Unhappy with 1500 towing. Need Help

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Bricknhank

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Today I picked up my Grand Design Imagine 2600rb. I’m a first time RV’r. I was incredibly disappointed as to how the 75 mile ride home went. It was all expressway and mostly flat (It is Illinois) and my truck rarely made it out of 5th gear! My truck is a 2020 Longhorn with a towing capacity of 8120 lbs with a max payload of 1770lbs. 5.7 Hemi with e torque and 3:21 gears. 8HP75 transmission. The trailer weighs 5800lbs dry and since it was new there was nothing loaded in the trailer yet. I used a weight distributing hitch, Equal-I-Zer brand.

At 62mph (with everyone passing me) in a 70mph limit, the truck was revving at 2700rpm’s in 5th gear. I did use tow haul to enter the expressway but turned it off once speed increased. There were a few times on a slight downgrade that the transmission shifted into 6th gear and one time coasting it briefly went into 7th gear but it was brief. The Electronic Range Select (ERS) was not engaged. Upshifting and downshifting were fine.
I have never had any problems mechanically with this truck and up until today (with exception of some Rambox latch problems) I have loved this Longhorn. The 5.7 has always been a good runner for me.

So, please, I’m looking for suggestions from experienced RV’rs as to what is going on here? Is the 3:21 gear the culprit? Did Ram overstate the towing capacity? Just because the truck’s frame and axles can physically carry the weight, maybe the transmission isn’t equipped for towing. I’m leery to add the usual weight of daily necessities for a trailer trip let alone hitting any hilly areas. After at $70K for a truck and another $40K for the trailer it quite disappointing. I’m desperately seeking experienced analyses.
Thanks in advance,
Hank
 
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dhay13

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You are at the upper limits of your truck as far as towing. My son has a 2018 2670MK that weighs slightly more than yours (6600lbs dry). I towed it 200 miles with my 2013 1500 3.55s and it was revving with it. Loaded up it weighed 8100lbs with 1100lbs tongue weight.
I also question your payload. I'd be surprised if you are anywhere near 1700lbs with a Longhorn. What does your yellow door sticker say?
All that said, you still may be under your max limits and your truck should be ok on flatter ground but if towing up large grades be prepared for big RPM's. 3.21's aren't meant for towing
 

crash68

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At 62mph (with everyone passing me) in a 70mph limit, the truck was revving at 2700rpm’s in 5th gear. I did use tow haul to enter the expressway but turned it off once speed increased. There were a few times on a slight downgrade that the transmission shifted into 6th gear and one time coasting it briefly went into 7th gear but it was brief.
First off leave the Tow/Haul mode on. The engine having to stay rev'd up around and over 3K rpms is normal for a gasser. Your transmission is going to downshift more due to the 3.21. If you want to be able to tow around 2K rpms, you should have bought the diesel. The Hemi torque peak is 410 ft/lbs at 4K rpms the EcoDiesel is 480 ft/lbs at 1600 rpms, see the difference? Horsepower doesn't tow trailers, torque does.
Once you load up the truck and trailer for camping, be sure to readjust the WDH for the loaded weight. Best way to set up a WDH is using actual weight utilizing a CAT truck scale
 
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Bricknhank

Bricknhank

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949CAAA7-0E65-4A73-B7A1-D290A7ED7FEC.jpeg
It’s a little dark now but I can check the door sticker to confirm. This is from “MyRam” dashboard which has my VIN on it so I suspect it’s right but I will double check.
 

392DevilDog

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View attachment 487535
It’s a little dark now but I can check the door sticker to confirm. This is from “MyRam” dashboard which has my VIN on it so I suspect it’s right but I will double check.

Those are the generic numbers. For a tradesman.

Go look at your door jamb.

Bet you are under 1300lbs. Have seen Longhorns under 1100lbs.

You need to rev that Hemi. 2700RPM is not enough.
 

Irishthreeper

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I believe the 3.21’s might be the issue. I had a ‘19 1500 Bighorn and now a ‘21 2500 Hemi that towed much more than you have and on flat roads it was 68@ about 2100 rpm. But I had 3.92’s and now 4.10’s. Agree with above comment to leave tow haul on.
 

wsutard1

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Those are the generic numbers. For a tradesman.

Go look at your door jamb.

Bet you are under 1300lbs. Have seen Longhorns under 1100lbs.

You need to rev that Hemi. 2700RPM is not enough.
His numbers are directly from the ram site that lets you look up, by vin, towing and payload capacity.
 

392DevilDog

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His numbers are directly from the ram site that lets you look up, by vin, towing and payload capacity.
Yep. And it makes mistakes. He needs to look at his door jamb.

But if you look at the shot. It shows the generic page behind it.

Looks like he did configuration by accident.

He needs to enter a VIN
 

392DevilDog

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7th and 8th are overdrive. 6th is direct.

5th gear is the first gear offering the engine help.

3.21 rear gears are fine...but you will need a lower transmission gear to get "the power".

The RPM needs to be over 4000 to get "the power"

My 6.4l HEMI loves 3rd gear. So try using the manual selector for 4th next time and let it rev...just to see if you like "the power"
 
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Bricknhank

Bricknhank

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If I knew that I was going to be buying a travel trailer I certainly may have chosen a different engine, gear ratio or even a different truck but sometimes our needs change and our lives shift gears too. Maybe nothing is wrong and I didn’t realize that RPM’s in that range when towing isn’t abnormal. I’ll check that payload sticker on the door tomorrow. Thanks much for the suggestions so far.
 

