Max towing, for real...

nlambert182 said:

I see this a lot with folks who have 2500s and want to tow a 40'+ fifth wheel.

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Yep, 2500s w/5th wheels and 1500s with travel trailers are the biggest offenders by far. Probably the same people who bought a bigger truck with the 5th but are still one size under... LOL.

mtofell said:

Yep, 2500s w/5th wheels and 1500s with travel trailers are the biggest offenders by far. Probably the same people who bought a bigger truck with the 5th but are still one size under... LOL.

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They listened to the RV salesman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Randy Grant said:

Bumper pulls are dangerous. Especially for the inexperienced.

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I don't think they are any more dangerous than a 5th wheel trailer. I've towed various size bumper pull trails for years including a flatbed car hauler hauling a fullsize and heavy off-road truck. Total weight was 9,000+ lbs. and towed it for years using a Chevy 2500HD that was factory rated for 9,900 lbs. towing. Never used any WDH or sway control, just had the weight distributed properly based on the look of the truck and load (squat, front end rise, etc...). It towed great and would run 70 mph down the freeway and many miles on backcountry curvy roads. To be honest didn't feel significantly different than just driving the empty truck. Now granted the issues you get into with bumper pulls is not really from the weight, but rather from those really long camper trailers and such.

Random_Walk said:

Any pull by any method is dangerous for the inexperienced, the neglectful, the ignorant, and the stupid.

(and yes, going over max tow is stupid, full-stop.)

I recall being stupid and going way over max tow long ago, mostly because I didn't know any better. I had stupidly assumed that because it was (a 70's-era) F-250, a 35' dual-axle custom-renovated trailer was no problem, in spite of it probably being way over its own GVWR (because I customized it with no regard for weight, including adding larger capacity fresh and gray/black tanks and welding extra braces in place for them, adding a full-sized queen bed, etc).

I obviously survived it, but I still fully remember the stress of having to mind the thing's tendency to sway, as well as the fact that I could drain a pair of 30 gallon gas tanks in pretty short order as that 70s-era 460cid v8 strained like mad to keep it all in motion. I never really connected the fact that the reason the motor was overworked was because the whole thing was overloaded. One pothole, one failed brake magnet, one idiot cutting me off on the freeway, or any unexpected winds? I would've certainly wrecked it. I had just assumed that was the way it is with any tow.

Compare and contrast that mess against this past month, where I towed my new TT home. I counted every ounce before I bought my new (2022) NoBo 19.2, and towing it home was no issue at all. No squat even with no WDH, it tracks beautifully, and the peppy little six-banger had no issue with pulling the trailer over twisty, poorly-maintained mountain roads as I brought it home. Even the massive incline on OR-30 coming up out of Rainier, OR was no big deal, and I could accelerate as I went up that thing. Mind that the trailer's GVWR is 400lb higher than my max tow, but I am zealous about how much weight I pack into the thing (to the point where I'll offload a lot of weight into the bed of the truck, since I still have ~1000lb of spare post-tongue payload margin there.) To my dealer's awesome credit, they put up a custom printed sticker on the door jamb that lists the updated/post-options dry weight and capacities.

But, spoiler alert, 5th-Wheel and Gooseneck towing can get just as tricky at times, and just as dangerous. You do get inherent bigger margins of error to play with in those cases, and it'll feel easier, but because you're playing with bigger weights, you end up with smaller net margins for error once you start pushing those weight limits... you just get to play with higher limits is all.

To summarize - towing is a helluva lot more complex than it looks, and, TL;DR, every ounce counts.

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62Blazer said:

I don't think they are any more dangerous than a 5th wheel trailer. I've towed various size bumper pull trails for years including a flatbed car hauler hauling a fullsize and heavy off-road truck. Total weight was 9,000+ lbs. and towed it for years using a Chevy 2500HD that was factory rated for 9,900 lbs. towing. Never used any WDH or sway control, just had the weight distributed properly based on the look of the truck and load (squat, front end rise, etc...). It towed great and would run 70 mph down the freeway and many miles on backcountry curvy roads. To be honest didn't feel significantly different than just driving the empty truck. Now granted the issues you get into with bumper pulls is not really from the weight, but rather from those really long camper trailers and such.

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Exactly. When talking about an RV bumper pull, especially the over 30" variety, big truck and side wind, and evasive maneuvers, cause loss of control/tail wagging the dog scenarios really fast. I have pulled my share of them in highway conditions, and and vigilance and situational awareness are paramount. Most new towers have no ide of the amount of concentration needed, and even a small lapse will get them in trouble. I lived by the trailer brake and never had any problems, but a fiver is so much more relaxing of a tow. Even so, you have to anticipate and drive ten car lengths ahead.

