1/2 ton to 3/4 ton towing.....worth it?

[rsdata]

If you have too much sway you could correct with more Load on the tongue. Your 2500 could handle an additional 100-200# in the tongue and most sway will be eliminated. Make sure u get LT tires on truck pumped up to also help sway

 

[Narg]

From what I've known and heard, about 5,000 Lbs dry with around 500 Lbs tongue is the best top end of any 1/2 ton stock. They can be rated much higher from factory, but usually gets dicey after those weights no matter what. Aftermarket upgrades help, but still can be a gamble.

I have to wonder something... If the coil springs in the RAM are awesome for ride quality, does it make a difference on sway and rear end stability? Seems to me it does, as no other truck maker uses this method and I don't read near the same amount of question to this regard on other truck owners forums. Of course it seems all this is easy to at least improve, given a cost and time to upgrade certain suspension items. But, just seems like this needs more thorough thought from RAM...

Anyway, just thinking out loud.

 

[HDGoose]

I reviewed the number and was planning on a travel trailer for my first RV. We found a 5th wheel that was fine for my 2013 RAM 2500 diesel. Max load we've ever had the trail at was 11,800. But I rarely have two touring motorcycles loaded. And we had another couple with us, so that added about 500 people in gear in the truck. All total I was under GAWR by 300 pounds, and GCWR was under 22K.

I have learned more about RVs since then, and in planning for a future newer camper, I bought a 2020 RAM 3500 that will pull anything we are looking at. Mostly stuff under 20K trailer max.

If you are pulling more than local, traversing mountains, etc, then more truck is better than finding out you do not have enough truck. HD truck frames and brakes are just more suited for pulling heavier loads. Fuel mileage and maintenance differences between a 1500-2500 are negligible. Just be sure to compare gas to gas or diesel to diesel.

I am a diesel aficionado for pulling in the mountains. But I use my motorcycle as primary transportation.

 

[serp16]

YES. I agree, with the statement that a 3/4 ton with 6.4 is the ideal truck for your trailer, it's what I have for my 34' 8600 lb fifth wheel. That's IF you are happy with your current trailer. Most RVers are always looking ahead to their next camper. In my opinion, make sure you get something that's going to last you for this camper plus your next one if you can afford it.

My truck has just over 3000 lbs payload capacity. HUGE difference in stability from the 1/2 ton. Agree with the previous statement "once you go HD you won't go back". It's a game changer for towing heavier.

 

[OLEJOE]

Tongue weight needs to about 13-15% of total weight of the trailer and with stiff sidewall tires. The biggest gain with the 2500’s is the heavier steering axle weight. On a 5000 lb trailer you need 750 lb tongue weight and that positioned that far behind the rear axle does a lot to take weight off of the steer axle hence the need for WDH. With the 1/2 ton it can be done with careful weighing and adjustments but any changes in freshwater or black water in the tanks upsets the balance. I have a 2500 with a 7k TT and I can screw up the balance of weights but I have a lot more latitude in what is acceptable for it to pull satisfactorily.

 

[dhay13]

keep in mind the payload of a 2500 diesel is pretty low compared to the gasser so if you plan to ever move up to a 5th wheel a 2500 diesel will likely be overloaded on payload.

 

[Motoman501]

Very true and something I never realized when I bought my Cummins 2500. Payload was barely over 2000lbs. My 6.4 Hemi has a 3200lb payload.

 

[Rsteph]

I am by no means an expert on this subject. I can only tell you my experience. Bought a new Rockwood Mini Lite 26 ft. trailer and towed it with my previous F-150 ecoboost V6. Truck towed it ok and even though the V6 did just great, I still felt it acted a bit under powered. Noticeable sway issues. That improved when I changed out to LT tires, from the stock P tires. Still, I wasn't comfortable with it all. Ended up getting a Propride hitch. Read about them ( propride.com ). Yes, they are spendy for a hitch, but you wouldn't believe the difference. Sway pretty much eliminated. Still wasn't happy with how the truck pulled though so ended up getting a 2500 RAM diesel. Truck pulls like a dream and I can hardly feel the trailer back there now.

 

[Rsteph]

P.S., my bad... it’s propridehitch.com

 

[HDGoose]

Very true and something I never realized when I bought my Cummins 2500. Payload was barely over 2000lbs. My 6.4 Hemi has a 3200lb payload.

My 2013 RAM 2500 Tradesman diesel had a payload of 2500 pounds. My 5th wheel on the scale was never over 11800. The most my combination weighed was just under 22000. I had about 300 unused GAWR.

And that's why I just bought a 2020 RAM 3500 dually. Of course some folks are telling me that anything over 20,000 is not doable. *Sigh*

But a 2500 is still good for most travel trailers.

 

[Brett Knudson]

I’ve try everything to reduce sway with my 5 year old travel trailer. Someone suggested that I have a heavy duty repair shop check the alignment. Turns out the camber on the front axle was so bad it had to be replaced. They couldn’t cross reference for a replacement axle so the had to have it built. Looks like the manufacturer fabricated their own axles. So far I have had no sway issues after the replacement.

2016 Open Range Light 272RLS
2019 1500 Limited 3.92 axle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NH RAM]

I towed my TT a lot in my 1500. My trailer is a Coleman 2855BH Light and weighs about 6000# dry and is about 32' tip to tail. I just upgraded to a 2500 because the 8 speed is finally a good transmission behind the gasser.

