2018 Ram Ecodiesel vs 27bhb

[Brymac]

Hi all, new to the forum here so looking forward to chatting with you all!

Quick question - I've got a 2018 Ram 1500 3.0L Diesel. 5'7" box, crew cab, 4X4, with 3.55 gearing. My understanding is the Max Tow weight is about 7,500lbs.

I'm currently looking at purchasing a 2021 Jayco 27bhb, which has a "dry" weight of 6300 lbs - I believe the total Loaded weight is about 7,600lbs.

With the understanding that I'd likely never exceed a couple hundred lbs of "stuff" inside the trailer (I never tow with liquid in tanks), and a good WD hitch, do any experts here foresee any issues with this combination?

Looking forward to your feedback

[Old and soft]

What is the payload capacity on the truck? Likely over 10% of trailer wieght is tongue wieght, wd hitch weight, cargo, passengers. You may run out of payload before max tow.

[Brymac]

Dry Hitch weight for the TT is 695 Lbs. Max Payload for my truck is 1,330 Lbs.

[curver900]

12% of your loaded weight... rule of thumb for a trailer...

7600x.12=912lbs now add a battery, your butt, your wifes butt, the dogs butt and anything you added to the truck... topper? running boards?

hitch is another 50lbs ... check to see if your numbers include your propane ... if not another 20 or 40lbs... unless you are skinny and don't carry anything you will go over your payload...

1330-912=418 -50 hitch -25 battery =343lbs payload...

[Brymac]

Thanks Curver900. Appreciate the detailed reply. Based on the #'s I've thrown out here, would you say "don't even think about towing this trailer" with my truck, or is it somewhat doable.

I know you mentioned rule of thumb is 12% loaded weight, but I already know the trailer (if loaded) exceeds the towable weight.

Given the Dry Weight of the TT at 6,300lbs, I wouldn't intend on putting more than 300-400lbs in it, so total weight should always be decently less than 7,000lbs.

Would it be feasible to use 12% of say, 6800lbs?

Thanks again

[Lmbrjk]

We bought our 2020 27rb last August. First trip was for 2 days at a local State Park. We were very light on load and ran up 465lb according to the Cat scale. That didn't account for the part on the tongue. And that was just the bare essentials.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by Brymac

Thanks Curver900. Appreciate the detailed reply. Based on the #'s I've thrown out here, would you say "don't even think about towing this trailer" with my truck, or is it somewhat doable.

I know you mentioned rule of thumb is 12% loaded weight, but I already know the trailer (if loaded) exceeds the towable weight.

Given the Dry Weight of the TT at 6,300lbs, I wouldn't intend on putting more than 300-400lbs in it, so total weight should always be decently less than 7,000lbs.

Would it be feasible to use 12% of say, 6800lbs?

Thanks again

The problem is the as-delivered unit isn't going to be 6300lbs "dry" weight. Look at the yellow loading sticker on the front drivers side of the trailer to see the actual as-shipped dry weight. It's going to be more as shown by the image below - 6568lbs as-delivered - which is from a 2021 27BHB. I would be looking for something with a GVWR around 6000 max, though loaded you could still be in the 750-900lb range for tongue weight + 75lb for a good quality weight distributing hitch. That isn't going to leave much at all for passengers/cargo in the truck. What is the estimated weight of all passengers and cargo you would be carrying in the truck? In addition to that at 33' in overall length it's a awful big sail to hang out behind the lighter weight 1/2 ton truck.

[curver900]

Originally Posted by Brymac

Thanks Curver900. Appreciate the detailed reply. Based on the #'s I've thrown out here, would you say "don't even think about towing this trailer" with my truck, or is it somewhat doable.

I know you mentioned rule of thumb is 12% loaded weight, but I already know the trailer (if loaded) exceeds the towable weight.

Given the Dry Weight of the TT at 6,300lbs, I wouldn't intend on putting more than 300-400lbs in it, so total weight should always be decently less than 7,000lbs.

Would it be feasible to use 12% of say, 6800lbs?

Thanks again

if it was me i would look for a smaller lighter trailer or a bigger truck. You need to check your tires and see what their load rating is as well. That diesel takes allot of payload away...

[Brymac]

Thank you all for the tips. I checked the payload sticker on my door, and it's less than the OEM spec sheet. 1,005 lbs. Absolutely brutal. I never bought my truck with the intention of towing more than a hybrid, and I'm learning that I was overweight, even with my 23 foot Rockwood Roo. Sounds like a 3/4 ton is really the only solution here.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by Brymac

Thank you all for the tips. I checked the payload sticker on my door, and it's less than the OEM spec sheet. 1,005 lbs. Absolutely brutal. I never bought my truck with the intention of towing more than a hybrid, and I'm learning that I was overweight, even with my 23 foot Rockwood Roo. Sounds like a 3/4 ton is really the only solution here.