I tow as part of my job, I wouldn't say bumper pulls are any more dangerous than a 5er but they are more prevalent and more easily towed so the inexperienced have better access to them. I've probably put 60k miles on our '07 Duramax ECSB pulling our 28' bumper pull car trailer at work and never had any issues with it, I've always done what 62Blazer said and just used some common sense when loading. No WDH or anything and the only time it ever got a little squirrely on me was when we put on some fresh AT tires. Now we have our '23 Ram 3500 dually and just picked up a 38' goose but it really doesn't tow any different other than being more maneuverable.

The big thing that gets people in trouble is not driving far enough ahead of them. The guys loaded wrong and running 75+ and only a couple car lengths behind the guy in front are asking for trouble. I'll run 70-75 (depending on the load) but I'm always looking wayyy out in front and planning my moves way in advance.

I have pulled 5th wheels with my last 2500, the key was that we were well within all specs and after PA it was always pretty flat. It can be done and done well, just know the capacities and actual weights all the way around.

To get back on topic, I think we ALL agree the OP should not attempt to tow the 5er in question with his V6 1500 Ram. And to add, there are plenty of tag-a-long trailers the truck should not tow either.
Thanks for asking, come again.

The hitch guy lied to you.

Sorry but No. That would be way over the payload limit.

RAMblin_Man said:

Hey guys, I've seen in the specs that my 2012 1500 ST 3.7L V6 2WD (recently bought, used) has a towing capacity of about 3800lbs. I've only towed a light 15' pontoon boat with it so far, but I have a 5th wheel travel trailer, and a guy at the local hitch shop told me my truck could tow the 5th wheel. I'd love for that to be true, but I'm skeptical. The 5th wheel camper weighs about 10,400lbs. Has anyone here tried towing that much weight with a vehicle like mine? How much is the max you have towed with it? Thanks.

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There's a "funny" vid of a small European car with a Caravan (camper) attached being pulled downhill by the trailer while the driver tries desperately to regain some control. It may be a joke and it may not be but that's the first thing that came to mind with this.

Our 2016 RAM 1500 REBEL has a 10,200 (IIRC) with the tall gears (3.92?) and a 5.7L HEMI.

Our trailer is about 7,000lbs all-in.

With a tailwind we're hovering at about 17L/100KM consumption while a crosswind pushes that up to about 24L/100KM. We've seen that hovering at 40L/100KM when punching a headwind.

My brother in-law with his Outdoorsman and a 6.4L can haul his 5th wheel and a boat attached to that (legal in Saskatchewan, Canada) and gets around 19L/100KM. I'm unsure of the gearing on his truck but he does way better than we do with our 5.7L.

We've picked up a Prospector Tent for our excursions. No more trailer given where we are planning to go in Alberta's BackCountry.

RAMblin_Man said:

Hey guys, I've seen in the specs that my 2012 1500 ST 3.7L V6 2WD (recently bought, used) has a towing capacity of about 3800lbs. I've only towed a light 15' pontoon boat with it so far, but I have a 5th wheel travel trailer, and a guy at the local hitch shop told me my truck could tow the 5th wheel. I'd love for that to be true, but I'm skeptical. The 5th wheel camper weighs about 10,400lbs. Has anyone here tried towing that much weight with a vehicle like mine? How much is the max you have towed with it? Thanks.

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Wow. Even my 2007 Volvo XC90 can tow 5000lbs.

Very dangerous! Way past your specs! If you don't kill yourself you will certainly kill that truck.

Andrei20 said:

Wow. Even my 2007 Volvo XC90 can tow 5000lbs.

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Your 2007 volvo does NOT follow the J2807 standard for tow ratings. Volvo throws a dart at the wall and says "yeah this number looks great!" and there is no comparison.

If you tried the combination you are talking about, you will be exceeding what the truck is rated at. 1) Will the truck be able to stop (control) the rig in a max-braking situation? 2) How will the motor be able to handle the load going into a headwind or going uphill? 3) If you were to ever not be able to stop in time and happen to hit someone, if there were to be an investigation and the officer sees that you are way overloaded, guess who will be responsible for and damage or injuries? Is it worth it??

The closest story I can think of is my 2002 1500 Silverado, I bought a small fifth wheel 24' that dry weight was 5,600 lbs. I had a transmission cooler installed along with air bags with 3.73 rear end and this was pushing the extremes of the truck.

The simplest answer to can I tow this is to ask this question: "Is your truck a 1500 and is the camper a fifth wheel?" If the answer to both is yes, then the answer is NO.

There might be a unicorn here or there that "could" slip below the numbers on paper, but don't do it. Size the truck and trailer properly and allow margin for error. Save a buck somewhere else, but not here.

gofishn said:

catch up, beside him , at yet another red light. get his attention and ask him tp pul over as he was dangerous.
His rigs were setup incorrectly.

Will NEVER forget his response.

In the most upper crust, priviledge British type of attitude, possible, from an American.

I;ve been towing for over 20 years, this setup, right hre, for 5 years, I think I know what i am doing.

Well, hate to tell ya, m8ee, one look and it's obvious, to all, you are dumb as a stump.
Please, by all means, carry on.

Someday, I expect to see him on the Darwin Awards listings.

