Towing Advice R/T

[Andy578]

I'm 100% sure he is. That trailer alone probably weighs in the neighborhood of 3000-3500 Lbs, the truck on top around 5500 to 6000 Lbs. A 2012 R/T is rated for 5050 Lbs towing. And that's not even considering how insanely tongue heavy that setup is.

nah my 18ft car trailer is 2200lbs and that looks shorter so it's probably less. he just needs to get some of that weight off the front. putting the truck on backwards would probably do the trick but will have increased air resistance. i pulled a much bigger load then that and didn't have that much squat

 

[Galion]

nah my 18ft car trailer is 2200lbs and that looks shorter so it's probably less. he just needs to get some of that weight off the front. putting the truck on backwards would probably do the trick but will have increased air resistance. i pulled a much bigger load then that and didn't have that much squat

I'm assuming that weight based on the 24ft carhauler I hauled last time weighed in just under 4000 Lbs, but that was quite a heavy built trailer too. Either way it's still way too heavy.

 

[hampton64]

I added the factory brake controller, some stock 20s with terra grappler lt tires then proceeded to tow right at 10k lbs from nh to va. No issues. Only thing that sucked was the horrible roads.

 

[Andy578]

I'm assuming that weight based on the 24ft carhauler I hauled last time weighed in just under 4000 Lbs, but that was quite a heavy built trailer too. Either way it's still way too heavy.

4000 for a 24ft seems about right, maybe a little heavy but depends how it's built i guess. the OPs looks like a 16ft and looks built similar too mine so i'd be surprised if it's over 2000lbs. actually the truck is probably too heavy for the trailer but still get that weight further back and it should be alright

I added the factory brake controller, some stock 20s with terra grappler lt tires then proceeded to tow right at 10k lbs from nh to va. No issues. Only thing that sucked was the horrible roads.

you also have airbags? mine had a lot of squat with 10k lbs and people were really angry with me at night so i added the bags to help

 

[redrt_12]

Have you ever stopped to think about WHY the R/Ts towing capacity is so much lower?

It isn't the axle. That's the same as the rest of the trucks. In fact the R/T has the 3.92s, so it's axle is BETTER suited for towing.

It isn't the suspension. The R/T has the exact same suspension components as the other Rams. It sits just as high from the factory.

It isn't the drivetrain. It has the biggest motor you can get in the Ram, plus the axle ratio as I said before.

It isn't the hitch. You can get the same class IV hitch, trailer brake controller, and towing mirrors that you get on any other 1500.

The only difference is the wheels. The 22" wheels aren't load tested as high as the 20" wheels. It basically comes down to how much sidewall they have and the load rating of the tire.

Throw some stock 20" on your R/T and you essentially have what any other 9,000lb tow rating Ram does. Or get high load rated tires for the 22" wheels.

I dont worry about tires my tires are rated at 10 ply 33/12.5/22

 

[redrt_12]

I want to thank everybody who gave their opinion on someway everyone has their point...thank you all for helping✌ ill be adding the airlift 1000 and ill try to move the truck alittle bit back i think that would help alot

 

[clh1220]

All speculation about overloaded/ not overloaded aside, go with the airlift 1000's and be done with it. They will help a good amount for infrequent towing and hauling. If you aren't hauling weight a lot of the time or towing, it's a cheap solution to help with the ass dragging. Let's face it- I really doubt any of us here can say we haven't overloaded the **** out of our trucks from time to time to get **** done. It happens. So, if it's infrequent- why spend crazy money if you don't have to?

Well it sure as Hell is not speculation about way too much weight on that hitch. The rear suspension is bottomed out, he hits any good dips in the road and that trailer is going to be bouncing that truck. We all have done more than we should but I never pulled a trailer looking like that.

 

[cableguy_hd]

I want to thank everybody who gave their opinion on someway everyone has their point...thank you all for helping✌ ill be adding the airlift 1000 and ill try to move the truck alittle bit back i think that would help alot

for help in a pinch thats a good direction to start.

 

[14hemiexpress]

4000 for a 24ft seems about right, maybe a little heavy but depends how it's built i guess. the OPs looks like a 16ft and looks built similar too mine so i'd be surprised if it's over 2000lbs. actually the truck is probably too heavy for the trailer but still get that weight further back and it should be alright

I persoanlly believe it's a 18-20 ft looks like 8 lugs wheels it's hard to tell by the pic but the trailer does look beefy.

We have a 16 steel top car hauler it's ruffly 2200lbs I would say no more than 2500, also at work we have 2 18ft wood trailers ones a open top equpiment trailer and the other is pupe top utility. The wood pipe top trailer is tandem 3500lb axles it's pretty light I bet it's around 2k our wood top equipment trailer is a big tex tandem 7k axle trailer witch looks similar to OP's and that bad boy weighs in at 2800lbs according to the big tex web page.

I had a f-150 crew cab that dropped a Trans and we put it on the 16ft and the rear tire sat on the dove tail I don't think there is anyway that op's is 16ft and a 2wd crew cab half ton is 5ish so trailer and truck op would scale in the 7800-8200 range is my guess.

 

[redrt_12]

I persoanlly believe it's a 18-20 ft looks like 8 lugs wheels it's hard to tell by the pic but the trailer does look beefy.

We have a 16 steel top car hauler it's ruffly 2200lbs I would say no more than 2500, also at work we have 2 18ft wood trailers ones a open top equpiment trailer and the other is pupe top utility. The wood pipe top trailer is tandem 3500lb axles it's pretty light I bet it's around 2k our wood top equipment trailer is a big tex tandem 7k axle trailer witch looks similar to OP's and that bad boy weighs in at 2800lbs according to the big tex web page.

