Switching to 2500 from 1500

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tbaker65

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outcomes could be [...]premature death to me and my family.
We're splitting hairs and getting a little dramatic here aren't we...?

My truck's sticker says the combined weight of passengers and cargo should not exceed 1542 lbs.
I weigh about 175.
Camper tongue weight 385.
Thousand pounds of bricks weigh 1000

1542 - (175+385+1000) = -18 lbs. So yes, I'd be "over" - I'll skip lunch that day and toss out 4 or 5 bricks so you and your family don't die, and toss out another couple of bricks so I can pick up some groceries while I'm at it.

Now you really didn't think I was actually planning on hauling my camper around while I go grocery shopping and then stopping to pick up a 1/2 ton of bricks along the way did you?

Now if you really want to get technical and split some hairs, I can hook up a big trailer, put the camper on that, toss 2,000 pounds of bricks on it, and STILL be able to stop and grab 1,000 pounds of groceries and throw them on the trailer also... Am I going to do that? Probably not but I'll get pics if I ever do...

Anyhow, my point was the 1500 is much more than a "grocery getter" that can tow a little and I think I've illustrated that.

there's no doubt the 1500 has the power to do what you describe. but I assure you, it was not designed to haul 1000 lbs of bricks while towing a camper. the bricks alone probably puts you over the load limit for a 1500

The bricks alone DO NOT put me over the load limit of my 1500.

You say the 1500 is "capable" but was not designed for such... Well, again, we're getting into a matter of semantics here with "capable" vs. "designed for", but I'm confident that when Ram engineered and manufactured this machine and they set the load and towing limits, I could argue it was "designed" for just that - within its limits. And if I ever felt the need to tow my camper to the grocery store and then pick up 970 pounds or so of bricks on the way home, It wouldn't scare me to do so.
 

spoon059

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If you are like me, and need to get groceries, pick up some bricks, carry some tools/materials/cargo (I do some small side jobs), tow a 4,000 lb (loaded) camper or a boat occasionally, and still get good mpg, etc. - the 1500 will do you fine. I love my 1500 and don't see myself needing anything more (for now anyway).

Enjoy either way.

Cheers to your Rams!
Exactly, you actually might have TOO MUCH truck for your needs. Yes a 2500 is a stronger tow rig than the 1500, but a class 8 OTR tractor is a better tow rig than my 2500. You don't need a sledgehammer to drive a 10p nail, and you don't need a 3/4 ton truck to drive a 4000 lbs camper.

All these "grocery getter" talk is internet bravado, in place of an actual ***** measuring contest. I had a half ton, it was a great tool for my needs at the time. I have a much larger and heavier trailer now, so I have a larger and heavier truck as well. Every truck has a place. You picked the right one for your current place in life.
 

reek

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We're splitting hairs and getting a little dramatic here aren't we...?

My truck's sticker says the combined weight of passengers and cargo should not exceed 1542 lbs.
I weigh about 175.
Camper tongue weight 385.
Thousand pounds of bricks weigh 1000

1542 - (175+385+1000) = -18 lbs. So yes, I'd be "over" - I'll skip lunch that day and toss out 4 or 5 bricks so you and your family don't die, and toss out another couple of bricks so I can pick up some groceries while I'm at it.

Now you really didn't think I was actually planning on hauling my camper around while I go grocery shopping and then stopping to pick up a 1/2 ton of bricks along the way did you?

Now if you really want to get technical and split some hairs, I can hook up a big trailer, put the camper on that, toss 2,000 pounds of bricks on it, and STILL be able to stop and grab 1,000 pounds of groceries and throw them on the trailer also... Am I going to do that? Probably not but I'll get pics if I ever do...

Anyhow, my point was the 1500 is much more than a "grocery getter" that can tow a little and I think I've illustrated that.



The bricks alone DO NOT put me over the load limit of my 1500.

You say the 1500 is "capable" but was not designed for such... Well, again, we're getting into a matter of semantics here with "capable" vs. "designed for", but I'm confident that when Ram engineered and manufactured this machine and they set the load and towing limits, I could argue it was "designed" for just that - within its limits. And if I ever felt the need to tow my camper to the grocery store and then pick up 970 pounds or so of bricks on the way home, It wouldn't scare me to do so.

thank you for throwing out a few bricks and skipping lunch to save my family's lives.

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." seems somewhat ironic to me, in the context of this discussion.
 

tbaker65

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thank you for throwing out a few bricks and skipping lunch to save my family's lives.

"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." seems somewhat ironic to me, in the context of this discussion.
Sorry reek, I don't mean to make light of something so serious as your family's lives but it really did come down to a few bricks or so and you were the one who called me out on it.

I assure you, the last thing I want to do is endanger yours, mine, or anyone else's family because I'm being reckless or careless...>

Which, ironically, as you mention, is exactly why I'm here in the first place. I'm NOT a towing expert. I have very little time actually towing my camper. I think I've made two trips with it last year - about 14 miles away, towing it with a Trailblazer (long story).

