Towing a travel trailer

Grey dodge · Oct 30, 2016

Well I bought a 28 foot travel trailer to travel in.
Well let me tell you my truck struggle witch I was surprised at plus I hate having 321 gears.
Trailer weighs 6000 pounds so I know it can handle it but wow what a pain. Guess I need more practice.

BlkZrx · Oct 30, 2016

Have you actually weighed your rig? Nice trailer, by the way..

A lot of times the actual loaded up trailer far exceeds the sticker weight. Mine read 6880 and was closer to 8000!

drittal · Oct 30, 2016

Yeah, we need a lot more info. What trailer? What are your truck specs? What hitch are you using?

Looks like a reg. Cab short box. Short wheelbase + trailer sway = scary.

I'm guessing at 28', 6,000 lbs is empty MFR rating. Max around 8k?

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Bigdaddy · Oct 30, 2016

More truck is going to be a plus now but like some one said nice TT.

BTW: I have a crook in my neck for looking at those pics. :Big Laugh:

mtofell · Oct 30, 2016

Short wheel base truck, less than ideal gearing to tow with, 28 foot trailer. Eeesh. Do you want me to tell you what you want to hear or the truth?

That's too much trailer for your truck. I'm going to guess that 6000# is a dry weight for the TT which means it's probably at 7000# as it sits. I wish I had better advice but it is what it is.

Take a picture of the door jamb sticker on your truck and TT yellow sticker (right side up preferred

) and lets see what we can do to help out.

smurfs_of_war · Oct 30, 2016

yeah, that's a lot for a SWB 3.21 geared truck BUT, you can likely make it passable if you A) get a good, and mean really good, WDH with antisway. I like the BlueOx, Reese makes a great one as well. B) Understand the limits of the 3.21 and drive them. If you know it's going to start down shifting on hills, then be proactive and use the manual shift feature to hit the hill in the correct gear rather than waiting for it to lose enough momentum to warrant a downshift C) shore up that rear end a bit with some bags. That makes a huge difference with handling and control and that "bouncy" feeling.

Honestly, the 3.21s shouldn't be offered, but it is what it is. Guys use them all the time. That is a lot of box to be behind that truck though- are you sure you're within your allowable GCWR or tow rating? That is the performance counter as far as pulling power. You're going to hate windy days.

Good luck in your travels!

bryan28 · Oct 30, 2016

"3.21s shouldn't be offered". That is the most asinine statement I've heard in a long time. Plenty of people tow without issue using 3.21s. You just have to understand and stay within their capabilities. I've read where plenty of people say the 3.21 with 8 speed is equal to or better than the 6 speed 3.92 combo.

smurfs_of_war · Oct 30, 2016

Pretty much stopped reading right after "shouldn't be offered" huh? The next part where it says "guys use them all the time". I also stated exactly what you reiterated in my first paragraph. Know the limitations and drive accordingly.

I think they shouldn't be, but it's not my call. Nothing asinine about that opinion.

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reek · Oct 30, 2016

add me to the asinine group. depending on how you use your truck, 3.21 has no place in a truck 6 or 8 speed. It's great for a grocery getter.

OP, RAM website puts a reg cab, 6'4" box 5.7 with 3.21 gears max towing around 8,600. I'd have to guess you are pretty much at that mark. I think you need more truck.

drittal · Oct 30, 2016

Going through his posts, it's a 2013 Express 2wd 3.21 gears.

7200 lb towing.

Then going off his description and pictures of the trailer and matching entry doors and slide placement I'd say it's a Cougar XLITE 28RLS

6150 empty
8,000 GVWR.

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BossHogg · Oct 31, 2016

smurfs_of_war said:
Honestly, the 3.21s shouldn't be offered,

reek said:
add me to the asinine group. depending on how you use your truck, 3.21 has no place in a truck 6 or 8 speed. It's great for a grocery getter.

