Ram 1500 Owners - What r u pulling with your truck

[tomnjo]

Originally Posted by Go West

Thank you. For 2017 Rams, the 3.55 gears are no longer an option with the 5.7 Hemi. For some reason, only the Ecodiesel and Pentastar motors are now matched with 3.55 gears.

Really? so what is the max trailer with the 5.7 and the 3.21s?

[bondo303]

I say unfortunately because I think that the 3.55 or 3.92 would have been better for what I am towing now. I pull it no problem but just a little more grunt would be nice. Not towing, I get 14mpg around town and have gotten 26.7mpg highway. That is when the 3.21's are awesome.

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[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by tomnjo

Really? so what is the max trailer with the 5.7 and the 3.21s?

It will vary based on cab and bed size, 4x4 or 4x2, trim level - but the range is around 7700-8600. The Quad/Crew cabs are right around 8000. My 2014 CC is 7900.

[bondo303]

Mine is a 2014 express quad cab 4x4 5.7 Hemi 3.21 8 speed with a tow capacity of 8200 and a payload of 1526.

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[Benno]

Our 2014 RAM1500 6cyl, 2x4, crew cab and 3.55gear pulls our 2016 24RKS White Hawk with ease. The truck can pull 7400 Ibs with the factory installed towing package. Just got back from Ocala, FL to Canada and the trailer loaded up I guess 6500-7000 Ibs, two full LPG 30 Ibs tanks, empty water tanks, 2 extra deep cycle AGM batteries and all the stuff my girl loaded up, no problem in towing. The six has 305 hp, plenty power and keeping the speed by 55 mph the fuel consumption is not to bad. Pulled a 19 ft Jayco winter 14/15 to Arizona and back and winter 15/16 to Alabama gulf coast and back, piece of cake. The RAM 1500 is a wonderful truck and has not giving us any trouble.

http://www.marleneandbenno.blogspot.ca

[Jwill]

I have a Ram 1500 with air suspension, and would not recommend it. It's hard to get everything set up the way it should be. I have yet to get it to tow to my likings. When traveling, it will go into aero mode, which changes the heighth of your vehicle.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by Jwill

I have a Ram 1500 with air suspension, and would not recommend it. It's hard to get everything set up the way it should be. I have yet to get it to tow to my likings. When traveling, it will go into aero mode, which changes the heighth of your vehicle.

It should not go into aero mode with Tow/Haul engaged. Mine has never done that. I believe there is an option in the Uconnect 8.4 settings that you can use to disable aero mode as well.

Also, if you adjust the ball height slightly higher than level coupler height as I think most WDH manufacturers recommend, you will end up with the trailer riding slightly nose-high, even if you temporarily disable the auto-leveling when hitching up. That can contribute to a less that ideal towing experience. I set the ball height about 1-1.5" lower than level coupler height, temporarily disable auto-leveling, hitch up and adjust weight distribution, then re-engage auto-leveling. The end result is just slightly nose down after the suspension brings things level.

[Jay Dreamer]

Towing a 26BH.

Love the Truck!

[msb]

Helpful thread! I'm looking at RAM Big Horn 1500s to pull my x213 (only 5.5K GVWR) but I'm concerned about payload. x213 tongue can come in at 750! Plus family (350) and gear (150), I'll exceed 1,300 lbs pretty quickly.

Also torn between the 3.21 and 3.92 for pulling in Colorado. 3.92 does seem like overkill for daily driving but I know I'll want it for the summer camping months. Any input here from you experienced folks? The HEMI is just so awesome, I want to make it work!

Thanks!

[Bigdomino]

The payload capacity is the primary reason why I gave up on the Ram. Going to pull a 27DSRL Whitehawk. 6,000 pounds and 650 or do tongue weight. Ordered a GMC Sierra 1500 with 6.2 liter engine and 8 speed trans. Payload rated over 1900 pounds.

I really wanted the Hemi too. But, this 6.2 is a bad ass and will do whatever the Heminwas going to do.

Good luck.

Steve

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by msb

Helpful thread! I'm looking at RAM Big Horn 1500s to pull my x213 (only 5.5K GVWR) but I'm concerned about payload. x213 tongue can come in at 750! Plus family (350) and gear (150), I'll exceed 1,300 lbs pretty quickly.

