Rickj514
Junior Member
Hi All,
We have a nicely optioned 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Laramie (Gen 5) that we bought used about a year ago. We use the truck as our daily driver as my wife has a tiny BMW Z4 which is useless for anything except looking cool. We occasionally also use the truck as a tow vehicle for our travel trailer. We're very happy with the truck with one exception - the payload capacity. Here are the relevant stats:
RAM1500
- 5.7 Hemi (no e-torque)
- Off-road with all the options (1" lift, decent control, skid plates, e-locker, etc.)
- 7100 lb GVWR
- 1278 lb payload capacity
- 3.92 gearing
- 33 gallon tank
- 17,000 lb GCVW
TRAVEL TRAILER (Bumper-Pull)
- Forest River Flagstaff Microlight 25FBLS
- Exterior length: 25'11" (hitch to bumper)
- "Stated" hitch weight: 714 lbs (actual 800 - 850 lbs)
- Empty weight (UVW): 5368 lbs (actual probably 5800 lbs)
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH
- Reese Steadi-Flex with anti-sway
- Max hitch weight: 1200 lbs
- Spring bars: 1000 - 1200 lbs
- Total weight: 93 lbs
As you can see, with an average tongue weight of 800 lbs, me (210 lbs), my wife (125 lbs), our dog (30 lbs, etc. we're running at the upper limits of the truck with some gear in the bed. The trailer also has a large storage section near the front (the "basement"), which encourages front-loading of the trailer. We load the generator, tools, and other heavy gear in the read bathroom to take some weight off the front and plan to eventually install a receiver with a storage box behind bumper to bring the hitch weight to about 725 lbs / 12.5% of trailer weight.
THE TRUCK SITS A LITTLE LOW IN THE REAR WHEN EVERYTHING IS LOADED, even though we have a properly set up and capable WDH. Perhaps 3" lower than I would like and about 1.5" lower than the front. (Reversing the shank and going up one hole makes it too high.) Even so, the truck handles great and this is not the basis of my questions.
Now, for the questions...
I would like to optimize the truck and get it as level as possible for optimal handling, mainly when towing. I have been contemplating installing air bags in the rear and a leveling kit in the front. The leveling kit in the front would be secondary and to bring the front up to the same height as the rear when not towing. When towing, the air bags should allow me to set the rear as required to keep the truck level.
Does that sound like the best approach, or would replacing the rear coil springs be a better option? Would I need to do both? I know the off-road package includes stiffer shocks, but I think the springs are the standard variety. I'm not interested in lifting the truck much beyond the 1.5" lift it already has.
OK, I recognize that a 2500 would have been mode ideal for payload capacity and towing, but we had other valid reasons for going with the 1500. Just trying to make the best of what we have.
Thanks in advance,
Rick
We have a nicely optioned 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Laramie (Gen 5) that we bought used about a year ago. We use the truck as our daily driver as my wife has a tiny BMW Z4 which is useless for anything except looking cool. We occasionally also use the truck as a tow vehicle for our travel trailer. We're very happy with the truck with one exception - the payload capacity. Here are the relevant stats:
RAM1500
- 5.7 Hemi (no e-torque)
- Off-road with all the options (1" lift, decent control, skid plates, e-locker, etc.)
- 7100 lb GVWR
- 1278 lb payload capacity
- 3.92 gearing
- 33 gallon tank
- 17,000 lb GCVW
TRAVEL TRAILER (Bumper-Pull)
- Forest River Flagstaff Microlight 25FBLS
- Exterior length: 25'11" (hitch to bumper)
- "Stated" hitch weight: 714 lbs (actual 800 - 850 lbs)
- Empty weight (UVW): 5368 lbs (actual probably 5800 lbs)
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION HITCH
- Reese Steadi-Flex with anti-sway
- Max hitch weight: 1200 lbs
- Spring bars: 1000 - 1200 lbs
- Total weight: 93 lbs
As you can see, with an average tongue weight of 800 lbs, me (210 lbs), my wife (125 lbs), our dog (30 lbs, etc. we're running at the upper limits of the truck with some gear in the bed. The trailer also has a large storage section near the front (the "basement"), which encourages front-loading of the trailer. We load the generator, tools, and other heavy gear in the read bathroom to take some weight off the front and plan to eventually install a receiver with a storage box behind bumper to bring the hitch weight to about 725 lbs / 12.5% of trailer weight.
THE TRUCK SITS A LITTLE LOW IN THE REAR WHEN EVERYTHING IS LOADED, even though we have a properly set up and capable WDH. Perhaps 3" lower than I would like and about 1.5" lower than the front. (Reversing the shank and going up one hole makes it too high.) Even so, the truck handles great and this is not the basis of my questions.
Now, for the questions...
I would like to optimize the truck and get it as level as possible for optimal handling, mainly when towing. I have been contemplating installing air bags in the rear and a leveling kit in the front. The leveling kit in the front would be secondary and to bring the front up to the same height as the rear when not towing. When towing, the air bags should allow me to set the rear as required to keep the truck level.
Does that sound like the best approach, or would replacing the rear coil springs be a better option? Would I need to do both? I know the off-road package includes stiffer shocks, but I think the springs are the standard variety. I'm not interested in lifting the truck much beyond the 1.5" lift it already has.
OK, I recognize that a 2500 would have been mode ideal for payload capacity and towing, but we had other valid reasons for going with the 1500. Just trying to make the best of what we have.
Thanks in advance,
Rick
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