Best 1/2 ton configuration for towing

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OLEJOE

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I’ve got a 7k TT bumper pull and looking to configure a 1/2 ton p/u for pulling it. We mostly travel out west and wonder what is the best combination. TIA
 

rmill

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Hi, with that weight you should shoot for 3.92 gear to get higher cgwr. And if you have more than 2 people while towing i would limit extras to keep your payload capacity from being a constant headache.....ask me how i know.
 

Irishthreeper

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From my own experience a Hemi with 3.92 gears. Just watch your payload and axle weights, and make sure your hitch is rated to handle the tongue and tow weights. The 5.7 with 3.92’s is extremely quick and capable
 
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OLEJOE

OLEJOE

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Thanks. I’ve got a 2500 but the TT is the heaviest thing I haul and wonder if it is possible to use a 1/2 ton since I don’t pull it very often. Fuel mileage and ride are the reasons for even looking. Just 2 of us when we travel.
 

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Thanks. I’ve got a 2500 but the TT is the heaviest thing I haul and wonder if it is possible to use a 1/2 ton since I don’t pull it very often. Fuel mileage and ride are the reasons for even looking. Just 2 of us when we travel.
I would keep the 2500, just MHO...
 

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7k empty or watered down and loaded with gear? That 7k empty will put on few lbs when wet and geared up.
 
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OLEJOE

OLEJOE

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It’s actually 6500 fresh water tank full, grey water 10 gal and 10 gal in black tank. Propane tanks full. Would have to add clothes and food but drop 20 gallons of fresh water and 10 gallons of grey so should be about the same. Everything else is already in there.
 

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A hemi 3.92 will be fine. Watch your payload. Are you looking for a fancy truck or just a tow truck?

What you can do is search dealer inventory for different trims and take the VIN and drop it in RAMtrucks.com to see towing and payload.

Right away with a WDH your payload will drop about 720lbs. 650 for trailer and 70 for WDH, both of these number will vary. Then add you, your travel partner and any other stuff you will add into the truck. That all comes off payload.

A quick search shows a BigHorn with 3.92, 33 gallon gas tank with payload of 1618 and towing over 11k lbs.

So a decently optioned Big Horn with v8, 3.92, and 33 gallon tank you should be ready to go
 

ramffml

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The ram with highest rated towing is a 2wd quad cab and 6'4" bed with 5.7 hemi etorque and 3.92. That gives you 12,700 pounds of towing.

The problem is that for towing RV's, you'll never exceed trailer weight or GCWR, you'll exceed payload first. So stick with a tradesman or big horn and keep the heavy features off, like Etorque, panaromic sunroof, ram boxes. Some features do reduce payload but help with towing, like 4x4 and the 32 gallon tank so it's a trade off there.

I have a 4x4 bighorn with 3.21. My max trailer weight is about 8200 pounds IIRC, but my available payload is 1750 which is way above average for Ram halftons. Considering RV's typically run at 12 to 13 percent tongue weight, 8200 * 0.13 = 1,066. So say by the time I add my hitch I'm at 1100 pounds, that leaves 650 pounds for passengers + cargo in the truck. IMHO this is a perfect balance of GCWR and Payload. Both will max out at roughly the same time.

Worth noting that I have the 3.21 gears. Adding the 3.92 would give me another 3100 pounds of GVWR according to Ram. That's a paper win only. On the city, or passing on the freeway, or holding steady at 65 mph, there is no difference between the two trucks and both will feel 100% identical in terms of (passing) power because the transmission just runs in one lower gear, completely cancelling out the 3.92. The 3.92 gets you started from a dead stop quicker/easier. Once you're moving and shifted out of first/second, the 3.92 has no advantage anymore.

So to answer your question: you get the highest towing with the most basic truck and the 3.92 gears. Every feature you add, adds weight and cuts down on your payload. Payload matters more than GCWR as you will exceed payload long before you exceed GCWR. Some people ignore payload and focus on Rear axle weight rating only. It's the same idea, you will probably hit the RAWR before GCWR.
 

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It’s actually 6500 fresh water tank full, grey water 10 gal and 10 gal in black tank. Propane tanks full. Would have to add clothes and food but drop 20 gallons of fresh water and 10 gallons of grey so should be about the same. Everything else is already in there.
Something that is as important as the weight is the length of the travel trailer. Length is often the deal killer for 1/2 tons without a high end weight distribution hitch. How long is your trailer?
 

JerryETX

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Worth noting that I have the 3.21 gears. Adding the 3.92 would give me another 3100 pounds of GVWR according to Ram. That's a paper win only. On the city, or passing on the freeway, or holding steady at 65 mph, there is no difference between the two trucks and both will feel 100% identical in terms of (passing) power because the transmission just runs in one lower gear, completely cancelling out the 3.92.
You and I will have to agree to disagree.

