Can I tow this?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Mickster

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Posts
16
Reaction score
11
Location
28704
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
New member here and I need some advice. I have a line on a Shasta Oasis 26db Travel trailer. This trailer is 29'11" over all, 5253lbs dry/7589lbs wet. 589lbs hitch weight(I'm assuming that's on an empty trailer). I have a 17 1500 Crewcab 4x4 with 3.92 gear. Is this to long for my 1500? Unless my math is wrong, my truck in withing it's limits to tow this, I just worry about the length. My payload is 1487 according to the yellow sticker in the door jam.
 

AFMoulton

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
Posts
3,178
Reaction score
5,194
Location
Nuevo Mexico
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Assume 800lbs for tongue weight, once you kid up the truck then you will be close to payload max. As for trailer weight you will be fine to pull it. Just watch the payload. You will most definitely need a Weight distribution hitch, and possible airbags.


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40
 

dhay13

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2015
Posts
3,212
Reaction score
2,792
Ram Year
2018
Engine
2500 6.4L Hemi 4.10's 'Off-Road'
Shouldn't have any trouble towing it both legally and weight wise but you might be a little uncomfortable in a strong crosswind or even a semi passing you at highway speeds. Like AFMoulton said, get a good WDH and take your time. My son has a 2018 Grand Design 2670MK that weighs 6500lbs dry. Guessing it was maybe 8000lbs when I towed it home 200 miles. I towed it with my 2013 1500 3.55's. The motor did buzz a little hard trying to maintain highway speeds on hills but it was fine. I used a Husky TS Centerline WDH
 
OP
OP
Mickster

Mickster

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Posts
16
Reaction score
11
Location
28704
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
I will be getting a WDH for sure. I have been reading about the airbags but I'll make a decision on that after I get a TT. I figured it will be me, wife and stepson in the truck and I'd pack the truck light to keep the payload down. Maybe just a couple bicycles in the bed.
 

Loudram

Just a sinner saved by grace
Military
Joined
Feb 13, 2019
Posts
2,702
Reaction score
7,532
Location
South Jersey
Ram Year
2022
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I agree with AF, you'll be fine just follow what he suggested. My trailer is around 7300lbs loaded and 33' long and my old '14 1500 QC pulled it just fine. It had a Hemi, 6 speed tranny, and a 3.55 rear. I use a 10k Equalizer WD and sway control hitch.

You'll want a hitch that has BOTH sway control and weight distribution. The Equalizer hitch and Reese dual cam are two very good choices.

I haven't pulled it with my new truck but I just got that a few weeks ago. That has a 3.92 rear with the 8 speed. I expect this truck to pull even better.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Mickster

Mickster

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Posts
16
Reaction score
11
Location
28704
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
Shouldn't have any trouble towing it both legally and weight wise but you might be a little uncomfortable in a strong crosswind or even a semi passing you at highway speeds. Like AFMoulton said, get a good WDH and take your time. My son has a 2018 Grand Design 2670MK that weighs 6500lbs dry. Guessing it was maybe 8000lbs when I towed it home 200 miles. I towed it with my 2013 1500 3.55's. The motor did buzz a little hard trying to maintain highway speeds on hills but it was fine. I used a Husky TS Centerline WDH

That sounds good. I don't mind taking my time driving and I'm on the east side but in Western NC so mts are unavoidable. We will probably tow down to St. George Island Fl and maybe Disneyland but will mostly be staying around NC SC TN VA
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Mickster

Mickster

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Posts
16
Reaction score
11
Location
28704
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
I agree with AF, you'll be fine just follow what he suggested. My trailer is around 7300lbs loaded and 33' long and my old '14 1500 QC pulled it just fine. It had a Hemi, 6 speed tranny, and a 3.55 rear. I used a 10k Equalizer WD and sway control hitch.

You'll want a hitch that has BOTH sway control and weight distribution. The Equalizer hitch and Reese dual can are two very good choices.

I haven't pulled it with my new truck but I just got that a few weeks ago. That has a 3.92 rear with the 8 speed. I expect this truck to pull even better.
Thanks for the info. I'm definitely feeling better about getting it now. I'll check out those WDHs. I've seen those names come up a lot on towing posts.
 

AFMoulton

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
Posts
3,178
Reaction score
5,194
Location
Nuevo Mexico
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Airbags will be something you will want sooner rather than later, trust me. I’ve been there with that kind of truck and that sized trailer.


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40
 

AFMoulton

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
Posts
3,178
Reaction score
5,194
Location
Nuevo Mexico
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Also what dhay said. I have the Husky Centerline TS with the 1400#/14000# set up and its amazing .


