Help! Confused by Tow Numbers

[smcken2973]

I just purchased a 2015 Ram 1500 crew cab with 5.7 hemi Big Horn with tow package and 3.92 axle. 20 inch tires. Of course they said, "this will tow anything." Then I start trying to decipher all the numbers. I am looking at a Starcraft Launch 27 BHU. Its a new model, has a tongue weight of 600 pounds and dry weight of 6400. Typically, it will be me and my wife--300 pounds and my 60 pound dog. Can I do this without pushing everything to the max. I do want to be safe and not do damage to truck or anyone else! We are planning on this being a long term marriage. :)Thanks for the help. PS. Love the truck, love the camper, will they love each other?

[riven1950]

riven1950 wrote:

I feel your pain. When we were looking for a new TT last fall all the dealers ( except one who was honest ) kept saying " you can tow a 9000 lb trailer with that ecoboost".


You can tow a 9000 trailer with an Ecoboost. We did/do.

We was pulling a 9600# TT with an '04 6.0 F250, it pulled it ok but was starting to spend more time at the dealer (infamous 6.0) than with us. So the research started for new truck, Spent well over a year researching. Decided on the Ecoboost (see sig). The Eco pulled the TT for a year, (was way way better pulling TT than that wussie 250), then DW decided we needed to go shorter to better fit into the FSCG's we liked to frequent. Was a pain trying to get that TT into our favorite spot. So we started our research on a new trailer, took almost another year crunching the numbers & looking at different RV's with the floor plan we liked, both TT's & 5er's and decided on (see sig). Our Ecoboost & this 5er are a perfect match.
So, the moral of my tale is......if you take the time to do the research, crunch "ALL" the numbers & talk to as many knowledgeable people as you can, to find out what will work & what won't work, you'll have no problem with matching up the two.

I agree I COULD tow a 9000 lb TT with my ECO. I think it is rated at 9500lbs. It is not a Max tow pkg. What I was saying is I was not wanting to tow that much because of my comfort factor, plus I would likely run out of payload capacity before I got to 9000lbs. Mine tows like a beast. I am sure the max tow / HD Eco is even better.

[milo]

riven1950 wrote:
I feel your pain. When we were looking for a new TT last fall all the dealers ( except one who was honest ) kept saying " you can tow a 9000 lb trailer with that ecoboost".

You can tow a 9000 trailer with an Ecoboost. We did/do.

We was pulling a 9600# TT with an '04 6.0 F250, it pulled it ok but was starting to spend more time at the dealer (infamous 6.0) than with us. So the research started for new truck, Spent well over a year researching. Decided on the Ecoboost (see sig). The Eco pulled the TT for a year, (was way way better pulling TT than that wussie 250), then DW decided we needed to go shorter to better fit into the FSCG's we liked to frequent. Was a pain trying to get that TT into our favorite spot. So we started our research on a new trailer, took almost another year crunching the numbers & looking at different RV's with the floor plan we liked, both TT's & 5er's and decided on (see sig). Our Ecoboost & this 5er are a perfect match.
So, the moral of my tale is......if you take the time to do the research, crunch "ALL" the numbers & talk to as many knowledgeable people as you can, to find out what will work & what won't work, you'll have no problem with matching up the two.

[45Ricochet]

IdaD wrote:

Walaby wrote:
As bradyk says, look at payload first. The other numbers are interesting, and have varying degrees of applicability, but in almost every case, you will reach payload capacity before you reach any of the other numbers.

If your payload is truly 1530 and change,then if the calculations laid out like bradyk shows it are realistic, then you should be "ok". Depends on how much margin you feel you want.

Mike

Axle ratings are equally important. It isn't uncommon on half tons that a full payload in the back will put you over the RAWR.

LOL
Kind of new to the MH world but in reading another forum LOTS of 2 axle diesel pushers run over their RAWR even though they have plenty of tire ratings. Slap a Harley and lift gate on the rear I bet some are 2k over RAWR's. ( Not recommended IMO)
Point is I'm starting to think these axle ratings are purely a safety feature errr cover your A** move by the manufactures. I wouldn't go over any tire rating though. 15 series truck could easily switch out to a bigger rated tires IMO.

[SouthpawHD]

Another been there, done that. Had a '14 Siilverado for 8 months. Decided it was just too close. Thankfully I was able to get a good trade in for it and 20% off on a max tow Sierra that gives me the extra cushion I desired and it wasn't a horribly expensive lesson.

[riven1950]

I feel your pain. When we were looking for a new TT last fall all the dealers ( except one who was honest ) kept saying " you can tow a 9000 lb trailer with that ecoboost".

I was determined not to go over 4500lb empty just because I don't want to tow a bigger TT.

My point is we ended up with a 4100lb +/- TT empty and are still very close on payload limits. Like others said payload will get you before towing capacity.

I would never have figured this out without this site. Thanks folks!

[ktmrfs]

A big disconnect is the design assumption difference between the trailer mfg and auto mfg.

Trailer designers shoot for a minimum tongue weight of 10% of trailer weight and usually target 12-15%

Truck mfg spec the travel trailer ratings based on a MAX tongue weight of 10%.


BTW they do the same thing with 5th wheels.

