Another request for help on choosing a tow vehicle

[AZ Joan]

Hi! We don't have a RAM truck, yet. We just are beginning to look and learn.
We have a Living Lite 21BHS travel trailer:

25' long, 7' wide

Dry Weight: 3,630 lbs.

Payload Capacity: 1,970 lbs.

GVWR: 5,600 lbs.

Hitch Weight: 420 lbs.

We do have an Anderson weight distribution hitch.

I thought choosing a RAM truck would be easy- just pick the features you want and go. After reading posts on this forum, I am more hesitant. We generally have no more that 1000 lbs in our current vehicle (two people, dog, fragile stuff) and it is probably closer to 600-700.

The hubs prefers a gas engine. We have been vascillating between a RAM 1500 and 2500 in the Laramie. I like the Tradesman, too. Our dog is a heavy shedder so we were thinking leather seats with ventilation- so that moves us towards the Laramie.

my question is will the RAM Laramie 1500 be enough for us? We hope to have this TT for many years- we have dragged it around for 5 years and love it. However, it is not out of the realm that we could sell it for another TT. So, I would like to be in the very safe and well within the limits rather than on the edge, so to speak.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Firetruck41]

Wow! I have that exact trailer! Hardly anybody when knows what that is! Anyway, I had a 2004 Titan, that I used to tow it, it for well with power and braking, but in heavy side winds and being passed by a semi it was a little "while knuckle". A year after I purchased the 21BHS, I bought 2010 Ram 2500 5.7 Hemi Mega Cab. I haven't had a chance to do a big trip with the trailer for to covid, but on a few smaller trips, it did great and am glad I went with the 2500. I use an Andersen WDH as well.


EDIT: adding a little more info

The Titan was very similar to a Ram 1500 as far as power/and tow capacity. We were over GVWR with our family of 5 (3 kids 10-14 years old), bed half full of things like generator, gas fire pit, some totes with food, as well as the trailer hooked up.

There is a decent variation between 1500s with different cab/engine/axle configurations, so make sure you look at the charts for the exact specific configuration you want. You will almost always max out on payload (you, husband, dogs, contents in the truck plus tongue weight of trailer), before you can max out the tow capacity.

I think you could probably do ok with the 1500, but you will be at the high end of capacity per "the official numbers", not leaving room for a much heavier trailer down the road, and as you know any other trailer even of similar size will be quite a bit heavier than your Livin'Lite.

If you could afford it, I would recommend a 6.4 hemi 2500, but I do like a little overkill!

 

[Elkman]

For a less than 7500 lb trailer load I would not hesitate to use a 1500 class truck. What is important is to get the 3.92 gears and the tow package and electric brake controller. I would also opt for the 33-gallon gas tank so you have more flexibility on when and where you make fuel stops when towing.

Payload ratings use 150 pounds per passenger seat in the calculations which is why the highest payload ratings are found with trucks with the regular cabs and limited passenger seating.

 

[392DevilDog]

Payload ratings use 150 pounds per passenger seat in the calculations which is why the highest payload ratings are found with trucks with the regular cabs and limited passenger seating.

This is completely wrong.

 

[AZ Joan]

Firetruck 41, that is awesome! Our 21BHS is a 2016 but it was made at the end of 2015. We are still all aluminum; we bought it before all of the changes happened.

Elkman- we don't tend to overpack. It's just the two of us and our dog.

392DevilDog- I would really like to understand more about payload. We wouldn't have other passengers if we have a crew cab. That would be where the dog lies. It would be handy when we want to take friends around when not towing.

Thank you all for responding.
Joan

 

[Firetruck41]

A couple questions come to mind, what have you been using to tow it up until now, and was it satisfactory? Are you looking at purchasing a new or used truck? If used, what year range would you be looking at?

My 21 BHS trailer is titled as a 2017, seems like a 2016 build, and is all aluminum, except the roof.

 

[AZ Joan]

We have been using a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 5.7 V8 Hemi. It has worked like a champ for us for 5 years. We have had side winds of 45 mph, we have gone down a 14 percent grade and have had no problems. However, we noticed that with the extended heat (50 days over 110), that the Jeep is burning oil when we pull the TT up the mountains. We don't over load the camper or Jeep, but we had to rethink what we are doing.

I am open to used (2018-2020) but my hubby is thinking new.

 

[Quyonmob]

Payload is simply the weight you can put in the truck, this includes the actual weight of people, not empty seats. It also includes tongue weight from the trailer.

higher trim levels often have lower payloads due to the weight of options.

My 2017 Crew cab 1500 has a very high payload at 1640lbs as it is a 3.6 base model.

 

[AZ Joan]

Thank you

 

[crash68]

Hi! We don't have a RAM truck, yet. We just are beginning to look and learn.
We have a Living Lite 21BHS travel trailer:

25' long, 7' wide

Dry Weight: 3,630 lbs.

Payload Capacity: 1,970 lbs.

GVWR: 5,600 lbs.

Hitch Weight: 420 lbs.

We do have an Anderson weight distribution hitch.

