Towing with 275/65/20 and 3.21 gears

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Rgomez1787

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So we've been toying with the idea of getting a travel trailer. I have a 2019 Ram 1500 classic 5.7L Hemi 4WD 3.21 gears and an 8 Spd transmission. It also came with the towing package. I was about to level the truck and put larger tires (275/65/20 Cooper discoverer AT3 LTX 34.2" tall tire) on the factory 20x8 chrome clad wheels. Obviously any modification to the truck while towing a heavy trailer will increase wear and tear. What im trying to get to is has anyone put this tire combination on a truck with 3.21 gears and seen an increase in transmission temps or had an overall sluggish truck while towing. How "detrimental" is something like this to a drivetrain with out upgrading the gearing.
 

NorZeman

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So, I'm not able to talk to the 275/65-20. But my truck is the same setup as yours 2019 classic, 4wd, 3.21 gearing, same tires except in the stock 275/60-20 size. My travel trailer is a 28 ft box (35 ft tip to tail) coming in around 72-7300lbs loaded.
I have not had any issues with temps being elevated higher than 225 or so for oil, coolant usually stays right around 215 when pulling and usually about the same for Trans temps. With the 1" taller tires, I would expect those to go up slightly but not significantly. YMMV though.
The 8-speed I really feel like helps to negate the difference between the 3.21 and the 3.92 gearing. Just run in 5th instead of 6th with the 3.21s.

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Murdock188

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Same setup I have pretty much exactly I tow my 24 ft TT which weighs 4500 dry prob around 6 k loaded and ready for camp I have stock size tires and no issues with temps or anything really I'd say shouldn't be an issue. Happy camping!
 

Graygoose

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I pulled with 35", same setup, no issues.

20171011_175411.jpg
 

RLJ10X

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IMG_2714.jpg This is taken straight from the RAM site.

A V8 Hemi with a 3.21 is rated for only 750 pounds more than the Pentastar with a 3.55. Would a Pentastar with 3.92s pull as much as a Hemi with 3.21s?

A Hemi with 3.92s is rated to pull 2180 more than the 3.21s.
 

tron67j

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With your stock truck, there is some math you can do with your information on your door sticker for payload. Stay under that and you are fine. Adding bigger tires, suspension modifications, etc. all impact towing capabilities and characteristics and nobody else's experience is going to be an analog for what your truck will be like. With a 1500, your maximum trailer is not going to be a larger one, so modify at risk of having a white knuckle ride or worse. Good luck.
 

ramffml

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This is taken straight from the RAM site.

A V8 Hemi with a 3.21 is rated for only 750 pounds more than the Pentastar with a 3.55. Would a Pentastar with 3.92s pull as much as a Hemi with 3.21s?

A Hemi with 3.92s is rated to pull 2180 more than the 3.21s.

I love this. To you it's proof you need 3.92's, to me it's proof the "one specification" tow ratings are completely useless. You have a v8 with 110+/- more HP and 130+/- more lb/ft of torque, and you think it's only capable of towing 750 pounds more than the v6 with a 3.55? Why, all you need to do is drop 4.30's in that v6 and now you can tow the same as the hemi with 3.92's!

Think.
 

HDGoose

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I love this. To you it's proof you need 3.92's, to me it's proof the "one specification" tow ratings are completely useless. You have a v8 with 110+/- more HP and 130+/- more lb/ft of torque, and you think it's only capable of towing 750 pounds more than the v6 with a 3.55? Why, all you need to do is drop 4.30's in that v6 and now you can tow the same as the hemi with 3.92's!

Think.

Getting a load moving is one thing. Controlling the load while moving is different. Stopping that load in a controlled manor is another set of issues.

Compare weight ratings are f the tires and see what differences are there.
 

CamperMike

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With a travel trailer the 1500 will usually max out cargo caring capacity before maxing out the 3.21 tow rating due to the high tongue weight for travel trailers. In reality the 3.92 won't be able to tow all that much more of a travel trailer. For trailers with a lower tongue weight the 3.92 will be able to tow more.
As far as my experience, I have stock size tires. Trans temp and coolant temp was not an issue even in colorado mountains. Oil temp can get high if you push it too much going up some mountain passes. Slow down just a bit and it cools off though.
 

SCr1pT

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You can tow anything. It really comes down to hills needing the torque. Hope you don't rip out the axle
 

NorZeman

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You can tow anything. It really comes down to hills needing the torque. Hope you don't rip out the axle
You can move it, yeah.
Wife and I found an S10 pulling an older 28ft travel trailer this past weekend.. was not safe at all, or enjoyable I'd assume, but the guy sure could move it [emoji29]

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KMKKOZ

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Towing a load safely has more to with suspension and braking than horsepower. The stock coil springs limit the overall payload. I added airbags to my rear coil springs and this increased the capability of my truck a lot. My 26 ft camper is probably 8500 lbs fully loaded, realistically, and without the airbags it was mushy and way saggy. Even with WD hitch. Now it rivals or exceeds an HD leaf spring truck and doesn't comprise the ride quality unloaded.
 

