Towing Experience

[Ernesto Pizarro]

Hello to all,

I wanted to share my towing experience during a recent move from NY to FL. The distance is approx. 950 miles. I purchased a 2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab, 2WD 6'4" Bed with factory tow package. I had four classic cars to transport but only 2 would be towed with the Ram. I purchased the Ram from Kernersville Ram. I then purchased an 21' steel open car trailer from Kaufman Trailer in Lexington, NC. I first hauled my 1940 Ford PU which weighs approx 2450 lbs. The trailer, a 10K version weighs in at 2700 lbs. The Ram has a tow rating of 8430 lbs and a max payload of 1830 lbs. I had approx. 350 lbs of gear during the ride. The Ram handled the tow without issue. The was some rear spring sag which I'd read about here so it was expected. I was careful to position the truck to balance load and tongue weight. I knew towing vehicle #2 would require an upgrade or two as it weighs in at 4250 lbs (1964 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible). I pondered getting a WDH, better tires for towing and air bags based on what I have read on this forum. I contacted Steve at Timber Grove to find out if his kit would fit a 2020 Ram. He was able to confirm that it would and after telling him my plan he advised me to forego the WDH. He was confident the air bags would get the job done. He stated the tires would be a noticeable drawback but mileage would suffer slightly with firmer tires. I purchased and installed the airbag kit ( it was an easy install). Steve advised to measure from a fixed point on the trailer receiver to the ground to get a base measurement (factory) and air the bags prior to adding the load then air them down to that measurement. I towed with the factory Goodyear tires. The Ram handled the tow like a champ. Empty (no trailer) I was able to get 23 mpg NC to NY, I was able to get 16.8 with the unloaded trailer and with the Plymouth I got 12.9. I should add that when I towed either vehicle I used 89 octane fuel otherwise it takes 87. I kept my speed right around 60 mph. Sure it took longer but I think this added to the amount of control I maintained. I am providing this real world experience for anyone's benefit.

EP

 

[Glenn54]

Great write-up. I'm sure many will benefit from this. The only thing you left out was pictures of the classic cars.

 

[Papa Red]

Thanks for posting.

Red

 

[El Huapo]

Ernesto et al---just an FYI: I can't speak for NY or NC or the in-between state law but here in California if your tow vehicle is rated for towing less than your trailer is rated for, you are in violation. So while it's unlikely a Patrolman would stop you just for towing a 10K# rated trailer with your truck (or mine), if one did and just happened to want to see your trailer's registration, you could be cited and be required to drop the trailer on the spot and call a tow truck for it. I am NOT defending the law, just giving a heads-up to all. I learned this law when shopping for an open car trailer with my truck, rated for 7600#. I was thinking to buy the 9,990# rated trailer but was told I shouldn't unless I had a heavier-duty truck. So I bought the 7,000# trailer. Just sayin'...
BTW: it applies even if the trailer IS EMPTY! No kidding.

 

[crash68]

Ernesto et al---just an FYI: I can't speak for NY or NC or the in-between state law but here in California if your tow vehicle is rated for towing less than your trailer is rated for, you are in violation. So while it's unlikely a Patrolman would stop you just for towing a 10K# rated trailer with your truck (or mine), if one did and just happened to want to see your trailer's registration, you could be cited and be required to drop the trailer on the spot and call a tow truck for it. I am NOT defending the law, just giving a heads-up to all. I learned this law when shopping for an open car trailer with my truck, rated for 7600#. I was thinking to buy the 9,990# rated trailer but was told I shouldn't unless I had a heavier-duty truck. So I bought the 7,000# trailer. Just sayin'...
BTW: it applies even if the trailer IS EMPTY! No kidding.

