Ram 1500 can it tow Keystone 280BH??

[mdsonofthesouth]

Heres a link to the exact camper: https://www.keystonerv.com/product/springdale/comfort-travel-trailers/floorplans/280BH

The tow vehicle is a 2016 Ram 1500 that has upgraded shocks, springs(TufTruck XHD), sway bars, Helper airbags and E-Rated tires. I will be using a weight distributing hitch just like I do with my current 26Ft Shadow Cruiser and my vehicle does have a brake controller/tow package.

So per the specs of this Travel trailer I should be fine with proper loading of my truck, but what worries me is the length of this new TT. The original plan was to get a few more years out of the shadow cruiser until I can get a Ram 2500, but the camper is causing me too many headaches left over from the previous owners + we need more room for the family and dog. No mountains are in our immediate future and most trips are ~3 hours or less.

So do yall think I can safely tow this camper? Thanks!

[Grit_dog]

mkirsch wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
But you are married to the truck?
Starting to sound silly…unless you are looking for justifiable a reason to tell wife so you’re not spending big bucks on a bigger camper.

Don't know where you live but around here used HD pickups are 2X the price of equally equipped, equal mileage, equal age 1/2 tons. IF you can find one for sale...

Not much different around here. Or maybe our half tons are too expensive!
5 grand more max apples to apples gasser to gasser same trim level.
There are not very many Hd gassers for sale comparatively, for obvious reasons.

[mkirsch]

Grit dog wrote:
But you are married to the truck?
Starting to sound silly…unless you are looking for justifiable a reason to tell wife so you’re not spending big bucks on a bigger camper.

Don't know where you live but around here used HD pickups are 2X the price of equally equipped, equal mileage, equal age 1/2 tons. IF you can find one for sale...

[MitchF150]

In the end, all you can do is go with your gut and what you already know and what you learn along the way..

There is good info you can gather from posts like this.. Also some info that you might not agree with. That's when it ends up being whatever you gut tells you after digesting it. ha, ha... 🙂

I've always done mods to the trailers I've gotten.. Started drilling holes in the Rockwood the day after bringing it home!

Good luck! Mitch

[Grit_dog]

Guys it’s ok. You don’t need to convince him. He’s already convinced himself.

[dodge_guy]

I had a 32ft TT with a dry weight of 7200 lbs and a GTWR of 11,500lbs. Loaded for a trip I was 9300lbs. Even if I loaded lite at 8500lbs I wouldn’t want to tow it with a 1/2 ton. I was towing with an 02 V-10 Excursion.
I would keep the loaded trailer weight no kore than 7500lbs.

[blt2ski]

We ALL have our limits for a given truck. I'm positive my Navistar for instance can handle more than a 12-15k trailer chassis wise. But with a 175/335 IDI non turbo 7.3 V8 diesel. It's sorely lacking in power. With the correct motor trans, I'm sure north of 40k is possible.
Like wise, my 1500 with at the time, 2 parents, 4 adult sized teens at 1200-1300 lbs total, add in hitch wieght, two Alaskan malamutes in crates in bed, generator, canoe and accessories on rack and in bed, firewood in summer.....I was putting upwards of 3000-3500 above the base wieght of my SW 3500 crew cab.
Granted my 1500 has more HP, a bit less torque, better overall gearing. It would probably pull the trailer fast in the interstate.....not sure about the chassis handling the load.
If I had a GM with a V8 and the AAM 12 bolt 9.5" rear axle, I'd go a bit higher than 8000 I pull max. But a 4.3 with an 8.5" 10 bolt, is asking for issues. Even tho I have 1800 lb overloads added to the rear stock 3300 lb springs, plus 600 axle tare to 3900 grawr.
I've generally found, a correct chassis for payload, trailer capacity, that is correctly geared, both in trans and pumpkins, with a slightly underpowered motor, is way the heck better, than an over powered, under chassied frame etc. Hopefully obvious, correct powered and chassis is best overall. You can't always get that in a pickup.

Find the correct next truck, then upgrade to the trailer that matches the truck.