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Hold on, did you really try and pull a person over? You can't actually be the police as much as you want to force your "knowledge" on other people. You're going to get yourself killed.

mike_james_alt said:

Hold on, did you really try and pull a person over? You can't actually be the police as much as you want to force your "knowledge" on other people. You're going to get yourself killed.

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Not a Cop.
Just being 'Iowa Nice'.
It's a Thing.
Google it.

My guess is the other guy was an Out-of-State Transplant.
Not a Native.

All I did 'do', was pull up, along side, in the other lane, at a stop sign, roll down the window and talked to him.

Not uncommon here, if you got an issue, for folks, to pull up alongside and tell you, what it is.
Brake Lights most common. No yearly Auto Inspections.
Low tires are another.

Going to the grocery store, just last week. An older guy, older than me even, had a flat tire.
Said it had slow leak and he forgot about it. was bit cold, so I told him to go inside,
get a cup and I'd be back in a jiff, with my compressor.

less than 5 minutes later, I pull back in. 2 much younger, healthier, guys come walking out, with him.

One of those tiny floor jacks, sitting by the tire.

They'd notice they issue, talked with the guy. had the $25 K-mart jack, in the trunk
and if I wasn't back in 10, they were going to change it out, put on the spare.

They pumped it up, with my compressor and then followed him to the tire shop.
Since I was now running tight, on time, but still need to pick up a prescription,
I left my new truck, unlocked, and asked if they'd toss the compressor in, when done.


..

Typing all this up, reminded me.

Had a guy follow me directly home, once.

Followed me for a couple of miles, turning with me, before I noticed.

Thought about stopping, when I realized he as following me,
to see if I had a problem, but too close to home, where I could fix anything.

Pull in my driveway and got out.
So doe he, and, sure enough, a brake light was out.

Never thought anything of it, other than, I probably got a vehicle issue.



..

Answer your original question.
Yes, I have waved/pulled people over, doing 70mph, down the interstate.

Pull up alongside, honk the horn and wave my arms like I'm having a Seizure.
Never, not once, did anyone, not pull over and stop.

Actually have a sign, in my center console, with my phone number, in huge letters, now.
Sign's easier, Works like a Charm.
If they can fix it, on their own, then I just drive on.
If not, I will stop & help.

Had people follow me home, so we could fix the problem.
Left them, on roadside, went home and got whatever, and fixed it there.
Hauled them to the store, so they could buy whatever, to fix issue.

After that Tammy Zywiki Murder.
In a pouring down thunderstorm.
Truckers talking about this lone person walking along interstate
but all bundled up, against the cold and rain.

If it was a girl, they'd stop but could not tell.
I stopped and was college Girl, cars dead, on the Interstate.
Heading to my hometown. 100 miles away.

We drove back, 30 miles, to Iowa City, where she rented a U-haul trailer.
Loaded up her car with a Come-along I carry & towed it to Dealership,
near my home & her College.

Dropped trailer off, at local U-haul.
Dropped her off, at her College Dorm.

Poor Girl was terrified. This happened, couple years after Tammy Zywiki had been killed.
I knew nothing about it but saw this girl was very uncomfortable, accepting help and just being in the truck.
She told me the story.

I told had her use my cell phone, they were pretty rare, back then.
Call 9111.
Tell them what's going on and read off my Drivers License, to them.

Didn't think anything about, what if something happens to this girl, they are gonna come after me.
Never entered my head. Only thought was make this child comfortable.

When she got home, she called them and said she was safe at her Sorority.
She thought of calling the cops again. I never considered it, at all.


..


Holy Moly.

I've drank too much coffee, this morning.

ramffml said:

Your 2007 volvo does NOT follow the J2807 standard for tow ratings. Volvo throws a dart at the wall and says "yeah this number looks great!" and there is no comparison.

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I would trust my old Volvo more than anything American made. Being driven all year round, and we have 6 months of winter here with snow and salt on the roads, it has less rust than my 2016 Ram 3500.
And my Mercedes GL350 is rated at 7500lbs. I towed my 6300lb camper with it with no weight distribution hitch of any sorts with no problems, very easy and stable on the road. I just bought a brake controller for it, which was a plug and play thing, and I was good to go. So it's more like the Americans shoot darts here, can't make their mind of what a pickup is rated for.

Andrei20 said:

I would trust my old Volvo more than anything American made. Being driven all year round, and we have 6 months of winter here with snow and salt on the roads, it has less rust than my 2016 Ram 3500.
And my Mercedes GL350 is rated at 7500lbs. I towed my 6300lb camper with it with no stabilizer hitch with no problems, very easy and stable on the road. I just bought a brake controller for it, which was a plug and play thing, and I was good to go. So it's more like the Americans shoot darts here, can't make their mind of what a pickup is rated for.

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That's nonsense. Around 2014, every truck sold in the USA (Ford, GMC, Chevy, Tundra, Titan) follow the same J2807 standard for towing.