Essential Aftermarket Towing Accessories

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CraveWave

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Jul 24, 2017
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Ram Year
2016
Engine
Hemi 5.7
For trailer pulling I added Equal-I-Zer w/Sway Control hitch, Timber Grove Rear Airbags, Hellwig Sway Bar, and 10 ply tires.

if you have a heavy hitch weight the 1500 springs are too soft for the WDH to return to a proper hitch height. The airbags serve to provide a stiffer rear suspension. That said, I'm overkill for safety and for the 1500's tow capacities, one probably doesn't need the bags. But if loading the bed to capacity the bags are a necessity.
This is exactly what I did! It towed perfect. Timber Grove Rear bags are awesome for hauling and towing other trailers also. As others said I loved the Hellwig sway bar even when not towing!

That being said... my 1500 would heat up pulling up steep hills. I decided I tow enough to move up to 2500 Cummins. I'm not sure the truck knows 8500 pounds of trailer is back there!
 

Panduh

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Saint Augustine, FL
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5.7 hemi
My 2016 1500 hemi is similar to your 2020 but it's 2WD and has the 3:92 drive and factory brake controller. It tows a 29 ft., 6400 lb. TT beautifully with just a good WDH (Centerline). A WDH is ESSENTIAL and will solve many problems: overloaded rear axle, sway, squat, poor handling, etc. You don't need air bags for a sub-6k lb. trailer, IMO. But get on CAT scales to confirm all is well AFTER you think you're properly set up.
 

Hobobob

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Location
Polson, MT
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2021 2500 Big Horn
Engine
Hemi 6.4
When I had my 1500, I installed the Air Lift 1000 bags. Towed for 3 years with no problem. Bags worked great for the sag I had even with the Equalizer. Tongue weight on a Lance 2375 trailer was pushing 1000 lbs depending on how many propane bottles I hauled along with front storage compartment. Get the bags.
 

Willie Mosher

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Location
Las Vegas Nevada
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2018
Engine
6.4 gas
This big problem I see 3.21 gears
I think you’re going to need minimum of 3.55 if you live on the east side of US,
If lived west coast or on Rock your gone need 3.92 or 3/4 gas truck,
 

Ramfanski

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Michigan
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2022
Engine
5.7 hemi
I tried the airlift 1000, didn't like them. Even at 5 psi they change the unloaded ride quality, and reducing that even further just caused squeaking noises and eventually they would fail due to the membrane rubbing on the coil. Worst of all, they did not fix my porposing. They were ripped out after 2 trips (literally ripped, just stuck a knife in them and yanked them out in pieces with a pliers).

Not a fan of them. I think the danger of using them is that an inexperienced driver can visually correct an imbalanced load without actually correcting the imbalance. If you use them in addition to a properly setup WDH, just to tweak the height a little bit, fine, but you shouldn't need to use them. Neeeding to use them is a sign that you got something off somewhere.

I am a fan of the hellwig, I have mine set to the stiffest setting year round. Never towed without it so I can't compare stock towing experience there. I just prefer the cornering ability now.

My preference is to use a WDH only, to correct an imbalance. If you're using a WDH and still sagging crazy amounts, then you just need a bigger truck or your WDH needs adjusting or your trailer is loaded hitch heavy etc, very easy to see what's going on that way.

A little sag is perfectly fine, that's the entire point of the factory rake on these trucks.

I also found that the Anderson fixed my porposing, whereas the husky centerline did not.

My pair of pennies.
I am looking at the Anderson wdh without air bags. I keep reading that the equalizer is much better at distributing weight than the Anderson, but not as good at stopping sway and porpoising.

How does the Anderson do for you with distributing weight forward? How big a trailer do you tow with it?
 

ramffml

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ramforum
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2019
Engine
hemi 5.7
Haven't weighed it recently, dry weight is like 4500 pounds but it's dual axle and the GVWR is around 7500 pounds; it's never that heavy nowadays. Maybe 5500 to 6000 tops. There are guys who use the anderson on 3/4 tons with much bigger trailers and excellent results.

I haven't read anywhere that the anderson can't distrubute weight, I certainly haven't noticed that in my truck. I've owned a husky centerline and now this anderson, there is no difference between them as far as sag or balancing the weight for my truck and trailer. Only much better control over porpoising with the anderson.

