Tow capacity 11208, what size camper can I tow?

[crash68]

I've never heard, or seen documentation, stating that 300 lbs is allotted for the driver. Only the truck's wet weight.

The SAE J2807 includes 150 lbs for the driver and passenger each. There's also an allotment of 70 lbs for aftermarket towing accessories. Also the vehicle tested must include the options that have a 33% market penetration of that vehicle.
This is an industry standard and starting with the '15 model year all Ram trucks complied with this test.

 

[runamuck]

the easiest way to figure out where you stand is go to a CAT scale and get weighed. subtract that from 7100# and you have your cargo capacity. no mumbo jumbo. my '19 laramie weighed 5960# with me in it and 1/2 tank of fuel.

 

[CanRebel]

^^^ that. I've never heard, or seen documentation, stating that 300 lbs is allotted for the driver. Only the truck's wet weight.

Regardless, payload is going to be limiting factor on a 1500. Especially a Laramie. You'll come no where close to towing at capacity without far exceeding payload.

@crash68 put the correct thing in post above. I thought it was updated to 200 or 300 pounds for driver. I was wrong.

 

[ramffml]

The SAE J2807 includes 150 lbs for the driver and passenger each. There's also an allotment of 70 lbs for aftermarket towing accessories. Also the vehicle tested must include the options that have a 33% market penetration of that vehicle.
This is an industry standard and starting with the '15 model year all Ram trucks complied with this test.

Again, that is for the GCWR only. When calculating payload, every pound you put in, including your own weight, is deducted from payload.

 

[andymax]

I’m 200 pounds. :0)
In any case the wife loves it, just bought it, and I’ll let y’all know how it goes. If it’s a mistake it’ll be a good excuse to move up to a 2500. Thanks for the tips.

Edited my response because I came across as snarky at best. Sorry about that. Post the actual specs of the trailer if you have them. You've already got plenty of good advice...please follow it. If you do upgrade the truck then I was serious about considering jumping to a 3500 because of the likelihood that you will upgrade to a bigger trailer, maybe even a fifth wheel at some point. No, I'm not at all saying a 2500 isnt a perfectly great and suitable towing vehicle...just that for a few extra bucks you get way more headroom, especially if you opt for the diesel.

Good luck with the new rig!

 

[2003F350]

I’m 200 pounds. :0)
In any case the wife loves it, just bought it, and I’ll let y’all know how it goes. If it’s a mistake it’ll be a good excuse to move up to a 2500. Thanks for the tips.

Please give us some pics of the rig hitched up. And what actual weights are.

 

[Ramfanski]

My 22 Laramie has a payload over 1700 lbs. not all of them are low payload.

 

[Creditcardguy]

Here’s what I have…

 

[gofishn]

Generally, I try to stay under 75% of limits, if I can.
If not, I got enough experience, ain't really worried about "what may come".

I prefer to stay under 75%, mostly due to all those experiences, that gave me the confidence.
Basically, I don't want to experience them, anymore.

 

[ramffml]

Generally, I try to stay under 75% of limits, if I can.
If not, I got enough experience, ain't really worried about "what may come".

I prefer to stay under 75%, mostly due to all those experiences, that gave me the confidence.
Basically, I don't want to experience them, anymore.

Very well put. Especially when it comes to vacation and RV's, those are supposed to be relaxing times, not times we're counting the weight of chips and wondering if we need to leave one bag behind.

 

[Riccochet]

1277 lbs of payload is going to be the limiting factor for OP. I would definitely stick with a camper that is under 6500 lbs fully loaded. 12% is 780 lbs of tongue weight, leaves about 500 lbs for occupants, WDH and whatever else is in the truck.

 

[andymax]

My 22 Laramie has a payload over 1700 lbs. not all of them are low payload.

I have a Laramie also...1667lbs payload on the sticker. But I gotta weigh it with all the stuff I've added. I'm quite confident however that the trailer we chose will tow quite comfortably.

 

[Creditcardguy]

I decided not to go over 6500 pounds loaded. More likely, I’ll upgrade to a 2500 diesel and just get a fifth wheel. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[CaptBob3]

The most overlooked thing is Maximum Cargo Capacity or payload. It does not matter what the "towing capacity" is, you need to stay under max cargo weight. It is on the tire pressure label on the drivers door jamb. This is camper hitch or pin weight, fuel, passengers, dogs, tools, and what ever else you put in the truck. I find most people pulling campers are under trucked. I pull an 11000 pound gross weight fifth wheel with a 2022 Ram 3500 Cummins. My max payload is 3980, the loaded camper pin weight is 1880 pounds (CAT Scale weight). Add fuel, passengers, dogs and all the other stuff in the truck - probably another 1000/1200 pound, I still have close to 1000 pounds to go before reaching capacity. Hope this helps!

