Best 1/2 ton configuration for towing

OLEJOE · Oct 4, 2022

Farmer Fran said:
Can you shift some weight behind the trailer axles? Free up some tongue weight, if you need to

I dumped some of the fresh water out. I forgot I had it full when I went and weighed it so the tongue weight should have dropped to about 850-900. I could put some of the tools I carry in the bed of the truck when traveling or set the hitch up differently and get a little more distributed. The trailer axle is already higher than the truck so that would probably make it a little squirrelier. With the truck I have now my gross is 14,400 but the truck weighs 7800. We haven’t been able to travel since I got the truck in 21’.

Farmer Fran · Oct 4, 2022

OLEJOE said:
I dumped some of the fresh water out. I forgot I had it full when I went and weighed it so the tongue weight should have dropped to about 850-900. I could put some of the tools I carry in the bed of the truck when traveling or set the hitch up differently and get a little more distributed. The trailer axle is already higher than the truck so that would probably make it a little squirrelier. With the truck I have now my gross is 14,400 but the truck weighs 7800. We haven’t been able to travel since I got the truck in 21’.

When I had my 34' 289RK. I would load behind the rear axles of the trailer to lighten the tongue. And anything i could get out of the truck into the trailer was a plus. I think you should be fine with yours

RodRamCar · Oct 4, 2022

Irishthreeper said:
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

isn't this setup (which I have as well) max rated for 1100 lbs tongue weight as a Class IV hitch receiver? correct me if i'm wrong

Farmer Fran · Oct 4, 2022

For those that tow and will tow

Here are a few pics of my (previous) trailer. Dutchmen Denali 289RK Pic 1 is a 2013 1500 Express 2x4 with Hemi and 3.92 Pic 2 is a 2017 1500 Laramie 4x4 with Hemi and 3.92

www.ramforum.com

OLEJOE · Oct 4, 2022

Farmer Fran said:
For those that tow and will tow

Here are a few pics of my (previous) trailer. Dutchmen Denali 289RK Pic 1 is a 2013 1500 Express 2x4 with Hemi and 3.92 Pic 2 is a 2017 1500 Laramie 4x4 with Hemi and 3.92

www.ramforum.com

How did the 4x2 do? Is that why you went with the 4x4 later? Last year when we had our CTD it was a 4x4 but I only used it 1 time to get in to a camp site that was on the side of a hill and in deep gravel. I’ve tried my new truck and it does a lot better backing up small hills with the gas burners.

Irishthreeper · Oct 4, 2022

RodRamCar said:
isn't this setup (which I have as well) max rated for 1100 lbs tongue weight as a Class IV hitch receiver? correct me if i'm wrong

I was thinking the class IV hitch was rated at 1,000 lbs but close enough, I’d say. I have a ‘21 2500 6.4 and 4.10’s now for my 5W. Love the truck but miss the 1500 acceleration and handling.

Farmer Fran · Oct 4, 2022

OLEJOE said:
How did the 4x2 do? Is that why you went with the 4x4 later? Last year when we had our CTD it was a 4x4 but I only used it 1 time to get in to a camp site that was on the side of a hill and in deep gravel. I’ve tried my new truck and it does a lot better backing up small hills with the gas burners.

My trucks are daily drivers. While we do not get much bad weather here in south central NC, I grew up in the mid-atlantic and know that 1 time you need it, it is priceless.

So basically, paranoia LOL! The Express was badass!!! And I never got stuck. But never got into a position where it would get stuck either.

OLEJOE · Oct 4, 2022

I had to use mine 1 other time when we got a snow and ice storm here. Was glad I had it then. Lasted about a week.

JerryETX · Oct 5, 2022

OLEJOE said:
I had to use mine 1 other time when we got a snow and ice storm here. Was glad I had it then. Lasted about a week.

I think this is the case for the majority of 4x4's on the road. Unless you are a farmer, rancher, hunter, drive in the sand a lot or do a lot of off roading they don't get used much. I have to engage my 4 wheel drive every other month or so just to keep the oil mixed up because in the year I've owned the truck I've never needed it. But as mentioned when you need 4 wheel drive it's awesome to have. Now 4x4 is about a $4k option if buying brand new. Lots of money!

runamuck · Oct 5, 2022

My travel trailer is 28' and 6000#. my 1500 laramie tows it fine. I added air bags to the rear and run 25# when towing. I changed out the sway bar to the Helwig and I run a few more pounds air in the tires when towing. I have the 3.92 rear end on mine and would not have anything taller if you plan to tow very often. I get 8.5-10 towing if I stay under 70. I have towed it from The DFW area to south dakota and back and recently to woodland park,co. and back with no trouble. you should be good to go. just pack the truck light. mine only has 1324# cargo cap. I use 4wd auto in heavy rain and every winter when we go up to the mountains to snow ski. even if you dont use it much it's worth having and you will get some of the cost back at trade time.

