Rear Coil Springs and Towing

[Fake-Account27]

I am going to pull the trigger soon on a 2016-2018 Ram 2500 Diesel specifically to tow a 10k GVWR 35 ft travel trailer.

When talking with the dealer he recommended a Silverado or F250 specifically because of the rear coil springs in the Ram. He said they cause more trailer sway.

Anyone have experience with this and can comment on what the dealer said. My research says with a properly setup WDH like the equalizer I should not experience any issues. I am also aware that at 10k GVWR I will not be able to fill the bed of the truck with very much if any gear to stay under the 2kish payload rating for Diesel trucks.

 

[BruceMorgan]

Your RV dealer doesn’t know what he is talking about. The truck suspension doesn’t induce trailer sway. A proper WDH and you’re fine. My stepson tows a bigger trailer than that (39’ toy hauler) with a 2500 6.4 Cummins. No problem at all.

Also a 10k lb trailer is 1200 to 1300 lbs hitch weight. You’ll have 700+ lbs left if your door payload sticker says you have 2000 lbs max.

You’ll want airbags like Timber Grove to stiffen up the rear a bit, after the WDH is set properly. That helps to reduce porpoising. My stepson’s truck has onboard electric air. I just use a handheld electric compressor to adjust mine.

 

[Jimmy07]

I am going to pull the trigger soon on a 2016-2018 Ram 2500 Diesel specifically to tow a 10k GVWR 35 ft travel trailer.

When talking with the dealer he recommended a Silverado or F250 specifically because of the rear coil springs in the Ram. He said they cause more trailer sway.

Anyone have experience with this and can comment on what the dealer said. My research says with a properly setup WDH like the equalizer I should not experience any issues. I am also aware that at 10k GVWR I will not be able to fill the bed of the truck with very much if any gear to stay under the 2kish payload rating for Diesel trucks.

At 10k GVWR, it’s almost laughable that we’re even discussing this (not at you, but that the dealer even brought it up). Like you said: properly set up WDH (equalizer is just fine), and the RAM abs/esc system will take care of the rest.

 

[crash68]

Your RV dealer doesn’t know what he is talking about. The truck suspension doesn’t induce trailer sway. A proper WDH and you’re fine. My stepson tows a bigger trailer than that (39’ toy hauler) with a 2500 6.4 Cummins. No problem at all.

^^^ what he said
Like most TT salespeople, the one you talked to is FoS. IMO the Cummins will pull circles around the Durtymax and Powerstroke, although any of them is better than towing with a gasser.
Once you get the truck and trailer, you'll want to set up the WDH using semi truck CAT scales. Don't rely on the TT dealer to set up the WDH, the truck/trailer needs to fully loaded to be properly adjusted.

 

[NewBlackDak]

The only place I have seen the coils do a lesser job is with a slide-in camper. The springs being inside the frame rails gives the high center of gravity a little more torque, so it feels a bit more tippy. Bumper pull, fifth wheel, gooseneck gives a great ride.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mountaineer83]

I love the coil springs on mine! I have a new body '19 Silverado 1500 supplied by work, and it skips and jumps across every bridge abutment and railroad crossing it sees.

Now I've never towed with it because it is a government vehicle, but, comparatively speaking, my Ram takes those same crossings and abutments in stride. I greatly prefer the coils simply because of the multi-link setup. It feels more stable to me even when towing.

 

[AFMoulton]

This is just stupid, here is my 10k 38’ travel trailer on my 6.4 2500. With a proper WDH.


2018 2500 6.4 4x4 4.10 Amsoil SS 0w-40, Softopper
Black Rhino Arsenal 18x9 +12mm
Cooper St MAXX LT295/70R18

66RFE/68RFE Thermo Bypass Valve Install


2016 Durango 5.7 AWD 3.07 Redline 5W-30 RP 10-48
1996 Nissan Altima 2.4 Amsoil SS 5W-30

 

[Gr8bawana]

I agree that your TT salesman is full of BS.
I have a 2017 2500 CTD and towed with it last month and the was no difference between the feel of it and my '97 with leaf springs.

 

[dexter]

I am going to pull the trigger soon on a 2016-2018 Ram 2500 Diesel specifically to tow a 10k GVWR 35 ft travel trailer.

When talking with the dealer he recommended a Silverado or F250 specifically because of the rear coil springs in the Ram. He said they cause more trailer sway.

