Towing Advice

[brioux1]

I am looking at buying a new TT and want to make sure I am looking at models I can tow safely and easily. I understand I will need a Weight Distributing Hitch. To be honest I've had a hard time getting a clear answer on this from TT dealerships or my vehicle dealership. Every time I enquire I just get the "Oh your fine, you can tow anything" answer. This isn't sitting well with me so I thought who better to ask then real RVrs. I know its all about the specs of the tow vehicle so I will do my best to provide this below.

2014 Ram 1500 Big Horn 5.7L Hemi w/ Tow package Crew Cab 6'4" box

From The Sicker on the door:

GVWR 6800 LB
GAWR Front 3900 LB
Rear 3900 LB
Info- Tire and loading
combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1070 lbs. (this one confuses me)

From Manual:

Towing- 10,000 lb.
Payload- 1520 lb.

If I have left out any relevant info please let me know. I am a little new to this so I may have missed something.

Finally, I will be traveling with my wife and two young children. Basically I just want to know what weight of TT I should be looking at.

Any help will be much appreciate
Thanks

[camp-n-family]

The 1070lbs doesn't make much sense especially when you say the manual lists the 1520lbs payload.

It makes all the sense it needs to. The brochure lists a basic weight for the body style. They will post the highest weight available which would be a base model stripped work truck. Start adding options and that number drops quickly. The door sticker doesn't lie, it's what it weighed when it left the factory with all options, except things added later by the dealer which would reduce the payload number further than what's listed.

1500 Rams have the lowest payloads of all 1/2 ton trucks. Yes even lower than a Tundra. Get a loaded Ecodiesel and it can be as low as 850lbs. Less than my Honda.

[LIKE2BUILD]

brioux1 wrote:
I am looking at buying a new TT and want to make sure I am looking at models I can tow safely

2014 Ram 1500 Big Horn 5.7L Hemi w/ Tow package Crew Cab 6'4" box

From The Sicker on the door:

GVWR 6800 LB
GAWR Front 3900 LB
Rear 3900 LB
Info- Tire and loading
combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1070 lbs. (this one confuses me)

From Manual:

Towing- 10,000 lb.
Payload- 1520 lb.

What is the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)?

The 1070lbs doesn't make much sense especially when you say the manual lists the 1520lbs payload.

Here's the really easy thing to do. Drive the truck with a full tank of fuel to a scale and get that tare weight. Now, subtract that amount from 6800 and that will equal the payload you have left available for wife, kids, cargo, and trailer tongue weight. If you wish, take the wife and kids on the scales then you'll know the exact amount you have available for TW.

Once you know the truck weight with the family in it, subtract that amount from the GCWR and that will tell you the max trailer weight you can handle.

Based on this 2014 RAM 1500 towing spec refernce your truck has a GCWR of 14,000lbs with a max trailer weight of 8,400lbs.

KJ

[Grit_dog]

camp-n-family wrote:

IdaD wrote:
The good news is that a 2014 Ram is still going to be worth a lot, so if you're unhappy with your limited trailer options you could upgrade to a heavy duty Ram for not a lot more money. .

Don't count on it. Rams drop in value as quick as their payloads. I looked at trading in my '14 Ram 2500 (stickered at $79k new) last week. I was offered $28k for it and that's Canadian $$!

And the stealer will put it out on the lot for $50k. Value hasn't dropped (unless it's a hi mile beater), that's just a low ball trade offer.

[IdaD]

camp-n-family wrote:

IdaD wrote:
The good news is that a 2014 Ram is still going to be worth a lot, so if you're unhappy with your limited trailer options you could upgrade to a heavy duty Ram for not a lot more money. .

Don't count on it. Rams drop in value as quick as their payloads. I looked at trading in my '14 Ram 2500 (stickered at $79k new) last week. I was offered $28k for it and that's Canadian $$!

Maybe it's different in Canada, and I guess in fairness I don't really know how the half tons hold their value. Used heavy duty diesel models in the US have crazy resale values right now.

As far as the payload goes, this Ram is low but I was just hunting with a friend who has a 3.5 Ecoboost F150 that had an 1100 lb rating. My wife drives around in a Honda Pilot with close to 1400 lbs of payload.

[JIMNLIN]

I often wonder about the liabilities if one crashed and hurt others while driving a rig not complying with the manufacture requirements.

Insurance pays even when your drunk/speeding/driving reckless/over loaded legally or just by the mfg gvwr recommendations/asleep at the wheel/tire placard payload/etc. BUT they may drop you as a customer for any of the above circumstances.

