Trailer length and sway
Looking for unbiased advice from experienced towers. Buying both a TV and TT. Will likely be going with a RAM1500 Laramie. No plans to push the limits on payload or towing capacity, but are worrie...
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Reading responses, doesn't appear anyone really answered your question. My real world experience:
Owned a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. Started out with a fifth wheel, but traded for a Jayco WhiteHawk 27 DSRL, tongue to bumper length was 31' 6". The truck was a quad cab longbed on a 165" wheelbase. Some would say a truck that big doesn't require WDH and sway control, but I READ THE TOWING SECTION OF THE OWNERS' MANUAL, before buying the TT. Even for a mighty one ton diesel, Dodge stated if the GVWR of the trailer to be towed was 60% or more of the truck's GVWR, a WDH with sway control is recommended. So I used a WDH with sway control and towed the trailer many times without incident.
Not advocating you buy a one ton truck at all, we used the truck because it was paid for. I towed the trailer only once without the trunnion bars installed when we sold it. It got a bit squirrely on the highway when passed by large vehicles, so yes long wheelbase is of some value for towing stability, but a WDH and sway control is the way to go IMHO, irrespective of wheelbase.
Owned a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. Started out with a fifth wheel, but traded for a Jayco WhiteHawk 27 DSRL, tongue to bumper length was 31' 6". The truck was a quad cab longbed on a 165" wheelbase. Some would say a truck that big doesn't require WDH and sway control, but I READ THE TOWING SECTION OF THE OWNERS' MANUAL, before buying the TT. Even for a mighty one ton diesel, Dodge stated if the GVWR of the trailer to be towed was 60% or more of the truck's GVWR, a WDH with sway control is recommended. So I used a WDH with sway control and towed the trailer many times without incident.
Not advocating you buy a one ton truck at all, we used the truck because it was paid for. I towed the trailer only once without the trunnion bars installed when we sold it. It got a bit squirrely on the highway when passed by large vehicles, so yes long wheelbase is of some value for towing stability, but a WDH and sway control is the way to go IMHO, irrespective of wheelbase.
