Upgrades capable of towing maximum

[Bjones1392]

OK so here is the thing. I bought my Ram 1500 Classic 6cyl 3.6 in May of last year not thinking I was going to haul anything ridiculous besides the occasional hauling or doing basic home upgrades needing drywall. Well things happened and we decided to get into food vending. We came across a smoking deal on an already equipped food trailer. We were told the trailer was 3,500 lbs and that from everything I looked up my truck was capable. When we picked it up we realized that wasn't the case. We had a friend tow it and got it weighed, and it came in at A WHOPPING 7,100LBS!!!! At this moment we are fully committed and I am wondering if there are upgrades I can do to the truck to make it possible to haul without destroying my truck. I am at a loss and am hoping someone can help. Obviously I know the best idea would be to buy another truck. That just isn't feasible. Thank you all in advance for your help.

EDIT: I have added the door sticker to help with the assistance.

 

[Spencer2499]

your truck would be able to have air bags added to it and would help significantly the engine should have much trouble just your ride height.

 

[mtofell]

What are we talking in terms of "towing?" Up mountains to put your trailer at a ski resort or a couple miles of flat ground in the city? Aside from pulling ability, payload could be an issue. Tires and rear suspension upgrades might be in order. Look on your door jamb stickers and let us know what the "max payload" says.

 

[Bjones1392]

What are we talking in terms of "towing?" Up mountains to put your trailer at a ski resort or a couple miles of flat ground in the city? Aside from pulling ability, payload could be an issue. Tires and rear suspension upgrades might be in order. Look on your door jamb stickers and let us know what the "max payload" says.

We live in N.W PA and well anywhere we want to go outside of our immediate areas is either up or down a mountain. I attached a pic but with it being night I can't seem to get the whole thing clear.

 

[chopperman1]

Bags do nothing for towing capacity, they are for leveling only. Post up a picture of your door jamb sticker with your capacities.

 

[Bjones1392]

Bags do nothing for towing capacity, they are for leveling only. Post up a picture of your door jamb sticker with your capacities.

Here you go.

 

[chopperman1]

Here you go.

can't read it, all the critical info is on the bottom side of that tag.

 

[Bjones1392]

can't read it, all the critical info is on the bottom side of that tag.

I focused on the lower portion. Hopefully that helps.

 

[jws123]

You are going to have a Hell of a time trying to pull with that 3.6 car/truck prices are rapidly dropping at the moment you may be able to find a good deal on a new truck/trade yours in soon. I tow a 38ft boat and my car trailer with my 2014 1500 5.7 You know its there but it takes it like a champ Also I do have the air bags mentioned above they do help keep things stable cost about $150

 

[nlambert182]

We need the one that shows your payload.

And I agree, bags won't add anything to your capacity. You may have enough payload with the V6 (the sticker would help determine that), but you may fall short on power.

 

[chopperman1]

Tried looking up both your equipment list and window sticker with your VIN, both failed which is odd. Quick search shows an 19 Classic 4wd Quad Cab with 3.6, towing capacity is 4480#'s. You are way over based on that.

 

[nlambert182]

Here's your build sheet.

You have a quad cab Tradesman/Express with 3.21 gearing and oddly enough a Class IV receiver hitch delete, but you have the auxiliary trans cooler.


Based on that, you "should" have somewhere around 1,710 lbs of available payload according to Rams tow chart. If the trailer weighs 7,100 lbs, then you'll see somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,100 lbs on the hitch. Your max trailer weight rating is 6,520 lbs. So while you might come in just under on payload (we still need to see the sticker), you're about 600 lbs over on the trailer weight rating. Your RAWR is 4,100 lbs. Your base RAWR is 2,138, so considering the tongue weight of the trailer you might still be ok on axle rating. (4100-2138+1100 = 3,062 lbs.)

Your biggest limiting factor is the engine and gearing. Not a great combo for towing. I would also want to see what hitch you have since it shows your Class IV was deleted from the factory. Most Class IV hitches have a max tow rating of 1,000 lbs. You could be pushing the limits of the hitch. All depends on exactly how much tongue weight sits on it.

Hate to say it, but you definitely need more truck. I would at least look at moving up to a Hemi with a better gear ratio. Maybe 3.92 or something to that effect to help get it moving. Assuming the Hemi would leave you with enough payload.

I don't think airbags are going to help at all in this scenario. They won't do anything to get it moving.

 

[crash68]

We came across a smoking deal on an already equipped food trailer. We were told the trailer was 3,500 lbs and that from everything I looked up my truck was capable. When we picked it up we realized that wasn't the case. We had a friend tow it and got it weighed, and it came in at A WHOPPING 7,100LBS!!!!

