Hitch questions

[RVlife]

I have a question about m trailer hitch. I have ram 1500 st. 5.7 Hemi. I have looked under the truck and found no information on weight capacity. I am assuming it is factory because the reciver has ram rubber plug in reciver end. Reciver is 2"×2"
What can it handle? I assume if factory is it would handle what the truck can. You're thoughts appreciated. Thank you

 

[MADDOG]

Ram would have built your 1500 with a Class III hitch.

1. Class III hitches are weight carrying (WC) and also are weight distributing (WD) depending on the vehicle and hitch specifications.
2. Not all Class III hitches are rated to be both. See the specific hitch for that information.
3. Class III hitches used as weight carrying are rated up to 6000 lbs. gross trailer weight (GTW) with a maximum trailer tongue weight (TW) of 600 lbs.
4. Class III hitches used for weight distributing are rated up to 10,000 lbs. gross trailer weight (GTW) with a maximum trailer tongue weight (TW) of 1000 lbs.
5. A Class III hitch usually has a 2" square receiver opening.
6. A higher class drawbar does not increase the towing capacity of the hitch. To use this class of hitch for weight distribution requires a weight distribution system.
7. Class III hitches attach to the vehicle frame only.

If you are unsure whether or not the hitch is both WC & WD, see your RV dealer.

 

[RVlife]

Thanks: A big help. I'm a newbie at this. Didn't know there was so much to know about towing. Finally figured out my truck's Gcwr and with your help I can now shop for my RV. The fun part.
Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[MADDOG]

Glad to help.

Have fun with the RV shopping!

 

[Loudram]

Check your build sheet. My '14 has a factory class IV. I only have the basic tow package. No tow mirrors or integrated brake controller.

 

[Arth]

Yeah if your Ram came equipped with a hitch from the factory it's a class IV. If it was added after the fact it is a class III.

 

[corneileous]

Mine came with the class IV hitch but I’m not sure if it’s the one that will do just 10,000 or if it’ll do up to 14,000 with a WDH or not.

Far as I’m concerned, 10k is plenty for a halfton.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[GsRAM]

Mine came with the class IV hitch but I’m not sure if it’s the one that will do just 10,000 or if it’ll do up to 14,000 with a WDH or not.

Far as I’m concerned, 10k is plenty for a halfton.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yep Exactly. Most half ton trucks will run out of payload long before they reach their "tow rating". Check your payload limit on the yellow driver's door jamb sticker

Remember, everything you put in the truck counts against the payload limit. People and gear in the cab, cargo in the bed, trailer tongue weight (typically 10-15% of loaded trailer weight....NOT the dry weight), the weight of the wdh itself, etc. Good luck

 

[corneileous]

Yep Exactly. Most half ton trucks will run out of payload long before they reach their "tow rating". Check your payload limit on the yellow driver's door jamb sticker

Remember, everything you put in the truck counts against the payload limit. People and gear in the cab, cargo in the bed, trailer tongue weight (typically 10-15% of loaded trailer weight....NOT the dry weight), the weight of the wdh itself, etc. Good luck

That’s a good point, I never thought about that but still; it still cracks me up when all these ignorant Phord people troll the ram trucks ads on Facebook and always like to brag that their F one-fitty’ll pull over 13,000 pounds; for one, only certain models will do that- and second, Phord even says in the fine print that in order to pull that, they you need a WDH. Even the 12,000 whatever it is that ram advertises that the ram 1500 can pull- is a lot of weight for halfton.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[JMod45]

Thanks: A big help. I'm a newbie at this. Didn't know there was so much to know about towing. Finally figured out my truck's Gcwr and with your help I can now shop for my RV. The fun part.
Thanks for the quick reply.

Just FYI, if you are looking at a toy hauler trailer, throw the 10-15% rule out the window. Those things are closer to 20-25% on the tongue unless they have a load in the back. I learned the hard way, ended up switching to a 2500 to handle the extra tongue weight. Even the dealership I bought it from didn't believe me until I had a long talk with the service manager.