You tow that even with 1500 w/3.6L(3.55 geared) truck.
If your thinking about going larger/heavier, a 1500 with the Hemi or EcoDiesel (either one 3.92 geared) will easily handle a trailer up to about 8K lbs after that you need to pay close attention to the numbers.
Every truck/trailer set up has to be handled individually and there are lots of people that don't bother to do their due diligence on setting up the WDH and load weight properly. Those that don't are usually the one that cry about white knuckle driving with a trailer behind a 1500. Despite what the trailer dealer says, no they don't set up a WDH correctly.

 

[Tim7139]

We have been using a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 5.7 V8 Hemi. It has worked like a champ for us for 5 years. We have had side winds of 45 mph, we have gone down a 14 percent grade and have had no problems.

If you've been happy with the Grand Cherokee you should be very happy with a 4th or 5th gen 1500. The longer wheelbase and added width will give you a bit more side wind stability with similar comfort to what you have now.

Your Grand Cherokee likely has a 1,150lbs payload rating, and a 6,200 tow rating.
A new 5th gen Laramie crew 4x4 with base 3.21 gears will have a 1,800lbs payload rating and 8,190 tow rating.
A new 5th gen Laramie crew 4x4 with premium 3.92 gears will have a 1,800lbs payload rating and 11,500 tow rating.

 

[Firetruck41]

If you've been happy with the Grand Cherokee you should be very happy with a 4th or 5th gen 1500. The longer wheelbase and added width will give you a bit more side wind stability with similar comfort to what you have now.

Your Grand Cherokee likely has a 1,150lbs payload rating, and a 6,200 tow rating.
A new 5th gen Laramie crew 4x4 with base 3.21 gears will have a 1,800lbs payload rating and 8,190 tow rating.
A new 5th gen Laramie crew 4x4 with premium 3.92 gears will have a 1,800lbs payload rating and 11,500 tow rating.

I would agree!

 

[dhay13]

This is completely wrong.

Yep. It has been pointed out to him before but he keeps posting it. Payload is your GVWR - curb weight. Has nothing to do with how many people can fit inside the vehicle. The payload difference between a regular cab and crew cab is because the crew cab weighs more so more weight is subtracted from the GVWR. Put heavy steel wheels, fiberglass cap, running boards, etc on a truck and it further reduces your payload

 

[Tim7139]

Payload ratings use 150 pounds per passenger seat in the calculations which is why the highest payload ratings are found with trucks with the regular cabs and limited passenger seating.

The payload of a vehicle is defined as the allowable load weight a truck can carry, including the weight of the driver, all passengers, options and cargo as per your owners manual.

Tow rating is based on weight of vehicle with popular options, a 150-pound driver and 1 passenger regardless of how many seats there are as per SAE J2807.

 

[AZ Joan]

I really appreciate everyone’s input!

We took a ride in both the 2500 and 1500. We both fell in love with the 2500 Laramie, but we probably only need the 1500. I don’t see us ever in a 8 K pound TT. Now diesel vs gas. Gas is more familiar/comfortable for my hubby. Is the difference in performance and longevity worth prying him out of his comfort zone? We are very good about maintenance- we actually argue because he likes to change the oil at 50% and I think 10% is more than ok. We have other things to negotiate ...

 

[El Huapo]

Oil changes are discussed ad infinitum in this forum. Good information there, look for Burla's info. Personally, I'm old and old-school, I believe in using premium oil and changing it at 5,000 mile intervals. That is partly because the digits of 5 and 10 are easy for me to remember. Good luck to you, smart to do the research first!

 

[runamuck]

If you've been happy with the Grand Cherokee you should be very happy with a 4th or 5th gen 1500. The longer wheelbase and added width will give you a bit more side wind stability with similar comfort to what you have now.

Your Grand Cherokee likely has a 1,150lbs payload rating, and a 6,200 tow rating.
A new 5th gen Laramie crew 4x4 with base 3.21 gears will have a 1,800lbs payload rating and 8,190 tow rating.
A new 5th gen Laramie crew 4x4 with premium 3.92 gears will have a 1,800lbs payload rating and 11,500 tow rating.

I wish my 5th gen laramie crew 4x4 with 3.92 gears had that much payload..actually 1324# for mine

 

[ramffml]

A new 5th gen Laramie crew 4x4 with base 3.21 gears will have a 1,800lbs payload rating and 8,190 tow rating.
A new 5th gen Laramie crew 4x4 with premium 3.92 gears will have a 1,800lbs payload rating and 11,500 tow rating.

There is no such thing as "base" gears and "premium" gears. Please don't make stuff up.

 

[OC455]

If you really liked the 2500 Laramie, go with it. More wiggle room to get things setup right. I jumped from a 1500 Big Horn that was capable of towing our camper to 3500 Longhorn. Huge jump from my 1500. More truck than I would ever need, but it's got all the niceties and capacities...just don't short change yourself.

 

[AZ Joan]

We really like the 2500- cleaning the garage to see if it fits. Measurements are fine but we want to try getting one in first.