 

[IdahoDen]

I’m 200 pounds. :0)
In any case the wife loves it, just bought it, and I’ll let y’all know how it goes. If it’s a mistake it’ll be a good excuse to move up to a 2500. Thanks for the tips.

We live in southeast Idaho and I have the 2022 Laramie longhorn with similar towing capacity. Since we go up and down over passes with sometimes 10%+ grades, my basic rule is never tow more than 2/3 of the towing capacity. It's not the flat or uphill runs that I am concerned with, it's the amount of weight that could be pushing me down the hill. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

 

[IdahoDen]

I decided not to go over 6500 pounds loaded. More likely, I’ll upgrade to a 2500 diesel and just get a fifth wheel. Thanks for the suggestions.

About a year and a half ago, my 2014 1500 was hitting 140,000 miles, I decided to make towing easy and got a 2500 longhorn. What a mistake! Without towing, I was averaging 9 miles per gallon, I had no idea how much heavier and stiffer the ride was, the vehicle is so much taller than a 1500........ I hated it! Thank God I had a great dealer who saw they had a very unhappy customer, took the truck back with only 3000 miles and a slight charge against the refund, I got the 3.0 diesel 1500 and I've never been happier. Bottom line, don't get a 2500 unless you absolutely need it.

 

[Schotzy]

Well, since it came from Stellantis it's as close as you're going to find to anything more accurate. I also have the chart for the 2023 2500's, and it is spot on.

Can you post
the one for the 2500 please. Thank you!

 

[392DevilDog]

Hahahaha....I am glad I stopped getting involved with these towing discussions. But, I am so glad there are still people saying they have done this for years, there is some wrong info in the thread, and then give more wrong info that doesn't even pertain to the discussion!!!

I am glad the 150lb driver in payload is still one of the wrong things. And that people still look at max numbers and buy the one that is still a bit above them.

And we still have the DS and DT confusion.

All that said. I am bored at work!

There is no need to follow any max tow numbers, or worry about how much of a driver allowance there is.

Know you gross weight ratings. Front and rear axle, vehicle and trailer and combined.

I used to do this all the time and had the numbers memorized. I gave up! So, these may be off

GVWR 7100
GAWR front 3900
GAWR rear 4100
GCWR 17000

The first 3 are in your door Sticker...the last one from the towing chart.

Load your family into the truck and head to a CAT Scale. Full tank of gas and get the numbers. This will be the minimum your truck will ever weigh. This gives you the allowable tongue weight for the camper...but, remember...anything else you put in the truck takes away and raises your base weight. Load as much as you can in the camper.

Max tow number is based on a 10% tongue weight...a camper will have 12 to 15 on avg...so right away...that 11k trailer rating is an absolute no with a camper.

Ok, so let's hypothetically say you weight 210, wife 130 And kids 60 and 70.

7100 minus 1277 plus 470 is 6293 so 807 then a 100 lb weight distribution hitch...so 707.

So, a 7000 lb trailer is too much...unless you send the wife and kids into another vehicle.

You can exceed "payload" by a few pounds without dying, so long as you are under rear axle and can get the weight back to the front axle with the hitch.

But, I am probably wrong. I tow a 6000lb camper with a 2500 RAM...because we take alot of stuff in the truck...wood, water, propane, bikes, kayaks, etc. And when I see these guys with 1500 trucks I always try to see the expression on the wife's/passenger face...wish CB radios were still popular...cause I would love to know how they feel in the moment towing a 11k 37 footer....

Good luck, camping is a great pastime. I am hopeful that many are going to give it up...but still get excited to see someone getting into it.

There is nothing confusing about this. Finish up with your answers when you weigh. Thanks to "payload" you will be nowhere near GCWR of 17k...so spend no time concerning yourself with it.
PFA

 

[Retiring Don]

‘19 Laramie 2wd 5.7 with OEM air suspension and tow package. Take note of what is said in this thread as it has a lot of good, accurate info. I’ve towed my 27’ dual axle travel trailer over 30k miles, across country and all over the east coast. Crossed over the continental divide 6 times and had NO issues. I do havea Sway-Pro WDH that makes it so even my wife doesn’t feel the trailer behind us when she’s driving. Albeit the acceleration is slower but it has more than enough power to get out of the way when needed. When on the interstate I set the cruise control at 60 mph and stay out of the fast lane. We try to space our overnight stays 300-400 miles apart so no need to speed. Good luck.

 

[Mark2019]

Weight of the driver is NOT included in the calculation of Payload! Riccochet is absolutely right with regard to the payload since the 1500 has a relatively low payload in relation to all of the other towing limits. The limiting factor for most of us towing with our 1500s is usually payload and a weight distribution hitch cannot make up for this. However, a WDH does make for a smooth and safer drive at relatively max payload towing capacities.