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Old 04-09-2014, 11:12 AM   #21
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Originally Posted by OldCoot View Post
. You don't have to run the speed limit in the mountains or hills, the semi's sure don't.
the semi`s are pulling up the hill 60k plus , and who wants to run 45mph up hill in a 70 limit, I don't tow faster then 65 but I can take any hill with the trailer and still do at least 65. you are comfortable, but the Op might not be..
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Old 04-09-2014, 11:13 AM   #22
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They say I can't tow a Flagstaff 8528RKWS with my 1/2 T & 3.23 gears, but I have and do with no problems. Have air bags and LR E tires. Don't win drag races, but I can tow at 60-65 with no problem. In the Smokeys, Appalachians and Ozark mountains, I just get over in the truck lane and go with the flow. You don't have to run the speed limit in the mountains or hills, the semi's sure don't.

Will it load your truck, you betcha, will it tear your truck up, very doubtful. I've towed over 60,000 miles with mine and never had a problem.
The thing is, you're not necessarily talking apples to apples in comparing your setup to the OPs. In your case, your dry pin weight is ~1,000 pounds per the specs and I assume is less than your available payload. The OP's dry pin weight is ~1,300 pounds and is already over the truck's available payload.

As well, the OP mentioned carrying 3 dogs (bulldogs which Google says average 50 pounds each) and a big dog snack (morkie which seem to be 5-10 pounds).

To each his own- I won't say not to do it; I will say I can't imagine me getting into a setup where the dry pin weight exceeds the lawyer sticker's available payload.
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Old 04-09-2014, 11:16 AM   #23
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the semi`s are pulling up the hill 60k plus , and who wants to run 45mph up hill in a 70 limit, I don't tow faster then 65 but I can take any hill with the trailer and still do at least 65. you are comfortable, but the Op might not be..
Being retired, I am also not in a race or a hurry. I could also downshift and stay at 60, or spend $40,000 for a new bigger truck, but choose not to. To each his own.
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Old 04-09-2014, 11:32 AM   #24
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have to say I dont agree with the statement he wont like the 3.55's. I tow 6k in 3rd gear at 2300 rpm with my hemi thats in high wind. i get it into 4th at 1900 rpm on a good day. this is with the 545rfe tranny. his 8 speed will put him in an optimal gear all the time. I think there is to much emphasis on dif gear ratios and not what the tranny is doing.

that truck will pull a tt with no problems!

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I hate being a downer for you but I am with Dave on this!

you figure at least the 250 pounds for the hitch itself in the bed of the truck. Then another 200 pounds per passenger. Assume you have 3 other passengers at another 600 pounds. Right there you would be 850 pounds of your 1100 pound pay load... just not a wise way to go...

Another thing, you wont like the 3.55 gearing for towing anything! I would also assume the 8 speed trans would be awfully busy shifting up and down while towing, also not smart, as shifting creates heat...

So like I said, hate to be a downer, but a heavier duty truck is almost a must for you...
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Old 04-09-2014, 11:38 AM   #25
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(Since everyone is steering your towards a TT)

A TT is really quite nice to pull, especially with all the awesome WD and Sway Control devices out there. The expensive 5er hitch and air bags you won't need to buy will allow you to buy a really nice hitch setup for your TT.
That's great to hear about the WDH and SCD! We are going to hit a couple other RV dealerships today and see what else is out there in regards to TT's.



Would it be worth while to look at changing my gears in the current truck from the 3.55's to the 3.92's? I know it wouldn't be cheap to do, but it would give me a little over 10,000 lbs towing vs the 8,600 on the current set up.

The 8 speed tranny is a thing of beauty and I really hate to have to give that feature of the 1500 up. Like I mentioned before, it seems like it is always in the power band and it accelerates on a dime. Granted it's not pulling anything right now.
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Old 04-09-2014, 11:41 AM   #26
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have to say I dont agree with the statement he wont like the 3.55's. I tow 6k in 3rd gear at 2300 rpm with my hemi thats in high wind. i get it into 4th at 1900 rpm on a good day. this is with the 545rfe tranny. his 8 speed will put him in an optimal gear all the time. I think there is to much emphasis on dif gear ratios and not what the tranny is doing...
Agree, don't know why folks evidently don't realize that's why they have several different gears in the transmission just for that purpose plus they are automatic.
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Old 04-09-2014, 12:00 PM   #27
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I'm pulling a TT, not a 5th, with my 1500 and I can tell you there's a world of difference being within or over payload. The TT pulls like a dream when I'm alone, but add the 435 extra lbs of DW, DD, DS, Dog1, Dog2 (plus stuff) and it's a whole different driving experience.

I'd recommend looking at the rambodybuilder (http://www.rambodybuilder.com/year.pdf) to see if there's anything you can do to your rig to increase payload. Then use ependydad's calculator's (Learn To RV: What Can I Tow?) to get a realistic idea of what you're capable of towing. Then go look at floor plans armed with that.

Do you have to be exact? Nope, as I said, I'm over when loaded with family and under without, but I'm at least relatively within a comfortable range.

Edit: Ok, I just looked up the floorplan you liked. It looks like you can get an almost identical floorplan in Rockwood's TT line:

http://www.forestriverinc.com/Travel...VType=trailers

But you'll still be around total weight which might be heavy. Stepping down to Rockwood's ultralight you can get a very similar, but smaller floorplan:

http://www.forestriverinc.com/Travel...VType=trailers
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Old 04-09-2014, 12:20 PM   #28
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Now having said that there are some 8289 owners on this forum that are towing with Ford Ecoboost 1/2 tons...but they will tell you that their trucks were special order Heavy Duty Tow package 1/2's that have increased tow capacity, improved suspension, increased payload and likely a 4.10 rear end ratio...so like I say, do your research...
Be careful not to confuse Max Tow with Heavy Duty Payload. HD payload is almost a requirement for any kind of 5'er with the "1/2 ton" Ford. Payload is almost always the limitation.

