Moving to 2500.....My Experience

[BKBuilds]

I have yet to pull the 368RLBHK... it was delivered and will be seasonal until 2017.

My old unit was a 36' and loaded was around 13,500lbs. I would get 7-8mpg (I think). Its been a couple years since I towed it so I could be off on that.

The 368 will be around the same weight since its an Ultra light.

[lilrube]

Thanks BKBUILDS
I,m doing ok then. My Chevy pulled great from chicago to Ny and am looking forward to many years of full timing. The weather is now pulling me south. No more cold for us.
Good luck on your new Salem and Happy Traveling

[BKBuilds]

You are!, Keep on truckin man.

Safe travels!

[billb800si]

Here's my take. Take it or leave it.
Had a 2007 and a 2010 2500 Cummins 3/4 ton. Pulled fantastic. Used a 1400# Equalizer on both trailers- I had (32 foot & 33 foot).

Now have a 2015 1/2 ton with the 5.7 Hemi pulling a 2016 Windjammer 3029W with the 1400# Equalizer. This pickup came with the Class 4 trailer pkg- electronic sway control and trailer brake pkg. Can't go over 60 without white knuckling it. On the interstates flat land I can use the cruise (with tow-haul on) at 60 MPH pretty comfortably but if the wind kicks up I'm back down to 55.

My mileage is 11.5 hauling- so no complaints there. With the Cummins I always got 10.

Next truck will be a 3/4 TON FOR SURE!!!!

Happy trails,

[Hawk777]

Hey all, just got a Ram ED 1500. Anybody knows how it tows compared to the others mentioned here? I saw no mention of a 1/2 ton diesel...

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by ryand

You are correct for both your assumptions!

Nice choice. I like the black top addition and the 6.4. I almost had one but dealer dropped the ball so Chevy got my nod. Later RJD

[EdJunior]

It's not just the diesel we're talking about. We're talking about the entire truck. The diesel, and I assume even the ED (I have no experience with that engine), gives you more torque for pulling, but the rest of the truck is really what we're talking about. The frame, the axles, the brakes, everything is built heavier and sturdier. This makes the towing experience as a whole much better. It's not all about the power to pull.

[drittal]

I believe the eco diesel is good for up to around 8k depending on options

[prestonj12]

I pull a toy hauler weighing around 9000 lbs loaded with a 2008 Duramax and get 11-12 mpg on average. Pulling on the flat as well as in the hills. And I'm in Idaho where we have grades up to 13% in some places. Normal weekend pull will have an7% grade mixed in for part of the trip.


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[lynn brownlee]

I pulled my 10,000 lbs travel trailer all over yellow stone and the Grand Canyon, with a Toyota Tundra, thought I was doing great, until I got a bigger truck, (ram 3500 dually 4x4) I, same as most people on this board think they are safe and that their truck is getting the job done, just because they didn't kill nobody and they got back home. I see people on the road pulling way to much camper with way to little truck, way to often. I was one of the biggest defenders of 1/2 ton towables. Truth is, unless your towing a pop up or a hybrid / no 1/2 ton truck can handle 30' campers, Any thing over 25' or 5,000 lbs needs to be towed with a 3/4 ton or bigger. I also tow light construction equipment, so I went as big as I could afford. Happy camping, glad you got enough truck, takes all the stress out of the trip.

[SimchaSabre]

I have no comparison data as my current 2500 Ram is the only truck I've ever towed with. But when we were truck shopping and being very much a truck newbie, the service mgr took me into the shop and showed me the bottom view of a 1500 vs a 2500.

Bottom line is every thing in the HD model was in fact HD. Bigger drive shaft, bigger rear end, bigger wheels and breaks etc. Being able to tow is one thing, being able to stop in another

[Brewhedd]

No doubt a 3/4 ton truck has much more capability. I tow a 2702 Rockwood (28' box, 32' overall, 5500 lbs dry) with a 1/2 ton Silverado. It does the job fine. What I don't get is how a 3/4 ton will stop travel trailer sway, as some have posted. The trailer is where 90% of the sway comes from. Without an Equalizer hitch I have serious problems, it makes all the difference in the world. I have no problem stopping either as the trailer has 4 wheel brakes.

[ryand]

I don't think that a 3/4 ton stops trailer sway because any trailer regardless of size can have issues depending on a number of factors, I think that a heavier truck "handles" the trailer better and can counter the effects of trailer sway more effectively than a 1/2 ton.
Many people have 1500 series rig they are happy to drive coast to coast. I did it for 5 years without incident too. It was not until our 1800 mile trip this year that I took a serious look at upgrading.


