Towing with 2009 Dodge Ram

[Pandoras]

Need info from 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 owners or experienced towers. We have traded our 2011 Rockwood 2608S (long story -LEMON!!) on a 2012 Rockwood Windjammer 3065W. We had no tow problems with our first TT and are wondering if we need to consider a different truck for towing this new trailer. The truck is a 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 with a 5.7 liter hemi, 3.92 axle ratio, towing package. We are using a class 4 hitch and sway bars. New to RV's and don't know whether to believe the TT dealer and the auto dealer who both say it is fine. We've had the TT for only 4 months and been out on only a few short, weekend trips and all "seems" fine. Thanks for any senior members suggestions or info.

[cebaker]

I tow with a 07 dodge ram 1500 5.7 hemi. Vcross32vbhs. I've been towing with it for about a year. I live in NC. And I've been to the mountains and to the beach several times. I haven't had any trouble yet. Tows very well.you shouldn't have any problems. Sometimes I will catch myself running 65 mph on the highway.

[Rugged Brown]

I tow a fifth wheel, 7800lbs dry weight with a 2010 Dodge 1500 configured the same as yours. I'm pushing the limits but so far, no issues. Pulls fiver great, no sway, minimal chocking, decent mileage. I could use a bigger truck, but the 1/2 ton fits my lifestyle fine.

[dretired]

How much more..if any( weight) is this newer Trailer ? Are you going to be loading more in this one ?? What does Dodge say your towing capacities / capabilities are ??

[Stevea1956]

Pandoras, As dretired stated, check your truck's capacities to verify it will handle the load.
That being said, I have the same model trailer as you and tow it with a 2010 Ram 1500 with pretty much the same setup as you. So far so good.
We are currently traveling full time and have pulled the 3065W over 2000 miles since September 1st without a problem.
We weren't planning on getting a travel trailer when I bought the truck but if I had, I'd have gone with a 3/4 or 1 ton Dodge.
I did order a set of Air-Lift air bags to add a little extra support to the rear. Mostly a peace of mind move on my part.
I think they rated my truck's towing capacity a little higher than yours but it's just a numbers game. They didn't change anything mechanical on the 2010 over 2009 model.

[Pandoras]

If I understood all that numbers game, it would probably make more sense. From what I have been able to determine from the Dodge Ram Owners Manual, on line Dodge sites, Forest River sites, and the info in the forest River book and on the TT itself the #'s are:

2009 Dodge Ram 1500

GVWR 6700 LBS.
Payload 1,570
GAWR 13,000
Max Trailer 7,100


TT

Dry Weight 6,744
GVWR 8,760


Traveling with myself (165 lbs) partner (190 lbs) 2 dogs (25 and 45) and our "stuff"......I couldn't even guess ( but we don't travel with any fresh water, grey water or black.

???

[dretired]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

I tow a fifth wheel, 7800lbs dry weight with a 2010 Dodge 1500 configured the same as yours. I'm pushing the limits but so far, no issues. Pulls fiver great, no sway, minimal chocking, decent mileage. I could use a bigger truck, but the 1/2 ton fits my lifestyle fine.

Hi.. Just curious .. Have you towed your 5ver over BIG hills or Mountains ?

[Pandoras]

No, not really - mostly interstate driving.

[Pandoras]

We as Stevea1956 didn't plan to buy an RV AT ALL when we bought the truck. We hadn't had the Rockwood 2608S even a year and had lots of problems beginning immediately after delivery. We nearly quit then, but love the outdoors, being able to travel with our dogs, hiking, biking, etc. We had a Harley Davidson prior to the RV, btu too many people that we knew were getting injured or killed on bikes, so we sold it and decided to take up RVing. Both of us our within 7/8 years of retirement and would really like to take some 8 to 10 week trips at that point. My partner drives a big truck (not 18 wheeler) and has her CDL now, so is used to driving trucks. I'm the accounting/business/fianance person so I guess you could say I am the worry wart that wants everything to be CORRECT and as it should be.

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by dretired

Hi.. Just curious .. Have you towed your 5ver over BIG hills or Mountains ?

They're big to me.

[dretired]

Pandoras... Nothing wrong with wanting things to be right.. to be cautious, careful, and doing things the right way the first time will hopefully save you from some future headaches.. asking questions will get you educated.. Hope you get your answers here !!

[dretired]

Originally Posted by Rugged Brown

They're big to me.

BIG ..big or ????

[Danimal]

i have the same truck set up but a 2005 and i am towing a 30' 5th wheel
and pushing the limits of the truck and i have thought about getting a new truck but mine is like new 37,000 miles runs great and it does a great job of towing my rig and i am getting 9 mpg so i guess keep it for a while
my plan is when things start going wrong with it i will trade it in for 3500 diesel

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by dretired

BIG ..big or ????

