Ram 1500 with starcraft 289bhs

[samhain7]

Hi all.
Forgive me, but I have read a lot of threads and I just can't seem yo understand the formulas.
My 2012 1500 has the trailer package and the 3.92back end. It says I can yow 9500 lbs.
The trailer weights, 6300lbs empty.
Everyone I talked to including the dealer says I am fine. But reading threads here, I am not sure.
I haven't picked up the trailer yet and can still opt out of it. Can someone help me out on this one? Once again. I apologize for not being able to figure this out.

[samhain7]

Ok. So looking for suggestions on what to do to my rear end to help this along or make it safer. (The rear end on my truck that is )
I maybe able to get a new tow vehicle next year. (Dodge makes a diesel 1500 now). But I need to get the through this year as I can afford it with a new trailer.

[boosTT]

jerem0621 wrote:
1089 is what the factory rated your truck with based on the equipment in the truck.

Let's say your loaded trailer weight is 8,000 lbs. for a travel trailer you need to figure 12-15% tongue weight. Your tongue weight will probably be in the 960-1200 lb range in the real world.

This trailer needs a 3/4 ton truck or a HD Half ton truck. As equipped your ram doesn't have the payload to carry this tongue weight.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

This is great information.

I can tell you from experience (2011 ram with 1350 lbs payload)- it will tow fine, but I think its hard on the rear end. I can feel mine shutter when I am at max payload. I use a WD hitch and installed air bags. The truck sits level.

Have you added any aftermarket accessories to the truck? Bed cover, running boards, tool box, etc? These will all take away from your payload number.

Really, the trailer is too much for your truck; however, it would work for trips close to home and don't pack much in the truck.

[45Ricochet]

samhain7 wrote:

Here is my problem. It seems some think this is ok and others don't.

LOL
Nothing new for this site :B I think it's in the forum rules or something.
Roughly 3 type of owners here
A: They follow the manufactures ratings for GVWR
B: They throw the GVWR out and use GAWR, which is usually your tire ratings.
C: This group just hitches up and goes.

The one number I don't like is your payload of 1089, your going to use that up with the trailer alone.
The one suggestion I might make since you asked is upgrading your rubber to a LT tire, you might need new wheels though. Maybe with new rubber and air bags I'd try it. But then again, I'm a group A guy.
Hey good luck buddy.

[ib516]

You'll be fine.

[samhain7]

The problem is I don't think the dealer will let me tow it then decide to get out of the deal!!
I did get a 2015 289bhs. Maybe they made it lighter for 2015.

[APT]

Half ton ratings vary greatly. Tow ratings of 3500 pounds to 12000. Payloads of 700 pounds to 3000 pounds. That does not mean all half tons can tow any given half ton towable trailer.

Your truck doesn't have leaf springs. THe 2009+ Ram half tons are the lowest in the market for payload which is your problem at say 1100 pounds as equipped. The web site/brochure weight is no options, maybe the base trim level too. The door sticker is GVWR - as equipped weight assuming all fluids full.

6300 pounds dry, bunk house, family of 4, bed full ot camping gear, bikes, firewood, etc. You will be 500 pounds over GVWR, probably 300 pounds over rear axle rating.

The rear springs are very soft. The rear end sags more than competitors. I don'tr know if they are designed soft for the ride/handling, or because the rear axle is not rating to handle more.

[Community Alumni]

samhain7 wrote:
Let me ask this. If I go forward. What are the consequences? Will I destroy my truck? Is it outright dangerous?
I am confident in my driving abilities. However, when the equipment is the problem.......

Eric. It sound like you would have been around 10,000 on your Ram. You said it towed well?

We have around 8400 lbs and about 900-920 on the pin. As I mention, it's a little soft but I did not want to use a 2500 as my daily driver as I did in the past. I tow the trailer twice per year.

... Eric

[fla-gypsy]

samhain7 wrote:
Thanks for your help Jeremiah.
I am moreso curious about the what if. Understood that some people are ok with it. But is it dangerous? What are the potential consequences of me towing this. Our longest trip is about 1hr and 40 min.
Of course we all see the guy with the 9000lb 5th wheel in a standard half ton towing up the highway. I don't see many news articles on rv crashes.