Anyone have experience with this and can comment on what the dealer said. My research says with a properly setup WDH like the equalizer I should not experience any issues. I am also aware that at 10k GVWR I will not be able to fill the bed of the truck with very much if any gear to stay under the 2kish payload rating for Diesel trucks.

Never believe anything the RV dealer says.

 

[dhay13]

Son has a 2018 2500 (not a diesel) but he towed his ~8500lb camper 1500 miles with no problem at all

 

[Fake-Account27]

Thanks for the replies all, I also thought it was Ford people talk as he openly admitted to being a Ford guy.

 

[sandawilliams]

8800 lb. TT and another 1500 in the bed and it drives and rides like a Cadillac.

 

[GsRAM]

I guess I should run down to my local train yard now and warn the diesel train engineers, they better be real careful because the coil springs on their trains can't handle big loads and they might derail if they load heavy....

What a crock of bs! That salesman should be embarrassed. Yes as said no issues with coil springs at all on my truck and I've had it loaded heavy already. It was very stable.

I just hate hearing such blatant bs from salesman.

 

[dhay13]

8800 lb. TT and another 1500 in the bed and it drives and rides like a Cadillac.

Pretty close to what my son was at on his 1500 mile trip. Maybe just a little lighter but not by much. He had his truck loaded down too. Had it full of work stuff, large TV for their office, etc.

 

[awpratt]

yep coils are not an issue and with properly set-up hitch will be fine only thing I would add is some air bags just for added support to help keep truck level for maximum control. Properly set-up requires weighing each axle of the rig and the trailer should sit level on the trailer axles with little to no squat on the truck.

 

[mtofell]

Back in 2014 when I got my 2500 the coils had just come out on the Ram 2500 so I was pretty interested to see how they did. At that time I had a 7500# travel trailer that I had been towing with a 2006 HD Chevy with leaf springs. The difference was night and day better in all ways with the coils. Where the leaf springs would bounce and jar me around, the coils are just firm but smooth.

Let me pile on agree that your salesman is an idiot.

 

[JD Mark]

Personally, I would go with a 3500.

My '14 2500 CCSB with a 6.7 Cummins (Never heard of the 6.4 Cummins) pulls just fine. No matter what trailer or speed.

My '16 2500 RCLB with a 6.4 pulls like crap. The springs most certainly can create a sway or what feels like unsafe towing condition. I absolutely hate pulling any trailer with that truck, and I am not the only one. Same trailer connected to my '14 is fine. Same hitch (pintle hook). It feels like the trailer is pulling the rear end of the trailer around.

There are others who have had the same issue with the 5 link suspension. I didn't notice it until I bought my '16.

 

[dexter]

Personally, I would go with a 3500.

My '14 2500 CCSB with a 6.7 Cummins (Never heard of the 6.4 Cummins) pulls just fine. No matter what trailer or speed.

My '16 2500 RCLB with a 6.4 pulls like crap. The springs most certainly can create a sway or what feels like unsafe towing condition. I absolutely hate pulling any trailer with that truck, and I am not the only one. Same trailer connected to my '14 is fine. Same hitch (pintle hook). It feels like the trailer is pulling the rear end of the trailer around.

There are others who have had the same issue with the 5 link suspension. I didn't notice it until I bought my '16.

You need this:

https://www.equalizerhitch.com/how-equalizer-works

I have a 6.4l, a heavier trailer then yours and I forget I'm towing.

 

[JD Mark]

You need this:

https://www.equalizerhitch.com/how-equalizer-works

I have a 6.4l, a heavier trailer then yours and I forget I'm towing.

We use pintle hooks\rings.

Why does it tow fine with my CCSB Cummins and feels squirrelly with my RCLB 6.4? There's something wrong with the suspension, not the hitch.

Why do all these trailers pull fine with any of my other trucks? IT is only one truck that is having this issue.

I've bought trucks that are rated to pull that amount of weight, shouldn't need a weight distributing hitch.

I use my trucks in a business, time is money. I don't have time to spend screwing with a weight distributing hitch up to 3 times a day with multiple crews.

Again, I'm not the only one that has had this issue but just like bad cab mounts, it isn't an every truck issue.

 

[Jimmy07]

We use pintle hooks\rings.

Why does it tow fine with my CCSB Cummins and feels squirrelly with my RCLB 6.4? There's something wrong with the suspension, not the hitch.

The suspension on your 2014 2500 Cummins is exactly the same as the one on your 2016 2500 6.4.