Final drive ratios with 3.21

1st. 15.12, 2nd. 10.10, 3rd. 6.74, 4th. 5.36, 5th. 4.14, 6th. 3.21, 7th. 2.70, 8th. 2.15, R 10.6

Final drive ratios with 3.92

1st. 18.46, 2nd. 12.31, 3rd. 8.23, 4th. 6.55, 5th. 5.06, 6th. 3.92, 7th. 3.29, 8th. 2.62, R 12.94

The 3:92 clearly outperforms the 3:21 on the highway. This will be magnified with heavier loads.
 

ramffml

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You and I will have to agree to disagree.

Final drive ratios with 3.21

1st. 15.12, 2nd. 10.10, 3rd. 6.74, 4th. 5.36, 5th. 4.14, 6th. 3.21, 7th. 2.70, 8th. 2.15, R 10.6

Final drive ratios with 3.92

1st. 18.46, 2nd. 12.31, 3rd. 8.23, 4th. 6.55, 5th. 5.06, 6th. 3.92, 7th. 3.29, 8th. 2.62, R 12.94

The 3:92 clearly outperforms the 3:21 on the highway. This will be magnified with heavier loads.

You are correct that the gear ratios are different when the transmission are in the same gear, but that's not what matters. What matters is that the transmissions can be in different gears at the same speed. The best example of this:

3.21 in 6th = 3.21
3.92 in 7th = 3.2144 (8hp75) or 3.29 (8hp70)

Those are "identical" gears, just means the 3.21 is in a lower numerical transmission gear but the MPH and RPMs will be identical at that point.

Similar idea across 5th vs 6th, 4th vs 5th etc.

Basically the transmission completely negates the 3.92. It doesn't matter whether you multiply 2 x 4 to get to 8, or 4 x 2 to get to 8. What matters is you have a final value of 8. Same thing with transmission and rear axle, you need both to get your gear ratio, and increasing the physical size of either gear has the same effect.
 

JerryETX

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You are correct that the gear ratios are different when the transmission are in the same gear, but that's not what matters. What matters is that the transmissions can be in different gears at the same speed. The best example of this:

3.21 in 6th = 3.21
3.92 in 7th = 3.2144 (8hp75) or 3.29 (8hp70)

Those are "identical" gears, just means the 3.21 is in a lower numerical transmission gear but the MPH and RPMs will be identical at that point.

Similar idea across 5th vs 6th, 4th vs 5th etc.

Basically the transmission completely negates the 3.92. It doesn't matter whether you multiply 2 x 4 to get to 8, or 4 x 2 to get to 8. What matters is you have a final value of 8. Same thing with transmission and rear axle, you need both to get your gear ratio, and increasing the physical size of either gear has the same effect.
If what you're saying is true why would all vehicle manufactures increase truck towing power with the lower gear ratio? Guess they area all wrong lol.
 

ramffml

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If what you're saying is true why would all vehicle manufactures increase truck towing power with the lower gear ratio? Guess they area all wrong lol.

Because there is a difference from a dead stop. That's when both trucks are in first gear, and obviously the 3.92 has the edge. The transmission can't downshift any further to help the 3.21.

The question is ... how much time do you spend towing in first gear? Me personally, I tow about 6000 to 7000 pounds and have never once thought I need more power in first gear. I would love more power on "on ramps" merging onto the freeway, or when passing a trucker, or when cruising up a grade. In all those scenarios, the 3.92 will have 0 advantage over the 3.21 because the two trucks will just be in a different transmission gear.

That's why I said it's a "paper win". No doubt the math proves the 3.92 can tow more from a dead stop, or if you're trying to race your buddy at a stoplight towing a trailer. But in terms of practical real life advantage, and how much time you actually can use the 3.92, it's not the advantage many people think it is.

And when you're not towing, which like me is 95% of the time, I get to use my 3.21 in 8th gear. My truck literally lives in 8th, I'm in a rural area.

So do the math; how much time will your truck spend in first gear towing, vs how much time will your truck spend in 8th gear.

The other advantage of 3.92 is if you run bigger tires, or want to offroad.
 

JerryETX

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Because there is a difference from a dead stop. That's when both trucks are in first gear, and obviously the 3.92 has the edge. The transmission can't downshift any further to help the 3.21.

The question is ... how much time do you spend towing in first gear? Me personally, I tow about 6000 to 7000 pounds and have never once thought I need more power in first gear. I would love more power on "on ramps" merging onto the freeway, or when passing a trucker, or when cruising up a grade. In all those scenarios, the 3.92 will have 0 advantage over the 3.21 because the two trucks will just be in a different transmission gear.