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40
 
OP
OP
Mickster

Mickster

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Posts
16
Reaction score
11
Location
28704
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
Airbags will be something you will want sooner rather than later, trust me. I’ve been there with that kind of truck and that sized trailer.


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

Ok, any suggestions on what brand? I'll take first hand experience over my newbie ideas. I've towed trailers but never anything this long and not with this truck. I want to be prepared as much as possible so if I need them I'll buy them.
 
Last edited:

gofishn

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
5,082
Reaction score
10,130
Location
Iowa
Ram Year
2022 Ram 1500 5th Gen, Big Horn, 4X4, Crew Cab, 6'4" Box
Engine
hemi 5.7L, 345 cu in
If mountains are in your area, then I would also suggest upgrading your trailer brakes, if not new trailer. ALso, have somoene who has towed extensively help you set up your truck and trailer brakes. do not want to overwork either one.
WOudl suggest tufftruck springs, preferably 1211, then airbags after that, if needed.
Probably a good idea to go with a D or E rated tire to help handle sway.

IF you ever feel the brakes getting heated or shuddering, stop, wait for em to cool down, then upgrade to slotted rotors and Powerstop brake pads.

QUetion is not what can the truck tow but what can you tow, in every situation and what can the truck safely stop.
 
OP
OP
Mickster

Mickster

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Posts
16
Reaction score
11
Location
28704
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
If mountains are in your area, then I would also suggest upgrading your trailer brakes, if not new trailer. ALso, have somoene who has towed extensively help you set up your truck and trailer brakes. do not want to overwork either one.
WOudl suggest tufftruck springs, preferably 1211, then airbags after that, if needed.
Probably a good idea to go with a D or E rated tire to help handle sway.

IF you ever feel the brakes getting heated or shuddering, stop, wait for em to cool down, then upgrade to slotted rotors and Powerstop brake pads.

QUetion is not what can the truck tow but what can you tow, in every situation and what can the truck safely stop.

Thank you for the information. TT is used and I didn't even think about checking the trailer brakes. My brother in law is the current owner and he has had it since new(2016) so he could show me how to set up the WDH and the trailer brakes. I will definitely look into upgrading tires. I hate these Goodyear's even not towing anything.
 

AFMoulton

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
Posts
3,178
Reaction score
5,194
Location
Nuevo Mexico
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Ok, any suggestions on what brand? I'll take first hand experience over my newbie ideas. I've towed trailers but never anything this long and not with this truck. I want to be prepared as much as possible so if I need them I'll buy them.

First, what GoFshn said. I ran TufTruck TTC - 1223 springs after I put in the airlift airbags. I’ll link to all of them in a second.

With just the stock truck and my WDH, j couldn’t ever get it right, so I went with airbags in the stock springs, it helped control my body roll and some sway but still not super stable like I wanted, so I upgraded the springs and kept the airbags. With my Hideout 30’ 8500# travel trailer and 1500, it was great. Absolutely what I wanted. When I stepped up campers I needed more truck but I was still impressed with how the 150@ handled it with the upgraded rear suspension.

New springs and airbags 1100# tongue weight:
2d34080b5e8ed3413109504d506d2950.jpg

Stock Springs vs TufTruck Springs
699fc81628da13fc336f45bcc7a7fff7.jpg

Stock springs with airbags 850# tongue weight
c6a426e35ba363c9264d76ee44d153d9.jpg

Stock Suspension 665# tongue weight:
1457c17e95cb71a0a303ca3017777d0c.jpg


Springs (if you have no lift or level go with 1211, if you have Bilsteins go with 1223)

https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/inde...&search_in_description=&sort=2d&fltBrand[]=80

Airbags I would buy now:

Air Lift 60818HD Air Lift 1000 HD for 2009-2018 RAM 1500 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BKXP1BW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_O4qjEbRHJC490


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40
 

AFMoulton

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
Posts
3,178
Reaction score
5,194
Location
Nuevo Mexico
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Pictures posted out of order so I’ve edited it with the proper titles. Sorry


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40
 
OP
OP
Mickster

Mickster

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Posts
16
Reaction score
11
Location
28704
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
Pictures posted out of order so I’ve edited it with the proper titles. Sorry


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

No worries. This is all helping tremendously. I had some ideas of what I was going to look for but you have basically laid it all out for me! So should I do the airbags first and if I'm still not happy, add the springs? Does the springs make the unloaded ride harsh?
And thank you for all of this information.
 