I'm guessing you've been fed some bad infromation as how can they say you can't tow a trailer that's rated for more than what your truck is rated to tow? I can see if the trailer weighs more than what the truck is rated for. Or possibly someone got pulled over by a stupid LEO that doesn't know the difference between a rating and an actual weight.
If what you stated is actually true then that is really F'd up, no wonder California is turning into a cesspool.
Maybe someone will post the actual law with #

 

[Toddbigboytruck]

Hello to all,
Do you know what the rear end is on your truck


I wanted to share my towing experience during a recent move from NY to FL. The distance is approx. 950 miles. I purchased a 2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab, 2WD 6'4" Bed with factory tow package. I had four classic cars to transport but only 2 would be towed with the Ram. I purchased the Ram from Kernersville Ram. I then purchased an 21' steel open car trailer from Kaufman Trailer in Lexington, NC. I first hauled my 1940 Ford PU which weighs approx 2450 lbs. The trailer, a 10K version weighs in at 2700 lbs. The Ram has a tow rating of 8430 lbs and a max payload of 1830 lbs. I had approx. 350 lbs of gear during the ride. The Ram handled the tow without issue. The was some rear spring sag which I'd read about here so it was expected. I was careful to position the truck to balance load and tongue weight. I knew towing vehicle #2 would require an upgrade or two as it weighs in at 4250 lbs (1964 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible). I pondered getting a WDH, better tires for towing and air bags based on what I have read on this forum. I contacted Steve at Timber Grove to find out if his kit would fit a 2020 Ram. He was able to confirm that it would and after telling him my plan he advised me to forego the WDH. He was confident the air bags would get the job done. He stated the tires would be a noticeable drawback but mileage would suffer slightly with firmer tires. I purchased and installed the airbag kit ( it was an easy install). Steve advised to measure from a fixed point on the trailer receiver to the ground to get a base measurement (factory) and air the bags prior to adding the load then air them down to that measurement. I towed with the factory Goodyear tires. The Ram handled the tow like a champ. Empty (no trailer) I was able to get 23 mpg NC to NY, I was able to get 16.8 with the unloaded trailer and with the Plymouth I got 12.9. I should add that when I towed either vehicle I used 89 octane fuel otherwise it takes 87. I kept my speed right around 60 mph. Sure it took longer but I think this added to the amount of control I maintained. I am providing this real world experience for anyone's benefit.

EP

 

[El Huapo]

I'm guessing you've been fed some bad infromation as how can they say you can't tow a trailer that's rated for more than what your truck is rated to tow? I can see if the trailer weighs more than what the truck is rated for. Or possibly someone got pulled over by a stupid LEO that doesn't know the difference between a rating and an actual weight.
If what you stated is actually true then that is really F'd up, no wonder California is turning into a cesspool.
Maybe someone will post the actual law with #

I may have been fed some horse-manure, true. I had been to about 4 trailer lots around Fresno and no one had said anything about weight rating violations until I went to one in Merced who told me why I shouldn't buy the bigger capacity trailer to go with my truck. I was surprised, so I went by the local CHP office and asked a CHP officer who told me it was true; my 7600# rated truck should not enter public highways with a car trailer rated over that amount, empty or not. It would be citable violation. I did not plan on hauling the larger loads, I just thought a heavier-rated trailer would take more abuse and last longer.

I looked for the actual law online to no success, so I wonder about the horse-manure part. Maybe 'cause I live in a cesspool, I couldn't smell the manure? Har! Just a joke, I love it here. I did find the website I attached below interesting though, food for thought.

https://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/pickup-trucks-tow-ratings-and-liability/

 

[crash68]

so I went by the local CHP office and asked a CHP officer who told me it was true; my 7600# rated truck should not enter public highways with a car trailer rated over that amount, empty or not. It would be citable violation. I did not plan on hauling the larger loads, I just thought a heavier-rated trailer would take more abuse and last longer.

I looked for the actual law online to no success, so I wonder about the horse-manure part.

I would like to know the CHP officer's explanation of what the difference of towing a trailer that's actual weight is say 5000 lbs and has a 7600 lbs rating vs 9600 lbs rating? or a loaded trailer that weighs 5K lbs and is rated at 5K lbs?
In reality practically nothing other than you probably have larger brakes on the 9600 rated one.
If there really is a law on the California books that states you can't pull a trailer that's rated for more than what the truck is rated for, they are calling you guilty of doing nothing wrong. It's a case of the government overreaching.

