Towing with a Dodge 1500

[mncamper]

Hello Newbie towing questions.
As this is my first post please let me know if this is the wrong section. I have recently purchased a 2011 Ram Crew cab with the Hemi. It has the factory tow package with 3.55 rear end gears and 17 inch wheels. I purchased this before I decided to get a HTT and it is rated to tow 8200#. My towing experience is limited to my boat behind my old F150. I am looking at an x23b or x20e and am wondering if anyone has towed with the dodge and how well it does. The trailer GVWR is 4950# and I will be traveling with myself my wife and two 11 year olds. I will be getting a weight distribution system (any suggestions?) and already own a prodigy 3 brake controller. Our first trip will be from MN to the west into the Big Sur area and then into San Francisco and back over 14 days or so. Is this a combination that will make for an enjoyable trip, or should I look at a lighter trailer. I would like to travel without being concerned about weight. Of course both my truck and trailer dealers say no problem. I am thinking a trailer at about 5000 pounds should work well. Looking for real world experiences and am aware that the 3.55 gears are not ideal.
Thank you for any input
Mike

[dalenoel]

Welcome to the forum.

[Crabman]

Welcome to the forum mncamper! Yes you posted in the right place for towing concerns. I see no issues with that combo, rated for 8200lbs towing a 5,000lb trailer should work well for you. On the WD question, I like a WD hitch with sway control that is integrated into the system such as the Reese Dual Cam or Equalizer brands. But many others tow a trailer that size with a WD system and just a friction swaybar with no problems. There are some helpful threads on towing and WD systems in this towing forum.

[TexasA&M]

Rear end gears aren't nearly as important as they were in the past thanks to the new 6 speed transmissions. A deeper gear will always get you off the line faster, but it is not always necessary. Since you're looking at a trailer in the 5k lb range, you shouldn't have any problem with a 3.55 rear end.

I don't think you'll have any issue pulling a 5k lb TT across the country and back.

If I had to pick between the two trailers you listed, I would definitely go with the x23b because it is bigger inside, and the weight difference is negligible (200lbs) since you are so far under the limit of the truck.

[mncamper]

Thank you for the help so far. I am leaning towards the x23b it really does have more space. The dealer I am speaking to has them both at the lot and the price is less than $500 different with more options (both 2012's). He recommends the Equalizer brand hitch. In the end it is up to the wife to choose her favorite. We will attend the camper show in Minneapolis on 2-11 and be making a final decision (may need a bigger truck after the show). Looking forward to making memories and sharing stories.

[clutch]

Just make sure the tires on the truck are LT tires and not P tires.

[Flytyer]

I have been using my 2008 RAM Maxicab Since 2009 when I bought it new first towing a heavy pop-up ( over 5000 LBS) and now a 26RLS. Mine was factory euiped with a towing package and 3.73 Rear end. It seems to do well. Wanted to buy a Diesel 2500 but it was too hard for my wife to get in to the higer frame and at the time they gave me a great deal on the truck.

My brother tells me he has just crossed over 175,000 miles on his since new with no real issues but he does not use it tow but does do some heavy hauling.

Sounds like a great trip. Hopefully gas prces will come down by then again. Last outing I ws running ~ 8 MPG for the two weeks.

[familybonding]

I would question the 8200lbs. That sounds like a lot for that truck.I'm not saying that it can't do it, I would just make sure that is accurate. Never the less, a 5000lb. TT should cause no problems for that truck. Happy Camping!

[mncamper]

The truck is rated for 8200# as equiped. I got that number from the owners manual and window sticker. It does seem like a lot for the truck wich is why I am trying to keep the weight down to around 5000#. It does however have p rated tires and not LT. What is the difference between the two? Our camping so far has been out of a boat on the river, and tents locally. Looking to expand the comfort level with a HTT and do not want to be concerned about capacities when traveling. Over the years I have tried to tow too much boat with too little truck and want to avoid that this time around.
Familybonding; how does yours do with the 27BH?

[SecretCoveDave]

Last summer on our first trip ever with a TT, we got somewhere between 12 to 14 MPG!
I thought my new truck was broken or a hole in the gas tank.

I complained bitterly to wife, she told me to count GPD (gallons per day) instead.

