Newbie Questions

[joss1952]

Hi Folks,


New guy in buying mode. Two questions.


1. I have a RAM 1500 Big Horn Edition with V8 and 3.92 rear axel. Looking at a 24 RLS, 21KVS, or 22FQS as possibilities. All of these floorplans have pluses and minues for us, and are similar to the Lances's we want to look at. In comparing these to Lance they are a heavier unit. Would I have towing capacity issues with these TT's towing with my RAM Big Horn?



2. The Lances are lighter and one is 4 feet shorter. Is there a big difference in towing a 4 foot longer unit?





Is there any other things I should be considering?



Thanks for any suggestions you can provide.



Regards,


Joe

[van-gogh]

Joe,

Inside the DOOR Frame of your TRUCK is a plate or sticker, telling you, the weight you can safely tow and also a sticker inside the trailer and most likely in the kitchen cabinet nearest the door you walk in from.

The following should be a guide to help you, know if your truck is good or not to tow. Also never drive over 65 or the posted speeds when towing. To be safer still keep it under the posted speed towing or not towing. I hope all of this is helpful.


Towable:
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
The maximum permissible weight of the unit when fully loaded. It includes all weights, inclusive of all fluids, cargo, optional equipment, and accessories. For safety and product, performance do NOT exceed the GVWR.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
The maximum permissible weight, including cargo, fluids, optional equipment, and accessories that can be safely supported by a combination of all axles.

UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight)*
The typical weight of the unit as manufactured at the factory. It includes all weight at the unit’s axle(s) and tongue or pin and LP Gas. The UVW does not include cargo, fresh potable water, additional optional equipment or dealer installed accessories.

*Estimated Average based on standard build optional equipment

CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity)**
The amount of weight available for fresh potable water, cargo, additional optional equipment, and accessories. CCC is equal to GVWR minus UVW. Available CCC should accommodate fresh potable water (8.3 lbs per gallon). Before filling the freshwater tank, empty the black and gray tanks to provide for more cargo capacity.

**Estimated Average based on standard build optional equipment

Actual towing capacity is dependent upon your particular loading and towing circumstances, which includes the GVWR, GAWR and GCWR as well as adequate trailer brakes. Please refer to the Operator's Manual of your vehicle for further towing information.

[rc1991]

I had an older Lance that we bought used when we started RV camping prior to our ORV (23DBS). I liked the Lance and towed but towed it with a Superduty (F-350) so no issues there or with the ORV. We upgraded our TV to the F-350 so we would have capacity to upgrade in size which we did. In fact our 23DBS is about 4 feet longer than our Lance and I haven't noticed any difference in towing aside from awareness that the ORV is a bit taller. I find it may be easier to back-up and maneuver for me. We are looking forward to our first outing with the 23DBS since we have had 4 trips cancelled this year so far. We should finally be able to get out in mid-July. Both ORV and Lance make nice trailers....we went with ORV because we wanted a well built, reasonable sized bunk model with decent sized bunks and priced right!

[brulaz]

ORV trailers are very tongue heavy. Often around 15% of the trailer weight when loaded. 1200# of tongue weight or higher is not uncommon.

We eventually upgraded a 1/2 ton to our current 3/4 ton because of this.

I expect the Lance models have lower tongue weights.

[joss1952]

Thanks everyone! We bought the 24RLS today Will pick it up next week and now we'll start trip planning.



Appreciate all the comments.



Joe


__________
2019 RAM 1500 Big Horn w 3.92 Diff and 5+l V8
2019 Timber Ridge 24RLS

[BPTS]

Originally Posted by joss1952

Thanks everyone! We bought the 24RLS today Will pick it up next week and now we'll start trip planning.



Appreciate all the comments.



Joe


__________
2019 RAM 1500 Big Horn w 3.92 Diff and 5+l V8
2019 Timber Ridge 24RLS

Nice!
We really like our 24RLS. I run 1k/10000 trunnion bars on an E2 hitch and my TV is a 19 F250 gasser. Tows it like a dream but I have noticed when the black/grey tanks are full it is noticeably more tongue heavy.
Be ready for it.
I would think a 1/2 ton will pull it** but it will work it for sure. Make sure the trailer brakes are adjusted correctly and play with the trailer brake bias, I stepped mine up a couple of settings over where it was for our Keystone which was considerably lighter than the ORV.

**FWIW the GVWR on the trailer data plate is 9995 and the GVWR on the data plate on my truck is 10,000.

[joss1952]

Originally Posted by BPTS

Nice!


