nlambert182
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2022
- Posts
- 2,657
- Reaction score
- 4,647
- Location
- Huntsville, AL
- Ram Year
- 2018
- Engine
- 6.7 Cummins
I'm not attempting to take it to the extreme, so if it sounds that way I've done a poor job explaining it.
Truck tow ratings are extremely misleading most of the time when it comes to RV towing. 9.9 times out of 10, you will never get to the tow rating of the truck before you've exceeded both payload and axle ratings because of the way that the mass is distributed in the trailer. They work fine for flatbeds.
RVs are a totally different animal, and I think a lot of the time this is where folks get sideways. With an RV, you're much better suited to go by payload and axle ratings and ignore tow ratings. Tongue weights are almost always heavier.
A 10,000 lb trailer with a 10% tongue weight is only 1,000 lbs on the hitch and against payload (if you can shift the weight back to lighten the tongue).
A 10,000 lb RV with a 15-18% tongue weight is 1,500-1,800 lbs on the hitch and against payload... and the weight can't really be shifted to compensate.
Since a lot of 1500 Rams have a low payload in the 1,100-1,400 lb range you're golden with a flatbed, and likely over by a decent amount with an RV.
I do agree that in the grand scheme of things... going over on payload by 200-300 lbs isn't likely going to hurt a thing as long as you stay below the rear axle rating. It's going to push the truck close to its limits though, and for an inexperienced traveler it will likely be an uncomfortable experience. My only real point to all of this is just to make it as simple as possible for a new RV'er.
Truck tow ratings are extremely misleading most of the time when it comes to RV towing. 9.9 times out of 10, you will never get to the tow rating of the truck before you've exceeded both payload and axle ratings because of the way that the mass is distributed in the trailer. They work fine for flatbeds.
RVs are a totally different animal, and I think a lot of the time this is where folks get sideways. With an RV, you're much better suited to go by payload and axle ratings and ignore tow ratings. Tongue weights are almost always heavier.
A 10,000 lb trailer with a 10% tongue weight is only 1,000 lbs on the hitch and against payload (if you can shift the weight back to lighten the tongue).
A 10,000 lb RV with a 15-18% tongue weight is 1,500-1,800 lbs on the hitch and against payload... and the weight can't really be shifted to compensate.
Since a lot of 1500 Rams have a low payload in the 1,100-1,400 lb range you're golden with a flatbed, and likely over by a decent amount with an RV.
I do agree that in the grand scheme of things... going over on payload by 200-300 lbs isn't likely going to hurt a thing as long as you stay below the rear axle rating. It's going to push the truck close to its limits though, and for an inexperienced traveler it will likely be an uncomfortable experience. My only real point to all of this is just to make it as simple as possible for a new RV'er.
