Is 8500# comfortable?

[Honey5644]

Just purchased a 1500 Hemi 5.7L 3.92 rear axle with the intent to pull a camper. Went to the RV show today and are about to sign for one and dad is telling me it's too much weight. Unloaded vehicle weight is 6968. Cargo capacity is 1466. We camp 3-4 times a year, but usually take one big trip. Yellowstone, Niagra Falls, Branson Etc. Are we stupid to pull this weight even though the truck is rated for 10,100? Dad says the truck can pull it but we'll be on the ground with the weight or maxing it out. Help! What are your tried and true experiences?

 

[mtofell]

Payload is a much more important number than the max towing. Check that and post it and we can give much better advice. You'll likely be close to maxed out - a lot depends on how much weight you put in the truck. 8500# = roughly 1000# tongue weight (this tongue weight counts against payload). Then, how many people and how much gear in the truck and bed? (this is all payload as well). As a rough estimate I'd say payload rating on that truck is 1500#. So, you burn 1000# with the trailer. Do you, wife, kids, dog, coolers, firewood and everything else that goes in the truck total over 500#? If so, you're overloaded.

 

[bcbouy]

that's probably wet weight.don't fill the water,propane,fridge and stuff like that till you get near your destination.if you load smart you can shave a lot of weight.i carry a lot of crap in my boat because i have a 2500 lb. boat trailer,but my boat is maybe 800 lbs.upgrade to an e rated tire first chance you get.

 

[Honey5644]

Max payload is 1340 so I'm guessing this camper is a no go. Glad we found out now. Thanks!

 

[mtofell]

Max payload is 1340

Wow - that's a low payload. The real problem is the truck is built with a certain capacity so the lowest level, least optioned truck actually has the highest payload rating because it has less things on the truck. For example, a 4X2 will have more available payload because of the saved weight of the xfer case and other things. This is the unfortunate reality that the truck manufacturers don't go out of their way to tell you. They just brag about one number that rarely, if ever, will come into play.

Ironcially, one of my buddies just bought the exact truck you have. He traded a 2500 Suburban after being drawn to the same number you posted - 10,000# tow rating. He's already got a TT that's about what you were asking about. I'm dreading asking him what the payload is but you've given me a glimpse. I can't believe he went out and bought a truck without consulting any of the numerous people on our group of friends who know about this stuff.

It sucks to get this info but good job seeking out the answers before it's too late.

 

[Honey5644]

https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2016_ram_1500_towing_charts.pdf

Looking at this makes me think I can tow a 8500# camper.

Guessing my payload is low because of the fancy shmancy Laramie package.

 

[RAM-pagingMN]

8500 isnt that bad, again accounting for payload and planning of what youll carry for how long. most stuff youll use to camp with can be stored in the camper, not in the bed. i think that 8500 is a sweet spot for that truck, but thats just my .02

 

[GsRAM]

Max payload is 1340 so I'm guessing this camper is a no go. Glad we found out now. Thanks!

That's a low payload for a half ton. Yes. Too much camper, with all your gear, people in the cab, hitch weight, tongue weight, you'll be overloaded

Look for campers less than 6k gvwr and 25 feet overall. Don't go by dry weights and especially don't listen to what salesmen tell you, you can tow

Half tons run out of payload way before they hit the tow rating. A trailer that's nearly 7k dry is s lot of trailer.

My current camper is 6k gvwr and 23' long and my 15 Silverado 1500 pulled it very well, but I'd not want more than 1,000 more loaded weight behind it. It's one of the reasons i upgraded to the rig i have now

 

[Markcuda]

You will be using a weight distributing hitch, put more stuff in the camper and not the truck, you WILL be fine.
Don't let all these people discourage you, yes, you are border line at the limit, but, you still have room to pull that camper.
Just be smart about it.

 

[pcschwenke]

We have a camper similar it weight. I'd say, it would not be comfortable to pull long distances. Our 1/2 ton bounced quite a bit went we towed it. Upgraded to a 3500 ;-)

 

[69GWC]

Few things you can do to help that truck pull/haul better , upgrade the rear springs to TTC springs, upgrade your tires to 10plys.
These 2 things will keep your truck handling the loads better you will get less bouce and sway and just have better control.
I will be upgrade mine to these plus better slotted and dimpled rotors and brake pads and am going to look for a heavier rear sway bar as well.

 

[NewBlackDak]

I was not comfortable towing mine with my Titan that had almost 500lbs more available payload.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[barr0208]

it will haul it fine just balance your pin weight a good example of increasing your payload is to take your spare tire about 60LBS and put it in the back of your trailer now you have 1400 lbs of payload available in the truck.

 

[THETANK]

I have never owned a trailer but if I did purchase one I would make sure I had a big enough gun for the fight.

 

[Farmer Fran]

The amount of miss information is perplexing.

 

[bcbouy]

go over to woodalls or rv.net and get some proper and real world advice.

 

[mtofell]

The amount of miss information is perplexing.

Yeah, no kidding. The only thing worse is ambiguous posts with no information.

go over to woodalls or rv.net and get some proper and real world advice.

Topics just like this go around daily on RV.net with pretty much the same results - some say go for it, some say don't. fwiw, I frequent this board as well as rv.net and the group here is far more educated and well behaved.

 

[Farmer Fran]

Payload is a much more important number than the max towing. Check that and post it and we can give much better advice. You'll likely be close to maxed out - a lot depends on how much weight you put in the truck. 8500# = roughly 1000# tongue weight (this tongue weight counts against payload). Then, how many people and how much gear in the truck and bed? (this is all payload as well). As a rough estimate I'd say payload rating on that truck is 1500#. So, you burn 1000# with the trailer. Do you, wife, kids, dog, coolers, firewood and everything else that goes in the truck total over 500#? If so, you're overloaded.

Yeah, no kidding. The only thing worse is ambiguous posts with no information.

ambiguous is better than mis information.

 

[Farmer Fran]

My setup. I have since bought a new truck but they have the same basic towing capacities as one another. The blue truck is an Express 1500, I now own a Laramie 1500.

This setup is fine and legal. Specs...

2017 Ram 1500 3.92 with factory brake controller
2013 Dutchmen Denali 289RK

 

[Farmer Fran]

My advise and then I will leave it to the experts, set the brake gain properly.