Ideal hitch weight for 2020 RAM

Unfortunately you bought the pony before getting your cart. You are limited (as you already know) to your trailer. Having been in your situation as well as many others on this forum, you will most likely want to upgrade trailers after a year or two to make the wife and family happier with more room. If you get too large a trailer now as a compromise you will definitely not enjoy towing it and it will be dangerous. Just because it’s a truck doesn’t mean you can tow anything of size. The good thing is that you are looking at weights and that’s a start. Good luck in your hunt.

The GVWR on that TT is 8K which will put your hitch weight around 1040 lbs - 8000 * 13%. The brochure weight is fiction. Tour tow vehicle's payload is going to really limit you.

Lots of assumptions here. I am simply asking what people with similar trucks are comfortable with as far as their hitch weight.

I am more limited that you 3500 guys, but still lots of half ton towables out there.

davisenvy wrote:
I have a 2020 RAM 1500 with a payload of 1559 (sticker in door) and a max towing of 11,450 (entered vin on Ramtrucks.com) I like the Jayco Octane SL 222, but it has a hitch weignt of almost 800 lbs. What would be the ideal hitch weignt to look for to have a comfortable tow?

Interesting DD has a 2006 Honda Ridgeline with a 1,700+ payload, and 5,000 tow capacity.

2012Coleman wrote:
The GVWR on that TT is 8K which will put your hitch weight around 1040 lbs - 8000 * 13%. The brochure weight is fiction. Tour tow vehicle's payload is going to really limit you.

My experience is that it will be closer to 1100 or more :E Check your hitch, it may not be rated for that much weight.

How much cargo are you going to carry, including people?
Subtract that from the 1559.
The answer will give you a max figure for tongue weight for your particular truck.
How comfortable the towing is would be highly subjective.

This trailer being a toy hauler, has a heavier than normal dry hitch wt, to offset the toy wt added to rear. While the OP will be pushing his trucks limit for payload, if he loads wisely in the trailer, and truck, it should be an acceptable towing experience. Much of toy wt will be behind trailer axles, and this is not a real long trailer. I'd give it a go, if my truck/trailer. As always, a good WDH will make some difference too.

Jerry

^What MFL said.
If you’re not hauling heavy toys, toyhaulers are not the best choice for being tongue weight conscious.
That said, it’s nothing a wdh and some timbrens or airbags can’t cure.
The truck is 110% up to the task despite the weight cops remarks.
Ideal hitch weight? Probably less than a toy hauler on the back of a coil spring half ton, but there are easy, safe and effective methods to keep that from being the limiting factor.

MFL wrote:
This trailer being a toy hauler, has a heavier than normal dry hitch wt, to offset the toy wt added to rear. While the OP will be pushing his trucks limit for payload, if he loads wisely in the trailer, and truck, it should be an acceptable towing experience. Much of toy wt will be behind trailer axles, and this is not a real long trailer. I'd give it a go, if my truck/trailer. As always, a good WDH will make some difference too.

Jerry

This is my thinking also. I shouldn't have to have to explain how many people, how far I'm towing, what exactly I'm taking with me. I understand how payload works. Anyways here I go, Dr650 dual sport motorcycle 320 lbs, some fire wood, necessities in the camper 300 lbs(Yes 300 lbs because I have weighed it), 1 person 220 lbs, and my lucky rubber ducky. Not going to tell you where I'm going and not telling my favorite fishing spot either. I will say most trips are within 30 mi of home. If I load this weight behind the rear axle, wouldn't that be to my advantage?

"If I load this weight behind the rear axle, wouldn't that be to my advantage?"


Yes, to a point, you still want to maintain approx 12-13 percent loaded hitch wt for best towing. You still have room to spare for a beer cooler, and possibly a "lucky" lady!

Jerry