Towing a Travel Trailer Question

[392DevilDog]

All towing and truck issues aside.

Were do you plan to camp with that thing.

State Parks have very few spots for rigs over 30 foot and the ones they do have are booked 11 months in advance.

Our favorite camping spots...you couldn't even drive into the campground with something that long. But we camp in some wilderness areas.

Even our glamping campgrounds would have a rough time accommodating that.

 

[Zoe Saldana]

Thanks. I appreciate your information on your experience. My wife though is saying it is her turn to get a new ride. I may have to find a used 2500 or 3500.

Here's another suggestion.

If you go to the same part of the country for your 4 trips find a storage place close to that area. Then you only have to tow the TT a shorter distance.

 

[Jonathan Rogers]

All towing and truck issues aside.

Were do you plan to camp with that thing.

State Parks have very few spots for rigs over 30 foot and the ones they do have are booked 11 months in advance.

Our favorite camping spots...you couldn't even drive into the campground with something that long. But we camp in some wilderness areas.

Even our glamping campgrounds would have a rough time accommodating that.

We have our destinations. We can't go anywhere. We always book specific spots for our camper.

 

[Quyonmob]

Too much trailer for sure. Being over payload is one thing, but that sail of a tail will wag the dog all day long.

 

[AFMoulton]

I did the same thing you did. Smaller trailer with my 1500, upgraded trailer, had to upgrade truck. Your wife may not like it, but that’s the way it is, would you rather enjoy your trips and make it there and back safe or have that trailer shove you off the road and possibly something happen.

1500 5.7 Airbags and the 28’ trailer


2500 Hemi with 10k trailer


1500 5.7 with airbags heavy duty rear springs and the 35’ trailer. 10k


Buy a bigger truck for your safety and everyone else on the road. Wife will get over it.

2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

 

[Jonathan Rogers]

I did the same thing you did. Smaller trailer with my 1500, upgraded trailer, had to upgrade truck. Your wife may not like it, but that’s the way it is, would you rather enjoy your trips and make it there and back safe or have that trailer shove you off the road and possibly something happen.

1500 5.7 Airbags and the 28’ trailer


2500 Hemi with 10k trailer


1500 5.7 with airbags heavy duty rear springs and the 35’ trailer. 10k


Buy a bigger truck for your safety and everyone else on the road. Wife will get over it.

2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

Man thanks for that info. I’ve showed the wife. We are going to do it. I’m going to watch for one the same color as my current one. It’s my baby though... custom ordered it.

 

[AFMoulton]

Man thanks for that info. I’ve showed the wife. We are going to do it. I’m going to watch for one the same color as my current one. It’s my baby though... custom ordered it.

It sucks man, I know, my 1500 was exactly what I wanted and it was set up exactly how I wanted it. And it hurt. I’m still not over it, but the 2500 just handles our trailer so much better!

Good luck!


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

 

[Papamugger]

You need either a 2500 or a 3500 (better) for a trailer that large, You will never get safe towing stability with a light weight truck, I have a 26 foot airstream which is right at the breaking point of the 1500/2500 dilemma - what we finally did was buy a 2500 and quite fighting the problem of a truck that had marginal capabilities for our trailer, you are way beyond solving any problems with a too light 1500 by adding airbags etc, its not a power issue but it is a size issue. Time to be safe and upgrade to a safer more capable tow vehicle .

 

[Dr B]

If you need more ammo to convince your wife google trailer lenght and wheelbase. The 1500 will sway way more with a 38 ft bumper pull trailer.

 

[Tim Giesin]

Looking at the picture it looks like you're trailer is low up front if this is correct this is your problem the truck and trailer has to be level

Engine size and axle ratio is your power regardless of 1500,2500,or 3500 your suspension and brakes is the difference

 

[Over The Hill]

Several thing at play here. If you had a 27' trailer, you bought a truck that could handle it. Once you bought the truck you go out and buy a trailer way to big for your truck. Not much logic there. I tow a 26 ft trailer. I had the truck first, Ram 1500 Crew Laramie Eco-Diesel with GDE. I made sure the trailer Gross wt was under the tow capacity. If there is a warranty issue with truck and you are towing a trailer way over your gross warranty may not be good.
You should consider a bigger truck or a smaller trailer.

 

[grumpyb]

part of the reason the trailer sways is because the 2500 has 10 ply rated tires and the 1500 does not , the 10 ply gives you a stiffer sidewall and less sway.

