Hello friends!I'm looking for purchasing my first truck and then I'd like to shop for an RV. I have no preferences at the current moment, but I'm in love with Airstreams.So, I've found the Ram truck:2019 RAM 1500 LARAMIE CREW CAB 4X4 5'7" BOX8-Speed Automatic 8HP75 Transmission5.7L V8 HEMI MDS VVT eTorque Engine-3.92 Rear Axle RatioIt has 7100 GVWR according to Ram's Towing Chart. I'm trying to match this value with GVWR requirements for Airstreams (https://www.airstream.com/blog/the-complete-airstream-towing-guide/).As I understand that I can tow only trailers that have less than 7100 GVWR in their charts? I'm I, right?I need some real-world experience with these numbers, thanks! :-)

First no that is the GVWR of the truck, the maximum weight that the truck can weigh including fuel, people, cargo, and any transferred weight from the trailer. The most important stat for towing a trailer with a half ton is payload. On that chart it's listed as a maximum of 1,720 pounds. That's what a base model work truck in that configuration can hold as far as people, stuff in the bed, and transferred weight. It's very unlikely that the actual vehicle you go to buy will actually have that maximum payload as every option added to the vehicle over the base takes away from it. You'll need to look at the yellow sticker in the driver's side door jamb to see what the actual capacity of the truck as it came from the factory is actually able to hold.Now how that number is relevant, you need to add up the weight of your family and subtract 150 pounds from that, add a few hundred pounds for stuff in the bed (very few campers are going to have less than ~200 pounds of stuff in the bed, especially with the limited storage in an airstream), add 100 pounds for the weight distribution hitch, and finally 15% of the GVWR of the trailer as likely transferred weight.IMHO do yourself a favor and if you're going to buy the truck first just go with a single rear wheel 1 ton as it will mean you can tow anything but the largest fifth wheels without worrying about it. I wish I had done that. If you're not willing to do that then I'd strongly recommend you buy or at least know exactly what trailer you plan to buy and then pick the truck based on that. I know that one of the families I follow on YouTube was completely maxed out with a family of 5, a 30' Airstream and a F250 Platinum because the diesel engine and Platinum package ate the payload down to about what the theoretical maximum cargo of the model you listed has (I believe it was a bit over 1,800 pounds).

Take it from someone who has owned 5 Airstreams. With the truck you have picked out you should buy a 25 foot Airstream. Anything bigger will make for an uncomfortable towing experience due to to much trailer for the truck. Airstreams are very nice to tow and have good manners while being towed.

afidel gives you good advice. If your heart is set on an Airstream then ...they are a heavy trailer. Check out the price difference between the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. Diesel or gas, either way, your payload numbers are what are important. Tongue/pin weights of the trailers too. The dry weight numbers they give on trailers are pretty much useless because you are going to work with real world loaded and ready for camping numbers. Don't let any salesman tell you that you can pull ANYTHING with XXXX. The numbers tell the true story.

Buy the trailer first, then match a truck to it. You also need to learn what all the weight ratings mean (and how to apply them) for a tow vehicle and a trailer.It’s all basic math and can save you from buying the wrong truck which looks like you might be considering.Payload is probably the most important for the truck.Trailer dry weight, cargo capacity, gross weight, tongue weight (as a percentage of trailer weight).Good luck.

Thank you very much guys for your advice!The yellow sticker says the towing capacity is 6280 lb.I'll deep into the numbers.

Trying to figure out what trailers I can tow | Good Sam Community

toedtoes
Explorer III
Apr 19, 2022
Grit dog wrote:
toedtoes wrote:

It is within the ratings. But if he is going to be traveling through mountains regularly, it may be too close to the max to be a comfortable drive if the OP is not an experienced tower.

It's not even close to the max tow rating. Sur OP could be uncomfortable towing that trailer. And a HD truck would make the trailer "feel" like it weighs less from a handling standpoint, but @ around 60% of the actual tow rating.

I am basing my comments on the OP's stated ratings for the truck and trailer. IF the truck's towing capacity is 6280lbs, then the OP is very close to the max.

Now, if the OP read the sticker incorrectly, or the sticker is an error, then that changes things. But I am not there to verify, so I will not make a blanket statement that the OP will be fine.

I would suggest the OP get those numbers verified before making a purchase.

Having gone back to the OP's initial post, the truck they highlighted has a towing capacity of 11,190lbs and a payload of 1700lbs, which would indeed be plenty of truck.

However, the truck ratings the OP later posted match the Crew cab, 5'7" box, 4x4, 3.6L V6 with a towing capacity of 6,280lbs.

It may be the OP is looking at a different truck than he thinks he is.

Best the OP verifies their information BEFORE buying the truck. Or they may end up with a truck that won't tow their desired trailer.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 19, 2022
Grit dog wrote:
toedtoes wrote:

It is within the ratings. But if he is going to be traveling through mountains regularly, it may be too close to the max to be a comfortable drive if the OP is not an experienced tower.

It's not even close to the max tow rating. Sur OP could be uncomfortable towing that trailer. And a HD truck would make the trailer "feel" like it weighs less from a handling standpoint, but @ around 60% of the actual tow rating.

(Well that mod edit sure left me hanging :B)

"but at around 60% of the tow rating...." if one isn't comfortable with that, I'd question their overall ability to safely tow at all.

(maybe that was a nicer way to put it?)
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Apr 19, 2022
uses1823 wrote:
Alter watching lots of videos online, I'm curious, why truck's towing capacity is just 6,280 while it's a 5"7' short bed, 5.7L V-8, A8 HEMI 8HP75 with 3.92 axle ratio?

The 2019 Ram 1500 chart states 11,190 for the Max Trailer Weight Rating. But a dealer sticker states just 6,280...

