Towing Setup to Improve 2017 Laramie Longhorn

[agentsteph]

I need help - I've been given 2 distinctly different directions from 2 dealerships when looking for setup advice.

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4x2 with 3.92 rear and the 5.7L HEMI.

Goal: To pull a bumper pull horse trailer weighing 3200lbs empty safely. I just bought the truck a year ago so I would prefer to NOT upgrade if I can at all avoid it.

I have the stock tires so thing I considered are
1) upgrading tires AND wheels but what would be best
2) leveling the front end - Does this REDUCE my towing capacity?
3) upgrading shocks
4) Weight Distribution (which one should I choose)


Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. I can't help it I love my truck but now I wish I'd gone bigger already AND gone with a 4x4 but man was this thing expensive.

 

[Fitz-0518]

2 horse trailer?

 

[Fitz-0518]

I need help - I've been given 2 distinctly different directions from 2 dealerships when looking for setup advice.

I have a 2017 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 4x2 with 3.92 rear and the 5.7L HEMI.

Goal: To pull a bumper pull horse trailer weighing 3200lbs empty safely. I just bought the truck a year ago so I would prefer to NOT upgrade if I can at all avoid it.

I have the stock tires so thing I considered are
1) upgrading tires AND wheels but what would be best
2) leveling the front end - Does this REDUCE my towing capacity?
3) upgrading shocks
4) Weight Distribution (which one should I choose)


Any other advice would be greatly appreciated. I can't help it I love my truck but now I wish I'd gone bigger already AND gone with a 4x4 but man was this thing expensive.

Is your bumper pull a 2 horse trailer?

 

[agentsteph]

Yes - it is a 2 horse trailer with tack room so loaded I would add 2500 lbs for horses and 500 for water hay etc

 

[BlkZrx]

A WD hitch and good trailer brakes should make it feasible to pull a 7500 # loaded trailer with your truck.

Sent from my LG-K540 using Tapatalk

 

[Fitz-0518]

Yes - it is a 2 horse trailer with tack room so loaded I would add 2500 lbs for horses and 500 for water hay etc

So your live tow weight is 6000 lb. First, your truck will handle that. I do understand why you would feel more comfortable with a 3/4 2500. But your question is about safety and what would be the best things to do to pull safely and comfortably. My thought would be to focus on the trailer. In TX I suspect most of your towing would be flat pulls. Making sure that your trailer tires, wheels, axle bearings and springs are in good condition is what I would focus on first. Now, if you have made some pulls and you feel your truck is struggling or not handling well, then focus on suspension, tire and wheel. My wife towed a 2 horse bumper pull with her 03 SLT quad cab 5.7 2wd for 12 years. Her camp gear live tow weight was 6000 to 6600.
Not sure about your question regarding leveling the front end means.

 

[Fitz-0518]

A WD hitch and good trailer brakes should make it feasible to pull a 7500 # loaded trailer with your truck.

Sent from my LG-K540 using Tapatalk

Agree

 

[agentsteph]

Thanks so much for the information! Pulled on 1 trip and had no passengers and one horse and the thing pulled really well, but when I got to my clinic I had some folks suggest I was overloaded for a half ton so I started second guessing everything.

As far as leveling, when I went to the dealership "custom" shop to upgrade the tires, they suggested wider wheels and mentioned the front end sits lower so there is less space in the wheel well in the front than the back so by leveling - that distance would match the rear. I have the 20" wheels now with street tires that they all come with from the factory.

 

[Fitz-0518]

Thanks so much for the information! Pulled on 1 trip and had no passengers and one horse and the thing pulled really well, but when I got to my clinic I had some folks suggest I was overloaded for a half ton so I started second guessing everything.

As far as leveling, when I went to the dealership "custom" shop to upgrade the tires, they suggested wider wheels and mentioned the front end sits lower so there is less space in the wheel well in the front than the back so by leveling - that distance would match the rear. I have the 20" wheels now with street tires that they all come with from the factory.

The 20" wheels ( I believe) are perfect for what you do. I would agree with a one size wider wheel "after' you wear yours out. If I may, a couple of thoughts. I would not be talking to my dealer regarding the questions you have. I will bet that you have a couple honest and experienced horse trailer repair people in your area. Over the years we have found that they are a great source for the type of questions you have. They tend to be horse people that tow. Also you "are not" overloading your truck.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Don’t level if you’re towing that trailer often. Your Truck will be squatting in the rear with the headlights pointed at the sky when you hitch up. Get a weight distributing hitch I prefer the equalizer brand, because of the ease of use and built in sway control. However there are many brand what work well.


