Anyone w/Ram Ecodiesels towing a Micro-lite or Mini-lite?

[265bhx]

Friends payload from his ecodiesel
Pulls a 26ft jayco

[OldBob]

Originally Posted by 265bhx

Friends payload from his ecodiesel
Pulls a 26ft jayco

Yup...a tricked out EcoDiesel will be scarce on payload. We bought an EcoDiesel Tradesman, have the options we wanted without all the frills and didn't lose much Payload.

[babock]

Originally Posted by 265bhx

Friends payload from his ecodiesel
Pulls a 26ft jayco

That is scary!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by 265bhx

Friends payload from his ecodiesel
Pulls a 26ft jayco

WOW! 936lbs![emoji32]🤤
Thats terrible for a diesel truck, even for a 1/2 ton.
That's what anyone looking at a Ecodiesel needs to be aware of.
I'm sure that there are a lot of Ecodiesels overloaded on payload.
But they think that, since it has a diesel, they don't have to worry about payload capacity.

[kennyairport]

my payload is 1640ish I will post pic tomorrow..

[265bhx]

Yes his is a fully loaded every bell on ecodiesel. He has towed it quite a few kms and on some pretty mountainous terrain in BC. No issues as of yet and no tuning stock truck . Not my cup of tee but he says he has no issues.

I believe GVW of his trailer is around 7500lbs

[ronheater70]

OP, you need to look up a gentleman on here by the handle VERNDIESEL ( I think)
He has an eco diesel and actually tows for the manufacturers and delivers RVS as his occupation I believe. I think he's pushing over 300K on his now towing 8K and heavier campers with it all over the place. He would be a great source of info for ya.

[campbuzz98]

check out VERN DIESEL on https://www.ram1500diesel.com He does tow new RVs.
My Ecodiesel tows it easily.

[kennyairport]

Ok not 1640ish ... 1545[emoji32]

[babock]

Originally Posted by kennyairport

Ok not 1640ish ... 1545[emoji32]

Or 1535!

[kennyairport]

Originally Posted by babock

Or 1535!

[VernDiesel]

Hello Kbirkenfeld and welcome to FR forums. I transport for Forrest River taking them from the plants to dealerships around the country using a Ram Ecodiesel. Year around all day every day much like a big truck to the tune of 495,000 miles. I've towed your trailer and as big as the Wildcat Maxx with 3 slides as seen in my avatar in my signature and in the pictures folder on this forum.

Also been using the GDE tune with turbo brake since 33k. With tune the truck tows a little better & stronger especially if you use cruise on the interstates. Even picks up a measurable mileage bump. It also keeps your oil noticeably cleaner longer as it turns off EGR so that your engine does not have to re-ingest its own waste. The tunes turbo brake option is very reassuring coming down a long mountain grade with loaded trailer pushing you. Assuming dry roads you can simply either start the turbo brake on the descent by keeping your foot off the throttle or by setting the cruise at the top of a grade and allowing the turbo brake to limit the speed you set on the cruise to about 6k down a 6% grade. Heavier may require occasional partial slide of the factory TBC (trailer brake controller) to help control down hill speed. This is also what you would do if you ever experience trailer sway as the TBC would stop this immediately. Using these feature keeps your truck brakes cool in case you need to make an emergency stop. It also helps them to last much longer. My original brakes lasted 293k and the second aftermarket set 177k. I suggest you research it on GDE's website & or on ram1500diesel.com as GDE has a section there and posts regularly.

Your trailer typically has a dry weight of about 5,200. Batteries propane basic water & supplies typically adds nearly 1,000 pounds. Your ED will tow this safely comfortably and efficiently to 65 mph. Generally I slow to 55 mph when climbing a longer steeper grade. Done right with a WDH (per Ram recommendation) and a CAT scale (three scales in one for steer drive & TT axle weights done at one time. Cost about $12 $2 per additional weigh. Just down load the free app for GPS directions) at the scales you adjust your WDH and loading to set your tongue weight close as you reasonably can to 12% of your gross trailer weight IE 750 pounds. You see this by subtracting the unloaded truck axle weights from the truck with trailer axle weights. Using the number you provided this should leave you about 625 pounds for your wife & whatever supplies you need to carry in/on the truck before hitting its 6,950 GVWR. Other than the hitch weight the other main thing to get from or adjust toward using your scale slips is to generally replace your unloaded steer weight and not exceed max drive axle weight. Once done you have according to Mfgs numbers and from experience a stable from semis etc rig and trailer that turns and stops safely.

Last as some take pride in pointing out the payload sticker number is vitally important, for estimating how many 40 pounds bags of concrete etc you can legally load in the bed of a stock empty plus driver truck. Hope this helps. Post up your experiences in this thread next summer

[MikeRP]

Vern obviously is the most experienced here with regard to this fine trucks capabilities. I had one till recently and I’d say it’s literally the finest truck I’ve ever owned.
My brother had the twin to mine, his the darker red and mine grey. We know the motor is best I can describe is very stout. My brothers trailer was 7500 lbs loaded. We both felt that the truck needed a set of firestone ride rites or similar; a set of stiffer tires over the stock Goodyear’s and a good equalizing hitch.

I personally would not worry about that weight at all. Just don’t exceed your RAWR or your rear combined tire rating.

And I like Vern’s idea a lot on the exhaust brake.

It’s really a very capable truck.

[CaptnJohn]

Although a higher payload with the Ford, about the same experienced with an F150 ecoboost. Pulling 7200#. Less MPG and less cost to purchase and maintain.

[mort]

You get good info from the people before this post. Especially Vern Diesel. I have had great results with my 2016 Ram 1500 Eco diesel with the Sra Goodyears (these tires are designed for great MPG) The hitch named Equal-I-zer brand. It makes my Minilite tow level ALL the time and eliminates all sway in winds. My trailer weighs 5120 lbs and tows like it is not there. Gets 18 MPG towing and 31 1/2 on the highway alone, 28 in town. Now there are lots of problems with all the modern Diesel engines because of the pollution laws making these engines have DPF, EGR and CAT converters. If you can wait till the 2020 Ram Ecodiesel comes out with new better systems and even more HP I feel you would be much better off. Ford and GM have both come out with NEW small 1/2 ton with diesel engines but their even newer than the Ram Ecodiesel and have not had the test of time I require to buy them. What ever you do get the extended warranty unless your a gearhead.

[kbirkenfeld]

Thanks for all the input with the Ecodiesel. I'll be purchasing my GDE tune before their Christmas sale ends!!

[OldBob]

Originally Posted by kbirkenfeld

Thanks for all the input with the Ecodiesel. I'll be purchasing my GDE tune before their Christmas sale ends!!

They gave us a $100 discount for paying cash. We actually stopped by their shop while on vacation some time ago. They'll install it for free and give you the cash discount. Nice. But...be sure to add $50 for the Turbo Brake. It's worth much more than that. It's a safety feature I wouldn't want to be without.