I do, and am happier.
Dave

[familybonding]

I just purchased my 2500 hemi, but I was puliing the 27bh with an 05 4.7 v8 ram. I was overweight for the truck when we loaded everything up for our trips. But even being overweight, the truck started out great. The truck only struggled on the highway. It was a fight to keep the truck up to 60mph. It just didn't have the strength at the top end. If I even thought about an upgrade the truck would slow down. After realizing that I just had to be patient and let the truck do what it could do, I had no problems. The truck pulled the weight and never broke down or caused any problems, but I knew I needed to upgrade for everyones safety. I truly think you will be fine with what you have, that hemi engine is awesome! I just wanted you to be sure that you don't buy to much TT for you r truck.

[Crabman]

Originally Posted by SecretCoveDave

Last summer on our first trip ever with a TT, we got somewhere between 12 to 14 MPG!
I thought my new truck was broken or a hole in the gas tank.

I complained bitterly to wife, she told me to count GPD (gallons per day) instead.

I do, and am happier.
Dave

12 to 14 mpg towing is actually very, very good.

[jim44646]

Sounds about right. My 2001 5.9L Ram Quad cab 4 x 4 is 7150#. Lost about 400# towing capacity due to it being a 4x4. I tow a Jayco 234 TT just fine. Never really checked mileage. It get what it gets. You can't expect much towing. It can cruise at 60-65 mph all day.

[SecretCoveDave]

Yes Crabman, I am actually really happy with the mileage now I know more.

Kinda like pulling the TT, makes me think ahead, and I actually relax. Match my load to the road, take breaks, and only do 300 to 350 miles a day. On travel days.

Dave

[norty1]

Originally Posted by mncamper

...snip It does however have p rated tires and not LT. What is the difference between the two?

P is for passenger vehicles. LT is a light truck tire.

I would plan on getting LT tires soon.

[hotrod51]

I have towed with P metric radials on my 96 Dodge, just watch your load rating. I have 245x16 tires and they have serve me well. Yes LT tires are nice but the price isn't, with a light trailer you should be ok to wear the tires out. If you feel safer with LT tires by all means get them.

[mncamper]

Thanks for the input. We are off to the Minneapolis camper show today. As I tend to make emotional decissions the DW has asked that I do not buy on the spot and take a day to think about it after we decide on the unit. So far we have narrowed it down to three units. The x23b, x20e and a carry over Surveyor 234t (seems a little heavy). The DW likes the outside bathroom door on the 234t. I prefer the weight and build quality of the Jayco's. I did have the factory brake controller added to the ram this week and will certainly get a weight distribution hitch. I priced the units I am looking at at RV direct and have contacted the dealers that I will be dealing with. They came in very close to the direct prices and will throw in some extras to make the deal. Anything else I should be asking or looking at? Hopefully I will be posting in the new members forum on Sunday.

[jim44646]

p is Euro-metric for passenger tires. You will be better of with LT's. LT's have stiffer sidewalls for greater load. Passenger tires are designed for softer rides.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by mncamper

The truck is rated for 8200# as equiped. I got that number from the owners manual and window sticker. It does seem like a lot for the truck wich is why I am trying to keep the weight down to around 5000#.......snip

mncamper,

Just a little food-for-thought prior to going to the RV show:

Your right to be a little suspicious about the published tow rating..., please review the following thread for a little insight into the "real" tow rating: http://www.jaycoowners.com/showthread.php?t=3866 Knowing a little about tow ratings ahead of time will allow you to keep the RV sales person honest.

Also, great that you are thinking in terms of "loaded" weights (TT GVWR), RV sales folks tend to focus on the TT Dry and UVW weights (but who tows an empty TT?). The Jayco UVW weight is not the ship weight, the actual ship weight will be specified on a Yellow sticker on the TT.

RV and WDH manufactures recommend that that the loaded TT tongue weight should be 10% to 15% of the loaded TT weight. On the longer TT's (26ft plus), use 13% to 15% of the loaded TT weight for the loaded tongue weight. Since you won't know what "your" actual loaded TT weight will be yet, I would use a worse case scenario: Take 15% of the TT's GVWR for a maximum loaded tongue weight...., but if your loading habits are to pack on the lite side, then you know your loaded tongue weight will be less.

Oh, leave credit cards and check book at home

Enjoy the RV show!

Bob

[Flytyer]

Many years ago an Airstream Caravan pulled in to a campground we were staying at. They had been out all summer from Maine ( where we were to Mexico) the had run all of the units on scales and they had a contest on how much they were OVER weight on the trailers.

One trailer had over a TON over its max load. Clear cut winner. They had collected pottery at every stop all summer long.