Tow capacity confusion

[runamuck]

There are some good calculators on the web that will give you some accurate towing numbers.

I like this one:

https://www.huskytow.com/towing-calculator/

It allows you to enter all the details of your truck and the trailer / RV and give you the weights that you will be towing.

that one is nice but right off they ask for curb wt. of truck and who knows what that number is. the way I got close was to go to cat scale but then you have to back out your wt. and estimated fuel wt. and take a guess on the wt. of any other knick-knacks that you might have stashed in the truck. it would be nice if that info was on window sticker as delivered.

 

[Newman]

 

[Newman]

My 2019 bighorn 5.7 hemi 3.92 w 5.7 bed
Unloaded vehicle weight 5054
Payload 1850 = GVWR 6904
Max Tow 11540
Unloaded trailer weight 7088
Cargo capacity 1812= GVWR 8900
MCVWR truck & trailer both loaded 17000
So I’m less 2640 lbs under towing and 1200 lbs less under combined maximums
Payload calculated less tongue weight also even though your truck is able never tow over maximums it’s against the law. Never tow at maximum since your pushing safety at this point.
Weight distribution hitch to balance load with sway control is well worth the cost and possibly even consider adding some helper air bags to the rear of your tow vehicle. Safe travels hope this helped.

 

[runamuck]

View attachment 186590

ya those charts are way off. if you scroll down farther to ccsb 5.7 4x4 it shows over 1840# cargo capacity while the door jamb sticker on mine shows 1324#. quite a difference. CAT scale gives even a different number as 5598# empty wt. vs 5260# shown on the chart. I tend to go by the CAT wt. so I pack light when towing

 

[Newman]

Yes thanks that’s good advice, my payload capacity as stated on the door is 1770 and not the 1850 listed on the spec sheet. It all depends on each particular build taking into consideration what options were added since every gram of weight added to the vehicle takes away from that vehicles actual payload . I agree putting her on the scales is much better thanks.

 

[dkr2428]

Forum newbie here, been researching for an upcoming RAM purchase. I've been using the "Ram Trucks - Towing & Payload Capacity Guide" at https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

Plug in your VIN and it gives you payload and tow capacity.

 

[Rick Stevens]

hey there...

see the uploaded documents that give you an idea based on dodge information......it is so hard to know what is right when one person will say yes 8 - 9000lbs is ok and others say 7000lbs...crazy, so crazy

Rick

 

[runamuck]

Forum newbie here, been researching for an upcoming RAM purchase. I've been using the "Ram Trucks - Towing & Payload Capacity Guide" at https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

Plug in your VIN and it gives you payload and tow capacity.

that site was way off for me. when I entered the info for my truck it showed 2300# on the sliding scale and 1840# when I scrolled down to the exact model. according to actual cat scale wt., I get 5598# for my truck empty so 7100#-5598# leaves 1502# but the door sticker on mine shows 1324# max cargo. with me and 1/2 tank fuel mine weighs in at 5960# so I really only have 1140# capacity unless I fill up or take the wife or haul any stuff or hook up my trailer...

 

[No Tyme]

I basically made an account to ask this noobie question.

I’m confused... some charts I read say my ram can tow 8000+lbs. some say 12000+lbs. I see a lot of “when properly equipped” as well.

For the love of god, please someone tell me what my truck is capable of!? Also, if anyone can give some advice on realistic safe tow capacity, it would be greatly appreciated.
I would like to tow a trailer/toy hauler from time to time, weighing about 8000-9000lbs loaded.

2019 ram 5.7 crew cab 4x4 sport. 392 ratio. I was lead to believe this could handle 12k.

Thanks!

Sean

I signed up on the Mopar services web site and entered my vin. For my 19 BH classic with Hemi and 3.21 it states towing capacity of 8222 lbs.
I will not be towing anywhere near that, heaviest will be about 6600 lbs. so I feel my new truck will be capable of my needs.

 

[2019RamInSC]

Ok, confusion city LOL

On my door, I show the Gross Weight of my 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Crew Cab is 7100 lbs.

My carrying capacity on the tire sticker shows 1390. (includes passenger and cargo. Not sure about gasoline and other fluids. But a full tank of gas is 156 lb.

So, if I subtract 1390 from 7100. I get 5,710. So my truck weights 5,710 lbs. Any thoughts either way?? Am I correct with this calculation?


I have an AREA topper on it that supposedly weighs 175 lbs. Now I am at 5,885. With my butt in it, that adds 230 lbs.

Now we are at 6115. Add that tank of gas??? Don't know yet. Not telling "war departments" weight. Would not be prudent. LOL Stella the Rottie weighs 85 lbs.

Anything wrong with my numbers?????

