I have a 2016 RAM 1500 v8 5.7 8hp70 transmission Crew cab with a max pay load of 1520/GVWR 6900. It has a max towing weight of 8040lbs and GCWR is 13,800. The trailer I am interested in has a dry weight of 5385, dry hitch weight of 619 and GVWR is 7619lbs. My rear axle ratio is only 3.21. I would be traveling with tanks empty (unless filling is better for stabilization) through fairly flat areas, no steep hills. I need advice on whether this is too much trailer for this vehicle. I have no experience towing...just sold my Class C yesterday. I'm getting mixed signals on whether this is something I can tow.

I have the same truck and engine, but I don't have a clue what the real axel is. I tow a trailer with the same weight you are talking about, and most of the time never even know it is there. ( I have over 4000 towing miles on it now) My truck came with "Tow haul"Make sure you have weight distribution bars and a sway bar and you should have no problem at allWe live in the steep mountains of NC, and with my last truck which was a Ford F-150 with the Tritan V-8, it would labor up the steep grades and I would have to stay in the truck lanes. The Ram takes them easily at 50 MPH and if I need to I can use the passing lane. Just don't ask me about that stupid 3" thick manual that comes with it !Jack L

13800 combined - 6900 gross truck = 6900 to tow. If 700 or so tongue + fuel, passengers, gear = less than 1500 cargo, you should be safe on weights.The longer wheel base in your crew cab will help with stability, as well as proper hitch. If your truck is equipped with adequate cooling you shouldn't burn it up, but I think you are asking all from it that it will want to give. And it won't like it.

I have a 2014 Ram 1500 Crew Cab with the 3.21 gear. After a lot of research when I was looking to buy I decided to keep total trailer weight below 6,000.I just completed a 1,300 mile trip to North Carolina and had zero problems pulling or stopping.I do have a WDH which I would advise getting also.I do not like being at the max on things I left some cushion.This setup worked well for me and I averaged 12 MPG towing using Tow Haul and keeping my speed at 62.

When you say 6000 lbs...is that dry weight or total weight?

jsmith_15 wrote:When you say 6000 lbs...is that dry weight or total weight?Total Weight sorry I did not clarify that.

Towing with RAM 1500 | Good Sam Community

TomG2
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
Just saying, I was shocked when the scales showed that my F-150 only had about 600 pounds of payload left when I was packed and ready to hitch up. I "Figured" that I had close to 1,000 available.
Hunterred
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
your hitch weight will likely be in the 750-900 lb range. If you have a box cover or running boards, spray in bed liner, that kind of stuff, it all takes away from your 1350. you will be right at the limit but I had a 2012 Ram and it handled our trailers well, we were over weight on both however.
cpaharley2008
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
That is the weakness in these Rams, they will pull a lot but carry little. My 2014 Ram Sport is almost identical to your, 3:21 rear/8 speed auto/hemi/#1350 capacity. I tow a 4300# fiberglass 21' trailer about 8,000/miles a year and average 13-14 mpg in tow mode. My 2009 Ram with 5 speed and same trailer only averaged 12 mpg. My tongue weight is 500#. Check your t/w capacity, you may have to use a w/d set up to transfer some weight off your to your front.
cpaharley2008
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
BTW, I also recommend air bags for the rear spring set up to keep the truck level.
ronharmless
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
A trailer with a 5400 lbs dry weight will be about 6900 lbs loaded and ready to go. That puts the tongue weight at somewhere around 825 lbs. So if you subtract the 825 from the 1351 "payload" number you stated earlier, that leaves you with about 525 lbs for you, the wife, the kids, the dog, the hitch, and anything else you "load" in the truck to take with you. That's how the "payload - not to exceed" math works.
TomG2
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
Math is great but scales are better. It is easy to overlook the weight of toolboxes, extra water, generator, gas can, topper, coolers, hitch, accessories, etc. It may shock you to find out how little you have left. Or maybe I am the only one who thinks they need all that stuff?
ronharmless
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
Yup weighing the truck first loaded as if to go camping is an plus.
TxTwoSome
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
You might try a set of these also I installed these on my 2014 Crew Cab 5.7 Hemi.

They made quite a bit of difference on rear end sag and the ride is not any different then it was stock.

Tuff Springs
TurnThePage
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
Thanks for the input, TxTwoSome. I've been leaning toward those too. Was also considering their 1211s.
ata3001
Explorer
Jun 06, 2016
That 3:21 rear gear is the real enemy here. Just take your time & don't try to win any races & you'll be just fine. I had the same basic setup as you only I had the 3:92 rear gear & it did great. Make sure you are always using TOW/HAUL mode when towing, even at highway speeds to minimize transmission shifting up & down which causes heat buildup in it.

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