Advice needed on TOWING new travel trailer

upi441 · Apr 18, 2021

NEED ADVICE

New travel trailer after looking at following specs do I need to upgrade to a Ram 2500? If so would you get Turbo Diesel or 6.4 gas? Any advice would help me out.
EQUALIZER SWAY/DISTRIBUTION HITCH

Thanks

Karen Baker

2021 Ram 1500 5.7 hemi Etorque Axle Ratio 3.92

GVWR – 6900

Payload – 1760

Base weight -total – 5136

Front – 2983

Rear – 2153

GAWR –

Front – 3700

Rear - 4100

CTCWR – 17000

MAX TRAILER WEIGHT – 11,370

2021 Grand Design 2970RL

Length = 34 feet

Dry Weight – 7397

Payload – 1598

GVWR – 8995

Hitch Weight - 751

crash68 · Apr 18, 2021

Of course all the Payload Police are going to tell you a 2500/3500 is needed.
That trailer will be at the top end of what you'll want to tow behind a 1500. How much do you plan on towing this trailer? You'll definitely need a WDH and want to dial that in using a CAT scale.

Kenepo17ram · Apr 18, 2021

You are good, i have a 19 classic with 3.21 gears and will be towing a 30ft rv close to one you will tow. Weight distribution hitch and anti sway bars you need. Im just renting the rv so i dont plan tow alot, i may look of changing gears to 3.92 in the future if we decide get rv later.

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AFMoulton · Apr 18, 2021

Payload aside, which you will be at the very top of on that trailer, it’s a 34’ sail behind that truck and in the wrong conditions it will push you all over the road.

Get a bigger truck or smaller trailer.

2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

PoMansRam · Apr 18, 2021

How many passengers and how much stuff do you plan on having in the truck?

Like said above, you'll be within the published limits of the truck, but given the lack of aerodynamics of a travel-trailer, wind, hills and crazy traffic will make for a white-knuckle of a ride.

Farmer Fran · Apr 18, 2021

Ok, obviously a 3500DW is going to tow it better. And a 2500 also. I am officially in the camp now if you need a bigger truck get a SW or DW diesel 3500. Skip the 2500 if payload is that big of a concern. This said...

I had a Dutchmen Denali 289RK that I towed 1000s of miles with these 3 trucks... (too lazy to post up the trifler specs but it was north of 33 feet long).

Blue is a 2103 Express 2x4 V8 3.92 CC
White is a 2105 Sport 4x4 V8 3.92 CC
Red is a 2017 Laramie 4x4 V8 3.92 CC

I did tow it with my 2020 Limited 4x4 V8 3.92 CC but only to sell the trailer.

The choice is up to you on what to do, but if you are second guessing get the 3500 and forget about it.

JayLeonard · Apr 19, 2021

Ii had a 2017 Ram 1500 with a little less payload but my 2600 RB is lighter than what you plan on towing.
The truck had plenty of power, and the brakes were fine, but after weighing I was maxed out with almost nothing in the trailer and nothing in the bed of the truck. Payload and gross combined.
I changed to a Ram 2500 (diesel) and i'm nowhere close to overload now.
Can you tow with a 1500? yes.
Will a 2500 tow better? Yes

OC455 · Apr 20, 2021

Farmer Fran said:
Ok, obviously a 3500DW is going to tow it better. And a 2500 also. I am officially in the camp now if you need a bigger truck get a SW or DW diesel 3500. Skip the 2500 if payload is that big of a concern. This said...

I had a Dutchmen Denali 289RK that I towed 1000s of miles with these 3 trucks... (too lazy to post up the trifler specs but it was north of 33 feet long).

Blue is a 2103 Express 2x4 V8 3.92 CC
White is a 2105 Sport 4x4 V8 3.92 CC
Red is a 2017 Laramie 4x4 V8 3.92 CC

I did tow it with my 2020 Limited 4x4 V8 3.92 CC but only to sell the trailer.

The choice is up to you on what to do, but if you are second guessing get the 3500 and forget about it.

