Thoughts

[Rammer2109]

Hi,
Lots of information on this site, lots of variations in regards to towing. I am a bit of a newbie but have towed before.

Last year we bought a 34 foot 2019 avenger 30qbs. Its dry weight is 7100 lbs. I up graded my 2011 ram sport to a 2017 ram sxt with the 3.92, which is suppose to allow for 10,000 lbs. We can load up to 2500 lbs in the trailer, but don't plan on maxing it out. However, we are planning a big move from NS to Alberta, 6000 km trip. I have a WDH, and airlift 5000 ultimate air bags which I think are overkill. I had this hitch on my 2011 ram sport and it towed very well. Now I have it on my 2017 and hasnt been adjusted fir this truck and trailer sway seems a bit crazy. I am bringing it in to the RV dealer who set up my last truck to set it up on this one...hopefully they can get a bit more of the sway out. I assume I have enough truck to make this trip. Any thoughts?

 

[mtofell]

which is suppose to allow for 10,000 lbs.

This is what the truck can pull. Another number that is equally (or even more) important is the payload. What can it carry? (trailer tongue weight, people/gear in the truck, etc.). This should be stamped on your door sticker. BTW, you can only "load up 2500 pounds" in the trailer if you have NOTHING else in the truck. No people other than a driver, no cargo, nothing in the bed. The 10,000# weight manufacturers brag about is essentially unattainable. You will be well over your payload before you get anywhere close to the 10,000# "pulling" rating.

WDH has little to do with sway. Do you have anti-sway with your hitch? A 7100# dry trailer is asking A LOT of a half ton. Unlikely you will be able to stay within all your weights with that trailer, once loaded, and any reasonable amount of people or gear in the truck. The airbags are a nice add-on but don't increase the payload potential of the truck.

 

[crash68]

Hi,
I have a WDH, and airlift 5000 ultimate air bags which I think are overkill. I had this hitch on my 2011 ram sport and it towed very well. Now I have it on my 2017 and hasnt been adjusted fir this truck and trailer sway seems a bit crazy. I am bringing it in to the RV dealer who set up my last truck to set it up on this one...hopefully they can get a bit more of the sway out. I assume I have enough truck to make this trip. Any thoughts?

Find a set of CAT scales and set the WDH up yourself. You'll want transfer enough weight to replace anything lost on the front axle keep the rear axle heavier than the front without going over the GAWR. It will also allow you to check the tongue weight of the trailer, aim for about 12% that should help with the sway.

 

[Rammer2109]

This is what the truck can pull. Another number that is equally (or even more) important is the payload. What can it carry? (trailer tongue weight, people/gear in the truck, etc.). This should be stamped on your door sticker. BTW, you can only "load up 2500 pounds" in the trailer if you have NOTHING else in the truck. No people other than a driver, no cargo, nothing in the bed. The 10,000# weight manufacturers brag about is essentially unattainable. You will be well over your payload before you get anywhere close to the 10,000# "pulling" rating.

WDH has little to do with sway. Do you have anti-sway with your hitch? A 7100# dry trailer is asking A LOT of a half ton. Unlikely you will be able to stay within all your weights with that trailer, once loaded, and any reasonable amount of people or gear in the truck. The airbags are a nice add-on but don't increase the payload potential of the truck.

Payload fir my truck is 1490, my tongue weight is 885, leaving 605 minus myself at 160 and my boy at 130, leaving 315 lbs available. I plan to put very littke in the box, 100 lbs maybe. Dry weight if trailer is 7100 lbs. None of the holding tanjs will be filled and I would cap our packing to 1200 lbs...for a total weight of 8300 lbs, 1700 lba less than the max. This seems ok to me, or am I totally off in another world?

 

[billyw]

Have you aired the tires to max? Despite the fear of bypassing the payload rating, adding some tongue weight would probably help as previously mentioned. I haven't experienced it much on my current Ram, but my previous F150 was very sway sensitive unless the tires were aired to at least 44 lbs. Maxing the trailer tire pressure helps too. And of course, also as mentioned, a good sway controlling hitch!! I use an old school Equal-I-zer brand hitch that has performed flawlessly for the last 15 years.

 

[mtofell]

Payload fir my truck is 1490, my tongue weight is 885, leaving 605 minus myself at 160 and my boy at 130, leaving 315 lbs available. I plan to put very littke in the box, 100 lbs maybe. Dry weight if trailer is 7100 lbs. None of the holding tanjs will be filled and I would cap our packing to 1200 lbs...for a total weight of 8300 lbs, 1700 lba less than the max. This seems ok to me, or am I totally off in another world?

Have you weighed the trailer and trailer? Often times the trailer dry/brochure weight doesn't include things like propane tanks and batteries. There always seems to be a few hundred pounds that just appear out of no where. The trucks can be the same thing. Remember the door sticker was as it rolled out of the factory. Things like floor mats, bed liner (even the air bags you've added) take off from that payload. I'll stop short of saying you're in another world but definitely going to be tight.

 

[buddy guy]

I drive a ford transit connect that we got new last year and wanted to know what the cargo weight really was. we have a small ****** in it. about 2ft x 2ft, 1 ft deep. it's 141 lb! doesn't look that much.

 

[Rammer2109]

Have you aired the tires to max? Despite the fear of bypassing the payload rating, adding some tongue weight would probably help as previously mentioned. I haven't experienced it much on my current Ram, but my previous F150 was very sway sensitive unless the tires were aired to at least 44 lbs. Maxing the trailer tire pressure helps too. And of course, also as mentioned, a good sway controlling hitch!! I use an old school Equal-I-zer brand hitch that has performed flawlessly for the last 15 years.

Yes I have my tires at 44 lbs on my truck and 80lbs on the trailer, bothe recommended psi.

 

[Rammer2109]

Just got my truck back from the RV dealer. My hitch is dialed in...540.00 dollars later. Added dual cam sway control. Mega improvement...air bag 5000 ultimates set at 28 lbs. Truck hauls great. Gas mileage is even up..was only burning 16.4L for every 100L today. That was hauling at 90 km/h for 45 mins. Can't complain. Much more comfortable for the big cross country trip