You have pretty much the same truck as me…I have the 1500 SPORT with the 5.7HEMI and 3.21 gears with a payload of 1448lbs.
I tow an Imagine 23LDE, 28 feet over all (don’t forget about that A frame at the hitch adding to length), with a GVWR of 6995lbs.
I use a Husky CenterlineTS weight distribution hitch with the 600-800 pound bars.
Now, before I continue, I want clarify what I mean by ‘trailer ready to travel’ in what I’ll describe below: my trailer set for ‘travelling’ is fully loaded for camping (camping stuff like hoses, chairs, tools, food, etc), empty gray and black tanks, and about 10 gallons of potable water to use if we stop at rest areas, picnic areas, etc.
I dialed in my weight distribution hitch at a CAT scale with the trailer in the above mentioned travelling mode. The truck only has me, my wife, and ‘junk in the trunk’ (a GMG TREK BBQ, camping chairs, my blocks for stabilizing the trailer, wood pellets) and of course 26 gallons of fuel.
I’ll attach my CAT scale weights. The truck squats about 2 inches which is more than fine.
Just as a disclaimer, the first CAT weight is my truck completely empty except me and a full tank of fuel. Comes in at 5860lbs which is a lower payload than sticker as I have running boards and a tonneau cover that adds to the payload. The key here is my unloaded steer axle weight. I want it as close to that as possible when I dial in the hitch.
Second CAT scale image is truck/trailer loaded for travel with no weight distribution hooked up. As you can see, the trailer and junk in the trunk took 100lbs off the steer axle, and the rear axle is 3540lbs, we’ll within the 4100lbs.
Third CAT scale image is with the hitch dialed in. Steer axle is back to unloaded weight (added back that 100lbs) and the rear axle is now at 3400lbs.
Another disclaimer, I did not do the third weigh with the truck full of junk as there was two trucks waiting for weighing, so I’m not 100% sure of the trailer tongue weight, but I'm guesstimating it should be in the 800-900 pound range or so. The trailer weight, using that guesstimate, is about 6600-6700lbs at travel weight. I’ll have to take a day to get out to the scale with the truck loaded for camping to get it’s loaded weight to get a better picture of TW.
All in all, the truck tows pretty well. It’s a 1500, so you’ll feel the breeze pushing the rig around if it blows. I haven’t had to much issues with trucks passing me…the hitch is rock solid with stopping sway…very impressed with it.
A few pointers:
Fill up your rear tires - I have the 22inch rims with Michelin Defenders with the XL rating. I set mine to the max 50PSI. The truck will feel ‘squishy/wobbly’ at factory inflation. Ask me how I know! (I forgot that step once on a trip…oops). The front ones I leave at factory or add a few extra pounds for sidewall stability, but not much, since there is no extra weight added to the steer axle.
Take it slow…I do no more than 65mph. First, the rigs feels better…second, that HEMI loves to drink, so the slower the better!!
I don’t have tow mirrors, but I use K-source Snap and Zap KS80730 extensions. They fit nice and work adequately for my towing needs. Like you, my truck is my daily driver, and I don’t care for RAMs moose antler tow mirrors…they look horrible IMO. Guys around here drive with them up…they all look like a bunch of Bulwinkles (look it up if you don’t know who Bulwinkle is…I jest, but they ARE fugly). LOL!
Last, but not least, take your time. Go out and learn to drive your rig. And most of all, have fun making memories!
EDIT: sorry, forgot to mention, it tows FINE with 3.21 gears. I’m in 6th most of the time. It may not have the get up and go of the 3.92 gears, but I’m towing a 7000lbs trailer. I’m in no rush. Hills have not been an issue at all. I can keep up with my buddy who has a 7000 pound trailer and a 3.92 RAM. He can get about a half rig ahead of me from a stop…about 25 feet. Whoopty doo! Lol! Once you get into 3rd gear, the truck ratios are pretty evenly matched.