Also torn between the 3.21 and 3.92 for pulling in Colorado. 3.92 does seem like overkill for daily driving but I know I'll want it for the summer camping months. Any input here from you experienced folks? The HEMI is just so awesome, I want to make it work!

Thanks!

I'm assuming you want a full crew cab to accommodate the family. The Tradesman trim level is your best bet but you probably need to stick with just the standard options to maximize the payload. The Big Horn trim level can drop the payload a couple hundred pounds or more - 4x4 is the same. I think the 3.21 would probably be OK as long as you have the 8-speed tranny. 3.92 would certainly be the better choice in the hills.

The RAM towing guide shows a max payload on a Tradesman Crew Cab w/Hemi and 4x4 at just over 1500lbs. If you are willing to stick with a 4x2, which I think most folks aren't, the max payload could be just over 1700lbs.

And you may need to order it to ensure the fewest options and maximum payload - and likely to get the 3.92 rear end. I couldn't find one with a 3.92 on a lot when I was looking but with our small unit it isn't needed. I sometimes wander around the lot when I have mine in for an oil change and look at the payload stickers. Never find anything much above 1200-1400lbs. They make money on the higher trim levels so that's what they have in inventory.

[FeatherFam]

With our 2012 1500 Tradesman, reg. cab, lg bed, 2wd, 5.7 Hemi, 6 speed, 3.55 dif. - we tow a 23rbm Jay Feather. It is a good match. Just my preference, I would not go with much more trailer than what we have with this truck. If we go towards a heavier and longer TT, we will move to a 3/4 ton.

We love the truck. It is a basic work truck. It performs very well. But it is a 1/2 ton. We do not have LT tires. We have Michelin tires that are more than ample for our use. We use a 10K Equalizer WDH. We have Sumo coils on the front and Firestone Work-Rites on the rear. They assist under load but do not effect the unloaded ride and handling (much).

[msb]

Happy to report back that I'm loving my 2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab! Found one with 1,400 payload and a 3.92 rear axle. Really comes down to the 26 or 32 gallon tank for those couple hundred extra pounds! I think I'm right at payload all loaded up, but the Hemi can pull! Took our first trip with the X213 this weekend and we flew up to Eisenhower Tunnel here in Colorado, a climb to 11,000', at 60mph, no prob. The 8 speed tranny is amazing.

I'm still dialing in my Equalizer wdh as the Baja kit on the x213 makes it pretty tall, and it's definitely a heavy tongue for the Ram's coil springs, but I think it'll all work out fine. It's a little bouncy/floatey when towing, but it's a fine trade off b/c it drives great the other 350 days of the year I'm driving it.

And heck, I'm getting 18-20 mpg when not towing. How do you beat that with 395hp??? Sorry Tundra drivers!

Thanks for the input!

[FeatherFam]

Originally Posted by msb

Happy to report back that I'm loving my 2015 Ram 1500 Big Horn Crew Cab! Found one with 1,400 payload and a 3.92 rear axle. Really comes down to the 26 or 32 gallon tank for those couple hundred extra pounds! I think I'm right at payload all loaded up, but the Hemi can pull! Took our first trip with the X213 this weekend and we flew up to Eisenhower Tunnel here in Colorado, a climb to 11,000', at 60mph, no prob. The 8 speed tranny is amazing.

I'm still dialing in my Equalizer wdh as the Baja kit on the x213 makes it pretty tall, and it's definitely a heavy tongue for the Ram's coil springs, but I think it'll all work out fine. It's a little bouncy/floatey when towing, but it's a fine trade off b/c it drives great the other 350 days of the year I'm driving it.

And heck, I'm getting 18-20 mpg when not towing. How do you beat that with 395hp??? Sorry Tundra drivers!

Thanks for the input!

msb,
I would definitely hit the CAT Scale. Weigh your TV fully loaded for camp (cargo, fuel, full propane, people, WDH - I put the bars in TV bed; it all counts . . .), then weigh your TV with TT and WDH engaged, and finally weigh your TV and TT without WDH engaged. I was shocked to see how it all adds up. We have 1,616 payload on our RAM, and we have maxed it with our Jay Feather set up. The scales are the only way to get it right. There is a link here on the JOF for making sense of your three axle weigh-ins.