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[riznfall]

Originally Posted by BKBuilds

I have yet to pull the 368RLBHK... it was delivered and will be seasonal until 2017.

My old unit was a 36' and loaded was around 13,500lbs. I would get 7-8mpg (I think). Its been a couple years since I towed it so I could be off on that.

The 368 will be around the same weight since its an Ultra light.

Is this the Heritage Glen? My in laws just bought one in Bedford same model number. Will be up there in a couple of weeks to check it out for the weekend.

As far as trucks and towing go. I originally started towing my Old TT (~8000) with a 2005 Ram 1500. It always had plenty of power to move forward. My experience was similar to yours. Kind of always felt like the camper was in control. When I finally decided that it was time for a new upgraded truck. Just began a trip to the OBX. As I was pulling up to an intersection and could really feel how overloaded I was as the trailer pushed me through the intersection. (Later found out my brake controller quit working). That was when I said I will buy the biggest most capable truck I could afford. You can't beat the power and stability of a 1-ton dually diesel. Soon after buying that truck, we went out and bought our first fifth wheel. After dragging that around with my 2012 for a year. My DW gave me the green light to go buy a new truck. I have stayed with the 1-ton dually but also made sure I got the max tow capacity that I could. Aisin trans, the factory airbag suspension, and of course all the cummins power needed. World of difference I truly feel that I'm in control. Main point is. Buy the most capable truck you can afford and stay within its proper specs.


Tim
2015 Ram 3500 Laramie CCLB dually
2015 39R12 Vengeance touring edition

[BKBuilds]

It's the same floor plan but ours is the Salem Hemisphere version though. I think the Heritage Glen might be nicer fit and finish?

[riznfall]

Cool. Yea I thought I have seen the same model number with a different brand. Are you happy with it so far.


Tim
2015 Ram 3500 Laramie CCLB dually
2015 39R12 Vengeance touring edition

[ChooChooMan74]

Originally Posted by Hawk777

Hey all, just got a Ram ED 1500. Anybody knows how it tows compared to the others mentioned here? I saw no mention of a 1/2 ton diesel...

Come on over to RAM 1500 Diesel Forum if you are not already there.

Biggest problem with the ED, like many 150/1500 series trucks is the payload. There are some guys who adhere 100% to the payload numbers. Then, there are guys like me, who as long as you are conscience of what you're limitations are, is ok to go over by a bit. The Ram has a lot of wiggle room when it comes to axle ratings.

Then again, I am kinda old school. I use to tow a 42' race car trailer on the Busch North Circuit with a 10,000 GVW 91 F350 DRW. We all did back in the 90s.

[BKBuilds]

We've only spent one night in it so far and that was mostly spent putting stuff away. But it was nice for that night Ask again after next weekend We were looking for: half tub for the boy (check), outdoor beer fri... I mean outdoor kitchen (check), king bed (check), and an open floor plan with comfortable seating / viewing of the TV (check)... It really is everything we were looking for.

It was one of the first units we saw at the Hershey RV show... Best line of the show my wife says to the salesman "I'm not buying the first thing I see" /eyeroll

[riznfall]

Yea definitely a nice layout.


Tim
2015 Ram 3500 Laramie CCLB dually
2015 39R12 Vengeance touring edition.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by billb800si

Here's my take. Take it or leave it.
Had a 2007 and a 2010 2500 Cummins 3/4 ton. Pulled fantastic. Used a 1400# Equalizer on both trailers- I had (32 foot & 33 foot).

Now have a 2015 1/2 ton with the 5.7 Hemi pulling a 2016 Windjammer 3029W with the 1400# Equalizer. This pickup came with the Class 4 trailer pkg- electronic sway control and trailer brake pkg. Can't go over 60 without white knuckling it. On the interstates flat land I can use the cruise (with tow-haul on) at 60 MPH pretty comfortably but if the wind kicks up I'm back down to 55.

My mileage is 11.5 hauling- so no complaints there. With the Cummins I always got 10.

Next truck will be a 3/4 TON FOR SURE!!!!

Happy trails,

I think a lot has to do with stiffer suspension and the a 3/4 ton truck just weights a lot more than 1/2 ton truck. My 2500HD diesel weight 7900 lbs and 1 ton diesel weights 8200 lbs ready to go camping. I have never weight 1/2 ton but Ford website clocks 2015 in at about 4500 lbs so maybe 5500 ready to go camping.