What's the GVWR of the trailer? You'll want verify the trailer isn't overweight, axle(s) overloaded and with that weight of trailer brakes on all wheels.

 

[18CrewDually]

NW PA with some hills at 8% grade, you'll kill that truck towing that. You'll be in the 3rd far right lane pussing off the truckers trying to do 30mph. Shop for atleast a capable 1500 or go right to a 2500 .

 

[2003F350]

Yeah I agree with the guys above, your truck is in over its head. You need more truck, either a V8 1500 or step up to a 3/4 ton since you're going to be doing this a LOT. If you were only doing it occasionally on a local network you might be okay, but doing it I'm guessing every weekend and travelling around, you will be hurting that truck.

FWIW, my wife has a similar truck to yours but she has the 3.55's and the Class IV hitch. Added the brake controller because we occasionally use her truck to pull our flatbed with light loads (couple golf carts, maybe a couple quads or snowmobiles, nothing heavier). Even with that light load, her little V6 KNOWS that trailer is back there - and it's not a brick like your food trailer is going to be.

I also would not advocate for adding airbags - they're a bandaid at best.

There is an older thread on here where someone picked up a V6 truck from his FIL and it had sentimental value to his wife so he couldn't get rid of it, so he went through a LOT of work and a lot of money to make it tow their small travel trailer. I believe he upgraded the springs, regeared the rear axle (was a 2WD truck IIRC), and added a supercharger to it. I think it ended up towing okay, but that's a lot of work for very little payback, a fact even the guy doing the project acknowledged.

So you CAN make your truck handle it, but it's a LOT of work and money that you would probably never get back from your new venture. You would likely come out ahead by getting a truck that is better suited to your needs.

 

[Daw14]

I would go for a 2500 ,you should have more truck to help with emergency stopping also , not just for more power.

 

[star_deceiver]

This is what 6000lbs with 900lbs tongue weight with 3.55 looks like behind a pentastar.
Since your build sheet says you only have 4400lbs of capacity behind your 3.21 you would need to spend a couple grand to upgrade your front and rear end.

A better option would be to find a $5k ok ish 3/4-1 ton and use that to tow your food trailer around. Would be a lot cheaper than taking a loss on trade in and having even more payments on a newer, thirstier truck.

 

[CanRebel]

OK so here is the thing. I bought my Ram 1500 Classic 6cyl 3.6 in May of last year not thinking I was going to haul anything ridiculous besides the occasional hauling or doing basic home upgrades needing drywall. Well things happened and we decided to get into food vending. We came across a smoking deal on an already equipped food trailer. We were told the trailer was 3,500 lbs and that from everything I looked up my truck was capable. When we picked it up we realized that wasn't the case. We had a friend tow it and got it weighed, and it came in at A WHOPPING 7,100LBS!!!! At this moment we are fully committed and I am wondering if there are upgrades I can do to the truck to make it possible to haul without destroying my truck. I am at a loss and am hoping someone can help. Obviously I know the best idea would be to buy another truck. That just isn't feasible. Thank you all in advance for your help.

EDIT: I have added the door sticker to help with the assistance.

Before you even look at different truck or anything. Take @crash68 advice and get that thing inspected.

No matter if your truck could handle it, which is can't. You need make sure that trailer is safe. You are 7100, I'll guess without food/water/propane?/etc... I'll guess at 8K or even higher with you load it up.

Without knowing more things, possible low option 4th gen 1500 could handle it. You mentioned changing trucks isn't option right now. Could look at Renting a Truck. Where I live you could get 2500 Truck for $200 for 3 days, this is in Canada.

 

[2003F350]

Before you even look at different truck or anything. Take @crash68 advice and get that thing inspected.

No matter if your truck could handle it, which is can't. You need make sure that trailer is safe. You are 7100, I'll guess without food/water/propane?/etc... I'll guess at 8K or even higher with you load it up.

Without knowing more things, possible low option 4th gen 1500 could handle it. You mentioned changing trucks isn't option right now. Could look at Renting a Truck. Where I live you could get 2500 Truck for $200 for 3 days, this is in Canada.

I don't think renting a truck would work out for them that well - sounds like this is going to be a pretty busy thing for them, and a truck isn't always available for rent every weekend or every other weekend. They need a truck they know is available whenever they need it.

 

[CanRebel]

I don't think renting a truck would work out for them that well - sounds like this is going to be a pretty busy thing for them, and a truck isn't always available for rent every weekend or every other weekend. They need a truck they know is available whenever they need it.

Could be, but it's short term option to look at.

While doing that, can look at trying to trade his current for older used 2500 or something.