 

[El Huapo]

Crash68---no argument here, just putting it out there to possibly save someone else a hassle, I don't like it either. I would have (and do) believe the bigger rated trailer would be better with the same loads.

 

[martinbrown2302]

I may have been fed some horse-manure, true. I had been to about 4 trailer lots around Fresno and no one had said anything about weight rating violations until I went to one in Merced who told me why I shouldn't buy the bigger capacity trailer to go with my truck. I was surprised, so I went by the local CHP office and asked a CHP officer who told me it was true; my 7600# rated truck should not enter public highways with a car trailer rated over that amount, empty or not. It would be citable violation. I did not plan on hauling the larger loads, I just thought a heavier-rated trailer would take more abuse and last longer.

I looked for the actual law online to no success, so I wonder about the horse-manure part. Maybe 'cause I live in a cesspool, I couldn't smell the manure? Har! Just a joke, I love it here. I did find the website I attached below interesting though, food for thought.

https://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/pickup-trucks-tow-ratings-and-liability/

In New York, The weight rating violations are strict as in cesspool. More than 6000lbs towing is possible here without any violation. This is absurd!

 

[Mando Mark]

Hello to all,

I wanted to share my towing experience during a recent move from NY to FL. The distance is approx. 950 miles. I purchased a 2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab, 2WD 6'4" Bed with factory tow package. I had four classic cars to transport but only 2 would be towed with the Ram. I purchased the Ram from Kernersville Ram. I then purchased an 21' steel open car trailer from Kaufman Trailer in Lexington, NC. I first hauled my 1940 Ford PU which weighs approx 2450 lbs. The trailer, a 10K version weighs in at 2700 lbs. The Ram has a tow rating of 8430 lbs and a max payload of 1830 lbs. I had approx. 350 lbs of gear during the ride. The Ram handled the tow without issue. The was some rear spring sag which I'd read about here so it was expected. I was careful to position the truck to balance load and tongue weight. I knew towing vehicle #2 would require an upgrade or two as it weighs in at 4250 lbs (1964 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible). I pondered getting a WDH, better tires for towing and air bags based on what I have read on this forum. I contacted Steve at Timber Grove to find out if his kit would fit a 2020 Ram. He was able to confirm that it would and after telling him my plan he advised me to forego the WDH. He was confident the air bags would get the job done. He stated the tires would be a noticeable drawback but mileage would suffer slightly with firmer tires. I purchased and installed the airbag kit ( it was an easy install). Steve advised to measure from a fixed point on the trailer receiver to the ground to get a base measurement (factory) and air the bags prior to adding the load then air them down to that measurement. I towed with the factory Goodyear tires. The Ram handled the tow like a champ. Empty (no trailer) I was able to get 23 mpg NC to NY, I was able to get 16.8 with the unloaded trailer and with the Plymouth I got 12.9. I should add that when I towed either vehicle I used 89 octane fuel otherwise it takes 87. I kept my speed right around 60 mph. Sure it took longer but I think this added to the amount of control I maintained. I am providing this real world experience for anyone's benefit.

EP

Agreed - nice write-up.
I have a 2019 Ram 1500 Classic Quad cab, 6'-4" box, with the factory trailer-tow package. When I first got it (brand-new) we had a 6300# bumper-pull 25' travel trailer. It pulled it fine after the first trip. Curiously, I was not able to order decent tires with the trailer tow package, and the first trip the rear end squirmed all over the road with the 'standard load' cheapie Goodyears it came with. (My wife was even getting motion sickness!) At 1500 miles, I replaced them with Wrangler All Terrain Adventure with Kevlar, load range E tires, and the squirm went away. I also installed AirLift air bags in the coil rear springs - made a huge difference in stability. You can inflate them to 100 lbs; never had them more than 25 lbs.
In 2023 we 'downsized' a bit to a smaller, 22' and 4500# travel trailer, which it also pulled fine. After my wife joined me in retirement last November, we decided to travel more and traded in the 22' for a 25' 5th wheel at 6500 lbs. (We'd had one years ago; loved pulling them.) I had to inflate the air bags to 40#, but other than that, the trailer pulled quite well - though the 5.7 Hemi got a whole lot more thirsty. (9 mpg average on a trip from MI to FL vs. the 11-12 mpg average with the smaller RV.) Going over the 'mountains' in Tennessee and Kentucky, the 8-speed transmission (in Tow Mode of course) did a great job keeping my speed at the posted 'downhill, 4% grade' limit of 55 mph - never had to tap the brakes once. I need to pull onto a Cat Scale and see what the CGVW of the trailer and truck is, but the RV manufacturer supposedly designed this 'small' 5th wheel (a Grand Design Reflection 22RK) to be 'half-ton towable.' The hitch weight in the box is 1100#; the tuck's VIN indicates (on one of the many towing guides available on the web) the payload is 1890#, and the CGVW rating (with the 3.21 gears it has) at 13,900 lbs. RPM's going up some of the grades climbed to over 3500, but mostly it towed it at 65 mph at about 2700 RPM. (The previous trailer would pull along at about 2300 RPM.) Don't THINK I'd need a 3/4 ton/2500 Ram, but might consider it. Thanks for reading this!