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[gofishn]

Your truck will handle your towed rig, just fine.

For me, I added tuftruck 1211 springs because I have always had 3/4 ton pickups and HATE squat. specially for practically no weight. I also added Bilstein shocks. Overall, my truck now feels more truck like. I did not upgrade my tire weight carrying capacity, by going with an 8 or 10 ply tire, like so many do, but did upgrade the tires to Michelin Defender LTX M/S. FOr you, I would upgrade to 8 or 10 ply tire. Just think of it as insurance, ya never want to use but if you ever need it, damn nice to have it.

SPrings are $200 bills $200 and tires figure $1000
peace of mind? ya you guessed it priceless.
as said, your truck will handle your towed rig, just fine.
do these few upgrades and it will handle it much much better.

That's what I loved about my heavy duty 3/4 tons. I hardly ever felt likr I was towing anything.
Now, I got the same thing in my 1/2 ton.

 

[Fitz-0518]

Your truck will handle your towed rig, just fine.

For me, I added tuftruck 1211 springs because I have always had 3/4 ton pickups and HATE squat. specially for practically no weight. I also added Bilstein shocks. Overall, my truck now feels more truck like. I did not upgrade my tire weight carrying capacity, by going with an 8 or 10 ply tire, like so many do, but did upgrade the tires to Michelin Defender LTX M/S. FOr you, I would upgrade to 8 or 10 ply tire. Just think of it as insurance, ya never want to use but if you ever need it, damn nice to have it.

SPrings are $200 bills $200 and tires figure $1000
peace of mind? ya you guessed it priceless.
as said, your truck will handle your towed rig, just fine.
do these few upgrades and it will handle it much much better.

That's what I loved about my heavy duty 3/4 tons. I hardly ever felt likr I was towing anything.
Now, I got the same thing in my 1/2 ton.

Good point on the tire ply. Do you know if "all" of the Ram trucks like she has came with rear factory sway bars? If not, that would be a safe handling cost effective expense.

 

[LarryA]

My experience with a 2 horse trailer has been pretty positive, I have a 2017 Crew Cab 4X4 Hemi with the 3.92 rear end. First two times were hay runs and truck did just fine. Last weekend acted as horse Uber, hauling 4 horses (2 trips) with a different slant trailer. Tack room was lightly loaded, no hay and the rental trailer did not have a water tank.

My truck is NOT leveled. The hay runs were on the stock Goodyears, now have Toyo Open Country AT2 in the stock P-metric size.

If anything I would prefer a weight distribution hitch, if we buy a trailer will add for sure

 

[Wil69]

I went with upgraded springs right from the start.

I like the ride better too.

They were $375 cdn. Next is bilstein struts in the front.

 

[Fitz-0518]

Damn, that's a pro horse barn.

 

[LarryA]

Damn, that's a pro horse barn.

The barn owner is renovating everything. He is the best finish carpenter I have ever seen, so every thing he does looks fantastic. We are fortunate to have our horse stabled there.

 

[Fitz-0518]

The barn owner is renovating everything. He is the best finish carpenter I have ever seen, so every thing he does looks fantastic. We are fortunate to have our horse stabled there.

Have always enjoyed seeing well made, large stall barns that are comfortable for the horses and easy to maintain. Thanks for the pics

 

[agentsteph]

Love the pics of the trailer loads. That is what my setup is like as far as size. Your black wheels are NICE! So I bought the Equalizer so I can hook it up to the trailer I plan to "borrow" for my next few trips. I plan to upgrade the springs right away since the cost is reasonable for a safe upgrade and I'll look into the TOYOs next year once I burn some more tread off these. Super happy I've got the right truck for what I need to do.

 

[Fitz-0518]

Love the pics of the trailer loads. That is what my setup is like as far as size. Your black wheels are NICE! So I bought the Equalizer so I can hook it up to the trailer I plan to "borrow" for my next few trips. I plan to upgrade the springs right away since the cost is reasonable for a safe upgrade and I'll look into the TOYOs next year once I burn some more tread off these. Super happy I've got the right truck for what I need to do.

Excellent. Did you check to make sure that "your truck" came with a rear anti sway bar?

 

[Factory]

I’m running :
Michelin lt 285/60/20
Air lift air bags
Hellwig solid sway bar
12,000 lb load equalizing hitch

I’m towing a 9750 gvw travel trailer
I take my time. What I did made a big difference . Its not like I tow daily .Yes I know it’s 2500 territory , I’ll be making that purchase in the spring when I can write a check for the purchase . Hope this helps