View attachment 244748

View attachment 244749

View attachment 244750

Man that Denali would look awesome behind my 3500...LOL

tron67j · Apr 20, 2021

upi441 said:
NEED ADVICE

New travel trailer after looking at following specs do I need to upgrade to a Ram 2500? If so would you get Turbo Diesel or 6.4 gas? Any advice would help me out.
EQUALIZER SWAY/DISTRIBUTION HITCH

Thanks

Karen Baker

2021 Ram 1500 5.7 hemi Etorque Axle Ratio 3.92

GVWR – 6900

Payload – 1760

Base weight -total – 5136

Front – 2983

Rear – 2153

GAWR –

Front – 3700

Rear - 4100

CTCWR – 17000

MAX TRAILER WEIGHT – 11,370

2021 Grand Design 2970RL

Length = 34 feet

Dry Weight – 7397

Payload – 1598

GVWR – 8995

Hitch Weight - 751

What options did you add to truck after purchase? Got to subtract things like aftermarket running boards, bed cover, etc. from your payload. And don't trust the published hitch weight of the trailers, get it weighed after full loading. More than likely your hitch weight will be greater, for peace of mind look at 2500 or 3500. Good luck.

14hemiexpress · Apr 20, 2021

Here’s my experience, what I can tell you, my trailer specs are 34’3’’ long 6889 dry 780 on the hitch. Actually weight is 7100lbs dry loaded 8200 with 1100 lbs on the hitch. Weight goes up fast and being someone that towed a poorly set up trailer 400 miles round trip it’s not fun(wasn’t my trailer and hitch wasn’t right I have a thread about it). My trailer specs are very close to yours I wouldn’t feel comfortable pulling that behind a 1500, I can tell you it’s very comfortable 1 handed cruiser behind my 2500 6.4l.

Sense you already have the truck and camper don’t run out and buy a truck just yet. Get the trailer get a good hitch and learn the right way to adjust it(most hitches come with a 2in shank anyways) Load the trailer scale it get it right and try it. You will know all your numbers whether or not your over weight somewhere. I would not spend money on band aids like tires, air bags, sway bars. All of that helps but if the truck doesn’t do it stock I would look into just getting the new truck.

runamuck · Apr 21, 2021

I would say if your trips are not very long and you dont try to stay up with traffic on the interstate, you can do it but 34' is pretty long for a 1500. my trailer is only 28' and just under 6000# and it is plenty of a load for my 1500 laramie. I pulled it to Big Bend from here (570m each way) and it managed but cross winds and hilly terrain made it a challenge. on shorter trips I can set cruise for 68-69 and have no trouble but I have to pack light because I have only 1324# cargo cap. with a 2500 you can pull that trailer more easily and take all the gear you want.

DJ52 · Apr 21, 2021

Pulled a 29 ft TT with a 2004 2500 Hemi and pulled fine but if wind really got going come out from under a overpass and things can get pretty squirrelly with a WDH also. We went to a 2012 DSL dually and a 35 ft TT waiting for my new 21 DSL Dually to come in I will tell you from experience that it is a lot better to have to much truck than not enough truck. As long as Im pulling a TT I will have a Dually no comparison in stability. It is also my daily driver Mega cab trucks 6' 4" bed.

dhay13 · Apr 21, 2021

My son has a GD 2670MK and my step-son just bought a 3250BH. We have scaled both and the 2670 was loaded up and had 1100lbs tongue weight and the 3250 was brand new off the lot empty except the dealer did leave the fresh water tank full of 52 gallons of water. TT weighed 9300lbs and had 1100lbs tongue weight. Step-son scaled it with his 2020 Tundra and he was over his GRAWR by about 200lbs. That is a number you don't want to exceed. That number is the max weight that should be carried by your rear axle bearings and can lead to pre-mature wear, among other things. You should be a little lighter with a slightly smaller TT but you would need to get it scaled at the CAT scales. I think you will be very close on payload but might be ok if you do actually have 1700lbs of payload. The yellow sticker on your drivers door jamb will give you the actual payload.
I think you will be ok with short trips on relatively flat ground but longer trips won't be fun with a 1500 in my opinion. You will need to have your WDH and axle weights near perfect to be comfortable.

