Help a new TT owner out...

[dhay13]

I think my 2013 1500 Express had a 1350ish payload.

My step-son has a 2019 1500 5.7 with 3.21's and tows a 26' camper. He has one slideout and I think his dry weight is about 5500lbs. His truck tows it well but he is at his limits. His payload is about 1700lbs but his towing is only about 8100lbs

 

[Ohio5pt7]

I think my 2013 1500 Express had a 1350ish payload.

My step-son has a 2019 1500 5.7 with 3.21's and tows a 26' camper. He has one slideout and I think his dry weight is about 5500lbs. His truck tows it well but he is at his limits. His payload is about 1700lbs but his towing is only about 8100lbs

This ^^^^

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[Toddbigboytruck]

I think my 2013 1500 Express had a 1350ish payload.

My step-son has a 2019 1500 5.7 with 3.21's and tows a 26' camper. He has one slideout and I think his dry weight is about 5500lbs. His truck tows it well but he is at his limits. His payload is about 1700lbs but his towing is only about 8100lbs

I have a similar truck 2018 though and mine trailer is 5500 loaded and towed it all over the country

 

[dhay13]

Yeah his is 5500 dry so he is probably about 1000lbs heavier than yours. And the 2019 has a much higher payload than the older ones. Can't remember what brand or model his is but it's a 26' with 1 slideout. He had a 2015 1500 with 3.92's before this one and said it towed it slightly better, probably because of gears.

Loaded up he is probably at 7000 or so. Not sure what all he takes with him. He keeps it at a campground all summer about 30 miles from his house but once a year he takes to somewhere in New York for a week. He mentioned buying a bigger camper but I told him he needs to get a 2500 before he goes bigger.

 

[gears49]

I tow a 22' Northwood Nash that is 25' tongue to bumper long. Its GVW is 7500 lb. According to Ram, the max trailer weight for a 1500 Quad Cab with the 5.7 Hemi and the 3.92 differential is 10,380 lbs. Your trailer loaded will either be at the max or over. What becomes the issue is with the length of the trailer. As one response says, you are close to the 40' mark. Additionally, you're pulling a billboard down the road. Cross winds will make towing miserable. I've been towing, personal and professional, since the early '70s and in my opinion, that trailer is too big for your 1500. If you're set on that TT, you need to move up to a 3/4 ton truck.

 

[17crewram]

I tow a 30' ultra light with a Gross of 7,500. my 1500 pulls it not problem. BUT I would not pull anything longer with a half ton as travel trailers are pretty big sails back there and even with an Equal-I-zer hitch. If it were me, I wouldn't put my family in that truck/trailer combo. Seen too many accidents because of this type of situation.

 

[Tsys100718]

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab with the 5.7, 3:21 gears and a manual transmission. I tow a 38 ft. Trail Runner TT that weighs approx. 7K loaded. Now attached to the frame of my TT, I have a 2 in receiver that I use to tow my 1200 lb. Harley Tri Glide with the front wheel up and a Predator 3500 watt inverter generator hanging on the rear bumper. Overall length, TT and trike, is approx. 45 ft. and roughly 8200 lbs. Ram, TT and Trike runs out at approx. 60 ft. I use a Reese 66559 Steadi-Flex Trunnion Weight-Distributing Hitch Kit with built in sway control and run the highways at a reasonably constant 70 mph with the cruise control on. I HAD a SLIGHT sway issue when I first added the trike, so I made an adjustment to my WD platform to throw a little more weight on the steer axle. Since doing that, I've NEVER had a consistent, or persistent, sway issue, got a documented average 8 mpg over a 6k mile trip from western GA, to southern Utah and northern AZ, then a beeline for the Outer Banks of NC then home to Columbus, GA. Trans and Oil temps ran only slightly higher than normal, so no issues there. Yes, I keep trans and oil temps displayed on my screen. I also installed an exhaust temp gauge, JIC!

I WAS waiting for the 2019 2500s to be released before that recent extended 6k mile camping trip. However, since FIAT/Chrysler now seems to have developed a SEVERE aversion to manual transmissions, for either diesel or gas engines, I will keep my 2017 until the wheels fall off. Either that, or my next tow vehicle will be an S model International Crew Cab with a 300 Cummins and a 9 spd. Eaton. from the factory that I will have converted to a 13 spd.