AFMoulton

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 1, 2016
Posts
3,178
Reaction score
5,194
Location
Nuevo Mexico
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 Hemi
No worries. This is all helping tremendously. I had some ideas of what I was going to look for but you have basically laid it all out for me! So should I do the airbags first and if I'm still not happy, add the springs? Does the springs make the unloaded ride harsh?
And thank you for all of this information.

That’s what I would do. The springs I got (1223) made it ride like a truck should IMHO. More like a 1500 with leaf springs, not the Cush ride Ram has from factory. The 1211’s I’ve heard are not near as bad. Easy way to fix that is spend $10 on some bags of cement or sand at Lowe’s and toss them over your rear axle all the time.


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40
 

crash68

ACME product engineer
Staff member
Administrator
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2016
Posts
10,704
Reaction score
16,709
Ram Year
2015
Engine
3.0 EcoDiesel
This trailer is 29'11" over all, 5253lbs dry/7589lbs wet. 589lbs hitch weight(I'm assuming that's on an empty trailer). I have a 17 1500 Crewcab 4x4 with 3.92 gear. Is this to long for my 1500?
You shouldn't have any problem with the trailer that long if you get loaded good and the WDH is set up properly. I tow a 28' enclosed trailer with the added tongue/hitch length that makes me about 53' overall. When loaded it's in the 8K lbs range.
I'll second having airbags to help from up the rear end, I use a set from TLC. They're not available but AirLift makes really nice bolt on frame to axle air bag kit. The nice part about air bags is they don't effect your unloaded ride with the mini pressure of 5psi in them. Air bags are not a replacement for a WDH. https://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/88370/
Read through this post and some others by VernDiesel about how you want to have the WDH set up and the truck/trailer loaded. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/looking-at-the-numbers.123099/
 

OC455

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Apr 20, 2018
Posts
3,038
Reaction score
2,610
Location
Central NY
Ram Year
2018, 2019
Engine
5.7 Hemi Big Horn, 6.4L Hemi 3500 Longhorn Mega cab
You should have no issues pulling that trailer. I have a similar setup that you have. I run a Curt TruTrack 10k WDH, I use Timber Grove Enterprise ASAMs (air assist springs). I run Nitto Terra Grappler G2's XL's, 116 load index for tires. (OEM Goodyears are 114 load index) XL tires are supposed to have a stronger side wall. I would look at something like these if you hate the Goodyears: https://www.discounttiredirect.com/buy-tires/general-grabber-hts60

With the air springs, I run 7psi in them when normal driving, I run about 14psi in the air springs when the trailer is hooked up with the WDH. 14psi is enough to stabilize everything when towing my TT.

The WDH I use:
https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dis...&utm_term=+curt +17500&utm_content=Curt 17500

The Timber Grove ASAMs I have installed: They didn't have the stainless steel when I purchased though:
https://timbergroveenterprises.com/shop/09-18-ram-1500-stainless-rear-asam-sq5186767
 

runamuck

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Sep 4, 2018
Posts
1,688
Reaction score
2,100
Location
dfw
Ram Year
2022
Engine
6.7 dsl
I pull 28' long Freedom express 246RKS with mine..600# or so when towing. pulls pretty good. I set cruise on 68-69 and I get 8.5-10.5. I have WDH and i run more air in the rear tires when towing and I added hellwig sway bar . my trailer has 4 wheel electric brakes so stopping has been no problem. I do get some sway when hit by cross wind gust..my son added airbags to his 2017 ram so I may also do that. pretty easy to do.

20170509_151835.jpg
 
OP
OP
Mickster

Mickster

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2020
Posts
16
Reaction score
11
Location
28704
Ram Year
2017
Engine
5.7
You shouldn't have any problem with the trailer that long if you get loaded good and the WDH is set up properly. I tow a 28' enclosed trailer with the added tongue/hitch length that makes me about 53' overall. When loaded it's in the 8K lbs range.
I'll second having airbags to help from up the rear end, I use a set from TLC. They're not available but AirLift makes really nice bolt on frame to axle air bag kit. The nice part about air bags is they don't effect your unloaded ride with the mini pressure of 5psi in them. Air bags are not a replacement for a WDH. https://www.airliftcompany.com/shop/88370/
Read through this post and some others by VernDiesel about how you want to have the WDH set up and the truck/trailer loaded. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/looking-at-the-numbers.123099/
Thank you for all of the info. I feel pretty confident about this trailer now. I'll look at all of this more in depth when I get off work. The axle to frame air bags are different than the ones that go inside the springs correct? If so are they better?
 
Top