How many of us towing 5W with 1/2 Ton?

[transamz9]

You call a 5.3 with a 3;23 gear , sporty? WOW! Sorry, I just had to ask.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by transamz9

You call a 5.3 with a 3;23 gear , sporty? WOW! Sorry, I just had to ask.

I have the same except it is an 05 and it goes pretty good, can even smoke the tires, but don't anymore. Sure did smoke a bunch of tires in the 50's, 60's and 70's tho'.

[mstell2]

I pull my 2011 Rockwood 8281ss with an 04 dodge ram 1500, with the Hemi and 3.92 rear end. Trailer weighs 8000 unloaded, probably weighs about 9000 loaded. I had to put airbags on, leaf springs were shot. Truck pulls camper well, just have to take it easy. Just take short trips, maybe an hour drive. I am interested in the ecoboost, will wait a few years to see how they hold up.

[boubou]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

When I added the Timbrens, there was about a 1 1/2" gap between timbrens and axle. When the 5er is hooked up and truck loaded, the truck squats about 1 1/2" inch eliminating that gap. Still plenty of clearance for the tires in the wheel wells. The front axle squats about 1/2 ". I know there is a lot of discussion on this forum about weights and limits, but I don't think that the science is that exact that you have to worry about 1" or a few lbs. here or there. All the numbers and lengths are general guidelines with some latitude to play with. If I read this forum too much before I made a camper or truck purchase, I would have shied away and bought myself a smart car with a roll cage. It is important not to overload, but I think more important to drive with due care and caution and to the given road conditions and allow yourself plenty of room. REMEMBER, DRIVE SAFELY, ARRIVE ALIVE.

Do you remember How much sag you got before adding the timbrens? The large 275/65R20 are using up a lot of the wheel well.

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by boubou

Do you remember How much sag you got before adding the timbrens? The large 275/65R20 are using up a lot of the wheel well.

I added the Timbrens before I got the 5er so nothing to compare to. Sorry.

[JFM-jr]

Originally Posted by mstell2

I pull my 2011 Rockwood 8281ss with an 04 dodge ram 1500, with the Hemi and 3.92 rear end. Trailer weighs 8000 unloaded, probably weighs about 9000 loaded. I had to put airbags on, leaf springs were shot. Truck pulls camper well, just have to take it easy. Just take short trips, maybe an hour drive. I am interested in the ecoboost, will wait a few years to see how they hold up.

Wow I have the same exact truck and feel I'm pushing my luck with a 6400 unloaded weight TT. I added airbags and my truck pulls it fine as well I just feel the chassis is being asked a lot of.

[mstell2]

Originally Posted by JFM-jr

Wow I have the same exact truck and feel I'm pushing my luck with a 6400 unloaded weight TT. I added airbags and my truck pulls it fine as well I just feel the chassis is being asked a lot of.

The truck is rated for 8500, so I know I'm over but most people are, even with 3/4 tons. Most trucks are underrated by the manufacturer. You are well within specs with your camper. I grew up driving big equipment on a farm so I pay attention to the truck every time I hook up, and I look over the truck often. After pulling the camper over a year, I don't feel that it is "tearing up" my truck. I always go the speed limit or less and never go over 60. Not that the truck can't handle it, but it burns more fuel and I might have to pass someone doing 70 on interstate, I rather they pass me and I stay in my lane. All the people that say people are crazy and towing too much, please show me info on traffic accidents caused by these overloaded campers. I know there might be some out there, but I have not heard of many.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by mstell2

The truck is rated for 8500, so I know I'm over but most people are, even with 3/4 tons. Most trucks are underrated by the manufacturer. You are well within specs with your camper. I grew up driving big equipment on a farm so I pay attention to the truck every time I hook up, and I look over the truck often. After pulling the camper over a year, I don't feel that it is "tearing up" my truck. I always go the speed limit or less and never go over 60. Not that the truck can't handle it, but it burns more fuel and I might have to pass someone doing 70 on interstate, I rather they pass me and I stay in my lane. All the people that say people are crazy and towing too much, please show me info on traffic accidents caused by these overloaded campers. I know there might be some out there, but I have not heard of many.

AGREE! Well stated my friend.

