Community Forums

brulaz · 03-26-2015, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lilrhody

We are good with the figures because we consulted with Andy Thompson at CanAm, who will be doing our set up (reinforced WD hitch, sway control bars, etc.). He's recognized as an expert in this field and we trust his judgment.

To some of us, Andy (CanAm) is recognized as somebody who goes too far in modifying vehicles to tow trailers too large for them.

I would trust his shop in installing/strengthening a hitch receiver, but I would not trust his advice as to how big a trailer I can safely tow. That I leave to the manufacturer's specs (GVWR, GCWR and GAWR).

Still, many others are satisfied with his modifications, and I wish you well on your journey.

sprayman · 03-26-2015, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanerd

How have you determined this? And what towing capacity/weight are you using for this statement? It's very common for those who have not pulled a travel trailer before (especially with a 1/2 ton) realize what all effects the payload capacity. Towing capacity ratings are a mfg'ers sales gimmick and have no real place in determining how big of a travel trailer you can pull. I hope you have taken the payload capacity into consideration and realize that every pound you put in or on that truck will have to be subtracted from that figure. And, to make matters worse, most dry weight figures for the trailer are typically no where close to what the trailer will weigh once loaded and ready for travel. Typically, a TT's tongue weight will be somewhere close to 12% of the "actual" weight of the trailer.

With only 1450 lbs of payload capacity, I'm sure you will max it out very quickly.

Payload deficient for sure, and with the 3.21 gears, going up hills will make you wish you had thought this out better. The Hemi is a hell of an engine, but the gears and overloading the rear axle will be a problem.

However, if indeed you have figured this all out prior to choosing that trailer....good for you. Many don't.

Ron

unless his truck was ordered he has a 3.92 gears.

Jim

sprayman · 03-27-2015, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stea

Crew cab with Hemi, auto trans and 3.21 gears 1450 payload 8,050 tow capacity

Same truck with 3.92 gears is 10,200 lbs

is this yours or the OP's///???

Jim

Jugghead · 03-27-2015, 12:18 PM

I had a 2010 and towed with it for 3 years. First 2 years years with a 6000# GVWR TT last year with a 8000# GVRW TT. Liked if for the first (about 9 mpg) and hated it for the second (about 7 mpg). With heavier TT fuel ups every 150 miles, Plus Six bodies in truck. Bigger TT definatly pushed the truck around.

My current truck is 2500 with diesel and same TT is well behaved. I go cross country so diesel is worth it otherwise gas would do fine. The 2500 is not as nice a round town dry driver like the 1500 was, but i drive it mostly to tow.

pt1655 · 03-27-2015, 12:40 PM

Hidee ho;
We tow our 2013 Forest River Surveyor Sport 220, 5000 lbs loaded, with our 2012 Ram 1500 Quad cab, 4whl drive, 5.7l Hemi with no problems at all. We use a WD hitch and the tow/haul on whenever towing. I tend to tow at 60mph depending on traffic/conditions as that's my comfort speed and have gotten as high as 14 mpg towing (yup, flat freeway, no wind) and a low of 7mpg (uphill with a heckuva headwind). You shouldn't have any problems at all; just use the tow/haul mode as that modifies shift points and other parameters to help the engine and transmission while towing.
Hey, Happy Camping!!

loisjop · 03-27-2015, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprayman

unless his truck was ordered he has a 3.92 gears.

Jim

Standard gears for 2014 was 3.21. You will love the truck. Arguably best riding truck on the road. My 2012 got around 19mpg but the 2014 will get 21-22 on road. I'm not saying it's the truck for your towing, but for a truck within its specs. I don't thing you can beat the Ram. If you do get it for towing I would make sure it has the air leveling system from the factory.

stea · 03-27-2015, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprayman

is this yours or the OP's///???

Jim

Mine is the CC . 3.92 gears. Only other setup avalable for them is the 3.21 gears.

Todd157k · 03-30-2015, 11:33 AM

Big difference in Ram years. It went from 5 spd trans, to 6, then 7, now 8 speed. I have the 6 speed and it tows my 7500# boat just fine. I usually 'manual' shift on inclines or areas that roller-coaster up/down. I did install Firestone assist bags in the rear springs for the added tongue weight. I love passing people on the grade.. specially fords pulling smaller boats.. hahaha. My longest trip was 6 hrs when I picked up my boat in No. California and drove it home. 70% flat road, 30% through the hills (locally known as 'the grapevine'). My trans got a little toasty (190 deg) on the looooong uphill grade.
As for comfort.. I have the Laramie Longhorn so it's pretty loaded out. It rides nice and has all the features. It passes my wife's "sleep test" just fine. I thought about going to a heavier duty truck, until I rode in my buddies Ford dually. What a fricken ROCK! My back hurts after 15 mins in that thing.

Jugghead · 03-31-2015, 06:19 AM

Pulling a TT is different than a boat, there's more frontal surface area with the TT.

Consider two popular 4x4 crew cabs the long horn and the laramie. The later has more creature comforts which penalizes the towing.

I assume these specs from Ram are general, but for comparisons, the laramie has 1261# payload and 9950# towing. A 8000# TT with weight dist. hitch will take up 900# of the payload leaving 360# for pasangers and snacks, this isn't much. The same for the long horn leaves 535# for pasangers and stuff. One has to cheepen down the truck to get more utility.

Additionaly, my 2014 2500 diesel 4x4 crew cab laramie has posted on the door sticker the payload max of 2020#, rather small for a 3/4 ton truck, but stuff like Crew cab, diesel and 4x4 add alot of weight and even though it has a posted 17,000# towing its considerably limited by the payload.

Jugghead · 03-31-2015, 07:25 AM

I thought it was so much fun to look at Ram's on line payload/towing configurator tool that I wanted to see how my truck came up. See picture below, the baseline payload is 2270# and as I said above the truck's sticker has posted 2020# payload. I was trying to figure out what options I had that would use up 200+ pounds, and I figure the snow plow prep-package must be the reason, which I didn't want/need, but was one the truck i wanted. I posted this just to give reminder that the options penalize the payload and towing.

safari1 · 07-19-2015, 12:41 PM

Just traded my 2011 Silverado 1500 for the 2015 Ram 1500 crew cab sport truck, with 5.7hemi 8 speed trans. 4x4. Very happy after our tow to San Diego from Phx. Easily went up the mountains, very impressed with the power vs Silverado.

rideandslide · 07-19-2015, 01:39 PM

We have a 2013 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi, and tow a 2015 Grey Wolf 26RL 5700# dry. Tows great, 10mpg towing and no lack of power. But never had it in the hills yet. Love the truck, but then again, i'm a dodge man !!!

Highway 4x4 · 07-19-2015, 01:45 PM

My son has a 14 Ram Hemi, 8 speed, 3.92's. He did a Ready-lift small spacer in the front and added air bags in the rear springs. If I was going to set up a 1500 to tow that is exactly what I would do. Plus I would do some E rated tires.

Pcschwenke · 07-20-2015, 05:20 AM

I have a 2015 RAM crew cab sport with the 5.7 hemi and 8 speed (3:21 gears). Our first trailer weighed 4700 lbs dry, and the truck towed it very easily. Infact, passing cars going 55mph was quite easy. Our new trailer is 6744lbs dry and the 5.7 hemi does fine. It's on the heavy for towing but handles it very well. Anyone who think the the GM/GMC engines are better surely haven't look at actual hp or torque numbers & compared. My only concern is tongue weight, but we are still under the max. Sure the 3/4 ton version would hand the weight better, but 6 months of the year we can not use the TT due to snow & parks are closed.