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Old 08-05-2014, 01:39 PM   #1
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What is the beefiest Ram 1500 you can buy?

I'm looking to buy a Ram 1500 - 2003-2010 -and want to know if there is an HD model or one with a beefed up suspension.

I want to tow a 8K TT (that includes the tongue weight) and I really don't want to get a 2500 because the Ram will be a daily driver as well.

Any recommendations?
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Old 08-05-2014, 05:59 PM   #2
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What is the GVWR of the trailer?
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Old 08-05-2014, 06:46 PM   #3
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It's a 2014 Forest River Heritage Glen 302FK with a GVWR of 2,516
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Old 08-05-2014, 07:49 PM   #4
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The 302 FK Heritage Gl;en shows to have a 9600 GVWR .
Some of the late '08-'10 model 1500/Hemi with a 3.92 gear have a 10k + tow rating.

All of the '00's 1500 Mega cabs/Hemi have a 8610 GVWR with 6000 lb RAWR and sit on a 2500 chassis.
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Old 08-05-2014, 07:54 PM   #5
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Why not consider the 2500? I drive my 2WD Dodge Diesel Megacab 2500 HD every day. I have 138,000 very enjoyable miles on it. Except for a somewhat smoother ride, I don't see where the 1500 would be better in any way.
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Old 08-05-2014, 11:48 PM   #6
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Why not just go 2500 5.7. The 1500 5.7will suck gas just as bad as the 2500 and have less payload than the 2500. Get the 2500 and you won't have to leave that 2nd box of KleenX home.
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Old 08-06-2014, 12:12 AM   #7
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Get the 2500 and you won't have to leave that 2nd box of KleenX home.
X2 , the 10k tow rating is for a P/U with only 145# driver.
It is possible to overload a 1/2 Dodge quad cab , by putting an adult in each of the 6 seats, nothing in the box , no trailer weight, which is the reason the "Mega Cab " 1/2 tons ride on 3/4 ton axles.
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Old 08-06-2014, 06:08 AM   #8
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The 302 FK Heritage Gl;en shows to have a 9600 GVWR .
Some of the late '08-'10 model 1500/Hemi with a 3.92 gear have a 10k + tow rating.

All of the '00's 1500 Mega cabs/Hemi have a 8610 GVWR with 6000 lb RAWR and sit on a 2500 chassis.


JIMLIN, are you referring to all 2000 model HEMI's? With a 2500 chassis and a 6K RAWR, wouldn't that work for the TT I'm considering?

Thanks for your input!
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Old 08-06-2014, 07:59 AM   #9
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It's a 2014 Forest River Heritage Glen 302FK with a GVWR of 2,516
The cargo carrying capacity (CCC) is 2,516. Add that to the dry shipping weight of 7,175 and the GVWR is probably 9600 or 9700. Hitch weight could be as much as 1,450 pounds. So you need available payload capacity of at least 1,450 pounds to tow that trailer without being overloaded.

Available payload capacity is GVWR minus the weight of the wet and loaded pickup, with hitch head, full of gas, people, and everything you will have in the pickup when towing. Very few half-ton pickups have that much available payload capacity. Close would be the F-150 with HD Payload package and 8,200 pounds GVWR. 8,200 minus 1,450 hitch weight leaves 6,750 pounds for the wet and loaded weight of the pickup. That probably rules out the heaviest configuration of SuperCrew (crew cab) 4x4. If you can find a SuperCab 4x2, you might be okay if you didn't haul much stuff in the truck when towing. But any used F-150 with the HD Payload package is a rare bird. They simply don't sell many of them new for other than work trucks with XL trim. People that consider buying a new one usually wind up buying an F-250 instead. So good luck finding a used one. I'll bet similar pickups from Ram and GM are also scarce as hen's teeth.
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Old 08-07-2014, 01:54 PM   #10
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I towed about that much weight with a 2010 Ram 1500 for two years, probably put down 12000 miles doing it, and I was probably too heavy for the trucks GCWR. I didn't like towing with that truck. That truck was the best without a load. However when loaded it was miserable, the trailer would bounce the truck around terribly. Cement washboard highways were punishing to the riders.

In January 2014 I traded up to a RAM 2500 and the difference is huge. Granted riding in that truck without a load is punishing, but when loaded its a more relaxed drive. Plus, for me in was unnerving to go faster than 60mph with that trailer on the Ram1500, and with this truck it very easy to cruze at 70mph. Which for me was an important deal since I travel far on my trips.
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Old 08-07-2014, 07:24 PM   #11
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[/B]

JIMLIN, are you referring to all 2000 model HEMI's? With a 2500 chassis and a 6K RAWR, wouldn't that work for the TT I'm considering?

Thanks for your input!
Read my post which says all 1500 "MEGA CAB" trucks with the Hemi has a 2500 chassis/suspension and will work fine for that size trailer.

The other 1500 cab selections with a Hemi (Quad cab/std cab) sit on a smaller 1500 chassis/suspension.
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Old 08-07-2014, 10:55 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Lori Meyer View Post
I'm looking to buy a Ram 1500 - 2003-2010 -and want to know if there is an HD model or one with a beefed up suspension.

I want to tow a 8K TT (that includes the tongue weight) and I really don't want to get a 2500 because the Ram will be a daily driver as well.

Any recommendations?
I recommend you seriously consider a 2 wheel drive 2500 with the 6.4 hemi. The diesel would be better but really not needed. The MPG will not be that much less if any when towing and everybody will enjoy the trip more and be safer. The coil rear springs on the Ram 2500 are much better than the leaves were. You'll have a truck that will last for many years pulling that TT and pull it anywhere. You're always going to be looking for ways to make a 1500 tow that TT better. If you do get that 1500 make sure you have the factory tow package, tow mirrors, low rear diff gears and E rated tires, and no lift on the suspension.
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Old 08-10-2014, 08:11 AM   #13
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Thanks for all of the great input.

I'm eyeing up a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT, 5.7L HEMI V8 with the trailer tow package with class 4 hitch. It's a quad cab so given what Jimlin said it sits on a 2500 chassis. It's got only 51K on it and fully loaded.

I'll do more homework on this.
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Old 08-10-2014, 09:35 AM   #14
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Thanks for all of the great input.

I'm eyeing up a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT, 5.7L HEMI V8 with the trailer tow package with class 4 hitch. It's a quad cab so given what Jimlin said it sits on a 2500 chassis. It's got only 51K on it and fully loaded.

I'll do more homework on this.
No No, only the MEGACAB sits on a 2500 chassis. This is what a megacab looks like, has a few inches added behind the rear doors.

If you're considering that, i'd seriously consider a 2500 diesel. A 1500 with a leafspring suspension isn't going to handle much better than a 2500 IMO. My coworker has a ram 2500 with the 5.9 diesel, he gets 21-22mpg on the highway the said.

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