I had a f-150 crew cab that dropped a Trans and we put it on the 16ft and the rear tire sat on the dove tail I don't think there is anyway that op's is 16ft and a 2wd crew cab half ton is 5ish so trailer and truck op would scale in the 7800-8200 range is my guess.

Its a 8 lug trailer built pretty heavy

 

[hampton64]

4000 for a 24ft seems about right, maybe a little heavy but depends how it's built i guess. the OPs looks like a 16ft and looks built similar too mine so i'd be surprised if it's over 2000lbs. actually the truck is probably too heavy for the trailer but still get that weight further back and it should be alright



you also have airbags? mine had a lot of squat with 10k lbs and people were really angry with me at night so i added the bags to help

Nope no airbags. Just made the weight on the trailer work to my advantage. I prob had 3 ish inches of squat.

 

[xrsman]

If I could do it over I'd wait and get the airlift 5000 bags when the came out. The 1000's just don't cut it for me lol. They don't come anywhere near leveling 1000 lbs on my truck! With the 5000s I'd always ride level which would look better, perform better, and not wear the tires as fast lol.

Here's 900 lbs with the airbags overinflated at 40 psi.

I'm not sure the tongue weight on this load, but it was similar to the above picture. Total weight was 9900 lbs.

 

[14hemiexpress]

If I could do it over I'd wait and get the airlift 5000 bags when the came out. The 1000's just don't cut it for me lol. They don't come anywhere near leveling 1000 lbs on my truck! With the 5000s I'd always ride level which would look better, perform better, and not wear the tires as fast lol.

Here's 900 lbs with the airbags overinflated at 40 psi.

I'm not sure the tongue weight on this load, but it was similar to the above picture. Total weight was 9900 lbs.

Do you have differnt spring with your lift? I'm not sure if it's springs, the fact youa is a larmie or what but you seem to squat more than most. With my express 2 different times had 1000-1200 lbs of wood and quickcrete in my bed and I only squated 3-4 inches it was down but looked nothing like yours, and when I set a 750lb welder in my bed it only goes down 2inchs sits right around level. I know your truck being a larmie is heavier I'm not sure if that might be the difference but I just don't get the same squat and I don't even have the bags right now.

 

[xrsman]

Do you have differnt spring with your lift? I'm not sure if it's springs, the fact youa is a larmie or what but you seem to squat more than most. With my express 2 different times had 1000-1200 lbs of wood and quickcrete in my bed and I only squated 3-4 inches it was down but looked nothing like yours, and when I set a 750lb welder in my bed it only goes down 2inchs sits right around level. I know your truck being a larmie is heavier I'm not sure if that might be the difference but I just don't get the same squat and I don't even have the bags right now.

No same springs, there's just a 1.5" spacer on the top to lift the rear end. In the bed is different though because the weight is right overtop of the axle and springs. My 600 lb atv will only sit the truck down an inch when it's in the box. That's with just 12 lbs in the airbags too.

 

[clh1220]

Weight distributed in the bed is different then the hitch weight. Your weight was over the axle and his was all on the hitch at the end of the truck.That's why a fifth wheel is better.

 

[redrt_12]

If I could do it over I'd wait and get the airlift 5000 bags when the came out. The 1000's just don't cut it for me lol. They don't come anywhere near leveling 1000 lbs on my truck! With the 5000s I'd always ride level which would look better, perform better, and not wear the tires as fast lol.

Here's 900 lbs with the airbags overinflated at 40 psi.

I'm not sure the tongue weight on this load, but it was similar to the above picture. Total weight was 9900 lbs.

do you have a part # of the airlift 5000 or a link where i can order it?

 

[xrsman]

do you have a part # of the airlift 5000 or a link where i can order it?

I think these guys have the best prices around for the 5000 bags! There's a $50 rebate on them now too

http://www.suspensionconnection.com/view-cat/dodge/ram 1500?category=air lift air bags

 

[redrt_12]

I think these guys have the best prices around for the 5000 bags! There's a $50 rebate on them now too

Dodge Ram 1500 Air Lift Air Bags | SuspensionConnection.com

thanks....

 

[14hemiexpress]

No same springs, there's just a 1.5" spacer on the top to lift the rear end. In the bed is different though because the weight is right overtop of the axle and springs. My 600 lb atv will only sit the truck down an inch when it's in the box. That's with just 12 lbs in the airbags too.

Weight distributed in the bed is different then the hitch weight. Your weight was over the axle and his was all on the hitch at the end of the truck.That's why a fifth wheel is better.

I guess that makes sense you have a little more leverage out there, I just never put 2 and 2 together. Heaviest trailer I have pulled was about 8k and it was all over the axles not much on the tounge and the next heaviest was probably a wrangler but it was centered I have probably never had more than 600 just guessing, with vehicles I just pull them on the trailer and pull them forward until the truck sits level.

To OP if your situation happens again you can always load the truck backwards see if that helps the weight distribution.

 

[xrsman]

I guess that makes sense you have a little more leverage out there, I just never put 2 and 2 together. Heaviest trailer I have pulled was about 8k and it was all over the axles not much on the tounge and the next heaviest was probably a wrangler but it was centered I have probably never had more than 600 just guessing, with vehicles I just pull them on the trailer and pull them forward until the truck sits level.

To OP if your situation happens again you can always load the truck backwards see if that helps the weight distribution.

Safe trailering is 10-15% of the total weight on the tongue. You need to be careful that you don't under load the tongue by shifting weight too far back on the trailer.

What will happen of there isn't enough tongue weight (less than 10%) is the trailer can start to sway back and forth making it hard to control. If there is too much tongue weight (more than 20 %) than it can throw the back of the truck around and put too much stress on the tires.