I haven't tested it on any mountain roads, mostly rolling hills in Atlantic Canada. I did drive to New Hampshire in August, but didn't experience any mountains. I don't have to travel mountains, so not an issue I guess.

[Malco]

Don,t know the weight or your trailer,but we are towing a 2011 Salem with a dry weight of about 6800 lbs and hitch weight of around 1000 lbs with the same truck as you.No problems yet and can keep up with my brother in laws duramax,even on the hills.

[david-o]

Originally Posted by Pandoras

If I understood all that numbers game, it would probably make more sense. From what I have been able to determine from the Dodge Ram Owners Manual, on line Dodge sites, Forest River sites, and the info in the forest River book and on the TT itself the #'s are:

2009 Dodge Ram 1500

GVWR 6700 LBS.
Payload 1,570
GAWR 13,000
Max Trailer 7,100

TT

Dry Weight 6,744
GVWR 8,760

Traveling with myself (165 lbs) partner (190 lbs) 2 dogs (25 and 45) and our "stuff"......I couldn't even guess ( but we don't travel with any fresh water, grey water or black.

???

Pandoras,

The best source for Dodge Ram weight ratings, payloads and towing capacities is: http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/year.pdf. It may take a few minutes for the PDF file to download.

While researching specs for my 2009 Dodge 1500, I found a news article on pickuptrucks.com that quoted a Dodge spokesman: "For 2010, engineers determined the Dodge Ram was capable of towing much more than previously tested. Subsequently, the tow ratings were reassessed and the 2010 Dodge Ram increased its GCWR by 1,500 pounds without any component or calibration changes to the vehicle."

So I sent an email to the Dodge Truck Bodybuilders Support Group asking about the article as it relates to my 2009. They replied: "The 2010 tow ratings can apply to your 2009 vehicle. More extensive testing determined that the 2009 truck could handle the higher trailer load. It is the same truck as the 2010."

So when you open the PDF file, you can use 2010 specs for your 2009 truck. I thinks you'll be a little happier with the numbers.

[paladinds1961]

Well according to the specs on your truck it can tow up to 9100 lbs, the trailer dry weight is 6744 lbs, so add the weight of your gear for the total and if it under the 9100 you should be ok. Does the truck have the transmission cooler on it? If you get a 3/4 ton you should be able to tow up to 15000lbs. Last camping trip I met someone towing with a 1 ton dodge desiel and he said he got 16 mpg topwing, my7 ford f150 gets like 11mpg, father in law dodge 1500 5.7v8 hemi gets like 10 mpg. My thoughts are get a truck that puts what you tow in about the middle of the range and you wont have a problem towing it

[kandl]

Pandoras,

Not a senior mbr (yet) but pulled the TT detailed below over 5K km since May with a Dodge same vintage as yours (3.92 gears too). TT weight was upwards of 7200 lbs with an associated hitch weight of ~ 800 lbs. Our travels included some of gnarliest climbs that BC has to offer (Coquihalla Pass, Crowsnest). The truck did fine. However...

We're at, and on occasion, over the GVWR for the TV and that's based on the numbers that david-o pointed to in the body builder guide. Chrysler did indeed re-examine the towing capability for the 2010 Rams and they picked up ~2500 lbs over the 2009 model. Nevertheless, and more importantly, your new TT will push the limits of your GVWR and that's something that did not change from 2009 to 2010 when Chrysler reassessed the tow capacity. Your 09 Ram has a 6700 lb GVWR so I know you have a Quad Cab - the Crew's GVWR is 6800 lbs. The GAWR (axles) for QC and CC 1500 is 3900 lbs for the front/rear respectively and we've been under in all tow scenarios and that's the number I'd be keen to keep in check.

We looked at a 3008 Windjammer (weighs in just a wee bit less than the 3065W) when we purchased the current TT and were severely tempted. At the end of the day though we decided that it was just too much RV for the Ram. That said, I'm sincerely curious as to just how well your Dodge holds up towing a TT that we originally maintained was too much.

All the best

[Labzy]

We have a 2010 Ram 1500, and the numbers from the Body Builder website are not based on all the options you have on your truck ( bedliner, tonneau cover, step rails).

I find that there is a -150lb difference in payload from the BB site VS what is on our door sticker, so keep that in mind when you make your calculations.

[Triguy]

Pandoras,

You really need to run these numbers through a decent towing calculator. The above experiences do not necessarily reflect your situation well enough for you to assume that the truck is good for this trailer.

Although other people's experiences with the truck may be helpful in a general way, these stories do not replace a full understanding of the interaction of your truck's capacity ratings, your personal situation (cargo weights in TV and TT and where you tow), and your trailer's real (not dry) weight.

I recommend this calculator. Go through that and please post your results.