Towing and hauling capacity question.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Amastro46

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2016
Posts
33
Reaction score
3
Location
Wyoming
Ram Year
2013
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Hey folks, I have a question about what my truck is capable of, safely, and without damaging the components.

So I have a ram 1500 sport quad cab, 2013. I have fabricated a tube bumper and roof rack. The total for these two additions is around 350 pounds. I usually carry around 350 pounds in the bed and the rack. I have "air lift 1000" air suspension in my rear coils. I am looking to get a 300 pound motorcycle (wr250r) and a 3-4000 pound trailer. Something like an 18 foot bumper pull camper. So in total I'd say Im working with 1000-1100 pounds payload, not including myself and a probably 3500 pound dual axle trailer. Am I overloading my rig?

Thanks folks, this has been concerning me a bit. I live out here in Wyoming, and I am looking to save that summer rent money for bigger and better things!
 

Ionicbrick

Senior Member
Joined
May 29, 2015
Posts
187
Reaction score
62
Ram Year
2015
Engine
Hemi 6.4
I had a 2012 1500 big horn quad cab, and payload was why I upgraded to the 2500. The payload on my 1500 per the door sticker was 1425lbs. I would check your door sticker, but you'll likely be overloaded. Expect any trailer you get to have 10-15% tongue weight. So it total you're looking at 1450 lbs before anyone climbs in the truck.

I have a toy hauler with a tongue weight of 450 lbs without my quad, and it pushes 1000 lbs with it. I couldn't tow it with my bike on there with the 1500, but even fully loaded my 2500 handles the weight much better that the 1500 did when we camped without the bike. I'm not trying to push you towards a 2500, but my point is that even if you're close to the limit without exceeding it, you won't want to tow like that often.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Jerry1984

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2014
Posts
1,239
Reaction score
346
Location
Meridian, Idaho
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I personally would run it and see if you think it's acceptable. I'm not going to lie I've been over a few times. Make sure if you're running factory tires to have them at 44psi or close to max if they are p rated. If aftermarket tires you may need more pressure than normal. Is your truck the 8 speed? Only time I had problems with my ram was at high speeds with a 30 foot camper.
 

novelmike

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2015
Posts
788
Reaction score
319
Location
Central California
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7
I agree with Jerry1984.
Make sure your truck tires can handle it and the go from there. You could always take weight out of your truck and put it in/on the travel trailer. Get one of those 2" receiver mount cargo carriers like you normally see on a SUV and put it on the rear of your travel trailer. Or even put your dirtbike back there. Thats 300+ pounds you are now pulling instead of carrying. Your truck can carry less than 1500lbs. It can tow about 10,000lbs. Take advantage of the pulling power!
 

GsRAM

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2016
Posts
2,929
Reaction score
2,743
Ram Year
2017 Dodge Ram 2500
Engine
Hemi, 6.4L
There is some good advice in this thread so far.

- most tt rear bumpers/rear frames are not rated to carry much weight so before you put a motorcycle on there you better check with the tt OEM to be sure.

My 15 Silverado i currently own has 1704 lbs of payload. That figure comes from the yellow door jamb sticker. It typically includes a 150lb driver, so any weight you are over that must come off that number.

My payload rating is one of the reasons I'm upgrading to a 2500 series ram in the near future.
We are looking at new travel trailers in the 7500 gvwr range and about 29' long.

Even with my rig, using probably liberal figures with our current 6k gvwr tt, me, my wife, 2 boys, camping gear in the cab and truck bed, hitch weight, tongue weight, ect, I figure i have about 2-300 lbs left before I hit the 1704 lbs. This Is the main issue with 1/2 ton trucks. (Payload ) i have a 9100 lb tow rating, but likely would run out of payload way before i got any where close to that rating. I wouldn't want to pull a trailer over 8k lb with my truck anyway, but that's a story for another day.

Not a lot of margin with my current truck. It pulls strong, no problem power wise (5.3, 3.42 gears), but if i attempted that with the campers we're looking at i know I'd be at (or very close to) or over my payload limit.

A few times per year, short trips. No big deal, but i don't think it'd be an enjoyable tow.