That's probably what @Grit dog noticed on the 1st page.

Even Rams Body Builder guide show all 2019 1500 6' 4" box and 5' 7" box 4wd/2wd crew cabs quad cabs 5.7 hemi with the 3.92 rear axle all have 11300 up to 12750 lb tow ratings.
Now add the 5.7 Hemi's 395 hp/410 torque. As others have said the truck won't struggle anywhere with that small trailer.
Lots of reserve power and load capacity for the OP truck.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 19, 2022
toedtoes wrote:

It is within the ratings. But if he is going to be traveling through mountains regularly, it may be too close to the max to be a comfortable drive if the OP is not an experienced tower.

It's not even close to the max tow rating. Sur OP could be uncomfortable towing that trailer. And a HD truck would make the trailer "feel" like it weighs less from a handling standpoint, but @ around 60% of the actual tow rating.
MFL
Nomad II
Apr 19, 2022
uses1823 wrote:
Alter watching lots of videos online, I'm curious, why truck's towing capacity is just 6,280 while it's a 5"7' short bed, 5.7L V-8, A8 HEMI 8HP75 with 3.92 axle ratio?

The 2019 Ram 1500 chart states 11,190 for the Max Trailer Weight Rating. But a dealer sticker states just 6,280...

That's probably what @Grit dog noticed on the 1st page.

^Yup...6 pages now, lots of misinformation, but common sense is starting to prevail. Truck in question "5.7 Hemi V8 with 8-speed trans, and 3.92 gears". That is a powerful drivetrain! That truck also has a RAWR of 4,100.

Easily capable of towing a 6K trailer.

Jerry
Vintage465
Nomad
Apr 19, 2022
GVWR really has little to do with tow rating...though you can use the GVWR to come to a realistic payload capacity. The payload capacity of the pickup... Meaning how much weigth you can carry in the truck which includes cargo and passengers and probabley the weight of the tank of fuel(not sure on that though). In your case the tongue weight of the coach plus all the cargo and stuff in the pickup equal the payload. Then there's the GCWR(Gross Combined Weight Rating),meaning the maximum weight that the trailer and pickup can weigh.
uses1823
Explorer
Apr 19, 2022
Alter watching lots of videos online, I'm curious, why truck's towing capacity is just 6,280 while it's a 5"7' short bed, 5.7L V-8, A8 HEMI 8HP75 with 3.92 axle ratio?

The 2019 Ram 1500 chart states 11,190 for the Max Trailer Weight Rating. But a dealer sticker states just 6,280...

That's probably what @Grit dog noticed on the 1st page.
valhalla360
Navigator
Apr 18, 2022
uses1823 wrote:
Guys, I finally got all the numbers!

At I read it correctly, it has:

GVWR: 7100 LB
GAWR FRONT: 3900 LB
GAWR REAR: 4100 LB

The total payload allowed: 1447 LB
Towing capacity is 6280 LB

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8se8qrj8lcp125c/1.jpeg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/43u0en4ui8u88zp/2.jpeg?dl=0

Do these numbers allow us to calculate the compatibility of trailer and truck? The trailer for instance is Flying Cloud 23ft with the following towing requirements:

GVWR: 6000 LB
NCC: 1239 LB
UBW: 4761 LB
Hitch Weight: 654 LB

Additional payload in a truck will by 2 people (including a driver) and stuff: 260 LB + 200 LB = 400 LB.

The additional payload in the trailer is going to be about 300 LB (mostly clothes and kitchen stuff).

Much appreciated your guidance, hope to learn how those calculations are usually made.

If you keep other weight out of the truck, you are probably fine.
- 400lb passengers + 800lb hitch weight (you will likely be up around GVWR and at 12-15% hitch weight, 800lb is probably pretty close for hitch weight).
- That leaves you 200lb if you want to stay in your ratings.

It's close enough, I would consider swinging by a CAT scale to see what your real numbers are. $15-20 and you don't have to guess if the numbers you found on the doorframe or online are right.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Apr 18, 2022
MFL wrote:

The truck the OP is looking at will work, for the trailer he is considering.

Jerry

It is within the ratings. But if he is going to be traveling through mountains regularly, it may be too close to the max to be a comfortable drive if the OP is not an experienced tower.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 18, 2022
Boomerweps wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
So, do the majority of persons replying here, who are either arguing semantics or instructing how to theoretically determine what is permissible by the trucks ratings….do you guys actually know the answer or do you just like hearing yourself talk?
“An excellent missive…”. WTH kind of reply is that?
If you don’t have a relatively educated ACTUAL response for the OP, then it means you’re as clueless as him. So why not refrain and hope to gain something g from the thread rather than polluting it with arguments about how much the avg human weighs or mis interpreting the unit weight of gasoline?
Good grief…

STAND BACK!
I’ve got a large vocabulary and I’m not afraid to use it! ;)
It’s called a discussion. OP isn’t paying for answers and they get their money’s worth.
Like any other web forum, OP gets to sort through the chaff (like this post) & gets to have the final decision.
Bad day, Grit dog?

In my best Canadian voice, sooory! I appreciate your contribution as well.
And you're right, that is a good beginner's guide to the "lingo" and what it means.
My point was, not unlike many/most discussions here, which seem to get farther off track and more mis-informed than other public forums I'm on, if ya don't know, it's best to not reply.
If I read a post of someone asking how to repair a refrigerator, I don't reply, because I don't know. However it appears that many folks can't control themselves like that.
The "chaff" is what confuses the person asking for advice.

Heck, the OP can't even find the right tow rating for his truck yet. He's very likely not able to weed through the rest of the info and know what is true or false.