Travel trailer too much.

[RebelDad]

So were looking at Travel Trailers. I have a 21 Rebel 5.7 with 1580 payload. crew cab, stock other than going to upgrade to the cargomax springs.

Looking at the jayco flight 261bhs. 30'

Dry weight 6k

Tounge weight 750lbs

Total gvwr is 7600.

How bad is this going to be pushing it.

We wanted a step up 34' and total gvwr 7900 but I think that would be too much.

 

[rzr6-4]

Dry weight you are fine. Get fully loaded with all of your other gear and passengers and you will likely be a little over. Back when we used to go camping, it was once a year to a site that was only a couple hours away. The payload police won't like me saying it but for something like that you'd be ok. Not great, but ok.

For long trips, or even short trips but you do them often, you would definitely want to look at a 2500. As I said you will be pushing it/slightly over your payload, but those camper trailers are giant wind sails as well. Might do good on a calm day but you get 20-30mph gust cross winds and your 1500 won't like it.

 

[dhay13]

I advertised tongue weight is 750 you will likely be closer to 900. They are notoriously light because they advertised it with basically a stripped down trailer. Son had a Grand Design Imagine 2670MK and advertised was 670 but actual was 900 and he had it at 12.5% TW which is pretty close to optimal. 2500 towed it with ease but my 1500 knew it was back there. Every time a tractor trailer would pass me I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter as it sucked the trailer around.

 

[Riccochet]

You're realistic tongue weight is going to be closer to 1000 lbs. 750 is the dry weight, meaning no batteries, propane, gear, water, waste, whatever. Now add another 60-80 lbs for a WDH, plus people and cargo in the truck.

My opinion, and I've been through this, 30' is too much trailer for a 1/2 ton Ram. Regardless of the weight. Rear suspension is soft, a very flimsy sway bar, coupled with how much force that 30' sail will be imparting on the truck when it's windy and it creates a white knuckle experience. I went through 2 different 1500's towing my 31' travel trailer with similar weights as the one you are looking at. It SUCKED towing with those trucks. My current 2500 pulls it like a dream though.

I singled out the Ram because Ford and GM 1/2 ton's use leaf springs, have much better stability.

That's my $0.02.

 

[nlambert182]

34' is a LONG trailer to put behind a 1500 of any flavor. 30' is doable with the right truck, but even then depending on the weight of the trailer, you could be pushing it and it'll likely be a white knuckle event most times.

If the GVWR of the trailer is 7,600, your actual tongue weight could see 1,140 lbs. Dry tongue weights are never accurate on a camper.

By the time you add in the WDH, people, and any cargo in the bed you're likely over your payload. If the trailer were short enough slightly over payload wouldn't be the end of the world as long as you're beneath the remaining RAWR. But I wouldn't personally want to pull a 30' trailer AND be over on payload. 26'-27' is a pretty good sweet spot on 1500s.

I would suggest a 2500 for what you want to do, but if you only plan on short trips you might get by with a 1500 for a while. I just wouldn't recommend it.

 

[RebelDad]

You're realistic tongue weight is going to be closer to 1000 lbs. 750 is the dry weight, meaning no batteries, propane, gear, water, waste, whatever. Now add another 60-80 lbs for a WDH, plus people and cargo in the truck.

My opinion, and I've been through this, 30' is too much trailer for a 1/2 ton Ram. Regardless of the weight. Rear suspension is soft, a very flimsy sway bar, coupled with how much force that 30' sail will be imparting on the truck when it's windy and it creates a white knuckle experience. I went through 2 different 1500's towing my 31' travel trailer with similar weights as the one you are looking at. It SUCKED towing with those trucks. My current 2500 pulls it like a dream though.

I singled out the Ram because Ford and GM 1/2 ton's use leaf springs, have much better stability.

That's my $0.02.

I was going to upgrade the rear springs to the cargomax springs but I know that's only a band-aid. My biggest concern isn't local campgrounds in state but making the 250 mile trek to the coast.

My work gives us a vehicle allowance for a truck, they exclude 2500's. I may have to ask for an exception.

 

[joesstripclub]

I bought a camper a couple years ago with similar spec's thinking my 1500 could probably handle it. 26' toyhauler which was listed at 6500 dry online, but the sticker on the door said 7300 dry. 1100 tongue weight listed in the brochure. It is a toyhauler so it's tongue heavy with the expectation that you add weight to the rear. Only towed it once with my 1500 and that was the 2 hour drive home from the dealership. Had plenty of power and braking, but the truck rode the bump stops the whole way home, and this was empty right from the dealer. Handling was awful as you could imagine. I bought a 2500 shortly after and have been very happy with the experience.

 

[Hudson]

Our 30FT TT bought last year had a tongue weight of 635 on paper. First camping trip the TW was 890lbs. Our 1500 had Rhino progressive springs in the back, upgraded helwig, and upgraded end links. With all that in heavy winds the truck was being pushed around by the TT. IT was capable on short trips, but 3 hour trips would be tiring. The WDH would level out the truck and as it should distribute weight so we were withing limits but not by much. We sold the 1500 and replaced it with a 2500 and had couple of long trips this year and the difference is very noticeable.