JerryETX · Oct 5, 2022

runamuck said:
My travel trailer is 28' and 6000#. my 1500 laramie tows it fine. I added air bags to the rear and run 25# when towing. I changed out the sway bar to the Helwig and I run a few more pounds air in the tires when towing. I have the 3.92 rear end on mine and would not have anything taller if you plan to tow very often. I get 8.5-10 towing if I stay under 70. I have towed it from The DFW area to south dakota and back and recently to woodland park,co. and back with no trouble. you should be good to go. just pack the truck light. mine only has 1324# cargo cap. I use 4wd auto in heavy rain and every winter when we go up to the mountains to snow ski. even if you dont use it much it's worth having and you will get some of the cost back at trade time.

Swapping out the factory sway bar to a beefier one like runamuck mentioned in my opinion helps a lot. If I were to go back to a half ton I would add Hellwig front and rear sway bars. Lots of folks run air bags which work great but another option is to add a leaf spring. Hellwig has a bolt on 2000 lbs. capacity leaf spring that bolts on top of your existing leaf springs. The added leaf spring helps with payload issues and is a little less hassle.

OLEJOE · Oct 5, 2022

I run mine in 4x4 every so often but I do zero off roading. I hunt on my own property and use my 4 wheeler for that. Now days mostly going to the gym, grocery store, or/and dr visits which is why I was thinking more about down sizing to a half ton. I think it’s doable but wanted to see what others have and what works. Thanks for your replies. It has helped.

BrianKC · Oct 6, 2022

JerryETX said:
Swapping out the factory sway bar to a beefier one like runamuck mentioned in my opinion helps a lot. If I were to go back to a half ton I would add Hellwig front and rear sway bars. Lots of folks run air bags which work great but another option is to add a leaf spring. Hellwig has a bolt on 2000 lbs. capacity leaf spring that bolts on top of your existing leaf springs. The added leaf spring helps with payload issues and is a little less hassle.

This comment on the leaf springs confuses me. I can see this working on an F-150, but the Ram 1500 has a coil spring suspension, not leaf springs.

BWL · Oct 6, 2022

Hemi with 3.92 gears is the highest rated for towing, but this is the best towing configuration for a half ton.

BrianKC · Oct 6, 2022

ramffml said:
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.

The problem with your example and your gear ratio calculations is that, although the final gear ratio may end up the same, the distribution of stresses on the components of the drive train are entirely different. Simply put, the torque that the driveshaft needs to apply to the 3.21 axle is substantially higher than required for the 3.92 for the same towing load. That impacts the loading on everything from the axle forward. And that, of course, is why the 3.92 rear axle provides a higher towing capacity.

JerryETX · Oct 6, 2022

BrianKC said:
This comment on the leaf springs confuses me. I can see this working on an F-150, but the Ram 1500 has a coil spring suspension, not leaf springs.

Wow you're right not sure how I missed that. That was bad! I sure thought I saw a set on Hellwig's site for a newer Ram 1500 but that obviously wasn't the case.

OP sorry for the misinformation!

Riccochet · Oct 6, 2022

I had two 1500's previously for towing my 31' TT at around 8000# loaded. On the second truck I did air bags, helwig sway bars front and rear, higher load rated tires on the truck and trailer, 3.92 gears. All said and done I still wasn't happy with how it towed. The tail could wag the dog too easily.

2500 solved that. Just my opinion. More truck is never a bad thing when towing heavy. Fuel economy between the two is a wash.

ramffml · Oct 6, 2022

BrianKC said:
Simply put, the torque that the driveshaft needs to apply to the 3.21 axle is substantially higher than required for the 3.92 for the same towing load.

No it's not. If I'm towing in 6th gear with the 3.21, my gear ratio is 3.21. If a 3.92 is towing the same load, his equivalent transmission gear is 7th at 3.2144 (8hp75).

In fact, I'm towing in "direct gear" (6th) which has a transmission ratio of "1", whereas he's towing in overdrive with a ratio of "0.84". I'd be more worried about that, if there are any stresses that are not equivalent in this scenario it'd be that the 3.92 would be towing more often in an overdrive gear whereas mine would be less inclined to tow there.

But ask yourself how often you see any sort of drive train related posts on these forums. They never pop up. Nobody replaces their rear end gears or their drive shaft or even their transmission.

In short, it's a complete non issue. If you're towing that kind of load that often where it might become a problem, you're really in the wrong truck and should be driving a 2500 anyway.

Farmer Fran · Oct 6, 2022

I know every situation is different but I never had any issue towing my Denali 1000s of miles with my stock 1500

JerryETX · Oct 6, 2022

Riccochet said:
I had two 1500's previously for towing my 31' TT at around 8000# loaded. On the second truck I did air bags, helwig sway bars front and rear, higher load rated tires on the truck and trailer, 3.92 gears. All said and done I still wasn't happy with how it towed. The tail could wag the dog too easily.

2500 solved that. Just my opinion. More truck is never a bad thing when towing heavy. Fuel economy between the two is a wash.

Riccochet curious what weight distribution hitch were you using towing your TT with that 1500?

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