small/midsize camper in full size truck
My current tow rig is a '05 Ram 1500 Quad cab, 2WD, Hemi 5.7, 3.92 gear running on stock 33" tires and factory tow package with class IV hitch. At the time of buying it, it was largely an impulse buy...
Forum Discussion
From the rough numbers I was running last night, after accounting for tongue weight of the trailer, I was left with roughly 650lbs of available payload capacity. I've got it all scribbled down on some napkins here at work, and was going to get a nice spreadsheet set up soon to organize it all. Some of the new slide ins I were looking at were an advertised dry weight of roughly 700lbs.
Figure 20 gallons of fresh water, propane, food stuffs, other gear...500lbs additional? I could potentially move some stuff into/onto the trailer as well, freeing up some weight that way.
I also did pull the specs for the rear axle in the truck, a Chrysler Corporate 9.25", which has a weight capacity of 3900lbs. Someone else on another forum said there is 1800lbs in an empty truck over the rear end, so that leaves 2100lbs capacity on the axle, assuming some overload helpers in some form.
I have also upgraded to 275/70R17 BFG A/Ts Load Range E tires from the stock 20" C range tires about a year ago, and found it made a night and day difference in towing stability. At a rated 3195lbs per tire, I'd say they can handle more than the truck will :D
From what I've been reading, at least in 2005, there was minimal differences between the 1500 and 2500 frames, with the majority of the differences in the axles and suspension. So I'm thinking I may be able to pick up a D60 or D70 rear end to swap out my current rear end, and get a bit of extra load capacity that way along with the helper springs/air bags. Obviously it wouldn't make it the same as a 2500, but I think it would be enough to handle what I'm looking at doing.
I know the easy answer here is "just sell what I have, and buy a 2500", but given what I've done to the current truck, modification wise, it would end up being far cheaper to just continue modifying what I have than to buy a different truck, plus I know this truck has been treated right since day one.
Last...for the camper, I've been seriously considering just building something from scratch. I've already rebuilt several campers over the years, so I have a basic idea of how they're constructed (one having considerable rot out, which I eventually scrapped..but it was a heck of a learning experience,lol), and I think I can actually come up with something a bit lighter than commercial offerings plus it would be set up with everything I want and nothing I don't.
Figure 20 gallons of fresh water, propane, food stuffs, other gear...500lbs additional? I could potentially move some stuff into/onto the trailer as well, freeing up some weight that way.
I also did pull the specs for the rear axle in the truck, a Chrysler Corporate 9.25", which has a weight capacity of 3900lbs. Someone else on another forum said there is 1800lbs in an empty truck over the rear end, so that leaves 2100lbs capacity on the axle, assuming some overload helpers in some form.
I have also upgraded to 275/70R17 BFG A/Ts Load Range E tires from the stock 20" C range tires about a year ago, and found it made a night and day difference in towing stability. At a rated 3195lbs per tire, I'd say they can handle more than the truck will :D
From what I've been reading, at least in 2005, there was minimal differences between the 1500 and 2500 frames, with the majority of the differences in the axles and suspension. So I'm thinking I may be able to pick up a D60 or D70 rear end to swap out my current rear end, and get a bit of extra load capacity that way along with the helper springs/air bags. Obviously it wouldn't make it the same as a 2500, but I think it would be enough to handle what I'm looking at doing.
I know the easy answer here is "just sell what I have, and buy a 2500", but given what I've done to the current truck, modification wise, it would end up being far cheaper to just continue modifying what I have than to buy a different truck, plus I know this truck has been treated right since day one.
Last...for the camper, I've been seriously considering just building something from scratch. I've already rebuilt several campers over the years, so I have a basic idea of how they're constructed (one having considerable rot out, which I eventually scrapped..but it was a heck of a learning experience,lol), and I think I can actually come up with something a bit lighter than commercial offerings plus it would be set up with everything I want and nothing I don't.
