Towing a camper with my 2017 Ram 1500 hemi for the first time. What can I expect?

670hoth · Mar 1, 2022

The truck is a 2017 Ram 1500 Tradesman Express with 20" wheels, 5.7 hemi, 3.92 gears, and factory towing package. Its all stock except for a 2" leveling kit in the front. I do not have air bags and will not have a weight distributing hitch. The camper is about 4900 to 5000 lbs as it will be towed, the hitch weight is 580 lbs, and 29'7" from hitch to rear bumper (It's a 26' model). I'm just curious how it will tow since I will not be able to get air bags or weight distributing hitch until later. I am towing it about 200 miles with 98% of it being the interstate. Thanks

csuder99 · Mar 2, 2022

Death, despair, destruction. Possibly.

Well not really but the setup sounds very borderline. The trailer weight numbers appear to be the marketing numbers which differ substantially from real world numbers. For reference, I used to own a 21 ft trailer that weighed 4600 lbs empty and the scaled tongue weight was more like 700 lbs. Like most manufacturers RAM says to use a WDH over 5000 lbs weight/500 lbs tongue weight. If this was a flat bed or dump trailer under 20 ft I wouldn't worry but with the length and height of the trailer I suspect the front axle can get really light at times. The leveling kit makes the truck even more nose high. And what is the payload of the truck ? It used to be that 20" wheels reduced that quite a bit.

GsRAM · Mar 2, 2022

Honest, short answer, like crap. Tail wagging the dog. As said that leveling kit makes it worse as you eliminated the factory rake.

You absolutely should have a WDH properly set up for a run like that especially on the highway. A 30 foot trailer will be a giant sail behind your half ton especially without any sway control in place.

Be prepared for reduced steering and braking performance from the front axle. Your 3.92 geared hemi has plenty of power to pull that trailer, but controlling it is the issue. Your call, but I would not do that in a half ton truck with no wdh or sway control. Even my with my 2500 I notice a difference with and without wdh on short highway runs with my small TT.

A few miles on a back country road is one thing, 200 on the interstate with semi trucks is a totally different animal. If you do this anyway, I suggest reduced speed and allowing for increased stopping distance. Good luck.

crash68 · Mar 2, 2022

^^^ this
I'll second what he said. Things can get squirrely on you fast and before you realize.
If it's money that's the hold up, get the WDH hitch first as airbags actually make the front end lighter. You don't need a fancy WDH, an inexpensive CURT or similar with rating just above your trailer's GVWR is All you need.

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution-Hitch/CURT/C17051.html

jawzs2 · Mar 2, 2022

Agree with GsRam - without a WDH you're taking weight off the front end, affecting steering and braking, as soon as you hook up the trailer. A WDH helps put it back. My biggest concern would the susceptibility to sway, it may not be bad at all , it may be undriveable, or anywhere in between

AlexC2350 · Mar 2, 2022

I think that leveling kit is going to be a killer for you. Truck power wise you’ll be good with the 3.92. I towed a similar sized (tad smaller) trailer with my 17 1500 with 3.21 never an issue. It was stock height with e rated tires and a stout hitch, set up right.

I would agree with some of the other posters, you’re going to be maxed out by the numbers and most likely feel it. The RV dealer when I was looking to by the one I had now said sure you can pull this or that with your truck but we require rams to have air bags to leave with it.

All that being said, my Dad is pulling a same sized trailer but heavier with 2 slides, with a 15 Durango Hemi and had a woman cut him off badly. He was able to maneuver out of a bad situation. He’s been confident in the setup but He admitted to me, not in front of my mom, he was probably going too fast.

392DevilDog · Mar 2, 2022

500lbs of tongue weight and 5000 lbs of trailer weight a weight distribution hitch is required.

Get that damn level off the truck.

Go slowly. No need to win a race of this is your first time. Check mirrors often.

Remember 7th and 8th are overdrive gears. 6th is 1 to 1. Tow/haul mode. Try to let the transmission and engine do your braking. Understand how to use the trailer brakes.