Zoe Saldana

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Today I picked up my Grand Design Imagine 2600rb. I’m a first time RV’r. I was incredibly disappointed as to how the 75 mile ride home went. It was all expressway and mostly flat (It is Illinois) and my truck rarely made it out of 5th gear! My truck is a 2020 Longhorn with a towing capacity of 8120 lbs with a max payload of 1770lbs. 5.7 Hemi with e torque and 3:21 gears. 8HP75 transmission. The trailer weighs 5800lbs dry and since it was new there was nothing loaded in the trailer yet. I used a weight distributing hitch, Equal-I-Zer brand.

At 62mph (with everyone passing me) in a 70mph limit, the truck was revving at 2700rpm’s in 5th gear. I did use tow haul to enter the expressway but turned it off once speed increased. There were a few times on a slight downgrade that the transmission shifted into 6th gear and one time coasting it briefly went into 7th gear but it was brief. The Electronic Range Select (ERS) was not engaged. Upshifting and downshifting were fine.
I have never had any problems mechanically with this truck and up until today (with exception of some Rambox latch problems) I have loved this Longhorn. The 5.7 has always been a good runner for me.

So, please, I’m looking for suggestions from experienced RV’rs as to what is going on here? Is the 3:21 gear the culprit? Did Ram overstate the towing capacity? Just because the truck’s frame and axles can physically carry the weight, maybe the transmission isn’t equipped for towing. I’m leery to add the usual weight of daily necessities for a trailer trip let alone hitting any hilly areas. After at $70K for a truck and another $40K for the trailer it quite disappointing. I’m desperately seeking experienced analyses.
Thanks in advance,
Hank
The major factor you left out was the wind direction and speed.

You are pulling a sail. A headwind can make a large difference in performance.

When pulling my TT I've gone down to 6mpg going from east to west across Texas because of the headwinds.

Think about it this way: if you are driving 60mph into a 40mph headwind, it equals the truck & trailer pushing into 100 mph wind.

So was it a windy day when you were towing?
 
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chri5k

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At 2700 RPM's you are on the low side of the torque curve. Hemi's peak out torque-wise around 4000 RPM.
 

Neil E

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1st - leave in tow / haul mode
2nd - 62 is a safe speed with a trailer. More than likely your trailer tires are only rated at 65 MPH (from what I here). Also, you should be driving slower than traffic (and the speed limit) towing a trailer. Your braking distances will be longer.

Enjoy the lifestyle and take your time. Good luck!
 

aces-n-eights

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I did a similar analysis a year or so ago on my '16 Laramie 1500. My GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is 6900 lbs. The online chart said my payload was 1500 lbs. I scaled my truck and it was 5720 lbs with me a full tank of gas.

Soooo...

6900 GVWR
- 5720 Actual = only 1180 lbs of payload

This is quite a difference from the 1500 lbs stated online. I'd weigh your truck to get accurate numbers.
 

392DevilDog

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If I knew that I was going to be buying a travel trailer I certainly may have chosen a different engine, gear ratio or even a different truck but sometimes our needs change and our lives shift gears too. Maybe nothing is wrong and I didn’t realize that RPM’s in that range when towing isn’t abnormal. I’ll check that payload sticker on the door tomorrow. Thanks much for the suggestions so far.
As mentioned by another. 62 mph is a safe speed to be towing at. And yea...the Hemi needs RPM. At 2700 RPM you are basically lugging it.

You picked a great truck for what you are doing...i just think your understanding of it may have been off.
 

392DevilDog

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This is sarcasm.

Did you have a buddy who told you his 1500 Chivvy tows his 39 foot 5th wheel at 80 with no issues...all while his wife is hyperventilating into a paper bag.


It is work towing a camper and setting up camp.

The value of camping makes it worth it.

You can tow the same trip 10 times and each time the outcome is different. You may go one time and be relaxed and het 11 mpg.

The weather or traffic changes and you are stressed and got 8.

You have to rev the Hemi. If you get a chance...go for a ride. Pick a route that has a few hills and sharp turns. Do the route in 4th, then 3rd. Feel how much stronger that Hemi feels than in 5th or 6th.

I stay away from the highways now. Too many people scooting along above the speed limit with too much weight.

On the back roads I use 4th and 3rd (5th and 4th with your transmission) the truck loves it.
 

zogg

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I’ve tow for many years with tag trailers and 5th wheels. Also, I’ve had both diesel and gas tow vehicles. The 3.21 gears are surely not ideal. I’ve never gone below 3.73 gears and even had 4.10 gears on a 3/4 ton.
But, it is what you got. So, you’re truck will gear down to compensate for the gears…no question. Best to use tow/haul all the time. That’s helps to keep your truck in the power band area. So, higher rpm’s (3,000+) are totally typical with any gas motor. I had a 3/4 ton Chevy with 3.73 gears and a 6.0 gas motor that lived in the world of 3,500 rpm’s all the time when towing…I always got only 5-8 mpg which was expected.
So, your truck is doing fine. People often think that a truck should act “normal” when towing, but remember your truck weighs 5,000 pounds and your trailer weights that and more. So your truck is pulling TWO vehicles at the same time. Another big issue is wind resistance from the front of the trailer. Folks don’t realize the tremendous drag that is created pulling a flat billboard down the hiway. You’ll get used to it and it’ll be a-ok. Good luck
 

392DevilDog

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Look up by vehicleScreenshot_20220305-083031.png

Look up by VIN
Screenshot_20220305-083522.png

I tried to find a lightly optioned one to show. These a 2021 and the name changed...but you see the point.
 

392DevilDog

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I also noticed it only goes back 5 model years now. Guess I am glad I got the info for my truck when I did. That really sucks.
 

Firebird

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Those are the generic numbers. For a tradesman.

Go look at your door jamb.

Bet you are under 1300lbs. Have seen Longhorns under 1100lbs.

You need to rev that Hemi. 2700RPM is not enough.
I've seen longhorns in the 900 pound payload area
 
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