[TomG2]

Modern half ton pickups will tow a lot of really terrific travel trailers, but not the heaviest. Scale back your "wants" a little bit and enjoy RVing.

[Walaby]

I totally understand the frustration. Been there, done that. I went to an RV show and found what I thought was quite a good selection of trailers within the "tow capacity", of a 1/2 ton pickup. I thought.. Hey, great,.. lots of trailers that fit within the max trailer weight rating, and within the GCWR (truck and trailer). Found a killer deal on a used pickup (Sierra 1500).. bought it. Then HOLY ****.. I forgot about Cargo Capacity. DADGUMIT. All of a sudden the trailers that I was looking at put me unconfortably close to the GVWR of the truck. I didn't want to get right up to the edge. Dang near sold the pickup until I found the trailer I have today. The numbers worked, so it worked. BUT, not without a lot of frustration and almost giving up on the truck.

So, I learned that day, that I should have settled on the Trailer first, then found a truck to tow it. In the end, I think you'll find a combo that works for you, but I do understand the frustration.

Mike

[IdaD]

smcken2973 wrote:
Thanks for all the responses. Very frustrating to buy a truck like this, try to do it right and then end up having to worry about a couple hundred pounds.

It happens all the time so you're in good company. People just figure a "full size" truck will handle anything, and the salesman wants to close the deal so they go along with it. You're actually in better shape than most half tons with the 5.7/3.92 combo. You have to watch the weight closely but power-wise you're in good shape for a gas truck. You can't switch it now without losing your shorts so just be reasonable on the trailer and you'll be fine with that truck. With just the two of you and a dog you'll probably be okay with the trailer you're contemplating, albeit a little close on weight.

[dshelley]

My truck is almost identical. I pull a 28 foot travel trailer and am certain it will pull it fine anywhere in the country. My sticker payload recommendation (should not exceed) is 1459 pounds. The rear axle (do not exceed) is 3900 pounds and the front is 3700. Your trailer coupled with a properly set up weight distribution hitch and the passengers/provisions you mentioned will not exceed your required numbers. You will be fine, hook it up, pull it where ever you wish and enjoy it. GVWR is certainly a number we should try to remain within. It allows plenty of room for miscalculating weights and various road conditions, but it is a not a legal or structural absolute. The individual axle ratings are and must be respected.

[ktmrfs]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
You should be fine with such a light trailer, and perhaps even with something heavier.

The GVWR is just under 7,000 pounds, and your max GCVWR is almost 16,000 pounds, leaving well over 8,000 pounds of the trailer, even if the truck is loaded to the max.

You will only have about 300 pounds of passengers, 300 - 400 pounds hitch weight, a WD hitch system is around 60 - 90 pounds, and the dog perhaps another 50? That would still be under the 5,900 max GVWR on the truck.

You will be fine.

Fred.

hitch weight (tongue weight) is going to be near 900lbs, not 300-400lbs. WD will put a small amount, maybe 200lbs back to the trailer axles

In most cases, empty hitch weight is with NO battery(s) and NO propane in the tanks. those alone will add about 75lbs/battery + propane.

so if there isn't much in the bed, you'll be close.

[TurnThePage]

I am driving a very similar truck. Mine has 13xx payload. My trailer is about 6000lbs loaded for play. My tongue weight is around 750. My truck tows it VERY well. Because the payload is limited, the Rams have a fair amount of cushion before exceeding the GAWR. Ford and GM push those limits a little more, hence higher payloads.

I ultimately plan to upgrade my trailer to something similar to yours. I'm not overly worried, though I no longer load very much in the bed of the truck either.

[otrfun]

smcken2973 wrote:
Thanks for all the responses. Very frustrating to buy a truck like this, try to do it right and then end up having to worry about a couple hundred pounds.

Anybody using a similar combination of TV and trailer? Would love to hear some real world experiences. I can get a similar trailer that is a thousand pounds lighter and a hundred less tongue weight. Again, just frustrating to have to worry about it. Thanks for letting me vent and thanks for the help. Would love any real experiences with a similar combo.

2015 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 5.7 3.92 axle
starcraft 27bhu 600 tongue and 6400 dry

I feel your frustration. Been there, done that with my 1/2 ton Tundra 5.7.

Subjective comments like, it does, or will, "tow fine", are all just that, subjective. Unfortunately, the manufacturer's weight data for all intents and purposes are subjective, too.

The ONLY objective data at your disposal is a weight scale ticket.

If an RV dealer is confident that you know what you're doing, and you're serious about making a purchase that same day, the vast majority will let you tow a new TT to a nearby CAT scale to verify weights. A simple request like this goes a long ways: "Load the batteries, propane, and water. If the tongue/gross weight is below xxx/x,xxx lbs. I'll buy it today". No reputable dealer will turn down a request like this.

Good luck!

[smcken2973]

Thanks for all the responses. Very frustrating to buy a truck like this, try to do it right and then end up having to worry about a couple hundred pounds.

Anybody using a similar combination of TV and trailer? Would love to hear some real world experiences. I can get a similar trailer that is a thousand pounds lighter and a hundred less tongue weight. Again, just frustrating to have to worry about it. Thanks for letting me vent and thanks for the help. Would love any real experiences with a similar combo.

2015 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 5.7 3.92 axle
starcraft 27bhu 600 tongue and 6400 dry