[Blazing_Zippers]

I have seen an older 1500 dodge Hemi towing a 30 plus foot fifth wheel trailer. I asked the driver about the combination and he said it was just "fine." Sorry, but that couldn't have been a safe combination to be around.
Don't over do your tow vehicle. It's got plenty of horses to pull the 10,000 trailer, but so many other factor come into play--like tire capacity, brakes, trans, springs, etc. By the time you address these issues, you might as well step up to a 2500.
I LOVE my 6.4 Hemi, it gets good mileage and handles our 10,300 fifth wheel like a dream. Come on over to the other side....
Do not believe sales people. I often wonder about the liabilities if one crashed and hurt others while driving a rig not complying with the manufacture requirements.

[JIMNLIN]

op wrote:
GAWR Front 3900 LB
Rear 3900 LB
Info- Tire and loading
combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1070 lbs. (this one confuses me)

Yeah....it confuses lots of rv folks.
The tire placard payload is a gvwr based payload. The payload number and gvwr number has no legal use in how much load a particular truck can safely carry.
The Ram uses small 3900 rawr axle ratings which needs to be addressed as its going to carry most if not all the load on the truck.
Run some numbers at you can show the trucks rear axle (3900 rawr) may weigh (est) 2400 lbs which leaves approx 1500 lbs of payload before exceeding tire/wheel or rear suspension ratings.
Actual numbers depends on weighing the trucks front and rear axle separately.

[neschultz]

I've been looking at used Ram 1500s and find this Ram site to be very useful and easy to use.Towing guide It is supposed to cover from 2009 on but I've tried a few VINs that aren't found. Click on "look up my vehicle" and enter your VIN on that page. Hope it helps

[camp-n-family]

IdaD wrote:
The good news is that a 2014 Ram is still going to be worth a lot, so if you're unhappy with your limited trailer options you could upgrade to a heavy duty Ram for not a lot more money. .

Don't count on it. Rams drop in value as quick as their payloads. I looked at trading in my '14 Ram 2500 (stickered at $79k new) last week. I was offered $28k for it and that's Canadian $$!

[bikendan]

brioux1 wrote:

From The Sicker on the door:
combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1070 lbs. (this one confuses me)

From Manual:

Towing- 10,000 lb.
Payload- 1520 lb.

your payload of 1070lbs is terrible for a 1/2 truck and is your biggest issue. that's at the bottom of most 1/2 truck payload capacities.
i have a Chevy Avalanche(not a real truck) and i have almost 500lbs. more capacity than your truck.
i've seen minivans with more payload capacity than your truck.

forget the manual numbers, that's the max numbers for a truck equipped with the best towing equipment.

NOT for your truck and how it's equipped.

i agree that a 5000lbs GVWR trailer would be the max for your truck.

[theoldwizard1]

brioux1 wrote:

Info- Tire and loading combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 1070 lbs. (this one confuses me)

This is maximum load PER TIRE, time 4 = 4,280 which sounds a bit light to me, especially for a crew cab.

A little quick research and I come up with the standard load rating on 275/60R20 Load Rating 115T tires (the standard size for your truck) is 2679 lbs. Go look at what it says on your tires.

[theoldwizard1]

brioux1 wrote:
2014 Ram 1500 Big Horn 5.7L Hemi w/ Tow package Crew Cab 6'4" box

Find out what was included in the tow package. What you want is a heavy duty radiator and an auxiliary transmission cooler.

What is the rear axle ratio ?

[IdaD]

I'd agree that 5-6k lbs is going to be the ceiling with that truck. The good news is that a 2014 Ram is still going to be worth a lot, so if you're unhappy with your limited trailer options you could upgrade to a heavy duty Ram for not a lot more money. That would also open up the possibility of fifth wheels.

My first truck was a half ton and that'll be the last half ton I ever own, so I am admittedly not a big fan of them.

[jmtandem]

Finally, I will be traveling with my wife and two young children. Basically I just want to know what weight of TT I should be looking at.

Any help will be much appreciate

Use about 15 percent of the trailer's gross weight for a tongue weight estimate. For example if a trailer's gross weight (not brochure or dry weight) is 5000 pounds the tongue weight will be around 750 pounds plus the weight of the hitch that could be another 75 or more pounds. Then add all the weight of the people, tools, bbq, bicycles, kayaks, chairs and other stuff and subtract that from the payload available. If you want to get real technical about 20-25 percent of the redistributed tongue weight by the weight distribution hitch is carried by the trailer axles not the truck. A 10,000 pound trailer that fits within your truck's towing rating would have a tongue weight that consumes most if not all of your available payload not counting anything or anybody else.

The 'rule of thumb' in RVing is to get the RV first, then get the truck to tow it.

[donn0128]

Or, in laymans terms, if you insist on a 1500 series truck find a trailer with a GVWR of 7,000 pounds or less, and,plan to pack sparingly.
If you want more, longer trailer step up to a 2500 series truck. Does not have to be a diesel, but that option will return beter fuel economy. The 2500 series truck will have,,,,,,,, better resale value, stronger frame, wheels,tires, better brakes, and most important more load carrying capacity.