In addition to the Sumo Super Springs on the front, I have added them to the rear coils to go along with the Firestone Work-Rite progressive bump stops. I also installed Bilstein shocks. The Ram coils need the extra support under load. The great thing about these upgrades is they do not effect the normal unloaded ride of the RAM. They only engage under load, and it is a ton cheaper and much easier DIY than air bags. I am very happy with them. Keep us posted!

[msb]

Originally Posted by FeatherFam

msb,
I would definitely hit the CAT Scale. Weigh your TV fully loaded for camp (cargo, fuel, full propane, people, WDH - I put the bars in TV bed; it all counts . . .), then weigh your TV with TT and WDH engaged, and finally weigh your TV and TT without WDH engaged. I was shocked to see how it all adds up. We have 1,616 payload on our RAM, and we have maxed it with our Jay Feather set up. The scales are the only way to get it right. There is a link here on the JOF for making sense of your three axle weigh-ins.

In addition to the Sumo Super Springs on the front, I have added them to the rear coils to go along with the Firestone Work-Rite progressive bump stops. I also installed Bilstein shocks. The Ram coils need the extra support under load. The great thing about these upgrades is they do not effect the normal unloaded ride of the RAM. They only engage under load, and it is a ton cheaper and much easier DIY than air bags. I am very happy with them. Keep us posted!

Yeah, need to get to the scales. I'm sure I'm right on the line, which I can live with over owning a 2500 for a daily driver! Will look into some of the suspension mods you mentioned, thanks! Not a fan of air bags, too much hassle, and would like to keep that stock ride in tact as much as possible cuz it's pretty cush! Thanks for the ideas!

[FeatherFam]

The Sumo helpers are easy to install. They contribute about 150-200 lbs. of support. Since I am siting right at my max payload, they do engage and help out. The truck sags and bounces less under load. The front Sumo helpers are the exact same item and they fit and install the same. I put the front on about three years ago; they look good and perform well (hardly any roll or chucking). I paid $128 for the rear set.

I do not really notice much difference with the Bilsteins. I pulled the OE shocks, and remarkably they were still pretty firm (after 75K). I found the Bilsteins for $75/each and decided to go for it. Doing the work myself made it much more economical, and I know that the work was done right. Plus it gave me an opportunity to inspect and clean my chassis and suspension.

I do not have pictures of the Firestone Work Rites. They replace the factory bump stops. They are much beefier and substantial. They engage progressively under load. Even without the Sumo coil helps, I noticed the Work Rites contributions to my loaded travel. I think the combination will keep me out of air bags, as long as we do not get any heavier. With the WDH, the truck is very stable on the road. Of course, we maintain safe towing speeds (55-65mph) and go easy on grades.

[TednWV]

Love it! I have a 2013 RAM 1500 Tradesman, crew cab with the 3.55 gears.

I live in WV and just towed my 2017 28 BHBE to Western PA. With gear in camper, it's 7,000-7500#. Truck bed was level full with firewood.

9.4 MPG! Not bad at all.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Hey Ted, have you hand calculated your mileage? My Ram is pretty consistent at being 1 - 1.3 mpg over hand calculated!

[TednWV]

Originally Posted by LiftedAWDAstro

Hey Ted, have you hand calculated your mileage? My Ram is pretty consistent at being 1 - 1.3 mpg over hand calculated!

Never have yet. I might try it some day.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by LiftedAWDAstro

Hey Ted, have you hand calculated your mileage? My Ram is pretty consistent at being 1 - 1.3 mpg over hand calculated!

Originally Posted by TednWV

Never have yet. I might try it some day.

I've tracked over 30K miles of fuel-ups for my RAM via fuelly.com and find that the EVIC (aka lie-o-meter...) is usually anywhere from .5 to 1.5mpg over what the fuelly.com figure is. Interestingly enough, it seems to be closer to the hand-calc when I'm towing as opposed to unloaded.