Marty

[Grit_dog]

But you are married to the truck?
Starting to sound silly…unless you are looking for justifiable a reason to tell wife so you’re not spending big bucks on a bigger camper.

[mdsonofthesouth]

JIMNLIN wrote:

This is why I did them. Plain and simple I have 115k HARD miles and my suspension was worn out and now Ill have less sag allowing better front end dynamics when towing and hauling. Nothing more nothing less.

Good mods to help with carrying a load.
Don't get into a back and forth with any rv forums 1/2 ton weight cops on your Ram 1500 capabilities. Many seem to lump all 1/2 ton trucks in the same weight spec pile...or cherry pick your brand truck with a low payload sticker and claim all 1500 Rams have low payloads.

All 2016 Rams/Hemi has the 3900 rawr. Rams Body Builders guide shows the rear axle weights of 2wd vs 4wd is around 60-70 lb difference for the same truck configuration so the rear axles will have close to the same payloads.
You have the truck so scale its F/R axle loads with attention to its rear axle as its carrying all the load.

Just stay within your Rams RAWR numbers (tires/wheels/rear suspensions) and the combo will work fine for your intended use.

On a side note.
I live in the great plains. With small block V8 trucks or my Dodge/Cummins I've found high all day long head winds are worse to pull/worse fuel mpgs than anywhere in 11k+ elevation Rocky mountain passes.

I came here to get opinions from other brand owners and I knew full well that there would be brand loyal folks stopping in. Me I LOVE my Ram but Im not married to the brand.

[mdsonofthesouth]

Thank you to all those who responded. My confidence went from on the fence to uneasy to downright against the idea. The numbers "work" but I need to feel better and there just isn't enough margin in the numbers to make me feel comfortable and possibly risk my job or legal troubles.

Thanks again, but for now I am moving on. My new plan is to limp the current TT and maybe remodel the inside on the cheap and work at getting the next tow vehicle as soon as I can. Once I have the neext vehicle there will be no need for a question like this lol. Yall stay safe out there!

APT wrote:
Do not recommend.

I can show math that shows that you will probably exceed rear axle rating, GVWR, and maybe receiver rating. 7200 pounds dry, 8500 pounds loaded 1100 pounds of TW, family onboard and a bed full of camping gear, etc.

I can summarize the feedback from RV.net of owners that typically tow 8500 pounds with half ton trucks - not many are comfortable at 65mph. Light steering, wandering, wind and passing wind impacts.

The modifications you have made will improve the comfort level at or above any of the ratings I mentioned above, but that is hard to quantify. So that is a risk that is difficult for any of us to uniquely confirm with your exact combo of vehicle, trailer, WHD + adjustments, loading.

Well as I stated my comfort level has lowered with the idea and I am now certain Im not going through with it. If I were to for a short period the bed would HAVE to be emtpy for it to work.

bikendan wrote:
mdson, is there a reason you haven't posted your actual door sticker payload capacity?
I'm in the same place as you. The DW wants a particular TT to replace our current TT. I'm up against similar numbers and have a F150 Ecoboost with Max Tow package.
It's 29ft long but is about 2000lbs heavier than the 25ft TT we have.
I'd like to upgrade to a 3/4 ton but now isn't a good time for that.

No reason other than laziness while being super busy with everything else. Honestly I should have gone with my gut before even posting which is to stay at 80% or lower for payload and towing. I got ambitious since the numbers "fit" and the size was the only alarm bell I was paying attention to. Add in that we NEED more space and needing more repairs that will be costly and the blinders were thick!

As for a new tow vehicle right now is an absurd period of time but I doubt the prices will adjust terribly much as people are still paying them. Sure repos are up and sales are down, but I think manufacturers are still getting enough to keep things the way they are or close to it.

[Grit_dog]

JIMNLIN wrote:

This is why I did them. Plain and simple I have 115k HARD miles and my suspension was worn out and now Ill have less sag allowing better front end dynamics when towing and hauling. Nothing more nothing less.

Good mods to help with carrying a load.
Don't get into a back and forth with any rv forums 1/2 ton weight cops on your Ram 1500 capabilities. Many seem to lump all 1/2 ton trucks in the same weight spec pile...or cherry pick your brand truck with a low payload sticker and claim all 1500 Rams have low payloads.