Toddbigboytruck

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So we've been toying with the idea of getting a travel trailer. I have a 2019 Ram 1500 classic 5.7L Hemi 4WD 3.21 gears and an 8 Spd transmission. It also came with the towing package. I was about to level the truck and put larger tires (275/65/20 Cooper discoverer AT3 LTX 34.2" tall tire) on the factory 20x8 chrome clad wheels. Obviously any modification to the truck while towing a heavy trailer will increase wear and tear. What im trying to get to is has anyone put this tire combination on a truck with 3.21 gears and seen an increase in transmission temps or had an overall sluggish truck while towing. How "detrimental" is something like this to a drivetrain with out upgrading the gearing.


I have pretty much the same truck. I tow a 6000 lbs travel trailer. On it first trip I went from Canada to Disney Florida. I just bought the cooper tired you have and will be putting the, on Friday. Hope they are good tires. The only thing I did different on top of my wet hitch I added airbags in the springs. Or stop the sag Go for it and happy camping.

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Govtman

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I have also been debating goi g to a 275/65 or tge 305/55 which it 12w and a 33.4? tall as opposed to the 65s 34.1 tall. Looking for some photos of 2wd 1500s with 305s. I was worried the 34+ tire would wreak havoc with shifting on eco mode.
 

MoparFin

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I have 275/65r20s on my 18 that’s a V6, with 3.55s. Does fine. Never had temps anywhere near where I was concerned and I’ve gone through mountains in PA to NY.

Id say with the few hundred pounds more yours is rated at with the Hemi you’d still be fine. My trailer is probably close to 6k loaded. It’s 4400 dry.
 

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mphurst79

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So i have a 2019 Ram1500 5th gen with 3.21 gears, im running a set of continental 275 65 R20 tires i have a 2 inch level kit and rear airbags, my travel trailer is 38' at 8100 dry, i also have a hensley hitch installed and believe it or not this truck pulls better then my 2001 Ram2500, i have never had any issues other then the left lower ball joint squeak at 37000 but no worries i replaced all mopar non serviceable ball joints with serviceable parts meaning i can grease everything now, but never any kind of temp, oil braking or feeling like i dont have complete control of the rig i have put thousands of miles on this truck and rig setup without problems oh and i did a speedo recal by rough country other then that thats it i did allot of research before buying this truck and knowing the things i wanted to do before hand but i do have to say the lower ball joint puzzled me the dealer voided my warranty because of the 2inch lift so i got ****** and replaced everything upper/lower control arms tie rod ends and sway bar links, i dont like that they wouldn't replace the ball joint but they had no problem pricing out a new lower control arm for me $600! i told them to get bent lol
 

Irishthreeper

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So i have a 2019 Ram1500 5th gen with 3.21 gears, im running a set of continental 275 65 R20 tires i have a 2 inch level kit and rear airbags, my travel trailer is 38' at 8100 dry, i also have a hensley hitch installed and believe it or not this truck pulls better then my 2001 Ram2500, i have never had any issues other then the left lower ball joint squeak at 37000 but no worries i replaced all mopar non serviceable ball joints with serviceable parts meaning i can grease everything now, but never any kind of temp, oil braking or feeling like i dont have complete control of the rig i have put thousands of miles on this truck and rig setup without problems oh and i did a speedo recal by rough country other then that thats it i did allot of research before buying this truck and knowing the things i wanted to do before hand but i do have to say the lower ball joint puzzled me the dealer voided my warranty because of the 2inch lift so i got ****** and replaced everything upper/lower control arms tie rod ends and sway bar links, i dont like that they wouldn't replace the ball joint but they had no problem pricing out a new lower control arm for me $600! i told them to get bent lol
Just a suggestion…Get your loaded truck and rig to a CAT scale and compare the results to your axle, payload and GCWR ratings.
 

mphurst79

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So i know it all seams like i shouldnt tow this big of a trailer with a quote half ton pick up, my truck is rated to pull 11,470lbs we dont put anything but ourselves and fuel in the truck and a 38ft trailer that pulls better then my 30ft prior i get what you're concerned with im a maxing out my payload? and it really is very good advice, i will this spring get to scale close to my house to see what im really pulling here. All in all i can't complain about the ride and stability of this 5th gen just wish i hit the lottery to get that 3500 we would love to have lol but we also use this 1500 for everyday use and is easier to get in and out of town compared to a rougher riding 2500 or 3500
 

ramffml

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So i know it all seams like i shouldnt tow this big of a trailer with a quote half ton pick up, my truck is rated to pull 11,470lbs we dont put anything but ourselves and fuel in the truck and a 38ft trailer that pulls better then my 30ft prior i get what you're concerned with im a maxing out my payload? and it really is very good advice, i will this spring get to scale close to my house to see what im really pulling here. All in all i can't complain about the ride and stability of this 5th gen just wish i hit the lottery to get that 3500 we would love to have lol but we also use this 1500 for everyday use and is easier to get in and out of town compared to a rougher riding 2500 or 3500

Your truck isn't rated to tow 11,470 pounds. That's a marketing number, and very badly misunderstood.

Every truck has several limitations. You can pull X. You can carry Y. Your hitch receiver has a max weight of Z. Your axles have a limit too.

The second you go over one of those limits, that's your max tow.

And no I would never pull a 38 foot trailer with any half ton.
 
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