 

[Stephen Taylor]

I would agree with upgrading to 2500 to pull the 37' trailer. I would recommend a diesel 6.7 Ram. I just bought one and was in the same situation as you, although our trailer was only 26 ft. (closer to 30 with tongue). Anyway, with diesel if you get the 6.4 bed you won't see that big a difference in mileage when driving normal commute. My 1500 Ram 5.7 hemi (gas) got really good mpg. at 20-21 on the road and about 17-18 in city. We got the full 8 foot bed with the new diesel. It's a much heavier truck, but I'm seeing 18 mpg on hwy. And with the shorter bed diesels I test drove I noticed a better mpg with 18-20. We haven't towed yet as our trailer is in storage for winter, but we're looking forward to going out west next summer. I loved my 5.7 hemi pickup and it had great power, but situation gets hairy when descending mountain grades. We didn't want to chance that going out west. We live in Louisville, KY and drove to Myrtle Beach thru Smokies this last fall. Anyway, go with Cummins engine on a 2500 or other diesel - I think you'll be much safer. With diesel you have advantage of exhaust brake which will save you on those long descents. Good Luck ! And be safe!

 

[Willie Mosher]

1 st I think 40 feet camping trailer is too long. 2500 or 3500 will help little,
But the 1500 you have is nice set up,
It your just towing it few time a year an
Few hundred miles year, your done,
Just deal w it, go 55 mph, daytime driving, no wind day,

it plans tow thousands miles a year
You really need look at 20 to 25 feet trailer,

Little trailer are towing, big trailer for set up to stay in the same place for a while.

wife an I, have out on road since 2003
About ever 2 or 3 weeks, pull about 8000 miles a year. We use 4x4 3/4 ton gases and tow 19 to 23 trailer ( 2 axle 19 feet was the best. Got they place you can’t get Honda Civic,) w 2018 ram 2500 can pull the 23 ft in 50 mph crosswind at any speed. No problem,

 

[NH RAM]

I was towing a 33' Coleman 2855BH with my 2016 Ram 1500 with hemi and 3.21 gears. It did good on shorter, slower trips like back roads, but on the highway it was just too much. I had a BlueOx Swaypro, airbags, and e-rated tires on the truck.

This year I upgraded to a 2019 Ram 2500 with 6.4 and 3.73 gears. I towed that same camper on a 4,000 mile trip from New Hampshire to Badlands, SD and back. The truck can handle the weight without issue and there was plenty of power. While staying at the Badlands KOA I talked with a couple that run a Duramax with a 38' 5th wheel so we started talking about our trips (he is from CA). I explained that even with the sway control, it's still tough driving a bumper pull near the great lakes, through the White and Green Mountains in NH and VT. I asked if the 5W is really a difference and he said that is his first fifth wheel after coming from a travel trailer and the difference was night and day easier to tow a 5W.

Overall, I felt that the towing experience of trailers left quite a bit to be desired and my wife saw how much work it was to tow the travel trailer in the windy conditions. I didn't have issues with trucks passing, just the wind made the camper dance.

My wife was opposed to upgrading both the truck and then the camper at first but when I said I'm not doing anymore long trips, that sealed the deal because we like doing a destination trip every other year. We searched for months and chose our Cougar 30RLS. Like your trailer, it's "half-ton towable" and even says so on the front cap. Would I tow your trailer or my 5W with a half ton...NO. At a rest stop while fueling up a guy commented and asked if it is really half-ton towable and I told him honestly, no, it shouldn't be. Too much trailer for the truck and my 5W is only 34' long.

With that said, you have a phenomenal trailer, it's just going to be a bit of work to get everything set up. If I can offer one bit of advice; if you're looking for a used tow rig, and it's going to be a gas truck, the 8 speed is worth it behind the 6.4. If you want to future-proof, find a 3500 Cummins- the 2500 doesn't allow enough payload with a Cummins.

Best of luck, I imagine it'll be tough to watch that 1500 go.

 

[AFMoulton]

Don’t buy a diesel 2500 Ram, if you are going to buy a diesel buy a 3500. The exact same truck equipped with all the same options only diesel instead of gas in a 2500 will have 1000#s less payload, not worth it for what you are trying to accomplish.

If you are towing 4 times a year, buy the gas truck. You can buy a **** ton of gas for the $11k the Diesel engine costs.


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

 

[mtwofeathers]

Don’t make the same mistake again and buy a 2500. Buy a 3500 SRW for hardly any price difference and more headroom for the next upgrade.

You absolutely have too much trailer for your 1500.

I agree, people have said quite a bit that fuel mileage is bad on my 3500 srw, but after a few deletes im getting 27.3 empty, and 15-17 towing a 34ft 5th wheel. I dont mind it being stiff since also a 4x4. Its a truck. If I want a car ride we take the wife's 300.

 

[andymax]

Let me know if you end up selling the 1500!!

 

[JS4024]

You are beating the hell out of that 1500! It’s probably at it’s safe limit or even over. The brakes alone on a 2500 are exponentially better than on the 1500. Think safety and get into a 2500!

 

[JS4024]

I agree, people have said quite a bit that fuel mileage is bad on my 3500 srw, but after a few deletes im getting 27.3 empty, and 15-17 towing a 34ft 5th wheel. I dont mind it being stiff since also a 4x4. Its a truck. If I want a car ride we take the wife's 300.

I would like to know where you live where u can drive down hill all the time. Deletes or no deletes those numbers sound very inflated. Even the old 12 valves with no emissions didn’t get that mileage!