So, over the winter I decided I was going to get better prepared. I had an excuse to go out and purchase a new Ram 1500 (which I love), which is more than enough truck to safely tow what I have. I have a new brake controller I have to install; I already have a WDH (which I technically probably don't need); I recently purchased an anti-sway bar for my hitch in case I need it (probably won't); and I put some clip-on tow mirrors on the Ram... all of this to tow a 2800 pound (dry weight) single-axle camper. So I've got like $30k+ ******* in towing equipment trying to be as safe as possible... I think I could even argue "overkill" here, no?

I come here, a lot, and I love this forum - always great, helpful people willing to share good info, and which is why you'll see me browsing/reading the Towing & Hauling forum a lot - I want to be as prepared as I can.

The "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." which you quoted me and call me out on - that's FOR ME... to remind myself ( a John Wooden quote I stole).

I just wanted to clear that up a little for you since you've suggested a couple of times now that I'm some fool who's going to be out on the highway endangering your families...

This all started as I was defending the 1500 against being merely a "grocery-getter". Don't take it personally... I wasn't suggesting your 2500 is any less of a truck because I was defending mine. In fact I'll go "on record" for you - Your truck is better than mine. I honestly maybe wish I had a reason to own a 2500 - I'd probably love it much more than my 1500. But, I had all I could do to convince my other half I needed a new Ram 1500 capable of towing 10,000 pounds to pull a 2800 pound camper - my buddies are laughing at me now with my weight distribution hitches and such... I'd probably look silly at the campground hauling around my little camper with a beefed-up 2500. I'd have to start all over and go get a 8,000+ lb camper just to justify a 2500 - something I'm not nor can afford to do - I'm already going broke on this new set up...

Anyhow, I hope you get the idea - I'm trying not to be unsafe or unprepared out there and suggesting irony or otherwise would be inaccurate.

P.S. Before you call me on it, the 4,000 lb. weight I stated earlier was an estimated loaded weight vs. the 2,800 lbs...

Cheers to your Ram!
 

Black W900

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Sorry reek, I don't mean to make light of something so serious as your family's lives but it really did come down to a few bricks or so and you were the one who called me out on it.

I assure you, the last thing I want to do is endanger yours, mine, or anyone else's family because I'm being reckless or careless...>

Which, ironically, as you mention, is exactly why I'm here in the first place. I'm NOT a towing expert. I have very little time actually towing my camper. I think I've made two trips with it last year - about 14 miles away, towing it with a Trailblazer (long story).

So, over the winter I decided I was going to get better prepared. I had an excuse to go out and purchase a new Ram 1500 (which I love), which is more than enough truck to safely tow what I have. I have a new brake controller I have to install; I already have a WDH (which I technically probably don't need); I recently purchased an anti-sway bar for my hitch in case I need it (probably won't); and I put some clip-on tow mirrors on the Ram... all of this to tow a 2800 pound (dry weight) single-axle camper. So I've got like $30k+ ******* in towing equipment trying to be as safe as possible... I think I could even argue "overkill" here, no?

I come here, a lot, and I love this forum - always great, helpful people willing to share good info, and which is why you'll see me browsing/reading the Towing & Hauling forum a lot - I want to be as prepared as I can.

The "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." which you quoted me and call me out on - that's FOR ME... to remind myself ( a John Wooden quote I stole).

I just wanted to clear that up a little for you since you've suggested a couple of times now that I'm some fool who's going to be out on the highway endangering your families...

This all started as I was defending the 1500 against being merely a "grocery-getter". Don't take it personally... I wasn't suggesting your 2500 is any less of a truck because I was defending mine. In fact I'll go "on record" for you - Your truck is better than mine. I honestly maybe wish I had a reason to own a 2500 - I'd probably love it much more than my 1500. But, I had all I could do to convince my other half I needed a new Ram 1500 capable of towing 10,000 pounds to pull a 2800 pound camper - my buddies are laughing at me now with my weight distribution hitches and such... I'd probably look silly at the campground hauling around my little camper with a beefed-up 2500. I'd have to start all over and go get a 8,000+ lb camper just to justify a 2500 - something I'm not nor can afford to do - I'm already going broke on this new set up...

Anyhow, I hope you get the idea - I'm trying not to be unsafe or unprepared out there and suggesting irony or otherwise would be inaccurate.

P.S. Before you call me on it, the 4,000 lb. weight I stated earlier was an estimated loaded weight vs. the 2,800 lbs...

Cheers to your Ram!


I tow a 4500 pound travel trailer with my 1500, I have towed it for years with a 1500 and never had an issue.
I hate the poor ride quality of a 2500 when not towing and that alone is reason enough to stick with my 1500.