That's why I said it's a "paper win". No doubt the math proves the 3.92 can tow more from a dead stop, or if you're trying to race your buddy at a stoplight towing a trailer. But in terms of practical real life advantage, and how much time you actually can use the 3.92, it's not the advantage many people think it is.

And when you're not towing, which like me is 95% of the time, I get to use my 3.21 in 8th gear. My truck literally lives in 8th, I'm in a rural area.

So do the math; how much time will your truck spend in first gear towing, vs how much time will your truck spend in 8th gear.

The other advantage of 3.92 is if you run bigger tires, or want to offroad.
Again we'll have to agree to disagree.
 
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OLEJOE

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Something that is as important as the weight is the length of the travel trailer. Length is often the deal killer for 1/2 tons without a high end weight distribution hitch. How long is your trailer?
The trailer is 28 feet bumper to hitch and I do have a WDH. With 1000 lbs tongue weight and 400 lbs for my wife and myself, looks like cargo weight capabilities over 15-1600 lbs it should be doable.
 
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OLEJOE

OLEJOE

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You are correct that the gear ratios are different when the transmission are in the same gear, but that's not what matters. What matters is that the transmissions can be in different gears at the same speed. The best example of this:

3.21 in 6th = 3.21
3.92 in 7th = 3.2144 (8hp75) or 3.29 (8hp70)

Those are "identical" gears, just means the 3.21 is in a lower numerical transmission gear but the MPH and RPMs will be identical at that point.

Similar idea across 5th vs 6th, 4th vs 5th etc.

Basically the transmission completely negates the 3.92. It doesn't matter whether you multiply 2 x 4 to get to 8, or 4 x 2 to get to 8. What matters is you have a final value of 8. Same thing with transmission and rear axle, you need both to get your gear ratio, and increasing the physical size of either gear has the same effect.
I understand what you are saying about the gearing. I live in a rural area also but rarely drive the interstate or run 70 mph or faster. So I don’t think the 3.92 would hamper my mileage too adversely. As far as local terrain goes, my 2500 with 3.73’s won’t hold 8th gear at 70 on the interstate. Thanks to everyone for the replies.
 

Farmer Fran

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The trailer is 28 feet bumper to hitch and I do have a WDH. With 1000 lbs tongue weight and 400 lbs for my wife and myself, looks like cargo weight capabilities over 15-1600 lbs it should be doable.
Can you shift some weight behind the trailer axles? Free up some tongue weight, if you need to
 

JerryETX

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The trailer is 28 feet bumper to hitch and I do have a WDH. With 1000 lbs tongue weight and 400 lbs for my wife and myself, looks like cargo weight capabilities over 15-1600 lbs it should be doable.
Gotcha in my opinion you are near the top of the limits for a half ton. The 1500 with the 5.7 will tow it fine down the highway but with that length your weight distribution hitch matters a lot more than with a shorter trailer specifically with the type of hitch you have. Worst case you may need to upgrade your wd hitch if you find the trailer is pushing the truck around in windy conditions and/or when being passed by a high profile vehicle. I definitely would not consider anything other than 3:92. Also if you find your pushing the payload limits add an additional leaf spring (Hellwig has a bolt on model that will help with the squat).

I had a 28' travel trailer very similar to yours in weight and went with a cheap wd hitch similar to a Husky. I pulled it with a F150 3.5 Ecoboost. The engine had more than enough power. The truck would get pushed around in wind and stopping felt sketchy. I switched to a Weigh Safe wd hitch and all the sway, pushing the truck around, sketchy stopping went away.
 
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OLEJOE

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Gotcha in my opinion you are near the top of the limits for a half ton. The 1500 with the 5.7 will tow it fine down the highway but with that length your weight distribution hitch matters a lot more than with a shorter trailer specifically with the type of hitch you have. Worst case you may need to upgrade your wd hitch if you find the trailer is pushing the truck around in windy conditions and/or when being passed by a high profile vehicle. I definitely would not consider anything other than 3:92. Also if you find your pushing the payload limits add an additional leaf spring (Hellwig has a bolt on model that will help with the squat).

I had a 28' travel trailer very similar to yours in weight and went with a cheap wd hitch similar to a Husky. I pulled it with a F150 3.5 Ecoboost. The engine had more than enough power. The truck would get pushed around in wind and stopping felt sketchy. I switched to a Weigh Safe wd hitch and all the sway, pushing the truck around, sketchy stopping went away.
It getting pushed around is my main concern. The trailer would be heavier than the truck. As of right now my truck is heavier. Plus I would have to order the truck since none are available with the specs that I want. I think it’s kinda crappy that the larger fuel tank is not available in the max tow package. Thanks again for all the replies.
 

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