Towing a Travel Trailer
I am new to travel trailers. I have a 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 with a max tow of 8800lbs and payload of 1600lbs. I am looking to purchase a Keystone Summerland 2820 which has a shipping weight of 6...
Forum Discussion
Well it all depends on everyone's own situation. There is a lot that I don't about how you camps or plan on camping. With a trailer that size which just a little longer but a little lighter you should expect at least 1000lbs of tongue weight. Will a wdh compensate for that, Yes but not if you have 1000lbs of people in the cab and 2 rows of firewood in the back of the truck.
The truck will have plenty of power. Unless you live where its especially hilly or plan to camp where its hill I wouldn't worry about power. I live in the catskill mountains in NY and camp in the Adirondack and part of the Green Mountains in VT. The truck will surprise you as it did me. I mean like 3k rpms is the highest i've seen but there are worse mountains out there.
As I said your payload is pretty high (for ram) at around 1600lbs mine is 1165 from factory so you have about 450lbs more than me. Truthfully if I could do it all over again I would probably buy a bigger truck but at the time I didn't plan on buying a trailer.
If you have 2-3kids weighing 3-400lbs and bikes and stuff you will most likely over loaded, but may be within axle limits as I am. Yes you can put bike racks on the back and stuff in the trailer. The best way for me to tell you is find a scale I know its not easy the closest one for me is an hour, and go weigh your truck with your family and a full tank of fuel. This will tell you approx how much payload you have left for the trailer.
Most definitely you will need a wdh w/ anti sway thats a given for any trailer of that length. Do you have a trailer brake controller and class 4 hitch. I had both from manufacture. Some don't like the oem brake controller, I happen to think it works good and haven't had any issues. If I didn't have one installed from factory I would probably get the p3 controller or if you like things to look factory you can get the kit and have the dealer put it in.
I have airbags for Hauling firewood, you will not need them if all you plan on is firewood.
I don't know who said you will be fine...if its the trailer dealer don't believe them they will also tell you, you can do a 5th wheel if your willing to buy it
Side note, do you have the 8spd or 6spd tranny?
The truck will have plenty of power. Unless you live where its especially hilly or plan to camp where its hill I wouldn't worry about power. I live in the catskill mountains in NY and camp in the Adirondack and part of the Green Mountains in VT. The truck will surprise you as it did me. I mean like 3k rpms is the highest i've seen but there are worse mountains out there.
As I said your payload is pretty high (for ram) at around 1600lbs mine is 1165 from factory so you have about 450lbs more than me. Truthfully if I could do it all over again I would probably buy a bigger truck but at the time I didn't plan on buying a trailer.
If you have 2-3kids weighing 3-400lbs and bikes and stuff you will most likely over loaded, but may be within axle limits as I am. Yes you can put bike racks on the back and stuff in the trailer. The best way for me to tell you is find a scale I know its not easy the closest one for me is an hour, and go weigh your truck with your family and a full tank of fuel. This will tell you approx how much payload you have left for the trailer.
Most definitely you will need a wdh w/ anti sway thats a given for any trailer of that length. Do you have a trailer brake controller and class 4 hitch. I had both from manufacture. Some don't like the oem brake controller, I happen to think it works good and haven't had any issues. If I didn't have one installed from factory I would probably get the p3 controller or if you like things to look factory you can get the kit and have the dealer put it in.
I have airbags for Hauling firewood, you will not need them if all you plan on is firewood.
I don't know who said you will be fine...if its the trailer dealer don't believe them they will also tell you, you can do a 5th wheel if your willing to buy it
Side note, do you have the 8spd or 6spd tranny?