All 2016 Rams/Hemi has the 3900 rawr. Rams Body Builders guide shows the rear axle weights of 2wd vs 4wd is around 60-70 lb difference for the same truck configuration so the rear axles will have close to the same payloads.
You have the truck so scale its F/R axle loads with attention to its rear axle as its carrying all the load.

Just stay within your Rams RAWR numbers (tires/wheels/rear suspensions) and the combo will work fine for your intended use.

On a side note.
I live in the great plains. With small block V8 trucks or my Dodge/Cummins I've found high all day long head winds are worse to pull/worse fuel mpgs than anywhere in 11k+ elevation Rocky mountain passes.

Except the OPs truck DOES have a low payload. He said it himself. (But all Ram 1500s are wimpy as sht for payload, springs, axle rating….).
He will be hard pressed to not bust out of the Sorry RAWR that Ram 1500s have. However it’s the same axle that’s been used for maybe ? 50 years now. Why? Because they are tough and dependable. Not unlike most half ton axles.
While he will be over the rawr almost guaranteed, it won’t be egregious and it is not something I’d worry aboot. Not for light duty weekend warrior use anyway.

[JIMNLIN]

This is why I did them. Plain and simple I have 115k HARD miles and my suspension was worn out and now Ill have less sag allowing better front end dynamics when towing and hauling. Nothing more nothing less.

Good mods to help with carrying a load.
Don't get into a back and forth with any rv forums 1/2 ton weight cops on your Ram 1500 capabilities. Many seem to lump all 1/2 ton trucks in the same weight spec pile...or cherry pick your brand truck with a low payload sticker and claim all 1500 Rams have low payloads.

All 2016 Rams/Hemi has the 3900 rawr. Rams Body Builders guide shows the rear axle weights of 2wd vs 4wd is around 60-70 lb difference for the same truck configuration so the rear axles will have close to the same payloads.
You have the truck so scale its F/R axle loads with attention to its rear axle as its carrying all the load.

Just stay within your Rams RAWR numbers (tires/wheels/rear suspensions) and the combo will work fine for your intended use.

On a side note.
I live in the great plains. With small block V8 trucks or my Dodge/Cummins I've found high all day long head winds are worse to pull/worse fuel mpgs than anywhere in 11k+ elevation Rocky mountain passes.

[Grit_dog]

Now isn’t a good time to flat out buy something you don’t need, if not able to realize the value of something you already own, to offset the high cost with high return.
IE upgrading significantly will cost disproportionately more.
But has little to do with cost if one doesn’t have to buy “new” or significantly upgrade.

The whining about vehicles prices is warranted iMO but using it as an excuse is just lame.
You get more for your existing vehicle just like you pay more for a different one…..

But if you are selling a half ton, hurry up, they are leveling out and values aren’t as inflated as they have been. Easy to see new vehicle prices dropping on 1/2 tons but not on HDs yet.

[bikendan]

mdson, is there a reason you haven't posted your actual door sticker payload capacity?
I'm in the same place as you. The DW wants a particular TT to replace our current TT. I'm up against similar numbers and have a F150 Ecoboost with Max Tow package.
It's 29ft long but is about 2000lbs heavier than the 25ft TT we have.
I'd like to upgrade to a 3/4 ton but now isn't a good time for that.

[APT]

Do not recommend.

I can show math that shows that you will probably exceed rear axle rating, GVWR, and maybe receiver rating. 7200 pounds dry, 8500 pounds loaded 1100 pounds of TW, family onboard and a bed full of camping gear, etc.

I can summarize the feedback from RV.net of owners that typically tow 8500 pounds with half ton trucks - not many are comfortable at 65mph. Light steering, wandering, wind and passing wind impacts.

The modifications you have made will improve the comfort level at or above any of the ratings I mentioned above, but that is hard to quantify. So that is a risk that is difficult for any of us to uniquely confirm with your exact combo of vehicle, trailer, WHD + adjustments, loading.