Go slowly.

Get a weight distribution hitch.

Get rid of the level.

Go slowly.

Get a weight distribution hitch

Get rid of the level.

Ah. Do what ever you want. It is your truck. Have fun. Exercise your hands for the grip you will exert on the steering wheel.

Your truck will be more than powerful enough to tow it

With the level and no wdh you will loose steering and braking.

Depending what else is in the tuck, possibly dangerously so.

Good luck

AlexC2350 · Mar 2, 2022

2 things I missed from OP is that he won’t have a WD hitch and 200 miles mainly interstate. I’ll say you’re asking for a bad time.

670hoth · Mar 2, 2022

Thanks everyone for the feedback. One more thing I should have mentioned is that I run the stock GoodYear Wrangler RS-A tires and want to keep them. I don't plan to have anything in the truck except me and another person so hopefully the tires will be fine. Each tire is rated for 2601 lbs but I realize they don't have stiff sidewalls. I do plan to get air bags but won't have them in time to get this camper home. I do also want to get rid of the front level although I would like to level it by lowering the back an inch or two if I can still make it tow good. Based on everyone's feedback I am going to do my best to try to find a weight distributing hitch before I tow it. At least I will have that. Thanks

Loudram · Mar 2, 2022

I agree with everyone else. You're playing Russian roulette with your current setup. Wait until you can get a wd hitch. Postpone the pickup if you have to especially if you're new to towing travel trailers. Things can get ugly fast.

Watch some YouTube videos of trailer sway crashes and you'll realize that you have less than 10 seconds to control a rig once the sway starts. Watch the video and count the time for yourself, you'll see. To control sway it almost has to be second nature. Very little time to think.

As far as your tires go, as long as they are in good shape you'll be fine if you're within the trucks limits. I still have my OEM Goodyear's on my truck and my trailer is 29' and around 7300 loaded.

dhay13 · Mar 2, 2022

Your tires should be fine. But yeah a WDH is almost a must. I had a 2013 1500 that I towed my sons 7500ish lb TT 200 miles with using a Husky TS Centerline WDH. I had 3.55s and it towed fine stability wise but a little more power would have helped

White six four · Mar 2, 2022

I would ask someone you know that has one if you could borrow theirs or check Craigslist or marketplace and you should be able to find a cheap used one to get you by if you're set on using your truck. I wouldnt tow it without one but that's me. Better to be safe then sorry.

Michael · Mar 2, 2022

Don’t do it witho a WD hitch that is properly setup and sway control! The leveling isn’t an issue. I also sugges getting rid of those crap springs in the rear of the truck if you just think about putting some weight back there. I’ve got my truck leveled with bilsteins set at 2.8. I also added new springs in the rear so I could put some weight in the rear without it sagging badly. The springs don’t increase payload capacity, but help you use what your truck is rated for. Those tires that came on the truck are passenger tires to give a smooth car like ride. I would rather have truck tires with better sidewalls for towing.

CamperMike · Mar 3, 2022

With that size trailer a wdh with sway control is needed but air bags really are not. I use the fastway wdh that has built in sway control. Your stock goodyear tires will be fine. I towed a similar trailer with them until I wore out the tread on them.

2003F350 · Mar 3, 2022

CamperMike said:
With that size trailer a wdh with sway control is needed but air bags really are not. I use the fastway wdh that has built in sway control. Your stock goodyear tires will be fine. I towed a similar trailer with them until I wore out the tread on them.

For a 5k camper this right here is it. You don't need bags for something that light, but a WDH is an absolute must. Most RV dealerships will have them in stock. Many trailer parts places also have them in stock for less, and have a wider selection. If you're wanting to pinch pennies the Curt systems are fairly cheap (I think I paid $350 for the last Curt system I bought) and work very well. If no one stocks them near you you can buy them online and it's a couple days for delivery usually.

I didn't see if you have a brake controller in your truck already. If you DON'T, you'll want one, either an aftermarket or the OEM one. Personally I prefer the OEM but if you can't get one of those before you need to pick this thing up then an aftermarket one works well too.