Fake-Account27 · Apr 21, 2021

I pull a 33ft Freedom Express trailer with a dry weight of 6200 lbs. Below is my weights for a weekend trip.

Payload is 1740 lbs on this trip. That is a family of 5, though the 3 kids combined weigh less then I do. There are also two dogs, a full cooler, and a few other things in the bed. Tongue weight is between 850 and 1000 lbs.

So I am over your trucks payload, but could reduce my trucks weight 100 lbs if I packed more in the trailer.

I think the 34 ft length is going to be the bigger issue here. Thats a huge wind load.

Below is a heavier trip I took

dhay13 · Apr 21, 2021

This was my son's 2670MK behind his 2018 2500 6.4. TT was loaded up pretty good. Dry weight was advertised at 6600lbs and advertised tongue weight was about 650lbs. Actual was closer to 1100lbs but it was loaded pretty good. GVWR on the TT was 8500lbs and the TT was at 8100lbs.

This was the 3250BH behind my 2018 2500 6.4. TT was empty other than 52 gallons of fresh water

Here is the same 3250BH behind my step-sons 2020 Tundra. This was a couple of hours after my weighing and TT was exact same configuration

runamuck · Apr 22, 2021

seems like at 7620# on the truck he was 520# over the 7100# these half tons are allowed to be. this is the ticket for my truck and 28' trailerView attachment 245152

Razzman · Apr 22, 2021

Seat of the pants experience, no weight stickers, no scale tickets; just my observations having been in the same scenario. Previous truck was a 2017 1500 Laramie CCSB Hemi w/3.92's. Trailer is a 2020 Nash 26' overall, 6520lbs loaded w/850lb tongue weight with Equalizer e4 WD hitch. Standard load is about 400lbs in bed which left it around 300lbs under payload. Truck pulled the trailer just fine even up some pretty steep hills. Never swayed, trucks never blew it it around. However it never really felt stable in a planted sort of way. Pulling steep hills would guarantee your turning 4K rpm and this drove me nuts. The final straw for me was pulling Camp Verde to Flagstaff AZ, 55 miles uphill at 4K rpm or better and literally watching the fuel gauge go down. Now with a 2020 2500 CTD CCSB it's like the trailer isn't even there. So much easier on the psyche and the wallet.

dhay13 · Apr 22, 2021

runamuck said:
seems like at 7620# on the truck he was 520# over the 7100# these half tons are allowed to be. this is the ticket for my truck and 28' trailerView attachment 245152

View attachment 245155

Yep. He is overloaded with his Tundra, which is why we towed it home 100 miles with my truck. When we got back to his house he hooked it to his truck and towed it 15 miles to his campground and weighed it along the way. I told him he should be fine towing back and forth to his campground twice a year if he keeps his speeds down. He would also not have the 52 gallon fresh water tank full and he could drive up by himself to get the weight down close to his max but he is planning on looking for a 2500 next spring.

Kenepo17ram · Apr 22, 2021

dhay13 said:
Yep. He is overloaded with his Tundra, which is why we towed it home 100 miles with my truck. When we got back to his house he hooked it to his truck and towed it 15 miles to his campground and weighed it along the way. I told him he should be fine towing back and forth to his campground twice a year if he keeps his speeds down. He would also not have the 52 gallon fresh water tank full and he could drive up by himself to get the weight down close to his max but he is planning on looking for a 2500 next spring.

You just stop at any truck weight station to weight truck n trailer?

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dhay13 · Apr 22, 2021

Kenepo17ram said:
You just stop at any truck weight station to weight truck n trailer?

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Yep. Look up CAT scales site and you can find one near you. There is also an app that will find one near where you are currently at and there is another app for weighing. You enter your debit card into the app and just hit the button on the app to pay for it ($12.50 for first weigh then $2.50 for each additional weigh at the same scales on the same day)

Advice needed on TOWING new travel trailer

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