Unhappy with 1500 towing. Need Help

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IvoryHemi

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Just based on the fact you have Ram Boxes (-150 lbs payload) and eTorque (-75 lbs payload) plus whatever other options your truck has that pushed it to $70k means it isn’t close to 1,770 lbs of payload.

Do you have the air suspension? If so, did you follow the instructions in the owners manual for setup? It needs to be measured and adjusted while in tire jack mode
 
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Bricknhank

Bricknhank

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OK, here are the two stickers on the door jamb. I always thought that the yellow one was more for tires but maybe I’m wrong. I have swapped out the tires a while back anyway. I didn’t like how the passenger tires that came on it were in the snow so I put more aggressive tread tires on it however, the truck came with 22” rims and the tire selection was limited so I bought some OEM 20” rims and BF Goodrich T/A K2 tires that have a better load rating than the tires from the factory.
That said, my problem was high RPM’s (or perceived high RPM’s) and not squatting or swaying. The truck handled things just fine from a load standpoint. If the general consensus from experienced towers here is that running RPM’s between 2500-3000 is not detrimental for anything but MPG’s than OK but if something in the hauling capacity is effecting that I’m very curious to hear about it.
Thanx,
Hank

B52AFE0C-E508-4E8B-A827-521390B87634.jpeg25E5B171-502E-46C7-A7A5-70B5EBE50A51.jpeg
 

392DevilDog

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OK, here are the two stickers on the door jamb. I always thought that the yellow one was more for tires but maybe I’m wrong. I have swapped out the tires a while back anyway. I didn’t like how the passenger tires that came on it were in the snow so I put more aggressive tread tires on it however, the truck came with 22” rims and the tire selection was limited so I bought some OEM 20” rims and BF Goodrich T/A K2 tires that have a better load rating than the tires from the factory.
That said, my problem was high RPM’s (or perceived high RPM’s) and not squatting or swaying. The truck handled things just fine from a load standpoint. If the general consensus from experienced towers here is that running RPM’s between 2500-3000 is not detrimental for anything but MPG’s than OK but if something in the hauling capacity is effecting that I’m very curious to hear about it.
Thanx,
Hank

View attachment 487557View attachment 487558
1073 lbs of payload.
 

392DevilDog

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So. Look at this.

GVWR IS 7100

GCWR IS 13900

7100 minus 1073 is a base weight of 6027.

13900 minus 6027 is 7837

So you have 1073 lbs of payload and can add a max of 7837 lbs in passengers, hitch, tongue weight cargo and trailer.

Notice how the max tow number is without a driver and a hitch....you need both at the minimum
 

ramffml

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You guys talking about the gear ratio .... it's frustrating to see that come up because it has no effect. It just means he is in 5th instead of 6th but the power and rpms are the same at those 2 points in otherwise identical trucks.

@392DevilDog you are probably correct about revving the hemi high, but on the other hand very few have the stomach to do that. For a start it's very loud, very exhausting, and uses a metric ton of fuel.

IMHO if I can't tow my trailer at < 2500 on straight level ground with a small/moderate headwind, then my truck isn't big enough.

Below is a comparison video just released yesterday. It compares a hemi vs Ford Hybrid vs Toyota vs GM 3.0 diesel. I think the outcome of that video is so obvious; the hemi is "screaming away", the two turbos are cruising at 2300 or less and the diesel takes the crown. It's why I want that diesel so bad.

OP, my suggestion, try a diesel (either the GM or the Ram's ED, but keep payload in mind!!) if you end up ditching your truck for something else. I tow with a 3.21 and sit in 6th at 2300 RPMs, which is comfortable for me, but I probably wouldn't be happy sitting at 3000 forever:
 

IvoryHemi

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OK, here are the two stickers on the door jamb. I always thought that the yellow one was more for tires but maybe I’m wrong. I have swapped out the tires a while back anyway. I didn’t like how the passenger tires that came on it were in the snow so I put more aggressive tread tires on it however, the truck came with 22” rims

Tires are not a limiting factor. The factory 22” tires are load rated for 2,601 lbs @ 50 psi.

= 5,202 lbs per axle > GAWR
= 10,404 lbs total truck > GVWR

1,073 lbs is your maximum weight load. So that TT is 600 lbs dry + 40 lbs battery + 74 lbs propane + 100 lbs WDH = 814 lbs

So that mean 259 lbs left for driver, passengers and cargo
 
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Bricknhank

Bricknhank

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Thank you ranffll. So I’m surmising that several of you are saying indirectly that in reality I’m expecting too much from my Longhorn with respect to my particular trailer?
 
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Bricknhank

Bricknhank

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Oh, and if I had it to do over again I wouldn’t get the Rambox option. I do keep lots of stuff in them but in reality they are very limiting. If I were still working and carrying lots of tools that I needed to keep locked up it might be more useful but I don’t think that I carry anything that I couldn’t keep in one of the many plastic bins that are offered that go under the rear seat.
 