The question for you is how much do you weigh? Anything you are over 150 comes off your limit right away. What is the number on your yellow sticker? You could attempt it and see how it goes. But remember, in an accident, lawyers will exploit everything they can and if your overloaded, they'll use it to their advantage.

With that said, with a shorter trailer, with the weights you mentioned, you may be ok. Only way to tell for sure is load it and head to a dot scale.

I personally would not put the mc on the rear of the trailer even if it can handle the weight. You need to have sufficient tongue weight or you well increase the likelihood of trailer sway and you don't want that.

Airbags will help, but they don't increase your payload rating. If you are overweight, your overweight. It's up to you if you are willing to accept the risks involved with that or not. Good luck.
 
OP
OP
A

Amastro46

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2016
Posts
33
Reaction score
3
Location
Wyoming
Ram Year
2013
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Hey all, I really appreciate the information. The good thing is I don't have a wife or kids, just a 40 pound hound dog! The specific trailer I'm looking at, the owner told me he actually puts his dirt bike inside when towing. So I could probably do the same. Additionally, the bulk of my carry weight comes from tools and gear which could be stored under the bed in the trailer. Soo it looks like I might be dropping 300 pounds of motorcycle and 300 pounds of gear and putting it in the trailer. After looking up the trailer, it only weights 2900 as well. So things are actually looking good.
I agree, the only way to know for sure is to test it out. But, by transferring haul weight into tow weight I do agree, the truck will perform much better. I think with around 500 pound payload and 4000 pound pull I'll be good to go.
 

GsRAM

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2016
Posts
2,929
Reaction score
2,743
Ram Year
2017 Dodge Ram 2500
Engine
Hemi, 6.4L
Agreed, if your loaded weight is in the 4k range and your weight, plus your dog and gear in the truck or truck bed is only 500 or so lbs you should be OK, but again, only way to know for sure is to scale the truck and trailer loaded.
 

SandyDavis

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Posts
6
Reaction score
1
Ram Year
2011
Engine
Hemi 6.1
Hey there, I know towing and hauling is a great thing to do and a lot satisfying if it is done by owner. But I think it's not that good for too much of weight and for longer distance. It's too much weight, which you are planning to haul and that too on a motorbike, there can be risks and can turn out to be problematic. I can understand that you are saving bucks for rent and different things, but it's better to spend some than landing in some difficult situation which can be more costly. You can take help from some professional experts which is safer and tension free. I have many times used the services of auto transport Bergen which is quite affordable and reliable. I recommend you to check out this and go for something relevant to it.
 

VernDiesel

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2015
Posts
440
Reaction score
676
Location
Dayton OH
Ram Year
2014
Engine
ED
Amastro you are easily good with that load.

I transport new Airstream TTs from the manufacturer to dealerships commercially often from Ohio to the west coast with my 2014 EcoDiesel. My return trips frequently have a Harley or snowmobile in the bed. So a 1,000 pounds on the tongue or in the bed & 4 to 8,000 in tow is a daily thing to me. In fact I have 254,000 miles on the truck doing it.

FWIW A no sway WDH & axle to frame air bags such as TLC, Timbergrove, or Air Lift go a long way in safely towing & carrying a sizable load. The original 20" rim Goodyears are only standard load rated but that still far exceeds axle ratings. Per the manufacturer for max load (not max psi) run them at 39 psi. That said a good load rated tire can be a solid improvement in stability & more.

The most important thing to watch is weight distribution ie not exceeding maximum axle weights on your truck (our RAMs are 3,900 each) and CVWR or total truck & trailer weight. You need a scale such as the local truck stop to know where you are at to load your truck for safest transport. Generally I have found if you can keep your front axle over 85 percent of your rear axle weight while not exceeding axle ratings you will have a truck or truck & trailer that can handle an emergency manuver reasonably well. Naturally a 50/50 weight distribution is the ideal.
 
OP
OP
A

Amastro46

Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2016
Posts
33
Reaction score
3
Location
Wyoming
Ram Year
2013
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Amastro you are easily good with that load.

I transport new Airstream TTs from the manufacturer to dealerships commercially often from Ohio to the west coast with my 2014 EcoDiesel. My return trips frequently have a Harley or snowmobile in the bed. So a 1,000 pounds on the tongue or in the bed & 4 to 8,000 in tow is a daily thing to me. In fact I have 254,000 miles on the truck doing it.

