Is 2021 RAM 1500 Diesel Enough Truck?

[swavescatter]

Originally Posted by runamuck

a 2020 4x4 ram 1500 lone star ecodsl will have around 1200# payload..I have looked up a few on the vin look-up site. the exact number will vary based on trim level.

Add a few hundred pounds of humans and a generator in the bed... might not have the requisite 1000lbs of tongue weight needed for the hitch.

[Dave Pelletier]

I vote "iffy" .....you'd need to weigh everything to be sure but a dry hitch weight of 635 will end up being around 900lbs loaded plus the hitch. That trailer is more trailer than I'd want to haul with a half ton - my personal "line in the sand" is 6000 lbs wet/loaded and no more than 24'

Cheers,
Dave

[bneukam]

Lance includes full propane in their dry tongue weights. If I was to buy a 2285 with my current Ram 1500 here is the steps I would take.

The 2285 has the fresh water tank behind the axels, so you can use that to your advantage.
Optioned dual lithium batteries would save 100 lbs. on the tongue.
Forget the optioned, or remove the tri-5 propane tank.
But, you want to keep the tongue weight around 12%, this will take a few trips to the scales.
Currently towing a 5,700 lb 23’ Lance with a 2017 Ram 1500 with only 1,200 lbs payload rating. It’s a great set up, but the Hemi does work in the mountains, and strong head winds.
Factory coils on the Ram 1500 are made for a smooth ride, not for heavy loads. But many different routes to slightly beef them up.
Agree, with the OP as a 3/4 ton or larger feels, and rides more utilitarian, or like a piece of equipment. Lance is so popular because they are built for the 1/2 ton owners. Aerodynamic, and lower profile is beneficial to towing.

[Reevesfamily]

Originally Posted by myancey254

I have the a 2021 RAM 1500 diesel on order. It will have the tow package and air suspension, 5'7" bed. As near as I can tell, it will have a tow capacity of somewhere between 8010-78xx and a max payload of 1800 lbs. I am considering a Lance 2285: dry weight 4930, GVWR 7000, hitch weight 635, overall length 27'. So:
1 - No problem
2 - Iffy
3 - Don't do it

If (3) and probably if (2), I will look at smaller trailers. HD truck not an option. Been there - done that.

Thanks in advance for your opinions

Mike

I say 2.5. You'll wish you had a heavier truck or a smaller trailer soon. Just an opinion.

[runamuck]

My trailer is very close to the same specs as yours and my '19 laramie 5.7 hemi pulls it fine but I have only 1324# cargo capacity so I dont take much gear and I bet you are only going to have 11-1200# with the dsl. so the problem is you wont be able to pack much before being over wt. probably ok for shorter trips but not a good idea for cross country travel. my son added airbags to his '17 and he likes the way his tows but realizes he is probably a little over wt. all the time.

[CecilD]

My son had a Grand Cherokee with the diesel and loved it until his wife started driving it to work and around town. The DPF kept getting clogged and sending check engine lights. They sold it for that reason.

He bought a Ram Laramie with the diesel before they sold the Jeep which he drives for work. He drives mostly freeway miles (28 MPG) and his DPF has remained clear. He tows a 5,000# boat and it does fine except the exhaust brake operation is not intuitive and he doesn't even know if it is working. Not so good where we live. We replaced the front rotors at 44k miles due to a brake application pulse which didn't entirely fix the problem. His truck is a crew cab and his payload is 1,100#. I borrowed the truck to drive five people to the coast in comfort and I liked it for that use. Not my truck so no rating from me; he loves it.

[TheB2B]

I can speak with some for foreknowledge, I had a 2014 Ram 1500 ecoDiesel Outdoorsman with air ride and ~1600 payload, towed a Jayco 24RBS no issues, scaled tongue weight ready to go camping was 620 lbs. Traded up to a Rockwood 2020 2612WS and while the motor had no issues pulling the camper on windy travel days it was a case of the tail wagging the dog. Scaled tongue weight of 920 lbs. Fuel millage not towing was amazing, close to 30 MPG, 11 to 12 towing.

I have a equalizer WDH but just wasn't enough, the 2612 was way more trailer than what the truck could handle, think it was the air ride being to soft. As for DPF issues I had an after market tune on the truck that turned off the EGR and re-calibrated the injectors so the engine did a cleaner burn, less sot, this goes a long way in solving the plugged DPF issue. The company can no longer sale this tune and and as I was approaching the end of my extended warranty and did not want to deal with paying for issues with the air ride if it went out I traded it for a 2019 Ram 2500 CTD. I now have way more truck than trailer and relaxing comfortable drive. If in the future I want to upgrade to a larger trailer or a 5er I got some lea way.

[Oconomowoc]

I have a 17 ecodiesel LOVE I! Go to https://greendieselengineering.com and check out the engine tune they offer. They will save you some headaches

[nicky8668]

I always like excessive payload capacity. Then you can throw whatever you’d like to bring in the bed and not worry about overweight.

If you are looking to get a 1/2 ton, consider to bring down one or two trim levels and step up to a 3/4 ton. You will love the overkill in all aspects.

But if you are also using it as a daily driver, nothing beats a 1/2 ton.

[Fleagle]

your payload is the only Iffy part. I traded my 2019 Ram 1500 with 3:92 rear end with 5.7 Hemi because I ran out of payload. I was sold a lie with what I could tow according to the Ram brochure and their web site. Yes it would pull 11,000 lbs no problem. However The hitch weight and what I had left over to carry all of the gear and us, was the issue. If you have the diesel in it, Your payload is going to be less than that 1800 number. Unless you can see the door sticker showing max capacity, you might be in for a surprise. Will your truck pull it. Most certainly, but check what you want to carry including weight of driver all passengers and gear. Also if you start adding side steps and other items to your truck, that will cut down on your capacity also

[tuffr2]

I looked at Lance Trailers a few years ago. I thought a 150/1500 series truck could tow any model they made comfortably.

[Mike Carr]

I have the 2017 eco diesel in the Ram 1500 and it does great towing for us. Handles our 24’ Coachmen TT great and also our 20’ cargo trailer. I think you’ll get along just fine.

[GKW]

Originally Posted by vito.a

We have friends staying with us. Their almost new 1/2 ton pickup transmission just went because of the trailer they are towing. They now wish they had opted for a 3/4 ton.
My opinion: With 1/2 ton pickups I follow the advice to cut the rated towing capacity in half for regular towing. It it's a one time deal, then the full capacity can be used, but the process will be pain full.

It's difficult to understand why you would put yourself in this situation when you could have just as easily ordered a 3/4 ton pickup and not worry, especially since the MSRP of the Eco Diesel Dodge is well over that of a 3/4 ton.

Wish you the best of luck!

I have a Dodge 1500 with the same specs as the op. I use it to pull a 5,000 lb boat for the last 5 years with zero problems. I have a 45ft RV pulling a Jeep Wrangler so no dog in this fight, however I regularly RV travel with two friends with Dodge 1500’s that have similar trailers as the ops and they also have no issues at all. They also have an advantage over me in site selections with their configuration.
Go for it and don’t worry about it.

[BD104X]

Originally Posted by Mr Ted

Absolutely no problem . That EcoDiesel is an incredible engine and plenty strong. Its no wonder it was one of Wards 10 best engines 3 Yrs in a row.

What about the rest of the truck? His truck only has a 5.7 bed. No way I would regularly tow a trailer like that with a short wheelbase 1/2 ton truck. These posts always come across to me as “I plan on towing too-much trailer with not-enough truck... should be fine as long as I plan on traveling unrealistically light and never encounter any adverse road conditions, right?????”