 

[ramffml]

Agreed - nice write-up.
I have a 2019 Ram 1500 Classic Quad cab, 6'-4" box, with the factory trailer-tow package. When I first got it (brand-new) we had a 6300# bumper-pull 25' travel trailer. It pulled it fine after the first trip. Curiously, I was not able to order decent tires with the trailer tow package, and the first trip the rear end squirmed all over the road with the 'standard load' cheapie Goodyears it came with. (My wife was even getting motion sickness!) At 1500 miles, I replaced them with Wrangler All Terrain Adventure with Kevlar, load range E tires, and the squirm went away. I also installed AirLift air bags in the coil rear springs - made a huge difference in stability. You can inflate them to 100 lbs; never had them more than 25 lbs.
In 2023 we 'downsized' a bit to a smaller, 22' and 4500# travel trailer, which it also pulled fine. After my wife joined me in retirement last November, we decided to travel more and traded in the 22' for a 25' 5th wheel at 6500 lbs. (We'd had one years ago; loved pulling them.) I had to inflate the air bags to 40#, but other than that, the trailer pulled quite well - though the 5.7 Hemi got a whole lot more thirsty. (9 mpg average on a trip from MI to FL vs. the 11-12 mpg average with the smaller RV.) Going over the 'mountains' in Tennessee and Kentucky, the 8-speed transmission (in Tow Mode of course) did a great job keeping my speed at the posted 'downhill, 4% grade' limit of 55 mph - never had to tap the brakes once. I need to pull onto a Cat Scale and see what the CGVW of the trailer and truck is, but the RV manufacturer supposedly designed this 'small' 5th wheel (a Grand Design Reflection 22RK) to be 'half-ton towable.' The hitch weight in the box is 1100#; the tuck's VIN indicates (on one of the many towing guides available on the web) the payload is 1890#, and the CGVW rating (with the 3.21 gears it has) at 13,900 lbs. RPM's going up some of the grades climbed to over 3500, but mostly it towed it at 65 mph at about 2700 RPM. (The previous trailer would pull along at about 2300 RPM.) Don't THINK I'd need a 3/4 ton/2500 Ram, but might consider it. Thanks for reading this!

You do NOT have 1890 lbs of payload. Always check your door sticker, that's the "authority", not a towing guide which does not account for the features/specs of your specific truck. When you add running boards that didn't come like that from the factory... another 50 lbs off your payload.

So you're overweight. After climbing in with you and your wife, say 150 lbs each in a truck which probably only has about 1300 to 1400 lbs, then add cargo and your pin weight will be heavier too once you load it up.

Not trying to tell you what to do, but you have some bad math going on there which you may not be aware of.

 

[Mando Mark]

You do NOT have 1890 lbs of payload. Always check your door sticker, that's the "authority", not a towing guide which does not account for the features/specs of your specific truck. When you add running boards that didn't come like that from the factory... another 50 lbs off your payload.

So you're overweight. After climbing in with you and your wife, say 150 lbs each in a truck which probably only has about 1300 to 1400 lbs, then add cargo and your pin weight will be heavier too once you load it up.