Now our trailer tongue weight is 728 lbs. Yikes I am getting close, 6928 lbs. War Department has to weigh less than 172 lbs...............phewwww

The empty trailer weights 6009 lb. I know from previous trailers that we carry about 750 lbs of cargo.But I will give it 1000 lbs of cargo.

So the trailer will weight no more than 7000 lbs. I never carry fresh water or waste water.

My trucks towing capacity is 11,290 with a combined truck and trailer weight of 17,000 lbs.

Want to see an interesting number. 17,000 minus 11,290 is 5,710. My empty truck weight.

Moral of the story. You can never tow at the maximum tow capacity. At least not with a 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Crew Cab.

I will be very close to the Gross Weight of my truck capacity but ok with trailer weight and total weight.

Any thoughts or corrections to my methodology? Lay it on me.

 

[NapaRam]

Forum newbie here, been researching for an upcoming RAM purchase. I've been using the "Ram Trucks - Towing & Payload Capacity Guide" at https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

Plug in your VIN and it gives you payload and tow capacity.

this site also has some information as well probably the same"

https://www.ramtrucks.com/ram-commercial/body-builders-guide.html

 

[gofishn]

Ok, confusion city LOL

On my door, I show the Gross Weight of my 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Crew Cab is 7100 lbs.

My carrying capacity on the tire sticker shows 1390. (includes passenger and cargo. Not sure about gasoline and other fluids. But a full tank of gas is 156 lb.

So, if I subtract 1390 from 7100. I get 5,710. So my truck weights 5,710 lbs. Any thoughts either way?? Am I correct with this calculation?


I have an AREA topper on it that supposedly weighs 175 lbs. Now I am at 5,885. With my butt in it, that adds 230 lbs.

Now we are at 6115. Add that tank of gas??? Don't know yet. Not telling "war departments" weight. Would not be prudent. LOL Stella the Rottie weighs 85 lbs.

Anything wrong with my numbers?????

Now our trailer tongue weight is 728 lbs. Yikes I am getting close, 6928 lbs. War Department has to weigh less than 172 lbs...............phewwww

The empty trailer weights 6009 lb. I know from previous trailers that we carry about 750 lbs of cargo.But I will give it 1000 lbs of cargo.

So the trailer will weight no more than 7000 lbs. I never carry fresh water or waste water.

My trucks towing capacity is 11,290 with a combined truck and trailer weight of 17,000 lbs.

Want to see an interesting number. 17,000 minus 11,290 is 5,710. My empty truck weight.

Moral of the story. You can never tow at the maximum tow capacity. At least not with a 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Crew Cab.

I will be very close to the Gross Weight of my truck capacity but ok with trailer weight and total weight.

Any thoughts or corrections to my methodology? Lay it on me.

Nope and therein lies the Rub.

True across all brands. though the Ram has less pin weight than most.
1/2 ton trucks are for mickey mouse trailers.
Not 24ft and up travel trailers loaded out with the family on board.
can you tow more?
sure.
Just say hold my beer and have someone filming.

Biggest problem with 1/2 tons towing is it;s usually some one who has no experience at towing
and is maxing out his truck and way beyond his own ability to handle it, if something goes wrong
and something ALWAYS goes wrong.

But, that's okay too.
Got decades of avoiding those guys on the roads
and the laughs they provide are priceless.

 

[Firetruck41]

Ok, confusion city LOL

On my door, I show the Gross Weight of my 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Crew Cab is 7100 lbs.

My carrying capacity on the tire sticker shows 1390. (includes passenger and cargo. Not sure about gasoline and other fluids. But a full tank of gas is 156 lb.

So, if I subtract 1390 from 7100. I get 5,710. So my truck weights 5,710 lbs. Any thoughts either way?? Am I correct with this calculation?


I have an AREA topper on it that supposedly weighs 175 lbs. Now I am at 5,885. With my butt in it, that adds 230 lbs.

Now we are at 6115. Add that tank of gas??? Don't know yet. Not telling "war departments" weight. Would not be prudent. LOL Stella the Rottie weighs 85 lbs.

Anything wrong with my numbers?????

Now our trailer tongue weight is 728 lbs. Yikes I am getting close, 6928 lbs. War Department has to weigh less than 172 lbs...............phewwww

The empty trailer weights 6009 lb. I know from previous trailers that we carry about 750 lbs of cargo.But I will give it 1000 lbs of cargo.

So the trailer will weight no more than 7000 lbs. I never carry fresh water or waste water.

My trucks towing capacity is 11,290 with a combined truck and trailer weight of 17,000 lbs.

Want to see an interesting number. 17,000 minus 11,290 is 5,710. My empty truck weight.

Moral of the story. You can never tow at the maximum tow capacity. At least not with a 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Crew Cab.

I will be very close to the Gross Weight of my truck capacity but ok with trailer weight and total weight.

