2500 gas powered Ram towing 14500 GVWR Brinkley travel trailer

[Eddie Horn]

Humbly asking commentary on the following:
1. 2500 gas powered Ram with:
a. 17750 towing capacity
b. 4420 payload capacity
TOWING:
2. Brinkley Z AIR 310 travel trailer with:
a. 14495 GVWR
b. 1062 hitch weight

Desire to tow throughout the US, including the mountainous west without the hemi struggling. Trying to stay away from diesel problems if possible.

Please advise. All helpful comments welcome.

Thanks

[Old-Biscuit]

Having towed a 14,373 scaled weight 5th wheel with a 3500 and 5.9L CTD for 7 yrs FT all over the USA coast to coast/border to border I would NOT have wanted to do so with a gas power truck.

The ease of towing with diesel and an exhaust brake made traveling pleasurable each and every day

But that is me........

[Flyer15015]

Ed,
Going west across Kansas on flat ground with a 30 MPH headwind, I don't think you will spend much time in the top gear.
I would not dream of taking that combination over Colorado's Monarch pass on US 50 (11,000'+) and miles of 6% grades on both sides.

JMHO
Mike in Colorado

[oldenavy]

Have you had it on a scale? That hitch weight seems light for a 14k pound trailer. Our 9000# Airstream ran an 1100# hitch weight. You want to be between 10-15% of trailer weight on the truck for a TT. What’s your RAWR? You seem to have plenty of payload but check the rear axle weight vs. RAWR with the trailer loaded up for travel.

As others have said, a diesel will be a more pleasant towing experience but your 6.2 Hemi should have enough power for your trailer. I would be more hesitant if it was a fiver, but the bumper pull has much less wind resistance. Just take the mountains slowly both up and down.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by oldenavy

Have you had it on a scale? That hitch weight seems light for a 14k pound trailer. Our 9000# Airstream ran an 1100# hitch weight. You want to be between 10-15% of trailer weight on the truck for a TT. What’s your RAWR? You seem to have plenty of payload but check the rear axle weight vs. RAWR with the trailer loaded up for travel.

As others have said, a diesel will be a more pleasant towing experience but your 6.2 Hemi should have enough power for your trailer. I would be more hesitant if it was a fiver, but the bumper pull has much less wind resistance. Just take the mountains slowly both up and down.

Published hitch weights are based on dry weight of trailer

[MooseCountry]

Originally Posted by Flyer15015

Ed,
Going west across Kansas on flat ground with a 30 MPH headwind, I don't think you will spend much time in the top gear.
I would not dream of taking that combination over Colorado's Monarch pass on US 50 (11,000'+) and miles of 6% grades on both sides.

JMHO
Mike in Colorado

We drove US 50 to US 285 to US 24 to the Front Range from our home in Northwestern Colorado last week with our Ram 2500 4x4 with a 6.4L due to I-70 was closed near Silverthorne by a major and sad runaway truck brake failure wreck. Didn't want to deal with folks bypassing it via US 24, Highway 9, or Highway 82. Our 2500 truck has 4.10-1 for mountain driving.

Monarch was just one of many passes/summits on our detour. It's approximately 250 miles of mountain driving with seven passes/summits. I don't believe that most people know that no matter what route one takes east to west across Colorado it's multiple climbs and descents.

Our drive was over Grand Mesa @ 10,849 feet with two of the longest steep grades in the state on CO Hwy 65. On US 50 it was over Cerro Summit @ 8,042 feet, Blue Mesa @ 8,704 feet, and Monarch @ 11,312 feet. On US 24 there was Trout Creek @ 9.346 feet, Wilkerson @ 9,504 feet, and Ute @ 9,163 feet. Our 6.4L screams for miles and miles up the grades while towing. Going down it's no different when it's attempting to hold the steep grades.

We no longer tow with our 6.4L here. Much more relaxing with our Ram 3500 4x4 6.7L HO Cummins. Can't beat the exhaust brake going down. With the turbo diesel there's no power loss at our higher elevations.

https://www.denver7.com/traffic/semi...enhower-tunnel

[MFL]

You don't say what year Ram you have, but a newish one, with 8-speed transmission would be needed. Even then, towing a heavy, tall (nearly 12') 38' long TT up/down the mountains, will be asking a lot of that gasser.

Some people will say a towing experience was okay, when towing on the edge, and next say the whole experience was butt puckering, while using the exact same rig. Driver's comfort zones vary.

