All Confused......

kells81 · Jan 2, 2013

New user here but am very familiar with forums. I find them the best place to get answers so here I am. Recently Dodge purchased back my 2011 Ram 2500 4x4 due to tranny issues resulting in a second tranny biting the dust at a whopping 7,500 miles (15 months and it sat in the yard most of those while I was contracting in Afg/Iraq) never pulled or even had anything in the bed of her. Anyhow I decided that it would be my last diesel and picked up a Hemi Rig.

Now the confusion.... I purchased a Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn. Its a beautiful truck, not really a working mans rig but meh I work hard for my stuff and put my **** in the wind more than I should. This thing has the Heavy Duty tranny cooling, trailer towing package which includes 4 and 7 pin connections, the brake controller, some sort of rear diff, Class IV hitch, and lots of luxury. I went on monday and looked at a Travel Trailer and I was thinking that this little jewell had a sticker somewhere about 8500 GVWR, I picked it out and my wife went today to pay for it and sign some papers. Well they made her sign one that they were not responsible for our truck not being rated to tow the trailer. She said something about a sticker they read on the door stating it had a GVWR of 6800# and the trailer weighing in at 6500#. The Ram options for the year are 6300#, 8300#, and 9800#. Any insight into this? I am not home in person to sort it out.

Thanks in Advance

audio1der · Jan 3, 2013

Which axle ratio do you have; 3.55, or 3.92?
If towing is high on the list I hope you have the 3.92 as it sets the ar as high as it can be, for our platform/engine.
With 3.55 you're limited to about 8,500lbs towing but that includes all passengers & gear in the truck as well as trailer & gear in it (batteries, propane, STUFF)

Cthulhu · Jan 3, 2013

GCWR - Gross Combined weight rating (Max your truck can weigh, including the trailer)
GVWR - Gross Vehicle weight rating (Max your truck can weigh, without the trailer)

I don't see 6800lbs being your GCWR, thats gotta be your GVWR... which sounds about right for a 1500... The difference between your GCWR and GVWR is your max payload, including cargo and trailer.

http://www.geigercars.de/fileadmin/images/content_images/Dodge/Ram/2012_Ram_1500_Specs.pdf

Lowest Maximum TOW 2012 Rating for a 5.7 1500 QC 4x4 is 8500lbs on 3.55s
Highest Maximum TOW 2012 Rating for a 5.7 1500 CC 4x4 is 15500lbs on 3.92s

[edited] [removed] Your definately good![/removed] [new] Given the trailer weighs 8500lbs dry (?) if you have 3.55s, your way to close.. if the max GVWR of the trailer is 8500lbs, then provided you don't overload the trailer, your good.[/new]

audio1der · Jan 3, 2013

Or use this link, and substitute your own VIN in at the end instead of the one used.
http://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C6RD7MT7CS319484
It even worked for my Canadian truck, which most other "build sheet" links do not.

kells81 · Jan 3, 2013

Going through that it list my truck at 8300#, the trailer is listed at 6500# so there shouldn't be any worries I guess. I am just confused why the door sticker list it at 6800 but the VIN I just did list it at 8300

audio1der · Jan 4, 2013

That's strange; maybe the truck had been planned to be a 4.7 and then they put a Hemi in it? I've never heard of a 5.7 powered 1500 with a tow rating of less than 8500lbs.
Anyway, weigh that trailer yourself once you get it set up, so you KNOW what you're dealing with. The tongue weight (and overall) will jump as the mfr spec don't include anything above the bare bones as it was shipped to the dealer.

Let's see some pics of the trailer once you pick'er up!!

whatroads · Jan 5, 2013

Crhulhu correctly points out the differences between GVWR and GCWR. This is the source of the issue.

I too have a 2011 QC 1500 4x4 w/ 3.92 and the heavy duty tow package. On the inside of my door pillar it states a GVWR of 6700 lbs. This is a total loaded vehicle weight and not what it is rated for safe towing

My maximum GCWR is in the neighborhood of 10,400 lbs, (I believe the 2wd is slightly more). This said, I have a general rule where I do not attempt to tow any more than 2000 lbs less than the rated GCWR. In my case, no more than 8,400 lbs.

I do tow a 31 ft travel trailer in the 7000+ loaded range with out problems. I use a 10,000 lb weight distribution hitch. The hitch is purposefully rated larger than I require for safety reasons. I have not found a need for addition of air bags. The back end does squat some under load. I do not find the squat objectionable or problematic for my use. You may decide otherwise

usmfan789 · Jan 5, 2013

audio1der said:
Or use this link, and substitute your own VIN in at the end instead of the one used.
http://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C6RD7MT7CS319484
It even worked for my Canadian truck, which most other "build sheet" links do not.

Tried the link said there isnt a window sticker for my truck not sure why that is

Cthulhu · Jan 5, 2013

Same issue here.

All Confused......

kells81

Junior Member

audio1der

Senior Member

Cthulhu

Senior Member

audio1der

Senior Member

kells81

Junior Member

audio1der

Senior Member

whatroads

Member

usmfan789

Member

Cthulhu

Senior Member

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