Towing Capability Question?

[Rice²]

I am probably being a little paranoid, but I just purchased a Flagstaff 26DS and plan on towing it with my Dodge 1500 short bed. It's a 4x4 with the 5.7 Hemi and a 3.55 axle ratio. The TT dry weight is a little over 4500 and I can't find the hitch weight anywhere. I was trying to avoid biting the bullet on the WD hitch right away and was just going to try it with the sway control bars. Any thoughts, concerns, or advice?

[grhodes50]

Tongue weight on a TT usually falls between 10 & 15% of the loaded TT weight. You can estimate an additional 1,000 to 1,200 lbs to the dry weight of the TT when loaded for camping, making your loaded TT weight 5,500 to 5,700 and your tongue weight 550 + lbs.
A wd hitch is required on any TT 5,000 lbs or more. As recommended on this forum many times, a wd hitch with built in sway control such as the Reese Dual Cam or the Equal-I-zer.

You'll also need a brake controller. The Prodigy has been recommended on the forum many times as well.

Hope this helps.

[kvtaylor]

You should be alright with the engine and rear end that you have in your Truck. But I would invest in a equalizer hitch such as a Reese. It will eleminate a lot of the sway and level off your truck with the TT. We towed several trailers with such a truck. Where you might see down shifting is in the hills with that engine. The rear end gear ratio that you have was designed for economy. If the truck sets down too much after hooking it up and before adjusting the equalizer bars, you might consider air bags to raise the truck bed. the truck will ride better.

[Rice²]

Thanks for the advice. That was the answer I expected to get and the one my wallet was fearing. But hey, safety is priceless. Just gonna suck it up and pick one up. The peace of mind will be worth it.

[chevy02]

You wont regret it Towing with be much more relaxing with the right set up

[jasoncw]

Once you start towing with the Ram, you may even want to invest more money in gears, preferrably 4.10's (I am running 4.56's, but with a larger TT).

[buccello]

Check Ebay, Backpage or Craigslist. I've seen used one there reasonable. I would not tow without them. Just my 2 cents.

[Rice²]

You guys have had a ton of advice and I truly appreciate it. I thought my question may sound a touch ridiculous and very "newbie-esque" But with the DW on board I definitely want to arrive on site safely and with as few problems as possible.

[MightyMike]

Originally Posted by jasoncw

Once you start towing with the Ram, you may even want to invest more money in gears, preferrably 4.10's (I am running 4.56's, but with a larger TT).

That's gonna get a little pricey, as he states he has a 4x4. If you start messin with the gears, you gotta change both ends of the truck. I can't figure out why the mfgs. keep dropping the gear ratios in the new tow packages. Used to be able to get 3:73 as an option for towing. Now they're going to 3:55 and 3:31. Just doesn't make sense to me. Never towed with anything less than 3:73's, so I don't know how they are.

[Rice²]

Bought the WD hitch and the sway bar yesterday to drag the trailer home. And I do mean drag. Flash flooding in houston yesterday and I thought we were going to float off. Couldn't get an accurate picture on the towing capabilities at 25 miles an hour, in traffic, and in a flood. Let ya know soon.

Mightymike: As far as the gears go I am waiting on a build sheet from dodge. Someone at the dealership told me yesterday that 2007 was a split year for the gear ratios and I could possibly have a 3.73. So I called dodge, gave them my vin number, and they mailed me a build sheet. Still don't have it, but waiting anxously.

[jasoncw]

3.73's only came in MegaCabs and 3/4 ton and larger trucks. The other 1500s had a choice of 3.55's or 3.92's.