Camper towing

[jknappen]

Awesome I have a 3.21 And a few extras.
Extras include
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT (May Replace Standard Equipment) SLT Package 26G 8-Speed Automatic 8HP70 Transmission $500
17-Inch Aluminum Spare Wheel
5.7-Liter V8 HEMI® MDS VVT Engine $1,450
Spray-In Bedliner

So Now I need to find our my max tow capacity.

8040lbs.... go to ram website you can get all the ratings

 

[jknappen]

Pulling the trigger on a hideout 272LHS. Dry is 6010#. 30ft. I think the 1500 is going to be just fine

 

[Russell44]

Hi there.... I'm new to trailering.... My TT weigh 6000 pounds wet and it's 24 ft long.... My tow vehicle is 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Hemi and gvwr is 13000... Gear ratio is 3.55..... I have a blue ox wd... My concern is tongue weigh and how I do that also we are planning to go to Halifax from Niagara Falls Canada and wondered is it safe/doable to do that or should I increase my ratio to 3.92 or 4.10?

 

[jknappen]

I have the 3.92 gears. Power delivery is great.

Last year I towed a Wildwood XL by Forest River 201BHXL. I use a Fastway E2 WD/anti-sway hitch and added AirLift 1000 bags. Big Horn package came with integrated brake controller.

This year I upgraded my camper to a Keystone Passport 2400BH. The "dry" weight is about 800 pounds more, but still right at 5K. Its GVWR is less than my old trailer's, primarily due to two reasons: 1) Less capacity for cargo (roughly 2k, still sufficient); and 2) New trailer is metal framed and fiberglass constructed.

Trailer GVWR is 7,000 pounds. My tow capacity is 10,200.

The new trailer is roughly 4-feet longer, which has me concerned a little about sway. But it also has a "spread dual axle" design for towing stability. Additionally, I replaced the "china bomb" trailer tires right off the lot. I chose Carlisle ST Radian HD tires with D load ratings for the trailer. The speed rating on those is 81mph.

I'm going to stick with the AirLift 1000 bags for now. However, since last camping season, I upgraded my truck tires from P to LT (D rated). We have a 2,000 mile road trip from Utah to Oregon planned next month with the new trailer. Before that trip, I'm adding Trailer Ridge towing mirrors and a Hellwig sway bar.

All things considered, I think my truck should be setup well for this trailer.

What tires did you go with?

 

[Russell44]

What tires did you go with?

275/55r20

 

[jknappen]

275/55r20

What brand and model

 

[Russell44]

What brand and model

General Grabber HTS60

 

[oldguy2]

Unless you get carried away with the size of your trailer you shouldn't need springs just a load distribution hitch. I have no problem pulling a 26 foot camper with a 2017 Tradesman 1500 with 3.21 rear and the load distribution hitch. Most brand name hitches are good and just buy one with a rating higher than your load.

 

[crash68]

Most brand name hitches are good and just buy one with a rating higher than your load.

Don't go overboard with the rating either. WDH will have weight ranges they are good for. If your trailer is 7K lbs, don't buy a WDH rated for 10K lbs thinking more is better.

 

[OC455]

I am looking to still drive this as a daily driver and tow a TT on the weekends etc. also wanting to upgrade to the stiffer springs if needed and do the timbergroves. Leveling the truck will be bilstein 5100 on all 4 corners with the fronts set to 2.1. And a pair of 3/4 inch TGC poly spacers in the rear. On my 13 ram i did this setup and it sat just a tad raked forward but to the naked eye it was level. Also looking to install a hellwig rear sway bar. Hope i can get some feedback would still like a leveled ride for everyday driving and able to drive leveled when loaded with a trailer. As far as ride comfort i am looking for factory or better

Most axle to frame air assist springs require you to run at the minimum 5psi when unloaded so you won't incur damage. Timber Grove ASAMs advise you to run 7psi in the springs. I have a Hideout LHS260, GVWR is 7600lbs. I don't run it heavy, and when I have my Curt TruTrack hooked up, I run about 14psi in the Timber Grove ASAMs.

Your concerns about ride quality with air assist springs won't be a concern.