 

[Tsys100718]

I have a similar truck 2018 though and mine trailer is 5500 loaded and towed it all over the country

View attachment 181780

Looking at your pic, the front of your TT seems to be lower than the back! IMO, you need to take up one link in your bars! Just my 2 pennies!

 

[Ohio5pt7]

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab with the 5.7, 3:21 gears and a manual transmission. I tow a 38 ft. Trail Runner TT that weighs approx. 7K loaded. Now attached to the frame of my TT, I have a 2 in receiver that I use to tow my 1200 lb. Harley Tri Glide with the front wheel up and a Predator 3500 watt inverter generator hanging on the rear bumper. Overall length, TT and trike, is approx. 45 ft. and roughly 8200 lbs. Ram, TT and Trike runs out at approx. 60 ft. I use a Reese 66559 Steadi-Flex Trunnion Weight-Distributing Hitch Kit with built in sway control and run the highways at a reasonably constant 70 mph with the cruise control on. I HAD a SLIGHT sway issue when I first added the trike, so I made an adjustment to my WD platform to throw a little more weight on the steer axle. Since doing that, I've NEVER had a consistent, or persistent, sway issue, got a documented average 8 mpg over a 6k mile trip from western GA, to southern Utah and northern AZ, then a beeline for the Outer Banks of NC then home to Columbus, GA. Trans and Oil temps ran only slightly higher than normal, so no issues there. Yes, I keep trans and oil temps displayed on my screen. I also installed an exhaust temp gauge, JIC!

I WAS waiting for the 2019 2500s to be released before that recent extended 6k mile camping trip. However, since FIAT/Chrysler now seems to have developed a SEVERE aversion to manual transmissions, for either diesel or gas engines, I will keep my 2017 until the wheels fall off. Either that, or my next tow vehicle will be an S model International Crew Cab with a 300 Cummins and a 9 spd. Eaton. from the factory that I will have converted to a 13 spd.

How did you get a manual trans in a 1500? Cant find a single 1500 in the usa with a manual

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[Jimmy07]

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab with the 5.7, 3:21 gears and a manual transmission.

...can you elaborate on this?

 

[Josh Zimmerman]

My dad just went though this. He had a 2019 1500 hemi 3.92. His trailer was a 35ft toy hauler so little shorter and his was 1400 on the hitch. Little over 7k empty. Plenty of power to pull it but over 50mph was scary he ended up with a 2017 2500 6.4l and its night and day. A trailer that size you really should get a 2500 unless your pulling it down back roads 10 miles to the local camp grounds but you'll be hating life if you try to make long trips. Just my .02

Also he put air bags on it thinking it was going to fix the problem but it didnt It was just to much trailer for a 1500.

What he said above - had 2016 ram 1500, same setup (bilsteins, airbags) and even put on stronger rear springs to help - rode level, but wind or rough pavement was pretty scary. My TT was around the same, 800lb tongue weight, 7800 dry weight - just would push the truck around above 50 or so. I did it anyway for a season, then upgraded after the summer. I tried different sway bars, air pressure, air bags, different coils, water tanks empty, loaded, stuff in back, stuff in front - I am a cheap ******* & just didn't want to spend the money - but eventually got to the point where it just wasn't fun to travel with it.

Your truck can pull it, no doubt, mine did great, but you'll be over your GVWR somewhere - the payloads on 1500's isn't the best... ~ 1600lbs, and you still have to account for you, the spouse, kids, misc crap, dogs in my case, etc. I ended up getting the diesel 2500, which I love, but no reason you couldn't get a gasser for much less - hell, the dealer swapped me my 2016 for a 2014 (in 2017...) and it pretty much was a wash.

 

[392DevilDog]

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab with the 5.7, 3:21 gears and a manual transmission.

I would like to know this aswell. If you swapped it that is cool and we want to know how.

2009 was the last year for a manual gas, but that was in the HD.

The Hemi never had a manual in the 1500, but the 4.7 did.