Any thoughts or corrections to my methodology? Lay it on me.

Your calculations look correct, and yes, for pretty much all half-tons, of all brands, you can not reach "max tow capacity", as you will run out of payload, long before.

 

[dhay13]

Yep. I like the F150 commercials showing them towing a 12,000lb boat. Yeah, try that in real life.

 

[392DevilDog]

My carrying capacity on the tire sticker shows 1390. (includes passenger and cargo. Not sure about gasoline and other fluids. But a full tank of gas is 156 lb.

So, if I subtract 1390 from 7100. I get 5,710. So my truck weights 5,710 lbs. Any thoughts either way?? Am I correct with this calculation?

Yes. This is correct. Base weight is GVWR minus. MAX payload(the one found on your door sticker). And Base weight includes full fluids...so full gas tank.

The reason you can not hit max tow is because it is devised with only 300lbs of cargo...70 lbs for hitch...and 10% tongue weight. I weigh 295 myself. But, as I see with your calculations...they didnt even do that...WOW

 

[crash68]

Base weight is GVWR minus payload. And Base weight includes full fluids...so full gas tank.

Unless that's some new fangled "math".. that is backwards.
Base weight is what the vehicle itself weighs, you subtract that from the GVWR to get the payload. Payload isn't a "fixed" number, and changes with what's in the truck.

 

[392DevilDog]

Ok..sorry...to find MAX payload. GVWR minus base weight.

Since the truck gives you GVWR and Max payload on the door stickers.

GVWR minus Max payload is base weight.

Understand...good.

Yes payload changes with everything you add or take away.

That wasn't his question.

To find the base weight of your truck without going to a CAT scale. Go to your drivers door jamb. You will see 2 stickers. One gives you GVWR and one gives you payload.

GVWR minus payload equals base weight.

Then with this base weight you can add the weight of yourself and cargo to get your trip weight.

Not reverse math...just two completely different questions...He didn't want to know payload...the truck tells him...he wanted to know base weight.

The math is Algebra.

GVWR - payload = X

GVWR - X = payload

X = base weight

 

[crash68]

My trucks towing capacity is 11,290 with a combined truck and trailer weight of 17,000 lbs.

Want to see an interesting number. 17,000 minus 11,290 is 5,710. My empty truck weight.

Considering that the SAE J2807 testing numbers are determined using a stock truck, not surprising that math works that way.
That 11290 lbs is the entire trailer weight, including what gets off-loaded to the truck in the form of tongue weight. Your truckwill weigh more than the base of 5710, as long as the trucks GVWR isn't exceeded then you could conceivably tow a trailer that's total weight is 11290 lbs(tongue weight + axle weight).

 

[392DevilDog]

Considering that the SAE J2807 testing numbers are determined using a stock truck, not surprising that math works that way.
That 11290 lbs is the entire trailer weight, including what gets off-loaded to the truck in the form of tongue weight. Your truckwill weigh more than the base of 5710, as long as the trucks GVWR isn't exceeded then you could conceivably tow a trailer that's total weight is 11290 lbs(tongue weight + axle weight).

I agree with how you say it is the total weight of the trailer(including tongue weight)

But,explain the weight of the driver?

The SAE J2807 allows for 300lbs for driver and passenger. So 150 for driver.

Where is that weight.

The SAE J2807 allows for hitch weight (70 or 90 for conventional (sorry cant remember for sure) and 150? For 5tj wheel)

Where is that weight?

This is my go to statement for people asking if they need a 2500 or a 1500.

If you haul more often than you tow, or if you haul while you tow...2500.

If you tow what you could haul...get a 1500.

 

[crash68]

But,explain the weight of the driver?

The SAE J2807 allows for 300lbs for driver and passenger. So 150 for driver.

Where is that weight.

The SAE J2807 allows for hitch weight (70 or 90 for conventional (sorry cant remember for sure) and 150? For 5tj wheel)

Where is that weight?

SAE J2807 is a testing standard, all the manufacturers have to adhere to the same parameters to make the ratings comparable. There is break downs how how and where all of the weights applied within the test vehicle. They even specify that the vehicle must include options that have a 33% penetration of vehicles sold(options equiped on 33% of the number of vehicles built/sold).
The big numbers to adhere to are the GAWRs and (secondly) GVWR. Just because your under those numbers doesn't mean your safe, there are some people that I don't trust with 500 lbs in the bed let alone towing anything.
Same goes for the think that if the trailer/load is on the edge for a 1500 that if you move up to a 2500 the same care and due diligence doesn't need to be adhered to. I would much rather drive along side someone that's pushing a 1500 slightly over the max who knows what their towing than some who slaps a trailer on the back of a 2500 and thinks "this truck will tow this no problem". There is a lot of misinformed people that think a WDH doesn't apply to 2500/3500s.