 

[Russell44]

I'm repeating my questions.....
I'm new to trailering.... My TT weigh 6000 pounds wet and it's 24 ft long.... My tow vehicle is 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Hemi and gvwr is 13000... Gear ratio is 3.55..... I have a blue ox wd... My concern is tongue weigh and how I do that also we are planning to go to Halifax from Niagara Falls Canada and wondered is it safe/doable to do that or should I increase my ratio to 3.92 or 4.10? I'm using a 275/55R20 tires

 

[Bldrinker]

I'm repeating my questions.....
I'm new to trailering.... My TT weigh 6000 pounds wet and it's 24 ft long.... My tow vehicle is 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Hemi and gvwr is 13000... Gear ratio is 3.55..... I have a blue ox wd... My concern is tongue weigh and how I do that also we are planning to go to Halifax from Niagara Falls Canada and wondered is it safe/doable to do that or should I increase my ratio to 3.92 or 4.10? I'm using a 275/55R20 tires

Your truck is fine. Gear ratio is ok. If you have money to burn 4:10 would help. Tire size is not that important load rating however is. D rated at a minimum.

Are you asking how much tongue Weight you need? That I’m not sure.

I have always just leveled the trailer adjusted my hitch height to match, then set the load bars to take some of the sag out and done. It won’t be exact but as always been fine for me.

 

[OC455]

I'm repeating my questions.....
I'm new to trailering.... My TT weigh 6000 pounds wet and it's 24 ft long.... My tow vehicle is 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 Hemi and gvwr is 13000... Gear ratio is 3.55..... I have a blue ox wd... My concern is tongue weigh and how I do that also we are planning to go to Halifax from Niagara Falls Canada and wondered is it safe/doable to do that or should I increase my ratio to 3.92 or 4.10? I'm using a 275/55R20 tires

You should be fine towing your trailer.

I doubt you are even close to your max towing capacity for your truck. I m assuming you have a 6 speed with your truck. 3.55 gears will work well getting everything moving. Your Blue Ox WDH will work good if you have it setup correctly.

The 13,000lbs., rating is for your Gross Combined Vehicle Weight. I've made a trip with my rig from the Utica NY area to Lake George at 65MPH on the thruway without issues.

 

[Russell44]

Ok many thanks.... Much appreciated for replying.. BTW I only have 5 speed

 

[OC455]

Your trip is going to be longer but having your WDH setup and hitting the percentage for your tongue weight you should be good to go. I went with an XL rated tire to keep close to the factory weight of the Goodyears that were on the truck originally so not to increase any rotational mass.

 

[Russell44]

Yeah that's what I did with my tires.... I'm running a General Grabber HTS60 275/55R20

 

[rwreuter]

For those of you with some kind of air bags how do you deal with elevation changes and PSI.
I do trips beginning at say Wichita, KS going across mountains and either staying there or going back down...900-11000-900 and then back. How do you deal with fluctuations?

 

[Bigbird]

I live in the DFW area at 600'. My RAM is equipped with the Air Lift 1000 air bags. The maximum pressure is recommended not to exceed 35 psi. When pulling our Winnebago 2250DS I use 20 psi. In our travels through the mountains it has never dawned on me to pay attention to the air bag pressure because the truck/trailer combo stays level just like it was back at 600'. Sorry for not having a better answer.

 

[sandawilliams]

I have to re-adjust tire pressures when traveling from Colorado to sea level and back. Air bags would be the same although the pressures you would deal with wont have much change.


The pressure differential across the wall of the tire will increase by about 4.5 psi as you go from sea level to 10,000 ft, so if your tires are properly inflated at sea level, it would probably make sense to let a little air out before crossing high mountain passes, but, by the same token, it would make sense to put air back in as you descend, and this would all amount to a big hassle.

I've gone from sea level to 10,000' and back to sea level in one day without touching the tires and survived, but if you are riding solo and start at 40/42 at sea level, you're going to be quite over-inflated at 10,000'.

 

[oldguy2]

There was a test on utube comparing truck using air bags and the same truck/trailer with load leveling hitch. The hitch with the bars had it all over the bags. Camper companies recommend not going over 26 feet with a 1500 truck. It has nothing to do with weight but with surface area. Good luck with what ever you do.