David Langford · Mar 3, 2022

670hoth said:
The truck is a 2017 Ram 1500 Tradesman Express with 20" wheels, 5.7 hemi, 3.92 gears, and factory towing package. Its all stock except for a 2" leveling kit in the front. I do not have air bags and will not have a weight distributing hitch. The camper is about 4900 to 5000 lbs as it will be towed, the hitch weight is 580 lbs, and 29'7" from hitch to rear bumper (It's a 26' model). I'm just curious how it will tow since I will not be able to get air bags or weight distributing hitch until later. I am towing it about 200 miles with 98% of it being the interstate. Thanks

I have the exact same setup except the front leveling kit. I had a 29' 6" travel trailer with about the same weight unloaded. I live out west, and only towed it 1 time about 45 miles loaded without the WDH. It was TERRIBLE!! I'll never tow more than a few miles without the WDH. I have a Fastway E2 10k, and love it. Now I have a 32' 7" trailer and set the hitch up for it again. I am going to add airbags since it still squats a bit, but handling-wise, a world of difference with the hitch. My advice is if you're planning on getting the WDH anyhow, do it now. If you haven't set one up before, it isn't all that hard, but do READ all the directions, watch a few YouTube videos and be sure you understand it all.

Good luck, and happy towing and camping.

MMiller · Mar 3, 2022

Agreed with many of the previous posts. With your current setup, you will be whiteknuckling it for 200 miles. The front end of your truck is going to be too light and wanting to wander in your lane. You'll be constantly making little corrections, fighting to keep it straight, etc... Like everybody has said, power isn't your concern. But steering, braking, overall control are going to be challenging. If you can get a WDH before you tow, that will make a major difference for you.

stdyrln · Mar 3, 2022

Question #1 should be- when you panic stop, can you get the truck to activate antilock brakes?

My truck would literally not be able to stop well enough to trigger the system when stock- (no trailer hooked up) i had more then a couple of situations where it was like will this thing stop in time with no trailer? Upgraded rotors and pads and now it will definitely set it off and stop the truck and trailer at any time - every time. been cut off, not paying enough attention, etc.. brakes saved it every time.

the hitch will be more related to your actual set up- everyone's is different.

Do i have one of the more expensive WD hitch setups- yes, do i have air bags yes, is mine leveled and lifted, yes - have i ever had an issue no. you will need to see what it does based on how yours is set up. i had trips where we had wind advisories and it was just fine - not a wiggle, i then dropped it off and dead headed back and the same wind pushed the truck around with no trailer- so it depends on allot of things. if your not sure have back up plans for what could be.

But brakes should be first before you work on the other stuff based on my experience with a 2017 with the same set up as yours- i only changed the 20's to rebels with 315's

Zoe Saldana · Mar 3, 2022

670hoth said:
The truck is a 2017 Ram 1500 Tradesman Express with 20" wheels, 5.7 hemi, 3.92 gears, and factory towing package. Its all stock except for a 2" leveling kit in the front. I do not have air bags and will not have a weight distributing hitch. The camper is about 4900 to 5000 lbs as it will be towed, the hitch weight is 580 lbs, and 29'7" from hitch to rear bumper (It's a 26' model). I'm just curious how it will tow since I will not be able to get air bags or weight distributing hitch until later. I am towing it about 200 miles with 98% of it being the interstate. Thanks

You will die!

dkelly3103 · Mar 3, 2022

Sounds like most of the people are saying what you SHOULD do, not necessarily giving advice on what you are GOING to do. In my opinion you should be fine, I’ve been in the same situation before. Stick with no air support, no WD hitch and a 2in leveling kit. Towed a 3 horse trailer totaling around 8000lbs at highway speeds with zero issues as far as braking and sway goes. Yes it squatted some but that’s to be expected. Make sure the brakes on the trailer work and you will be fine.

Towing a camper with my 2017 Ram 1500 hemi for the first time. What can I expect?

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