[MooseCountry]

2016 2500 with a 6 speed 66RFE. 2024 3500 with a 6 Speed Aisin. TT is 25 foot 2023 ORV Backcountry 20BD @ 9,995 lb. GVWR

[Cumminsfan]

Get a Ford 7.3 if you really want a gasser to tow that heavy in the mtns. Hemi's are down on power compared to Ford and GM.

Not the same but I towed 9000 lbs TT with a 2018 Hemi 2500 4.10 gears. It sucked big time. Highest climb was the Teton Pass. Wound out tight in 1st gear at 4500 RPMs. Even with the 8sp trans vs my 2018 6sp trans the Hemi's going to scream in the mtns. It got old fast and we went back to a diesel. I went form 9.5 mpg to 11.5 mpg. I also gained an exhaust brake with the diesel which is a huge bonus.

Another factor is the higher you go in EL you lose 3% of power. We did a 8 state western trip of 3000 miles through WA, ID, WY, MT, UT, NV, CA and back to OR. Most of it was up in elevation. Averaging 4000' drops your power by 12% or so. HP drops to 360 and TQ 377.

I think you'll be hating life with that truck and TT. 38' and over 12,000 lbs loaded is just too much for a Hemi IMO.

[Dave Pelletier]

The truck has the capacity to tow the trailer......but certainly it won't be a powerhouse. Ditto on the comments that if you want to stay with gas, the Ford 7.3/10spd is a significant step up in towing performance though, obviously, a modern diesel is a whole 'nother animal.

Yes, the dry tongue weight of slightly less than 10% won't be anywhere near the actual tongue weight with the batteries, propane and "massive pass thru storage".....I'd guess on a real loaded TW of 1,600 - 1,700 lbs and possibly more. My ORV 25RDS has an advertised dry weight of 7,100 lbs and advertised dry TW of 720 lbs - actual loaded TW is 1,275 lbs.

Doable, but not exactly fun is my take-away. My "line in the sand" for our 7.3 gasser is a max of 14,000 and it has quite a bit more power than the Hemi and the 10 spd makes a big difference as well......that said, much over 11 - 12,000 lbs and I'm looking for the keys to our Powerstroke anyhow, but that's only because I have that choice.

Cheers,
Dave

[Eddie Horn]

To be clear I don't have the Ram 2500 gasser yet, nor the Brinkley TT. Just looking for the best combo. Seems the general consensus is that the gasser is inadequate for this size rig, and that diesel is the better choice. Ram's web page shows the diesel ups the 2500 tow capacity to 20K, but lowers payload to 2740. How does everyone feel those numbers stack up against the TT's GVWR of 14495 and hitch weight of 1062 which is before installation of batteries and washer/dryer?
Thanks.

[MFL]

Truck choice is more personal preference. If you wanted gas, a Ford 7.3 would be my choice. A diesel in any brand will work. I would just bypass the 25 series trucks, and move right up to a 35 series SRW for best payload.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Eddie Horn

Ram's web page shows the diesel ups the 2500 tow capacity to 20K, but lowers payload to 2740. How does everyone feel those numbers stack up against the TT's GVWR of 14495 and hitch weight of 1062 which is before installation of batteries and washer/dryer?
Thanks.

Diesel weight and it's exhaust system cut into the payload for sure , have you spec'ed out a 3500 SRW ?

[Dave Pelletier]

Originally Posted by Eddie Horn

To be clear I don't have the Ram 2500 gasser yet, nor the Brinkley TT. Just looking for the best combo. Seems the general consensus is that the gasser is inadequate for this size rig, and that diesel is the better choice. Ram's web page shows the diesel ups the 2500 tow capacity to 20K, but lowers payload to 2740. How does everyone feel those numbers stack up against the TT's GVWR of 14495 and hitch weight of 1062 which is before installation of batteries and washer/dryer?
Thanks.

Well, then you are in a much better position! If you want to stick with a 14,000 GVWR trailer, I recommend the diesel.....yes even with the reduced payload though as the others mentioned; I'd strongly recommend a 350/3500 which will up the payload without much (if any) negative effect. Not sure why you are limiting your choice to a 3/4 ton? Are you planning on carrying much in the truck bed? anything heavy?

If staying with gas is the bigger focus; I'd recommend the Ford over the Ram....the GM is in-between IMO. Even then, I'd suggest you'd be happier keeping the trailer GVWR at 12,000 lbs max....10,000 preferred though people are towing 14k with their 7.3's.

Personally, with a trailer that large and heavy, I'd go diesel 1 ton DRW....any brand would work fine.

2 cents,
Dave