[JFM-jr]

Originally Posted by mstell2

The truck is rated for 8500, so I know I'm over but most people are, even with 3/4 tons. Most trucks are underrated by the manufacturer. You are well within specs with your camper. I grew up driving big equipment on a farm so I pay attention to the truck every time I hook up, and I look over the truck often. After pulling the camper over a year, I don't feel that it is "tearing up" my truck. I always go the speed limit or less and never go over 60. Not that the truck can't handle it, but it burns more fuel and I might have to pass someone doing 70 on interstate, I rather they pass me and I stay in my lane. All the people that say people are crazy and towing too much, please show me info on traffic accidents caused by these overloaded campers. I know there might be some out there, but I have not heard of many.

Your truck with a factory 20" wheel is rated for 7,600 pounds and has a payload of 1,280 lbs. A factory 17" wheel bumps the tow rating up by 1000K pounds with no other changes. Crazy I know but look up the 2004 model year and you will find this to be true. Most large TT will easily eat close to 60% of our payload in tongue weight alone.

[CamperFan]

Originally Posted by JFM-jr

Your truck with a factory 20" wheel is rated for 7,600 pounds and has a payload of 1,280 lbs. A factory 17" wheel bumps the tow rating up by 1000K pounds with no other changes. Crazy I know but look up the 2004 model year and you will find this to be true. Most large TT will easily eat close to 60% of our payload in tongue weight alone.

Yeah, but the 20's look soooo good! I don't think Chevy lowers their tow rating/payload figures for their 1500's with 20's. Maybe wrong though.

[mstell2]

I got 17 inch rims and 10 ply tires.

[boubou]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

I vote for the Timbrens. Keeps the truck level under load and maintenance free. No compressors. Just install and forget. No noticeable difference in ride when not connected to 5er.

Hitched 5W with Timbrens installed. Much better. Instead of the (gasp!!!!) 4 inch sag I got without them, the truck is down 2 inches on the back. Acceptable?

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by boubou

Hitched 5W with Timbrens installed. Much better. Instead of the (gasp!!!!) 4 inch sag I got without them, the truck is down 2 inches on the back. Acceptable?

Air bags will give you the full 4" back.

[boubou]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

Air bags will give you the full 4" back.

Don't like the maintenance of it so if I can get away with the timbrens it would be better.
2 inch sag too much? I measured from top of rearwell to bottom of wheel before and after. Is that the correct procedure?

[OldCoot]

[QUOTE=boubou;221847]Don't like the maintenance of it so if I can get away with the timbrens it would be better...QUOTE]

Don't know what maintenance there is, have had this set on 3 trucks in 17 yrs and have never done anything but push a button to add air or another button to release air, but, to each his own.

[boubou]

Live in Canada, some winters are harsher than others. Was told that snow and ice can be hard on the air lines... We'll see...

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by boubou

Live in Canada, some winters are harsher than others. Was told that snow and ice can be hard on the air lines... We'll see...

Only if the installer leaves them hanging and the ice/snow hangs on them. Mine are anchored so that can't happen. I raised hell with the installer and he did as I told him. (I was the installer)

[Rugged Brown]

[QUOTE=dunnnc;221849]

Originally Posted by boubou

Don't like the maintenance of it so if I can get away with the timbrens it would be better...QUOTE]

Don't know what maintenance there is, have had this set on 3 trucks in 17 yrs and have never done anything but push a button to add air or another button to release air, but, to each his own.

I read some where on this forum about pin holes. Lines getting kinked and so on. Sounds like maintenance to me. And to have to keep pushing buttons to change air pressure. That's almost as arduous a task as changing TV channels with a remote. Sounds too much like work for me. I like it more simple.

[OldCoot]

[QUOTE=Rugged Brown;221916]

Originally Posted by dunnnc

I read some where on this forum about pin holes. Lines getting kinked and so on. Sounds like maintenance to me. And to have to keep pushing buttons to change air pressure. That's almost as arduous a task as changing TV channels with a remote. Sounds too much like work for me. I like it more simple.

Do you have DW work the remote for you?
Who decides what channel or is that too arduous also.

[boubou]

Originally Posted by boubou

Hitched 5W with Timbrens installed. Much better. Instead of the (gasp!!!!) 4 inch sag I got without them, the truck is down 2 inches on the back. Acceptable?

Measured wrong. Before timbrens, 3.5 inch sag and with timbrens, 1.5 inches