Trailer length and sway

hs4816 wrote:
Looking for unbiased advice from experienced towers. Buying both a TV and TT.

Will likely be going with a RAM1500 Laramie. No plans to push the limits on payload or towing capacity, but are worried about sway relative to the trucks wheelbase and the trailer length.

I’ve seen the “rule of thumb” math formula published, but have also seen people saying it’s an arbitrary **** number.

Curious what you all feel would be a comfortable and safe maximum length for a trailer.

Thanks!

*Edited*

First of all if I were to do any travel trailer towing, I wouldn't select a 1500 Ram especially a loaded Laramie Ram. Being they have some of the lowest payload I've ever seen. Worse than many midsize trucks.

If I were going to buy a truck and travel trailer, it would be a 1/2 ton F150 or Silverado in a modest trim, not luxury, so that you have good payload. Even better would be a 3/4 ton truck for good payload. I also would upgrade to LT Tires on the 1/2 ton trucks. Preferably to a E Rated tire for stiffer sidewalls. I had BF Goodrich T/A All Terrain KO2s but they were terrible for wet roads. I'd advise against them and choose a different tire as Michelin or Bridgestone.

If I were buying a large Travel Trailer, that's heavy and very long, I'd be looking at 3/4 or 1 ton trucks for payload, tow rating and stability. Then again I don't think I'd want to tow over a 32' travel trailer. Going that long I'd start looking at 5th wheels. I have a friend who refuses to tow travel trailers because he said they tow so bad. He only will have 5th wheel campers. But 5th wheels usually require a 3/4 ton truck. A HD Payload package F150 can be optioned for smaller 5th wheel campers.

I also used a Blue Ox Sway Pro hitch system. It controlled sway excellent and better than my previous Reese Strait Line System (HP Dual Cam System). You just have to adjust so that you get enough tension on the spring bars or the sway control won't be what it should. The system is very very simple and is pretty much idiot proof as long as you get the spring bar tension that's required for sway control as I said. I used 1000 lbs bars for my previous 29' bunkhouse, the Jayco Jay Flight 26BH.