I never recommend anyone exceed the ratings of their truck as the manufacturer has established them for a reason. If you do exceed the ratings for GVWR you can potentially shorten the service life of some components of which some can impact safety. You absolutely should never exceed the tire/wheel/axle ratings as these could have serious consequences. Only you can decide what to do but I always try to err on the side of safety. With a 1089 payload rating you will very likely exceed that rating. The only way to know for sure is to hook it up and have it all weighed.

[jerem0621]

You are more than welcome!

Honestly, what we are talking about is performance issues of the vehicle. As far as legality is concerned the DOT is concerned about tail lights, tires, chains, and that sort of thing. As far as safety that is dependent on you my friend.

I once saw a F450 pulling a mid sized fifth wheel. He was well under every weight on his truck...however he was weaving in and out of traffic like the Fast and the Furious... He was a hazard on the road.

You MAY run into performance issues with the truck, mostly the rear end is my major concern because of the weight bearing down on it. You will be well under the max trailer weight so the motor and the transmission will not care.

You really will not know until you pull.

Oh, don't forget towing mirrors if your truck doesn't have them. Those make towing easier.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[bguy]

Air bags will make the truck handle better. Increase air pressure in the tires to make the truck more stable. Your payload capacity is etched in stone on the door sticker. IMO a 5-5500 lb dry trailer is a better match for a Ram 1500.
My TT is 6331lb dry. I have estimated my tongue weight around 1100lb give or take 50. My truck has 1255CCC so you can see what I mean by someone getting in the truck(that's me).
It is your personal decision. Are you used to towing and know what to expect from this weight level? It will only come into play in two situations; You have an accident and get sued ( they have to prove you are over) or you have a warranty issue with the truck due to overloading.
Just about everything I see around here (this part of the world) is overloaded if it make you feel any better

[samhain7]

Thanks for your help Jeremiah.
I am moreso curious about the what if. Understood that some people are ok with it. But is it dangerous? What are the potential consequences of me towing this. Our longest trip is about 1hr and 40 min.
Of course we all see the guy with the 9000lb 5th wheel in a standard half ton towing up the highway. I don't see many news articles on rv crashes.

[jerem0621]

samhain7 wrote:
You know. Even in the one walk around video I saw on this trailer, they boast it half ton towable.

Here is my problem. It seems some think this is ok and others don't. I spent a lot of time getting a killer deal on this trailer. So is there anything I can do tot the truck to make is towable, like new leaf springs or something.

The issue is that the term "half ton" can mean a v6 base model that can pull 3500 lbs to a HD F150 that can pull 11,500 lbs with over 2500 lbs of payload. The segment is very skewed.

Others have indeed done upgrades including air bags or timbren suspension enhancements and replaced the wiggly P rated tires with LT tires. None of this will change the sticker on the door but it can increase the capability of the truck.

Like I said in my first post, some are okay with overload. Some are not.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[samhain7]

You know. Even in the one walk around video I saw on this trailer, they boast it half ton towable.

Here is my problem. It seems some think this is ok and others don't. I spent a lot of time getting a killer deal on this trailer. So is there anything I can do tot the truck to make is towable, like new leaf springs or something.

[jerem0621]

1089 is what the factory rated your truck with based on the equipment in the truck.

Let's say your loaded trailer weight is 8,000 lbs. for a travel trailer you need to figure 12-15% tongue weight. Your tongue weight will probably be in the 960-1200 lb range in the real world.

This trailer needs a 3/4 ton truck or a HD Half ton truck. As equipped your ram doesn't have the payload to carry this tongue weight.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[samhain7]

Let me ask this. If I go forward. What are the consequences? Will I destroy my truck? Is it outright dangerous?
I am confident in my driving abilities. However, when the equipment is the problem.......

Eric. It sound like you would have been around 10,000 on your Ram. You said it towed well?