IMG_0858.JPG
 

GsRAM

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tbaker, I agree with your post except one item. your stated tow rating. I don't think you'd want 10,000 lbs behind your 1500. heck, I'd really not want that behind my 2500hd.

remeber, half ton tow ratings are artificially high. half tons typically run out of payload well before they hit the oem tow rating.

figure 12% tongue weight for a tt. that would be 1200 lbs of tongue weight at 10,000 lbs, the weight of the wdh itself, so till you put yourself and any other gear in the truck or bed, you'd be at or over your typical half ton payload limit.
I won't argue about exceeding limits, that's not for me to decide what others do.

I will only say I don't and don't recommend it for many reasons.

I'd say your pretty close with your 4k loaded trailer weight statement. your well within your ratings and will have no issues. I do think you need wdh however to keep truck and trailer level and not unloading the front axle too much. I may have mentioned that in another thread.

good luck.
 

tbaker65

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tbaker, I agree with your post except one item. your stated tow rating. I don't think you'd want 10,000 lbs behind your 1500. heck, I'd really not want that behind my 2500hd.
We'll never know... I have no intentions of going anywhere near that - ratings or not! ;)

Always good advice GS, thanks!
 

GsRAM

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We'll never know... I have no intentions of going anywhere near that - ratings or not! ;)

Always good advice GS, thanks!
sure thing, I don't know it all, but I've been camping and towing trailers for many years now. I also don't have any plans of towing that heavy. the campers we're looking at are around 30' long and 7500gvwr, so I should have good margin even at those weights, even with the truck loaded heavy for a week camping trip

most campers are a helpful, friendly bunch. that's one of the things I enjoy about it.
 
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tbaker65

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most campers are a helpful, friendly bunch. that's one of the things I enjoy about it.
Agreed. I just started getting into this type of camping a couple years back, mostly local stuff - I live near the eastern end of Lake Ontario and 25 mi. south of the St. Lawrence River, so we don't have to go too far to find some great campgrounds... lots of state parks around. One of the closest, and probably best one that we all like, is 14 miles or so from us. A lot of campers come from quite a ways away to camp there every year. I have a couple of two week bookings there already and some shorter ones planned. I also hope to branch out a bit with my new setup. Looking forward to the new season.

As you said, it seems fellow campers are always eager and will go out of their way to help you - a very friendly bunch. Must be everyone is so happy/grateful to be out enjoying the outdoors - it rubs off... :)
 

GsRAM

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sure thing, I don't know it all, but I've been camping and towing trailers for .may years now.

most campers are a helpful, friendly bunch. that's one of the things I enjoy about it.
Agreed. I just started getting into this type of camping a couple years back, mostly local stuff - I live near the eastern end of Lake Ontario and 25 mi. south of the St. Lawrence River, so we don't have to go too far to find some great campgrounds... lots of state parks around. One of the closest, and probably best one that we all like, is 14 miles or so from us. A lot of campers come from quite a ways away to camp there every year. I have a couple of two week bookings there already and some shorter ones planned. I also hope to branch out a bit with my new setup. Looking forward to the new season.

As you said, it seems fellow campers are always eager and will go out of their way to help you - a very friendly bunch. Must be everyone is so happy/grateful to be out enjoying the outdoors - it rubs off... :)

Very nice! That's great you have those state parks around. I love pa state parks best. Its more rustic, permanent sites with campers with big built on decks and such. I'm sure you'll love your new tt and make lots of memories with it. That's what It's all about. Camping is work, as is the maintenance you need to do if you want to keep your rig nice, but it's so worth it! Can't beat the family time. Forces us all to unplug and focus on each other. It's the best!
 

tbaker65

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I'm trying not to hijack this thread and turn it into a camping topic, but it seems the 2500 vs. 1500 topic has run its course for now so I guess I'm ok to give another camping response... :)
Very nice! That's great you have those state parks around.
Yeah, we're very fortunate in that department. I was just looking at the map and did a quick count, it looks like we have about 10 or so state parks all within 1/2 hour or so from us, and all are on the water - either on Lake Ontario or the St. Lawrence River. Beautiful parks, great fishing, swimming, boating, wildlife, scenery, etc., and the climate is near perfect up here during the summer near the water. So we are really in a sort of camper's delight up here - something I hope to make the best of.

Camping is work, as is the maintenance you need to do if you want to keep your rig nice, but it's so worth it! Can't beat the family time. Forces us all to unplug and focus on each other. It's the best
Agree also on both parts. Lots of work, but definitely worth it. Great times/memories with family & friends. Enjoy!
 

GsRAM

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Good deal! Hope you enjoy it and you have a good camping season.

I dont remember the other posts in this thread, however to the thread topic, nothing wrong at all going from 2500 to 1500 if you only need the capacity of a 1500. You buy the right tool for the job. I could have gotten by witha 1500, but wanted some extra safety margin so i went 2500 and love it. This is my favorite truck of all I've owned. But everyone is different.

Lots of folks out there towing my weights and more with half tons. I see nothing wrong with that either, so long as they are within all ratings.

Have a good Friday guys!
 
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