I notice that the truck really doesn't care that the trailer is there. Don't get me wrong, if you watch the fuel gauge you'll know, but the mileage is comparable to my 2016 with 3.21 gears and 34" tires through the mountains of New England at 65mph. The biggest difference is the truck isn't revving as much as the 1500 did. I can cruise in 7th gear quite often, which was difficult to do in the 1500.

My WDH wasn't setup properly on my first trip with the 2500 because it didnt have enough drop; I just got the new drop from BLue Ox so I suspect it'll be quite stable. I had no issues but it just seemed a little off.

I had to use Airlift 1000's in my 1500 as I always had too much stuff, which usually meant the rear axle was overloaded by a few hundred pounds. I have zero concerns for that now with 3180# of payload and 14,400# towing.

We have a 4000 mile trip to Badlands, SD coming up next month and we were planning it for a while but I told my wife that I wasn't driving the 1500 that far so we traded in for the 2500. The 1500 accomplished the task, but ut was always working hard to do it.

I would upgrade the truck. I got a tradesman with some options to keep the price palatable. Good luck!

 

[gofishn]

Once you go heavy duty....you never go back. I picked up a 2020 2500 Tradesman CC 4x4 with the Hemi and love it.

These are the payload, GAWR and GVWR stickers from my 2020 2500 Tradesman 4x4 with the 6.4 Hemi.

3100# payload is amazing. Max towing is 14,280#

The GCVWR is 24,280#

View attachment 211138

View attachment 211139

View attachment 211140

Oh, I don' know about that.

Always had 3/4 ton or higher. Bought a 1/2 in 1997 and got rid of afgter less than years and got a 99 2500.
When I decided to trade it in for a new truck, I had no need for 3/4 ton. Flat out done doing ****. would rather write a check time of my Life. so i went with a 1500 and do nto regret it on little bit.
Upgraded the springs and variou stuff jsut because I am so used to the 3.4 ride and the OEM 1.2 ton bothered me no end but I... I ran contour to yoru claim.
after almost 40 years fo driving big turcks.

 

[serp16]

Good point gofishn. I look forward to the stage of my life of owning less stuff and having less sh*t to take care of to be honest. 1/2 ton regular cab 2 wheel drive is probably in my distant future. haha

 

[zippertom]

Had a 2016 Ram 1500 Tradesman 5.7 ltr, crew cab, shortbed, 2WD, 3.73 rearend, 8 spd xmission towing 8K# TT with a high end WDH. it was a great truck, great gas milage but was scary as hell towing. Plenty of power to pull but trying to stop on a down hill was dangerous. 1500 was too light.

Upgraded to 2018 2500 version of the same truck 6.4 ltr and it was night and day. Truck is HD and it felt very solid on the road and stopped without hesitation. Handling was a hugh improvement. Power for the uphill was same as 1500, brakes for the downhill was an amazing with great stopping ability. Gas milage is actually the same or better than the 1500. On the road it tracked better than the 1500 and was less affected by wind and passing tractor trailers.

Get the 2500vwhile you can.

 

[CfoxRam14]

I pull a 32ft double slide trailer around 9000lbs, started with a 2016 ecodiesel and it was ok did the job but upgraded to the 2500 6.7 Cummins and its really no comparison! My 2500 pulls the trailer like there is nothing behind me, I also have a really good anti sway and equalizer hitch.

 

[Hurst]

QUESTION - Should I buy the new truck?

We've been trying to sell our travel trailer for a month now, and no one is biting. We're selling it for a list of reasons, but a big one is that it basically maxes out my 2015 1500 on both payload and towing capacity, and it's a beast to drive with (it just acts as a big sail). I'm tired of white knuckling long drives.

So now the wife tempts me with "why don't we just get a bigger truck"?

I nearly fainted. I think I said "giggity" out loud, involuntarily.

We JUST paid the 1500 off. But since it's her idea.....

I start looking at 2500s, and we can definitely afford it.

Now the real question - will upgrading to a 3/4 really be that different when pulling a travel trailer? For those of you who have trailed the same stuff with both 1/2 and 3/4, what were your experiences?

 

[Hurst]

QUESTION - Should I buy the new truck?

We've been trying to sell our travel trailer for a month now, and no one is biting. We're selling it for a list of reasons, but a big one is that it basically maxes out my 2015 1500 on both payload and towing capacity, and it's a beast to drive with (it just acts as a big sail). I'm tired of white knuckling long drives.

So now the wife tempts me with "why don't we just get a bigger truck"?

I nearly fainted. I think I said "giggity" out loud, involuntarily.

We JUST paid the 1500 off. But since it's her idea.....

I start looking at 2500s, and we can definitely afford it.

Now the real question - will upgrading to a 3/4 really be that different when pulling a travel trailer? For those of you who have trailed the same stuff with both 1/2 and 3/4, what were your experiences?

 

[Hurst]

A fifth wheel has none of the sway you get in a travel trailer.

A reese dual cam hitch improves sway problem a lot on a travel trailer.

A 3/4 vs 1/2 ton Truck helps sway, but still not 100%

Just my experience.

 

[chesafreak]

Cruiser RV Viewfinder Signature. 32' tip to tail. Running an EAZ-lift WHD with sway control. 6500 lbs dry, about 700lbs tongue weight.

Got a crew cab sport ramboxes similar to what you got.. have you looked at what your actual payload is? Started looking at TTs and all the dealers were like you can pull any trailer based off of 1500 generic specs but added ramboxes and air suspension all I have is 1k in payload on my sticker. So basically my family and a dry camper I would be easily over payload along with my extra short bed/wheelbase i decided to put the trailer on hold until i get a HD.