So if you have this factory, very interested.

2018 was the last year for a manual with the Cummins.

In Mexico you can get the Hemi with a 6speed manual in the HD They even have them for 2019, when ours don't even get the 5.7 hemi anymore.

 

[sandawilliams]

My 1500 did OK pulling 7500 Lbs. but when I went to an 8800 Lb. TT and a ATV in the bed I had to go to a 2500. On the 1500 I tried TLC air bags, the variable rate coils, and other mods with no luck. Finally after a lot of bucks and frustration it dawned on me that no matter what you do to a 1500 you can never make it do what the 2500 can do.

 

[phil g]

Have a 2012 Ram 2500 5.7. 4.10 rear end 4 x 4. I use it to tow a 2019 3170bh by Grand Design. I have had it on the scale. I had to work to get the tongue weight down to 1200 pounds which is the maximum weight that the factory hitch on the truck can take with weight distribution. I think that number had gone up a little bit in later years, this is a number people don't pay attention to. My empty (trailer) vehicle weight is just around 8,000 pounds. Loaded it was overweight. I had to trim it down to get it down to 9500 pounds. The truck is completely capable. But I would call that Max for a 2500. Beyond that you need a 3500. FYI, with my family of four and a single row of firewood in the bed of the truck the truck was technically overloaded. Somewhere around 50 lb. My truck is rated for 8800 lb. It is also rated for a 13500 lb trailer.

 

[Toddbigboytruck]

Looking at your pic, the front of your TT seems to be lower than the back! IMO, you need to take up one link in your bars! Just my 2 pennies!

I think Is the pic. Or the ground that I was parked on I did check with a tape measure and I believe there is a difference of one inch front to back will recheck it next week when we go camping for thanksgiving.

But thank you.

 

[68PowerWagon]

How did you get a manual trans in a 1500? Cant find a single 1500 in the usa with a manual

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I am calling BS! ics-****:

 

[sac neal]

Well, potential new owner! We are looking at a 33' Forest Vibe, below are the specs.

SPECIFICATIONS
Hitch Weight:
930 lb.
UVW
7408 lb.
CCC
2322 lb.
Exterior Length:
38' 8"
Exterior Height:
11' 2"
Exterior Width:
96"
Fresh Water:
40 gal.
Gray Water:
60 gal.
Black Water:
60 gal.

Currently I am running with a 2016 Sport, leveled (Bils in the front and 0.75 poly in the rear) on 35's.

I have been all over the site and the web and found varying degrees of "yes or no" - will my truck safely tow this trailer. I don't mind putting money into my 1500 to pull this trailer, but I'm looking for suggestions with what I should be looking for to change/add on. I don't have the funds to really look into a new 2500 unless I physically can't tow with the 1500, then I would start searching for am older 2500 with the....6.4????

I'm sure this has been gone over multiple times, so I will thank you for you help and patience ahead of time!

 

[sac neal]

i pull a 36 foot ceader creek with my long bed 1998 ran 5.2 l, but i have a stroker kit and a blower and shorty headers with new heads 400hp

 

[Tony Stark]

I agree with most of these opinions. I had a 2017 Ram 1500 with 5.7 and 3.92 gears. TT is 34’ and 7500 lb. Plenty of power but cross wind was scary. Put on new Michelins. Added Tembrins, adjusted the hitch, all helped some. Started out for Alaska. Stopped in MO and added second sway controller. That made it bearable. On the way home I stopped in ID and traded for a 2500 with 6.4 and 4.10 gears. Towing mileage is about the same (9.5 mpg). Much more comfortable and way safer.

 

[stateofdade]

Mine tows tows almost 38 feet just fine with bags and 10 ply tires. I've done a lot of research into the ratings. All ratings are gauged with the factory crap tires. They aren't rated with any of the real factors that come into play later on such as bags or better tires. If you want to know more about it, find guys who haul for a living or who've been doing it for decades. My truck has done a great job of hauling my TT. The last 2 things I plan to do are install a Helwig anti-sway bar and swap out the 3.21 to a 4.10.

--edit--

An Equalizer hitch makes all the difference with sway as well. Solid bars. No chains. It's like night and day.