PoMansRam

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@Bricknhank, given you are a first time RV'r, I think a lot of your shock about the towing situation is what's said above. The nature of towing a house behind your truck.

I have very limited towing experience. Just some smaller boats, watercaft and a few short runs with a 21ft TT and I can say TT's are in a realm all their own. So very different than towing a relatively aerodynamic boat, etc.

You made me just go out an look at the yellow door jamb sticker on my 2019 classic, CC, short bed, 4x4, hemi. "Maximum weight of cargo and passengers" is 1521 lbs.
 
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IvoryHemi

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Thank you ranffll. So I’m surmising that several of you are saying indirectly that in reality I’m expecting too much from my Longhorn with respect to my particular trailer?
I pull 8k TT with my Longhorn, but my payload is 300 lbs higher plus 3.92 axle & air suspension.

I have about 3,500 miles on my current setup so far. I find it to be a comfortable tow.

Now that you’re aware of your payload situation I’d hit a truck scale and see how well your WDH is transferring weight. Dealers are known for poor setups, so you may need adjustments
 

ramffml

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Thank you ranffll. So I’m surmising that several of you are saying indirectly that in reality I’m expecting too much from my Longhorn with respect to my particular trailer?

With respect to payload, yes you will probably need "more truck" unless you're comfortable going over payload and staying under rear axle weight; since you are new-ish to towing I'd recommend against that and staying under payload.

With respect to the power/hemi; all naturally aspirated V8's these days want to rev high to make their power. As 392devildog said, the hemi will do it but you personally may be uncomfortable hearing your engine rev that high for that long, I don't like it even though I know that's what they're built to do and how they do it.

Most of your experience seems to be "new to towing" experience and just not realizing that your truck needs to work that hard when towing. If you can stay under payload I would just drive it and keep your speed down to 60 mph and tow haul engaged and you may be able to sit in 6th at 2200-ish rpms, or 5th at 2700-ish rpms give or take, not the end of the world as the truck won't blow up, but it can be an exhausting drive if you do it for long distances often.

Once or twice a year? Just drive it and don't worry.
 
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Bricknhank

Bricknhank

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Exhausting is right. It reminds me of younger days driving my 69 396 Camaro with 488 gears down the highway. Or my old Willys Utility Wagon with 5:13 gears and a flathead six.
 

IDSandman

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Wrong gearing for that load. Too late now as you already have that truck but the 3.21 doesn’t tow heavy very well compared to the 3.92. Put that thing in tow/haul and let it eat, well drink.. lol. That hemi wants rpm to get the job done. I love the sound of that engine roaring while pulling a mountain pass at 70mph under a load. Since it sounds like you’re fairly new to towing you absolutely do not need to be trying to keep up with traffic on any road. Especially a freeway. I guess exhausting is an individual thing as I’m super relaxed towing. Let the truck do it’s job and hammer down. I just pay more attention to things around and in front of me, I do that unloaded tho so maybe that’s why it’s not a big deal.
 

tron67j

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It's very unfortunate that you are having to go through this. Age old story, trailer sales staff won't sell based on what a tow vehicle can safely tow, just care about selling as much as they can.

Assuming 1,000 pounds in the trailer with propane tanks and battery plus clothes, you are over your payload and with a 1500 you're going to notice it much more. Please don't rearrange weight behind your trailer axle, putting too much weight back there will have you fishtailing and you'll end up possibly jackknifed or worse.

Best you can do is limit gear in truck and trailer to bare minimum, travel with empty tanks (water and holding), buy groceries at destination, and keep speed near or below speed limit. You have a great truck just unfortunately not set for your desired towing. But you can do it if you just take it easy. Good luck.
 

FasterZ Better

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Sorry to hear your issue, I towed a 27 foot fifth wheel trailer through six provinces and back. My buddy tuned the transmission and told me that 5th gear will probably give me a bit of a problem if I wanted to tow at 60 MPH. After his tune, never had an issue up or downhill. They trailer weighed in at just over 6800 LBS. Just food for thought, get a build sheet on your truck, this will give you the exact gear ratio is for each of your 8 speeds. Maybe a custom tune will help??? Good luck.
 

IDSandman

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Absolutely not true. The 3.21 tows just as well on the highway as the 3.92, just one transmission gear behind it.
Absolutely true. Towed the same trailer with my buddies 3.21 and my 3.92. Big difference. 3.92 comes off the line way better, passes better, pulls hills better without hunting gears or getting down in the tranny so far.
 
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Bricknhank

Bricknhank

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Well I’m very tempted to start looking at 2500’s or (shutter to think) F-250’s! My 2020 only has 12k miles on it so maybe it’s worth a decent trade-in amount. Of course on the other end of that the 2500’s aren’t cheap either and now that I have grown accustomed to the Longhorn luxuries I would have a hard time with a heavier duty truck without the goodies that I have on the 1500. I’m not sure I’m ready for a diesel. I guess I’ll do some research on the 6.4.
Thank you guys for all of your suggestions. It’s been a big help.
Hank
 
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