With a payload of 1,100, you should be looking at a tongue weight of around 700 pounds (wet not dry). Then you'll have a little wiggle room for wife, dogs, WD hitch, some goodies in the bed of the truck.
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Old 04-09-2014, 12:21 PM   #29
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5er's tow so much easier than tt it is like night and day. Would never go back to a tt although there are many that are just beautiful and suit other people's needs just fine. JMO.
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Old 04-09-2014, 12:22 PM   #30
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That's great to hear about the WDH and SCD! We are going to hit a couple other RV dealerships today and see what else is out there in regards to TT's.



Would it be worth while to look at changing my gears in the current truck from the 3.55's to the 3.92's? I know it wouldn't be cheap to do, but it would give me a little over 10,000 lbs towing vs the 8,600 on the current set up.

The 8 speed tranny is a thing of beauty and I really hate to have to give that feature of the 1500 up. Like I mentioned before, it seems like it is always in the power band and it accelerates on a dime. Granted it's not pulling anything right now.
If you change your gears you will have to change both the front and rear differential.
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Old 04-09-2014, 12:38 PM   #31
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Awesome guys. Thanks so much for the informative replies. Not the answers I was hoping for, but I had a feeling these salespeople were clueless. That's exactly why I decided to post here where the real professionals could tell me what my truck could and couldn't handle.


So, if I stepped up to the Ram 2500, would the 3/4 ton truck handle the Rockwood 8289WS?


Thanks so much for the info!
Welcome to the Forums Crow!

X2 what everyone else said. A standard 1/2 ton truck can't tow virtually all 5th wheels (maybe 1 or 2 of the really small ones)

I can't speak for your Ram, but I know that in order to tow our 8289 we had to custom order our F150 from the factory with every towing/heavy duty option on it. As it sits, our beast is rated for 11,800.

So yeah, you can tow these ultralights with a 1/2 ton...but the way you have to mod the 1/2 ton out it is really a 3/4 ton in everything but name (and frame )

So, to answer your question, you betcha! Upgrade to a 2500 and - with the right differential & tow package on it, you could probably pull a 5er even larger than the 8289WS
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Old 04-09-2014, 12:47 PM   #32
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Agree, don't know why folks evidently don't realize that's why they have several different gears in the transmission just for that purpose plus they are automatic.


I do realize there are several different gears and I fully understand the transmission is going to find its optimal choice. If you read my whole paragraph and not just pick parts to dog on then you would have caught that I mentioned an 8 speed with 3.55 is going to be busy hunting gears. The trans shifting and hunting for gears isn't going to be an issue per say but I wouldn't like it. I'm not a huge fan of the 6 speeds, but it makes sense to have them to give you a wider range of overall gear ratios to the ground.

Like i stated before every time a transmission shifts it is inherit that the trans is going to be applying and disengaging clutches which produces heat... thus each shift is creating more and more heat within... not necessarily an issue, but it may quickly become one...
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Old 04-09-2014, 12:56 PM   #33
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...Like i stated before every time a transmission shifts it is inherit that the trans is going to be applying and disengaging clutches which produces heat... thus each shift is creating more and more heat within... not necessarily an issue, but it may quickly become one...
Assuming he has a trans cooler, I don't think that would be an issue. Mine has a 4 speed and so far, (knock on wood) haven't had a problem. I do use Mobil 1 synthetic in the tranny and rear end.
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Old 04-09-2014, 01:22 PM   #34
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If you change your gears you will have to change both the front and rear differential.
And get the computer reflashed to match, it's more than correcting the speedometer, it corrects shift points, engine load calculations, etc. Honestly it's a real pain to change gear ratios today.
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Old 04-09-2014, 01:29 PM   #35
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That's great to hear about the WDH and SCD! We are going to hit a couple other RV dealerships today and see what else is out there in regards to TT's.



Would it be worth while to look at changing my gears in the current truck from the 3.55's to the 3.92's? I know it wouldn't be cheap to do, but it would give me a little over 10,000 lbs towing vs the 8,600 on the current set up.

The 8 speed tranny is a thing of beauty and I really hate to have to give that feature of the 1500 up. Like I mentioned before, it seems like it is always in the power band and it accelerates on a dime. Granted it's not pulling anything right now.
Changing gear ratio won't do anything to your payload rating which is your weak link. There are many TT's in the 7000-7500lb. range that are roomy and have lots of amenities.

I personally wouldn't go past the 7500lb. TT to use with any 1/2 ton but that's just me. Your mileage may vary.

Good luck with the search.
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Old 04-09-2014, 02:01 PM   #36
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Being retired, I am also not in a race or a hurry. I could also downshift and stay at 60, or spend $40,000 for a new bigger truck, but choose not to. To each his own.
I agree with OC.

I don't want to start a flame war with whose truck is "MoPowerful," but with our EcoBoost, I can pull our 5er up a 6% at 70 - if I wanted to. Why don't I?

Remember the gas consumption vs speed discussion we had a week or so ago

There's your answer...today on NPR they reported that the national average today is $3.61...
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Old 04-09-2014, 03:04 PM   #37
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If I may offer a suggestion.

Go pick out what ever 3/4 truck you want and get a price for it, then get a price for a 1 ton.

The 1 ton will give you the option of getting a bigger trailer without the cost of a new bigger TV again.

Anyway good luck with the hunt and welcome to the forums.
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Old 04-09-2014, 03:34 PM   #38
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Sure easy to spend someone else's money. Just like the folks in Washington, DC.
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