Towing heavy with 1500 Ram

In late 70's when I first started towing. max trailer was usually recomended as being no more than 2x GRAWR.

With OP's truck if it is a 3900 rating. 8Klbs of max trailer, or the tail wags the dog.

For some of todays 35 series trucks, with 8500-9000 lb rear axels, upwards of 18K lbs of trailer.

In ALL cases, one needs to keep the RA with in spec. BUT, if at the max. this happened with a lot of folks back when the dmax came out, they bought 2500's with 15K tow ratings, loaded up the 5W, and found themselves with PLENTY of power, but were bottoming out the truck, due to too much wt on the RA.

No matter the gvwr of the truck, look at payload first, then tow rating.

Marty

Too much trailer for a 1/2 ton. I went from a 03 1500 Ram with those same specs towing a fifth wheel of similar weight but not as long. Pulled OK but was a little bouncy when loaded. Went to an 08 1500 MegaCab with the Hemi (really a 2500 with a lighter spring package). Night and day difference, one word Solid!
I don't know if I'd ever go back to a 1/2 ton towing over 6500lbs

lbrjet wrote:
We did a 1000 lb payload come from? OP said 1600 in first post.

Sorry someone else mentioned that some 1/2 tons are that low.

Still doesn't change the point. My S-10 had a 1500lb capacity 25yrs ago and a newish 1/2 ton is only 100lbs more? That's crazy.

.delete

We did a 1000 lb payload come from? OP said 1600 in first post.

valhalla360 wrote:
PS: I'm still amazed you only have a 1000lb load capacity. Not saying it isn't true but my first truck a 1988 S-10 with a 4 banger had more load capacity.

My work car is a 2007 Impala and it has almost 1100 lbs of payload. That blows my mind!

MO Traveler wrote:
So how much of the tongue weight is taken off the truck with a weight distributing hitch? If I have a 700# hitch weight what actually ends up on the truck when properly dialed in? Also what are opinions on the best WDH with sway control?

Actually, a WDH does not take any weight off the truck. If you look at trailer:
- The trailer tires are still being pushed up by the ground
- The hitch is still is being pushed up by the ball.
- The chains connecting the bars are the only other connection and they pull down increasing the weight on the ball and thus the truck.
- I'm going to ignore if you have a sway bar as it doesn't impact the calculations.

The overall weight on the truck increases but it shifts some of that weight from the rear axle to the front axle. The main advantage is to keep enough weight on the front axle to maintain good steering control and to keep the truck level.

PS: I'm still amazed you only have a 1000lb load capacity. Not saying it isn't true but my first truck a 1988 S-10 with a 4 banger had more load capacity.

Good idea.
The 1500 Ram has a very small 3900 rawr which is the lessor of the axle rating tires/wheels or rear spring pack.

The 5.7 hemi with a 3.92 axle ratio won't have any problems pulling its tow rating....but those small rawr limits how much load the truck can carry in the bed and on the rear bumper.

I've seen some folks with their bars cranked up so high the rear tires on the car/truck wound loose traction as they were pulling into a gas station. So how much load can the system take off the rear axles has too many variables.

All good things to consider and I appreciate the opinions. I am an experienced driver towing large heavy boats...28'+ with a lot of weight, but not travel trailers. My thoughts were that I was pushing the limits and that is not where I wanted to be, so this is confirmation. I think we will look for something more in the 6500# dry weight category giving more wiggle room. Appreciate all the feed back.

goducks10 wrote:
Too much trailer for that truck. Spin it all you want but you'll be over weight somewhere. Handling will be marginal at best.

Bingo! Read all the other posts as there is a ton of knowledge here.
But at the end of the day, not enough truck.