Towing with RAM 1500

[jsmith_15]

I have a 2016 RAM 1500 v8 5.7 8hp70 transmission Crew cab with a max pay load of 1520/GVWR 6900. It has a max towing weight of 8040lbs and GCWR is 13,800. The trailer I am interested in has a dry weight of 5385, dry hitch weight of 619 and GVWR is 7619lbs. My rear axle ratio is only 3.21. I would be traveling with tanks empty (unless filling is better for stabilization) through fairly flat areas, no steep hills. I need advice on whether this is too much trailer for this vehicle. I have no experience towing...just sold my Class C yesterday. I'm getting mixed signals on whether this is something I can tow.

[ata3001]

That 3:21 rear gear is the real enemy here. Just take your time & don't try to win any races & you'll be just fine. I had the same basic setup as you only I had the 3:92 rear gear & it did great. Make sure you are always using TOW/HAUL mode when towing, even at highway speeds to minimize transmission shifting up & down which causes heat buildup in it.

[TurnThePage]

Thanks for the input, TxTwoSome. I've been leaning toward those too. Was also considering their 1211s.

[TxTwoSome]

You might try a set of these also I installed these on my 2014 Crew Cab 5.7 Hemi.

They made quite a bit of difference on rear end sag and the ride is not any different then it was stock.

Tuff Springs

[ronharmless]

Yup weighing the truck first loaded as if to go camping is an plus.

[TomG2]

Math is great but scales are better. It is easy to overlook the weight of toolboxes, extra water, generator, gas can, topper, coolers, hitch, accessories, etc. It may shock you to find out how little you have left. Or maybe I am the only one who thinks they need all that stuff?

[ronharmless]

A trailer with a 5400 lbs dry weight will be about 6900 lbs loaded and ready to go. That puts the tongue weight at somewhere around 825 lbs. So if you subtract the 825 from the 1351 "payload" number you stated earlier, that leaves you with about 525 lbs for you, the wife, the kids, the dog, the hitch, and anything else you "load" in the truck to take with you. That's how the "payload - not to exceed" math works.

[cpaharley2008]

BTW, I also recommend air bags for the rear spring set up to keep the truck level.

[cpaharley2008]

That is the weakness in these Rams, they will pull a lot but carry little. My 2014 Ram Sport is almost identical to your, 3:21 rear/8 speed auto/hemi/#1350 capacity. I tow a 4300# fiberglass 21' trailer about 8,000/miles a year and average 13-14 mpg in tow mode. My 2009 Ram with 5 speed and same trailer only averaged 12 mpg. My tongue weight is 500#. Check your t/w capacity, you may have to use a w/d set up to transfer some weight off your to your front.

[Hunterred]

your hitch weight will likely be in the 750-900 lb range. If you have a box cover or running boards, spray in bed liner, that kind of stuff, it all takes away from your 1350. you will be right at the limit but I had a 2012 Ram and it handled our trailers well, we were over weight on both however.

[TomG2]

Just saying, I was shocked when the scales showed that my F-150 only had about 600 pounds of payload left when I was packed and ready to hitch up. I "Figured" that I had close to 1,000 available.

[rctoyguy]

Sounds similar to me - 2015 Ram 1500 4x4 CC with the 5.7 and 8 speed. I don't remember the dry weight of my TT, but it's max wt is 6900. Before I bought it, I tracked down my trucks max tow to be 8000-8400 depending on what chart (from Dodge) that I looked at.
I've pulled about 1000 miles so far total on 3 different trips.
I have plenty of muscle to pull, and stopping with the trailer brake is very comfortable. I actually can tell very little if any difference in stopping from unloaded.
I am a little concerned about how much it squats the rear of my truck - enough concerned that I plan to measure wheel wells loaded/unloaded and look at readjusting the WD hitch (it was installed/setup at the camper dealer, and I'm questioning if it's done correctly). It's an EAZ-Lift hitch and sway control. It also wiggles me around quite a bit - not enough to be scary, but enough that I certainly can't relax while pulling.
Honestly, if I had it to do again, I'd go with a lighter trailer or with more truck - even if it were a higher rated 1/2 ton. I've learned the Rams are low capacity for whatever reason - coil spring rear instead of leaf springs? I don't know.
Nutshell - I think you'd be fine - it's more about your comfort level. I actually came to the forum this morning to post the question about what makes a 2500 handle it better than a 1500 - outside of just HP/Torque, is it just a matter of a heavier truck feeling more planted than a light one? But that's another post...

[jsmith_15]

I estimated with gear, I would be adding at least 600 lbs to the trailer, putting it at around 6000 lbs. Hitch weight at .10 or more runs 600+. We have a family of 4, combined weight as of now around 450 lbs. That alone puts us in the 1100+ range. I probably would not carry much more than a cooler and a little bit of wood in the bed.

[TomG2]

Lots of comments and guesses, but some actual scale weights would give you some actual information. 1,351 pounds is not much payload and with what I carry in the cab and bed of my pickup, I would not be able to tow much trailer with your pickup. Twelve bucks at the scales will give you some real information.

[1ofmany]

By the numbers, you look good...was not able to see if you have a tow package on your truck...if not, you might want to consider adding some additional coolers for your engine and transmission...if that is possible??? Good luck with whatever TT you end up towing!