I'd much rather have a little sag and no porposing, vs a level or noticable rake with lots of bounce and porpoising. The one is a visual problem only, the other is a white knuckle experience at the wrong speed and wind.
 

Ramfanski

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Michigan
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2022
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5.7 hemi
Haven't weighed it recently, dry weight is like 4500 pounds but it's dual axle and the GVWR is around 7500 pounds; it's never that heavy nowadays. Maybe 5500 to 6000 tops. There are guys who use the anderson on 3/4 tons with much bigger trailers and excellent results.

I haven't read anywhere that the anderson can't distrubute weight, I certainly haven't noticed that in my truck. I've owned a husky centerline and now this anderson, there is no difference between them as far as sag or balancing the weight for my truck and trailer. Only much better control over porpoising with the anderson.

I'd much rather have a little sag and no porposing, vs a level or noticable rake with lots of bounce and porpoising. The one is a visual problem only, the other is a white knuckle experience at the wrong speed and wind.
Thank you! I am looking at a similar weight camper. I currently tow a pop up that is around 3500 watered up. I have never used a wdh. I believe I will probably go with the Anderson. People who own them usually really like them.
 

Riccochet

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2020 2500 Laramie Longhorn
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6.4
I use an Andersen with my 2500 and 31' 8000# travel trailer. Tows great, does a good job at weight distribution and sway control. Zero porpoising. Best of all it's light weight and super easy to hook and unhook. I went through a couple "spring bar" style WDH's and just didn't like them.
 

Ramfanski

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5.7 hemi
Haven't weighed it recently, dry weight is like 4500 pounds but it's dual axle and the GVWR is around 7500 pounds; it's never that heavy nowadays. Maybe 5500 to 6000 tops. There are guys who use the anderson on 3/4 tons with much bigger trailers and excellent results.

I haven't read anywhere that the anderson can't distrubute weight, I certainly haven't noticed that in my truck. I've owned a husky centerline and now this anderson, there is no difference between them as far as sag or balancing the weight for my truck and trailer. Only much better control over porpoising with the anderson.

I'd much rather have a little sag and no porposing, vs a level or noticable rake with lots of bounce and porpoising. The one is a visual problem only, the other is a white knuckle experience at the wrong speed and wind.

I use an Andersen with my 2500 and 31' 8000# travel trailer. Tows great, does a good job at weight distribution and sway control. Zero porpoising. Best of all it's light weight and super easy to hook and unhook. I went through a couple "spring bar" style WDH's and just didn't like them.
Either of you guys turn off the electronic sway control as Andersen recommends? I don’t know how to do that or even if it can be done….

Thanks
 

Riccochet

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6.4
Either of you guys turn off the electronic sway control as Andersen recommends? I don’t know how to do that or even if it can be done….

Thanks

To turn it off you hit the ESC button in your center stack. I've tried towing with and without it on, didn't notice a difference. So I don't bother turning it off.
 

ramffml

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hemi 5.7
Either of you guys turn off the electronic sway control as Andersen recommends? I don’t know how to do that or even if it can be done….

Thanks

I leave my sway control on. I don't see how they can possibly interfere, the anderson's sway control is basically increased friction around the ball, so that just means less work for the Ram to correct if it ever does decide to activate.

I'm not that familar with the sway control in my truck to be honest though, if it has ever activated I've never noticed. Not sure if you would see signs in the dash or beeps/dings anywhere like it does when you slip going through snow/mud.
 

yrraljguthrie

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Sulphur, Oklahoma
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Engine
etorque5.7
People adding a lot of aftermarket appliances on their vehicles for fun or for towing remind me of a woodworker who spends a lot of money and time making special cabinets, parts to make a job easier or nicer, equipment to help clean up the shop, jigs and other stuff to make their shop "better". And then never make anything that gets out of the workshop. Their only product is their workshop.
 

Rancid

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Location
54°42'53.77"N 20°30'28.06"E
Ram Year
2022
Engine
Cummins
But, they have a really nice shop. I get what you're saying. We spend a lot of time working to make our trucks better but not much time using them as trucks. I bought mine to tow a camper and only do that a few times a year.
 
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