FWIW A no sway WDH & axle to frame air bags such as TLC, Timbergrove, or Air Lift go a long way in safely towing & carrying a sizable load. The original 20" rim Goodyears are only standard load rated but that still far exceeds axle ratings. Per the manufacturer for max load (not max psi) run them at 39 psi. That said a good load rated tire can be a solid improvement in stability & more.

The most important thing to watch is weight distribution ie not exceeding maximum axle weights on your truck (our RAMs are 3,900 each) and CVWR or total truck & trailer weight. You need a scale such as the local truck stop to know where you are at to load your truck for safest transport. Generally I have found if you can keep your front axle over 85 percent of your rear axle weight while not exceeding axle ratings you will have a truck or truck & trailer that can handle an emergency manuver reasonably well. Naturally a 50/50 weight distribution is the ideal.

Thanks so much for this real world, in depth response. My front bumper is a benefit in that it does put some good weight in the most forward position possible. Also, with my roof rack, I can put my gas cans and such, right between the two axles. I think I'm going to be fine too!

I am running duratrak tires right now, love em, but think my next tires will be bf Goodrich at ko2. Think they'll be sufficient?
 

VernDiesel

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2015
Posts
440
Reaction score
676
Location
Dayton OH
Ram Year
2014
Engine
ED
I suspect the BFGs will be fine. But I don't use AT tires as my truck isn't used off road.

When using my post as an example just get that the 2nd & 3rd paragraphs are required to make the first paragraph work.
 

Sandbox

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 23, 2016
Posts
337
Reaction score
156
Location
Warrenton, VA
Ram Year
2017
Engine
6.4 HEMI
Don't forget to add the tongue weight of the trailer into your payload. I don't know what the specs on your truck are but, my 2015 CC, SB 5.7 had a payload of 1450 and a towing capacity of 8k lbs. With the weights you were talking, a 10% tongue weight, people and gear, I'd been over my payload. I would transfer as much as I could to the trailer since it only weighs 2900lbs.

I use this http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/ alot. Over on the right side, there is a box labeled" Look up my Vehicle where you can enter your VIN.
 
Last edited:

mtofell

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2014
Posts
2,631
Reaction score
2,269
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 6.4
I personally would not put the mc on the rear of the trailer even if it can handle the weight. You need to have sufficient tongue weight or you well increase the likelihood of trailer sway and you don't want that.

This is worth repeating. Hanging a motorcycle off the back of the TT will likely lighten your tongue weight to a dangerous level. The whole tongue weight - payload thing is tough because you want the least tongue weight to stay within payload spec but the most to ensure for more stable towing (heavy tongue weight is among the reasons 5th wheels tow so much better than TTs for example).

Also, the standard bumpers on TTs could not come close to holding the weight of a motorcycle. I'm afraid to put a bicycle rack on mine.

As others have said you are close with what you list. Airbags are helpful and really make sure you have good tires that are inflated properly.
 

GsRAM

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2016
Posts
2,929
Reaction score
2,743
Ram Year
2017 Dodge Ram 2500
Engine
Hemi, 6.4L
This is worth repeating. Hanging a motorcycle off the back of the TT will likely lighten your tongue weight to a dangerous level. The whole tongue weight - payload thing is tough because you want the least tongue weight to stay within payload spec but the most to ensure for more stable towing (heavy tongue weight is among the reasons 5th wheels tow so much better than TTs for example).

Also, the standard bumpers on TTs could not come close to holding the weight of a motorcycle. I'm afraid to put a bicycle rack on mine.

As others have said you are close with what you list. Airbags are helpful and really make sure you have good tires that are inflated properly.

100% correct. I mentioned the TT bumper issue in my post as well. My TT has a spare tire mount on it, and I'd not want to put much more on it except a few bicycles or so and I would not even want to do that. Go ahead and stand on the corner of your trailer bumper sometime and watch how much that bumper flexes and the rear frame flexes and you'll see what I mean. Most (not all) trailers are just not designed to carry much weight on the rear of the frame and bumper. Add to that the bouncing and jauncing that goes on when your going down the road with the weight of even a dirtbike back there and I could envision bad things happening.

Again, just my .02
 
Top