 

[Kayci]

Just my two cents. It's never a good idea to be maxxed out, period.(dangerous even). You have to consider your braking power, your transmissions ability and type. Who wants to burn up their truck to go camping. I follow lots of full time RVers (living in) and those who start out new to towing always over estimate what their vehicle is built for. Consider any mountains, or heat that you might pass through, as well. That said, a 1500 is not built for towing, or stopping a load. It's basically a car with a pickup bed for convenience. ( Offense not intended). If you decide to pull anything remember to add all weight added to your truck, to the max pull allowed. ( Including all extras, eg. Steps, canopy, tools etc. ) Then ask yourself if it's worth ruining your truck. You can take it to a truck weigh scale. To get accurate weight. ( And with trailer - for tongue weight and full weight). In my humble opinion, go bigger on truck or smaller on towables. Best of luck. EDIT: AND TO TOP IT OFF... ITS ALSO AGAINST THE LAW TO BE BEYOND YOUR TRUCKS SPECIFIC LIMITS... & IN MOST CASES INSURANCE WILL BE VOIDED.

 

[2003F350]

So were looking at Travel Trailers. I have a 21 Rebel 5.7 with 1580 payload. crew cab, stock other than going to upgrade to the cargomax springs.

Looking at the jayco flight 261bhs. 30'

Dry weight 6k

Tounge weight 750lbs

Total gvwr is 7600.

How bad is this going to be pushing it.

We wanted a step up 34' and total gvwr 7900 but I think that would be too much.

It's been said above and well beaten, but you're going to be at or slightly above your max ratings. For short trips you'll likely be okay. If you don't mind taking forever on a longer trip you might be okay, but I don't recommend it. Yes, you can slow down, take it easy, but that 250 mile trip is gonna be a few hours. I see people doing what you want and driving 75+ with it, but it's just not safe.

I would suggest either a slightly smaller camper, or a slightly bigger truck.

 

[Riccochet]

I was going to upgrade the rear springs to the cargomax springs but I know that's only a band-aid. My biggest concern isn't local campgrounds in state but making the 250 mile trek to the coast.

My work gives us a vehicle allowance for a truck, they exclude 2500's. I may have to ask for an exception.

I tried all the "band aid" fixes. I installed a Hellwig rear sway bar and air bags on my 2017 1500. Did it help? Yeah....kind of. The problem was still wind. The tail would wag the dog no matter what. I went through 4 different WDH's as well. It was just too much trailer for my 1500's.

As others have said, going 30-40 minutes away was doable. Longer trips, nope. Miserable.

 

[Mlarv5]

You have another issue that people keep forgetting about. What is the square foot of the front surface? It will cause a lot of drag (like a billboard in the wind). I know with other OEM's they state what total SQFT of front surface or less is allowed.

 

[2003F350]

You have another issue that people keep forgetting about. What is the square foot of the front surface? It will cause a lot of drag (like a billboard in the wind). I know with other OEM's they state what total SQFT of front surface or less is allowed.

I have never seen this advertised with ANY OEM. It is something to consider but most RVs are going to be similarly sized...and don't advertise it anyway.

 

[nlambert182]

Some do, but I've seen it more with SUVs than trucks. Lincoln, for example, mentions "trailer frontal area not to exceed" with their smaller SUVs such as the Aviator and Corsair.

 

[Dean2]

So were looking at Travel Trailers. I have a 21 Rebel 5.7 with 1580 payload. crew cab, stock other than going to upgrade to the cargomax springs.

Looking at the jayco flight 261bhs. 30'

Dry weight 6k

Tounge weight 750lbs

Total gvwr is 7600.

How bad is this going to be pushing it.

We wanted a step up 34' and total gvwr 7900 but I think that would be too much.

You have been on this forum for over 2 years and must have read a ton of these kinds of threads. There is one every couple of days.

You apparently don't believe all the other posts. So. hook it up to your Pickup and take it for a drive, even empty. Any kind of heat, rutted road or wind and you will quickly answer your own question.

 

[2003F350]

Some do, but I've seen it more with SUVs than trucks. Lincoln, for example, mentions "trailer frontal area not to exceed" with their smaller SUVs such as the Aviator and Corsair.

View attachment 565157

Ah well that explains some things - look at the abysmal tow ratings of those things.

Of course, it's hard to consider them SUVs and not cars when they're FWD.

 

[nlambert182]

Yea it's not "as applicable" with trucks I suppose, though if the truck is small enough and the trailer is large enough it still needs to be a consideration.

 

[Mlarv5]

Yea it's not "as applicable" with trucks I suppose, though if the truck is small enough and the trailer is large enough it still needs to be a consideration.

Ford list the frontal area on there F150 as well. That is why I mentioned it here, I have not looked at the towing section of the manual for my Ram. I use my F150 to tow with. My trailers are all ready setup for it.

Well I just looked for it for my 2023. I can't find it in the manual right now.

 

[markabby]

So were looking at Travel Trailers. I have a 21 Rebel 5.7 with 1580 payload. crew cab, stock other than going to upgrade to the cargomax springs.

Looking at the jayco flight 261bhs. 30'

Dry weight 6k

Tounge weight 750lbs

Total gvwr is 7600.

How bad is this going to be pushing it.

We wanted a step up 34' and total gvwr 7900 but I think that would be too much.

did you mention if that truck had eTorque?

from what i read:

"The 2021 Ram 1500 Rebel with the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine with eTorque can tow a maximum of 12,750 pounds when properly equipped. This is the highest towing capacity for the 2021 Ram 1500 when using the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine. The 5.7L HEMI V8 engine also provides 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. "

I'm not sure what "when properly equipped" means.

 

[2003F350]

did you mention if that truck had eTorque?

from what i read:

"The 2021 Ram 1500 Rebel with the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine with eTorque can tow a maximum of 12,750 pounds when properly equipped. This is the highest towing capacity for the 2021 Ram 1500 when using the 5.7L HEMI V8 engine. The 5.7L HEMI V8 engine also provides 395 horsepower and 410 lb-ft of torque. "

I'm not sure what "when properly equipped" means.

It means in a stripped-down truck with very few options, and with a WDH.