First Tow with new truck

[jerpil55]

i HAVE A 2013 ram 1500 5.7 big horn WITH A 3.55 Rear ratio and just got back from towing my 2008 Jayfeather 25F with it. No issues but I did replace the old WDH system with a newer PRO SERIES sway bar system. The old ball hitch sat to low and the sway bars were the heavy knuckle bars. UGGHHH. Electric Jack also so now it is alot better to hook up and unhitch when we go camping. Plus the RAM did real well towing it. Ran at 2500RPMS most of the time with the Hemi RPMs going up to 3500 on some of the steeper grades. I live in Iowa so there are not alot of really steep mountain grades around where I live. One question though speaking about steeper grades, if we decide to go out west where it is hilly and there are some steeper grades,will the 5.7 Hemi do the job or will it bog down more? The Jay Feather is over 5,200 lbs loaded.

[BCK]

My last setup was a 2006 ram 1500 with the hemi and a 6500lb trailer. I pulled it many thousands of miles through the mountains and passes in BC, the AB Rockies and WA with no problem at all.

It will pull your unit with no issues at all. You will even be able to pass cars going up steep grades if you don't mind the fuel bill.

[Nukeneck]

That hemi will work just fine with that sized trailer

[popjim52]

Guts and Glory....

[cekkk]

Your Ram should pull that load without a problem even with the reduced power you'd have available in the mountains. Here in our county you'd be running at roughly 21 to 24% less power than you have in Iowa, where elevation is about a thousand feet. So don't think of it as bogging down, it's just going to be working harder. No need to push it.

It's so nice to have someone with plenty of truck asking the question. Still don't forget to check the load you will carry inside the truck, that is another important factor.

And if you come to Colorado, or any mountain state, remember to use your truck's gears and exhaust brake, if equipped, on downgrades. The less you use your brakes, the more effective they will be should you really need them. Be sure your brake controller is set properly with your truck loaded as you expect it to be.

Did you get your Jayco in Davenport? We did.

[ALJO]

My 2014 Ram 1500 5.7L 4x4 3.92 rear has no problems pulling the 6500 lbs. Jay Feather (30.8 ft.) in the mountains of BC. It usual runs at 1900 RPM's unless it shift in to next gear regular then I will put it in Tow/Haul mode. Like in hilly terrain and head winds.
The TT has 14" tires and truck 17"

[jerpil55]

Thanks fro the advice. We got our Jayco up here in Cresco which is about 40 miles or so east of Osage Iowa which is where we live. The west is where I would like to travel to later on when I get more experience towing. I've been to Colorado, been to Denver and Colorado Springs before I was married. I loved the mountains out there. I even passed another car when I was coming back from the dealer the other day. I'm not afraid to use the power of the Hemi. That is one of the reasons I bought it. When I took it out of storage, the storage owner took it out for me and he had a F150. He said it bogged his truck down but not the RAM.

[jerpil55]

I have the 8 speed trans and just used the tow/haul mode. I didn't think I needed to use any other gear. I have the factory installed electric brake control system and I had it set to 3.5 gain. Does that sound like a normal mode for flat mildly hilly terrain with your experience? Thanks for the reply.

[cekkk]

Originally Posted by jerpil55

I have the 8 speed trans and just used the tow/haul mode. I didn't think I needed to use any other gear. I have the factory installed electric brake control system and I had it set to 3.5 gain. Does that sound like a normal mode for flat mildly hilly terrain with your experience? Thanks for the reply.

The setting is weight dependent. The owner's manual should tell you the procedure.