**FWIW the GVWR on the trailer data plate is 9995 and the GVWR on the data plate on my truck is 10,000.

The GVWR on my truck is 6900 and the GVWR on the trailer is also 9995. The GCWR (combined towing weight) is 17000. So If I were load them both up - which I won’t as there’s only the two of us - I’d just squeak by. It’s definitely something I have to be aware of and monitor though.


Joe

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by joss1952

The GVWR on my truck is 6900 and the GVWR on the trailer is also 9995. The GCWR (combined towing weight) is 17000. So If I were load them both up - which I won’t as there’s only the two of us - I’d just squeak by. It’s definitely something I have to be aware of and monitor though.


Joe

As suggested earlier you need to check the payload for your truck. What is the payload number from the yellow Tire & Loading sticker on the drivers door/jam? I suspect you are going to be close if not over on payload with the heavier tongue weights of the ORV. Lightly loaded our 23DBS is ~1100 on the tongue. I would definitely take the fully loaded combination to a CAT scale and make sure you know exactly what your weights are in relation to the stickered limits. I traded up my Big Horn for the F-250 due to the meager payload that the Big Horn had.

[rc1991]

Yes, our Lance did have a pretty low tongue weight when I measured with a Sherline scale of around 500 - 600 lbs and we had an F150 with a payload of 1500 lbs. With people, gear, and dogs we were pretty much at or above payload and had to figure out how and where to put things. The F-350 doubled our payload and we were able to upgrade to the ORV with no issue.

[Highway 4x4]

My son has a Ram like your. Towed my 250RDSW for a test just fine but would not want to do it for as far as I tow it with my 2500. It will be important to get the hitch adjusted correctly. Make sure the TT tires are at max cold. Get some E rated tires for the Ram. 80-140 lube in the rear diff. Keep your speed down and the tanks empty. You will learn as you go as to what works. I really like that floorplan, enjoy and welcome here. If you have issues with it call the factory and tell them, the beauty of an ORV trailer.

[joss1952]

Originally Posted by ttavasc

As suggested earlier you need to check the payload for your truck. What is the payload number from the yellow Tire & Loading sticker on the drivers door/jam? I suspect you are going to be close if not over on payload with the heavier tongue weights of the ORV. Lightly loaded our 23DBS is ~1100 on the tongue. I would definitely take the fully loaded combination to a CAT scale and make sure you know exactly what your weights are in relation to the stickered limits. I traded up my Big Horn for the F-250 due to the meager payload that the Big Horn had.

The max payload number is 1900. If the tongue weight is around 1100 that means theres 800 pounds left. It’ll be me and my wife and two small dogs with about 250 left. I do plan to weigh it at a local commercial scale in town to be exact.


Joe

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by joss1952

The max payload number is 1900. If the tongue weight is around 1100 that means theres 800 pounds left. It’ll be me and my wife and two small dogs with about 250 left. I do plan to weigh it at a local commercial scale in town to be exact.


Joe

That's interesting - I don't think I've ever seen a RAM 1500 with that much actual payload though I've not looked at any 2020 models. Is that the number off your door jam sticker or the max payload per the web site/towing guide? Unless you have a base model without any options the actual payload is going to be less than the max listed on the web site/towing guide. The max payload for my F-250 is listed as 3460 but the actual as delivered is 3216 since I took very few options.

Up until I switched over to the F-250 I was looking for another RAM - either 1500 or 2500. I never found a 1500 at the dealer with more than about 1400-1500 actual payload and they weren't interested in working a reasonable trade-in for me on a 2500, hence the F-250.

Given that ORV's tend to be tongue heavy I would recommend you consider investing in a Sherline Tongue Weight Scale for ~$120. This will allow you to easily see your tongue weight without having to repeatedly run it out to a scale. This makes it easy to understand how different loading habits affect the tongue weight.

Congrats on the new camper too! We love our ORV and I'm sure you will too.

[joss1952]

Originally Posted by ttavasc

That's interesting - I don't think I've ever seen a RAM 1500 with that much actual payload though I've not looked at any 2020 models. Is that the number off your door jam sticker or the max payload per the web site/towing guide?

Given that ORV's tend to be tongue heavy I would recommend you consider investing in a Sherline Tongue Weight Scale for ~$120. This will allow you to easily see your tongue weight without having to repeatedly run it out to a scale. This makes it easy to understand how different loading habits affect the tongue weight.

Congrats on the new camper too! We love our ORV and I'm sure you will too.

That payload number is on the sticker and the RAM website for the 2019. I like the idea of having a tongue weight scale. Thanks for letting me know about that! That sure sounds more convenient.



Joe

[joss1952]

Another question... would airbags help with the tongue weight situation?


Regards,

Joe