towing.

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The new 2014 Ram 1500 Bighorn pickup has a payload of 1800 lbs

Not sure where you're getting that number from? It appears that the Ram has improved it's payload across the board but there is only one with a payload that high, a base regular cab long box 4X2 with a V6. The Big Horn ranges from a max of 1632lbs to as low as 1077lbs.
See here for all payloads by engine and body configuration.

The 1500 may be ok for the TT but it all depends on the configuration and trim level. Or just get the 2500 and have no worries.

The new 2014 Ram 1500 Bighorn pickup has a payload of 1800 lbs. and a towing capacity of 10,350 lbs. and with the 5.7L V-8 and 3.96 gears can easily pull the trailer. With either a 1500 or the 2500 I would go with the 5.7L gas engine and the 3.96 gears.

A couple caveats to consider. The Ram 2500 pickup weighs 2,000 lbs. more than the Ram 1500 truck and that is weight that is being carried around 100% of the time whether towing or not. Second is that the frame on the 2500 is a lot stronger and may not need anything other than the factory tow package to pull the Airstream.

My GM 2500 with its factory hitch can pull up to 13,000 lbs. and have a hitch load of 1500 lbs. with a WDH neither needed nor recommended by GM. That would not be true with a 1500 pickup.

Check out the ride in the 1500 and 2500 pickups before you decide on either. It will be different and affect the overall pleasure of you and your passengers on long trips.

With any trailer you will want to add 1000 lbs. to the true dry weight (including all the batteries and AC and microwave, etc.) to have a ballpark loaded weight.

The 2500 fuel figure of 16 MPG has got to be a joke. My diesel 2500 truck averages 14.5 MPG with mixed city and highway driving. No way a truck with a gas engine is going to do better than 12 MPG.

2500 to pull your trailer for sure, and expect ~16 mpg for your daily commute in mixed city/hwy driving.

I had a 1500 and traded it for a 2500 just for the extra payload. More peace of mind than anything.

Quick look, looks like the heaviest Airstream is around 9,000# GVWR so at 15% that's a 1,350# hitch weight.

Most pickups can pull 9,000# so it's a matter of the hitch weight and how much you want to carry in the bed of the pickup when you go.

Depending on the truck configuration the payload on a 1500 can be as low as 1000lbs (crew). I have even heard of some loaded out ones even less. It will pull the tt no problem, just check the payload rating and your weights to know if you can carry it.

As always you'd be better off with the 2500.

I figured that I would buy a 2500. Just thought someone would talk me out of it :)
Looking at a 2014 2500 Tradesman 6.7 4x4 for 20% off of msrp. (34,000 or so). Only one I have driven so far.