Why does Ram tow the least?

[Zeak]

I'm not going to bash you or your dad and it is good to see someone taking such precautionary steps, but there is no reason to not have a brake controller and it would only make it better. That being said, I know all to well about those old fellas who are set in their ways and if they don't believe they need it then "by God" they don't need it. I don't believe my grandpa has ever used trailer brakes and has done everything from towing the ditch witch behind 80s Tacomas to backhoes and trailer houses behind an 84 dually Chevy (w/350ci) or the 60 something International dumptruck. The Toyotas wouldn't even back their load up a slight hill. He managed to become an old man without killing anyone and now pretty much sticks to dragging ATVs all over Colorado.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

I'm sure he's probably set in his ways but I think you need to talk some sense into him. Not getting a brake controller for a 10K lb load because it "isn't stock" is crazy. Have him go to the dealer and get the factory one installed.

Well he's been doing it for 30 years. He learned to pull that load before trailer brake controllers were really even available.

I'm not going to bash you or your dad and it is good to see someone taking such precautionary steps, but there is no reason to not have a brake controller and it would only make it better. That being said, I know all to well about those old fellas who are set in their ways and if they don't believe they need it then "by God" they don't need it. I don't believe my grandpa has ever used trailer brakes and has done everything from towing the ditch witch behind 80s Tacomas to backhoes and trailer houses behind an 84 dually Chevy (w/350ci) or the 60 something International dumptruck. The Toyotas wouldn't even back their load up a slight hill. He managed to become an old man without killing anyone and now pretty much sticks to dragging ATVs all over Colorado.

That's basically my dad haha. He REALLY doesn't like modifying vehicles. He shakes his head every time something changes on one of mine. That's just how he is.

On his next truck I'm going to try and convince him to get an integrated trailer brake controller, but we shall see.

 

[Casper]

I would guess the really nice ride we have from coil springs actually diminishes RAM 1500's towing capacity--certainly many RF members have had to put airbags in their springs to keep their headlights from blinding 747s flying overhead while towing.

 

[BigA]

Ram has decided to somewhat remove itself from the my truck can haul more then yours war in the half ton segment and has focused on refining and improving the truck in other ways. Ford and GM continue to up their numbers and its one reason why the new F-150 rides like a wooden wagon since they have stiffened the suspension up to 3/4 ton levels. Ram is still well over 1/2 ton capability with the current 1500's.

 

[audio1der]

On his next truck I'm going to try and convince him to get an integrated trailer brake controller, but we shall see.

If it's integrated and comes from the factory as so, it's not changing anything, right? Everyone would be safer if we all used trailer brakes...

 

[audio1der]

Ram has decided to somewhat remove itself from the my truck can haul more then yours war in the half ton segment and has focused on refining and improving the truck in other ways. Ford and GM continue to up their numbers and its one reason why the new F-150 rides like a wooden wagon since they have stiffened the suspension up to 3/4 ton levels. Ram is still well over 1/2 ton capability with the current 1500's.

Good observation. The thought of a first time trailer owner throwing a 10,000+ lb trailer behind his F150 because the numbers say he can, TERRIFIES me, Not that he might be any worse a driver than a guy who buys a new dually and a 14,000lb monster toy hauler, but at least that's a better match.

 

[smurfs_of_war]

The thought of a first time trailer owner throwing a 10,000+ lb trailer behind his F150 because the numbers say he can, TERRIFIES me

Yet unfortunately this is the EXACT scenario played out every day. This is one reason the ratings game burns my ass. People as a whole are not necessarily endowed with a lot of common sense these days. And to me, truck manufacturers SHOULD take that into consideration. To those who don't know any better- buy a 10000lbs trailer then all they need is a truck rated to pull 10000lbs, right?

Gets a lot of people into trouble.

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[Dubstep Shep]

If it's integrated and comes from the factory as so, it's not changing anything, right? Everyone would be safer if we all used trailer brakes...

On most trucks now, yea. Of course 30 years back they didnt. Granted, the tractor was lighter back then as there wasn't a loader on the front and the wheels hadn't been filled with water like they are now. The trailer was also a lot lighter.

 

[clh1220]

It appears you're right about the trailer brakes. I wonder though. Technically the trailer has brakes, but the truck didn't come with a brake controller, even though it's rated to tow that much. Technically you aren't pulling it without brakes. I've told my dad to get a controller though. He doesn't want to do anything that isn't stock on the truck though, and that's just how he is. I've got one on my truck though.

As for reaction times, you can be reactive towing that much. I'll stick to being proactive. Much safer that way.

My point in saying that is when you're pulling that much you have to be extremely proactive with your driving. There's someone that looks like they may pull out in front of you in 1/8 mile? Slow down. Driving in the city? Slow down. Going up and down hills? Slow down. Etc. If you're always anticipating these things before they happen, you don't get surprised.