3:21s are fine, you need to look at the entire driveline before you pass judgement. The 3:21s coupled with the eight speed transmission are more tow capable than the six speed with 3:92s. The eight speed transmission has lower gearing in its first five gears as compared to the six speed compensating for the higher axle ratio. You are getting the best of both worlds, towing and better MPGs for grocery getting.

crash68 · Oct 31, 2016

The rear axle gearing is "load" that the transmission and engine see. The lower the axle has a greater torque multiplication factor, think of it as a "longer bar" for the engine/transmission to pull the truck down the road with.
For the argument that the transmission will shift into a lower gear, for a trailer being pulled with 3.92 and the transmission toggling back and forth from 5 through 7, now for the 3.21 to "make up" for the rear end has to run at least 2 gears down to match the final drive ratio of the 3.92 axle truck.
The SAE J2807 is the testing to determine towing and hauling capacities for vehicles. It includes being able to start, stop, acceleration, maneuvering and control of the load in a safe and timely manner. This testing is on everything from flat roads to grades upwards of 12% with no overheating or vehicle malfunctions and the vehicle AC tuning full MAX cooling.

mtofell · Oct 31, 2016

crash68 said:
The lower the axle has a greater torque multiplication factor, think of it as a "longer bar" for the engine/transmission to pull the truck down the road with.

I'm confused - isn't it the other way around? The higher the axle gearing number the greater the torque multiplier?

Sandbox · Oct 31, 2016

mtofell said:
I'm confused - isn't it the other way around? The higher the axle gearing number the greater the torque multiplier?

Higher number equals lower gear ratio.

RamItEco · Oct 31, 2016

Nice trailer. I have a 2x4 Laramie Longhorn and want to get a travel trailer but about 20' and less.

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Grey dodge · Oct 31, 2016

drittal said:
Going through his posts, it's a 2013 Express 2wd 3.21 gears.

7200 lb towing.

Then going off his description and pictures of the trailer and matching entry doors and slide placement I'd say it's a Cougar XLITE 28RLS

6150 empty
8,000 GVWR.

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You nailed it that's all correct. I might just trade it for quad cab and 4 wd. When I bought the truck I was not planning on towing much. I guess plans changed.

Grey dodge · Oct 31, 2016

BlkZrx said:
Have you actually weighed your rig? Nice trailer, by the way..

A lot of times the actual loaded up trailer far exceeds the sticker weight. Mine read 6880 and was closer to 8000!

No I have not. But I will it was real windy that day and I did not adjust my sway bar.

Grey dodge · Oct 31, 2016

Bigdaddy said:
More truck is going to be a plus now but like some one said nice TT.

BTW: I have a crook in my neck for looking at those pics.

Yea that's what I am thinking more truck. Thanks. Yea sorry about the picks got in a hurry to take them and had the phone wrong

Grey dodge · Oct 31, 2016

mtofell said:
Short wheel base truck, less than ideal gearing to tow with, 28 foot trailer. Eeesh. Do you want me to tell you what you want to hear or the truth?

That's too much trailer for your truck. I'm going to guess that 6000# is a dry weight for the TT which means it's probably at 7000# as it sits. I wish I had better advice but it is what it is.

Take a picture of the door jamb sticker on your truck and TT yellow sticker (right side up preferred ) and lets see what we can do to help out.

I want the truth man. Do I need a bigger truck or should I add 392 gears and lift it? Ok I take a pic.

Grey dodge · Oct 31, 2016

bryan28 said:
"3.21s shouldn't be offered". That is the most asinine statement I've heard in a long time. Plenty of people tow without issue using 3.21s. You just have to understand and stay within their capabilities. I've read where plenty of people say the 3.21 with 8 speed is equal to or better than the 6 speed 3.92 combo.

Yea I hate I have a 6 speed and 321 gears: at the time I thought all 2013 rams had the 8 speed.

Towing a travel trailer

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