If you are intending to stick with a diesel I would recommend skipping the 250/2500 and move to the 350/3500. The diesel engine reduces the payload a fair amount over the gas engine in the 250/2500 so you could still have some payload pressure there. If you are going to make the change ensure that you can comfortably load up both the trailer and the truck and still have some breathing room. A longer wheelbase will also improve things with that long of a trailer. My previous '14 RAM 1500 with the Hemi wasn't much better than yours in terms of payload which kept us to the smaller 195RB. That worked well for us for about 5 years so the upgrade to the F-250 and larger ORV weren't perceived to be as painful given the use we got out of the RAM and Jayco.

[RonkoCamper]

I tried towing my 26BHS with my 1500 Dodge and then Silverado with a stronger rear axle. About the same weight as your trailer. It can tow it but I often felt the front end get light on me in some of the curvy roads at highway speed. I upgraded my pickup to a 2500 Ram. I feel much more confident in the truck now. Well worth the $$$.

Rob

[Quantum]

Those diesel engines are a real payload killer! A friend of mine has an ecodiesel and has 990lbs of payload. By the time he load up his family, he doesn't have much payload left.

If you have the proper 1/2 ton truck that trailer is doable. Your current truck sounds like it will be overloaded.

My trailer advertises a tongue weight of 710lbs, but according to my scale when I'm loaded up, it's around 950lbs. I'm careful how I load things as well like carrying my bikes on the back on the trailer to help offset some weight.

I have 1700lbs of payload on my truck and I fall just within specs with my trailer. As my kids grow, I will have to keep an eye on my payload.

[JDug66]

I have basically the same TT, Same dry weight. Everything that's been said is great information, numbers don't lie. My TV has 450lb larger payload and tow capacity but similar to yours. Mine is doable but I see where a larger TV provides the response needed when traveling with interstate traffic and up hills. My 8 speed TV pretty much stays in 6th gear when towing on flat roads at 65 mph. AIR LIFT set install helps with stability and removed the "front float" Whatever you decide, most definitely load up and go to the scales and get your gross weight, with axle lbs too, then you will know where you sit. Fully loaded, me and partner, I come in 1,300 under my GCWR. I don't want to get any closer than that.

[cekkk]

These half ton pound games make me crazy. It's all about 40 lbs here or 50 lbs there, without consideration of the greater importance, safety, driver comfort and wear and tear on the vehicle. If the walking path is perilously close to the cliff we look for another pathway. And again, that tall booger behind you is basically an 11 foot sail. It changes just about all the driving characteristics of the TV. The combination here doesn't appear to have a ten or 15% safety margin in the numbers. But that's just my opinion. Others tow more with less and swear it's all good.

[TedsCanoe]

I HAD a 2017 1500 eco-diesel with a stated 7,200 pound pull rating. I was pulling a 6,800 pound TT when loaded with no water. It did not take me long to discover that the eco-diesel rating was for flat country pulling only. You've seen semis going up hills in the slow lane. Well that was just like me and didn't ever think of passing anything that's going over 50mph.

I changed up to a 2019 gen5 1500 with the 5.7L hemi v8, full trailer towing group. Haven't looked back, loving the difference and regularly pass semis going up-hill in the fast lane.

cheers, Ted

[kblast523]

Originally Posted by Brymac

Thanks Curver900. Appreciate the detailed reply. "don't even think about towing this trailer" with my truck,
I know you mentioned rule of thumb is 12% loaded weight, but I already know the trailer (if loaded) exceeds the towable weight.

Would it be feasible to use 12% of say, 6800lbs?

Thanks again

In my neck of the woods, all the RAM Ecodiesel trucks have gone up in smoke...literally. If you have been to the dealer for recall repair of the aluminum piece in the EGR and been put off, or even worse, on hold...I WOULD NOT TOW A GARDEN CART UNTIL IT"S FIXED...and maybe not even then. By towing, you are accelerating the deterioration of the aluminum casting. The last RAM to go to salvage yard heaven only had 107k miles, had towed a U-Haul from California to Kansas and a Casita a couple of times. It caught fire two weeks after going to the dealer for the recall, and were told "Keep driving it, it'll be ok." He was also told (last October) "Parts may not be available until the middle of 2021."
I can tell you this much...my newest acquisition, a 2005 Skyline Layton M2840 weighs in at 6,820 lbs, plus probably 30-50 lbs of 'dirt and junk' left in it. I had to pull it with my 2018 Nissan Titan 5.6l gas V-8 (390hp). I WOULD NOT TAKE THIS COMBO ON A LONG TRIP. It pulled fine. It stopped fine. It turned fine, and I only had it sitting on the ball, no equalization or sway control. It is too much trailer for the 9,250 lb rating. You are WAY closer on your margin...white knuckle territory. That is why I only bought a 5,000lb trailer for more enjoyable camping...

[WendyG]

We tow our 2020 27bhb with a Silverado 1500. We went about 3,000 miles this past November. No problems, fairly smooth there and back and getting ready for another long distance trip in a week. Just two of us and we pack light. We haven't attempted any true mountains, just rolling hills.