The 60mph figure is for a highway in good conditions with no traffic, literally no one in front of you for a mile, and a good 50 yards to either side of the highway that are cleared so you can very easily tell if there are any animals. Tires, loading, and other possible components that could catastrophically fail or cause catastrophic failures are checked every time. If those aren't the conditions then you slow down lol.

Now after you schooled me again. It sounds so much safer. ROTFLMAO.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

Now after you schooled me again. It sounds so much safer. ROTFLMAO.

Some of us actually know how to drive and realize you have to change your style depending on the conditions present.

 

[smurfs_of_war]

Not that I want to add fuel to the fire, but no matter how good of a driver you *think* you are, that doesn't mean grandma dynamite that cuts in front of you is. I think that's what he's getting at.

Being a proactive driver means assuming everyone else on the road is out to kill you in one way or another.

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[toofart]

You guys are wasting your breath.

If someone is convinced that towing 5 tons behind a 1/2 ton is perfectly safe, nothing is going to change their mind until some blood is spilled. Even then, I wouldn't be too hopeful.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

Not that I want to add fuel to the fire, but no matter how good of a driver you *think* you are, that doesn't mean grandma dynamite that cuts in front of you is. I think that's what he's getting at.

Being a proactive driver means assuming everyone else on the road is out to kill you in one way or another.

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And where is grandma dynamite going to come from? Thin air? She going to be in a Baja truck that has invisibility and suddenly come out of a field, through a fence, then make it over a drainage ditch, then up 20 yards to the road without ever being seen or heard?

Because that's what you're talking about lol.

 

[Dubstep Shep]

Here's a picture of the road I'm talking about doing 60 on. The pic was at night so it's a little hard to see, but basically there's a ton of cleared area to the side of the highway. There also aren't but a few entrances and exits the entire length we travel. We've also never towed it at night, this was just a picture I snapped awhile back.

 

[CDN Ram]

Yet unfortunately this is the EXACT scenario played out every day. This is one reason the ratings game burns my ass. People as a whole are not necessarily endowed with a lot of common sense these days. And to me, truck manufacturers SHOULD take that into consideration. To those who don't know any better- buy a 10000lbs trailer then all they need is a truck rated to pull 10000lbs, right?

Gets a lot of people into trouble.

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My Neighbour just bought a fifth wheel 9500 lbs GVWR and decided he needed to upgrade from his older F150 to tow it. He comes home with a Ram 1500???? I quickly question him on his choice and he confirms that he is within the tow limits of the new truck, the dealer has told him it's fine. and that the fifth is listed as an HT(half ton towable) I asked him about if pin weight and told me the bed weight on his truck was 1600 lbs and that the pin weight was only 1300 lbs? I'm pretty sure that bed weight also includes the passenger weight and anything you load into the cab. But you are right once someone has decided there is no reason in arguing with them about it. I personally always take the number the Truck says and I try and run at a 75% max load rating for my Max, maybe over kill cause I know the dealer has built in a fudge factor but I like to be safe.

 

[smurfs_of_war]

And where is grandma dynamite going to come from? Thin air? She going to be in a Baja truck that has invisibility and suddenly come out of a field, through a fence, then make it over a drainage ditch, then up 20 yards to the road without ever being seen or heard?

Because that's what you're talking about lol.

See? Now you get it. That's exactly what I am talking about. Or some ******* trying to pass on a blind curve, or moose, or an accident just over the next hill... anything. That's great that your pops can tow like that on a completely flat, straight road with no obstructions, but don't try to tell anyone the practice is acceptable. It's not. Period. No matter how proactive you think you might be, you're not smarter, faster, or more final than physics and pure human stupidity. I don't want to have a keyboard war so that's the last I will input.

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[Dubstep Shep]

See? Now you get it. That's exactly what I am talking about. Or some ******* trying to pass on a blind curve, or moose, or an accident just over the next hill... anything. That's great that your pops can tow like that on a completely flat, straight road with no obstructions, but don't try to tell anyone the practice is acceptable. It's not. Period. No matter how proactive you think you might be, you're not smarter, faster, or more final than physics and pure human stupidity. I don't want to have a keyboard war so that's the last I will input.

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What blind curve?

What moose? Or any animal?

What hill?

Also if there were a curve or a hill we'd be slowing down for that.

My point is that you can always be prepared.

 

[cc rider]

This thread is as good as the"any regrets from a 5.7 to 6.4 " in the heavy duty section.

 

[Rzrman328]

Sorry...I felt this was appropriate.

 

[clh1220]

No sense in saying anything to this 23 year old it's obvious he knows all and done all. Anybody that can get 22 mpg with a 3.92 doing 80 mph must know something. Oh and 17 mpg towing 6k.