Not trying to tell you what to do, but you have some bad math going on there which you may not be aware of.

Thanks for the feedback. I DID check the sticker when we were looking into the RV. That sticker lists the same weights as the PDF file I got off the Stellantis/Ram website reflects. Admittedly, they may 'pad' one or the other, but the GVWR is the same on both. There is no specific 'payload' listed on the door sticker, (though it's clearly reflected on the file I got from the Ram website) but the other things seem to match up. (e.g. - front and rear axle ratings, tire types, etc.) As noted, I want to get it on a Cat Scale and see what the combined weights (truck and trailer) are. We pulled the trailer from MI to FL with no issues earlier this month - lots of power, and the temps and pressures for coolant, transmission, oil temp and oil pressure are all within the normal ranges.

 

[ramffml]

Thanks for the feedback. I DID check the sticker when we were looking into the RV. That sticker lists the same weights as the PDF file I got off the Stellantis/Ram website reflects. Admittedly, they may 'pad' one or the other, but the GVWR is the same on both. There is no specific 'payload' listed on the door sticker, (though it's clearly reflected on the file I got from the Ram website) but the other things seem to match up. (e.g. - front and rear axle ratings, tire types, etc.) As noted, I want to get it on a Cat Scale and see what the combined weights (truck and trailer) are. We pulled the trailer from MI to FL with no issues earlier this month - lots of power, and the temps and pressures for coolant, transmission, oil temp and oil pressure are all within the normal ranges.

So the payload value is on the yellow sticker. It doesn't say "payload", but it will say "the combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed 680 KG or 1500 LB". The "1500" value is what you're looking for to get your available payload in pounds.

A cat scale is a good idea if you can isolate the rear axle, but it's not the GCWR that will be a problem in your case, that trailer is light enough from a "total weight" perspective, it's just the pin weight that's going to be a problem because 5w's put 20% to 25% of your trailer weight on your truck, a similar weight travel trailer will only do 10 to 15 percent... so the same weight trailer travel trailer is going to be much easier on the back of your truck.

Below is what the "payload" sticker looks like for a random ram 1500 I found on this forum.

Again, not trying to be a pain, just trying to help in case you're not aware of it all.

 

[Dan Topp]

I have a 18’ Aluma trailer that I pull around my 3200 lb vette and not until my last trip with a smaller trailer in hot temperatures did I notice the trans temps were too high,did you happen to notice yours.

 

[olyelr]

Thanks for the feedback. I DID check the sticker when we were looking into the RV. That sticker lists the same weights as the PDF file I got off the Stellantis/Ram website reflects. Admittedly, they may 'pad' one or the other, but the GVWR is the same on both. There is no specific 'payload' listed on the door sticker, (though it's clearly reflected on the file I got from the Ram website) but the other things seem to match up. (e.g. - front and rear axle ratings, tire types, etc.) As noted, I want to get it on a Cat Scale and see what the combined weights (truck and trailer) are. We pulled the trailer from MI to FL with no issues earlier this month - lots of power, and the temps and pressures for coolant, transmission, oil temp and oil pressure are all within the normal ranges.

1800+ pound payload does seem quite high for a half ton. Ive never seen one that high before.

With 6 people in the cab and a bag of groceries in the bed my power wagon is technically overloaded lmao.

 

[Mando Mark]

Can't say that I've ever had six people in my Quad Cab; it's usually just the wife and I when pulling the RV. I do throw a small inverter generator in the back behind the pin-box; I suppose I could put it on a cargo rack on the back of the 5th wheel. Got a line on a 3/4 ton so it may be a moot point soon.

 

[Motoman501]

Got a line on a 3/4 ton so it may be a moot point soon.

Get the 3/4 ton and then you won't need to stress about it. My Grand Design 260RD has a pin weight of about 1200lbs but with 4 batteries, propane, gear in the storage, and stuff my wife packs inside the final pin weight is way above that number. My payload is just under 3300lbs.

 

[ramffml]

Got a line on a 3/4 ton so it may be a moot point soon.

Hope that works out for you, it's definitely the better truck for your trailer.