Who tows with a ram 1500 and what are you towing

[EODtruck]

I have a 2011 Ram Laramie Crew Cab, 4x4, 3.92, Hemi. The build sheet "says" HD tow package, with built in trailer brake. I have a Resse WDH with a dual cam sway. I tow a 2012 Coachmen Catalina Deluxe 28DDS. Dry weight on the website says 6049lbs. The dry weight on the sticker on the trailer says 6248lbs. I like to add more weight to be conservitive, plus with all of our gear and family, I would say approx around 7100lbs. I think that sounds about right, 900lbs worth of gear and my family of 4. Tanks empty.

The truck tows nice, with lots of power, a WDH is a must and pretty much levels the truck. The only complaint I have is the fuel economy. It is decent if I keep it around 100kmh (60mph). I think the key to the milage is to let your spend drop going up hills and not to try and maintain your speed the whole way. The Coachmen Catalina Deluxe is also a really high trailer its about a foot, foot and a half taller than most TTs.

[Mike101]

Pulling a Rockwood 8280ws with an '08 1500 Megacab. Pull in Tow mode the whole time and never an issue. Pulls great. Unlike Jodyand's pic that reads 1500 on the door, mine came with no 1500 Badge anywhere. Just SXT 4x4 in the back sides.

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by EODtruck

The truck tows nice, with lots of power, a WDH is a must and pretty much levels the truck. The only complaint I have is the fuel economy. It is decent if I keep it around 100kmh (60mph). I think the key to the milage is to let your spend drop going up hills and not to try and maintain your speed the whole way.

There's certainly no rule that you have to maintain speed while climbing a grade. Can be done sometimes but paying the price on fuel mileage. When I used to tow with my '05 Ram, I'd allow the trans to downshift into 3rd gear and I'd try to maintain rpm as best I could. The speed would fall to whatever. I used cruise control for the most part except hill climbing.

It'd be nice to be able to have enough power to climb hills in top gear, but when you think about it, climbing grades is way less than 1% of you total driving, so how much attention should you pay to that.

Dave

[Labzy]

We have a 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie, 4x4, Crew cab, 5.7L V8 Hemi with 3.92 and 20" tires. It also has the 121L gas tank.
We tow a 2012, 2306 Mini Lite GVWR 4800 lbs.

Packed for camping the trailer is at about 4300lbs, and the Ram is just under 7000lbs (with full tank of gas) which is 200lbs over our GVWR of 6800lbs.
The axle ratings are 3800lbs each so I'm not in a dither about the extra weight, I just make my DH tow with the gas tank on empty

[ryand]

I tow with 2011 Ram 1500 Crew cab with the 17" wheels and 3.93 gears. Pull a Coachmen TT that has a loaded weight of 7k. The truck does not lack power even on hills and will accelerate with no problem. I do wish Dodge had higher payload numbers on the 1500's. By the time I load up gear and people the heavy Tounge weight puts me almost to the payload cap....Lets not forget the 32g gas tank. Hmm.

EODtruck- We have darn near the same setup. The trailer sounds like it might be a twin!

[essness]

2012 1500 Laramie 4x4 5.7 hemi with tow package. Tow a 2012 21RR with about 1500 lbs of cargo and another 900 lbs of stuff. Pull out about 7200 lbs gross. Reese weight distributing hitch w/sway contol.
Plenty of power, I will add bags in spring to help with rear end sag on my other trailers that dont use or need weight distribution. I think it could only help with the camper. Frankly it behaves so well now, I question weather I should mess with it at all........

[JFM-jr]

Originally Posted by Labzy

We have a 2010 Ram 1500 Laramie, 4x4, Crew cab, 5.7L V8 Hemi with 3.92 and 20" tires. It also has the 121L gas tank.

the Ram is just under 7000lbs (with full tank of gas) which is 200lbs over our GVWR of 6800lbs.
The axle ratings are 3800lbs each

. My 2009 Ram 2500 is 6400 pounds with 3/4 tank of fuel (36 gallon tank)and me in it. Hard pressed to find your 1/2 ton is anywhere near 7000lbs unless theres a load in the bed. That truck is probably more in the 5500 lbs area.

[JFM-jr]

Originally Posted by ryand

I tow with 2011 Ram 1500 Crew cab with the 17" wheels and 3.93 gears. Pull a Coachmen TT that has a loaded weight of 7k. The truck does not lack power even on hills and will accelerate with no problem. I do wish Dodge had higher payload numbers on the 1500's. By the time I load up gear and people the heavy Tounge weight puts me almost to the payload cap....Lets not forget the 32g gas tank. Hmm.

You have found the exact reason I jumped to a 3/4 ton from my previous 1/2 ton. The HEMI does a fine job (just drinks gas) it's always the chassis on the 1/2 ton that falls short.

[Labzy]

Originally Posted by JFM-jr

. My 2009 Ram 2500 is 6400 pounds with 3/4 tank of fuel (36 gallon tank)and me in it. Hard pressed to find your 1/2 ton is anywhere near 7000lbs unless theres a load in the bed. That truck is probably more in the 5500 lbs area.

All topped up, packed up and hitched up for camping the CAT scale says 6970lbs.

Curb weight is probably around 5700lbs.

Idk what that would be in Weight Watchers points.

It tows like there is nothing behind it and we usually average 11mpg.

[JFM-jr]

Ahh makes more sense but with such a light trailer thats heavy tongue weight. What are the axle weights of the trailer on that scale when your all hitched up? You have about 1500 extra lbs on the trucks axles.

[Labzy]

I'm too comfy sitting on my behind ATM to go get the CAT papers.
I have done the math on the numbers and it all adds up. It's just the way it is.
You have hit upon my 'sore spot' with our Ram though. Crappy payload. 1100lbs.
No matter how we slice it, we will always be over on the weight rating.
DH is 250lbs, I'm 120, DD 70, dog 75. Add in tongue weight, bikes and the other crap in the back and we are over 1100lbs.
But I'm not complaining.

[JFM-jr]

Your crew cab has a back seat that is just a little bigger than the regular quadcab and you have a bed shorter than 6 feet? Thats the reason the payload numbers are low the added weight of the larger cab is subtracted from the payload. They do the same thing with a Cummins vs Gas motor in the 3/4 tons the gas motor has a better payload than the Cummins due to the weight of the motors (Cummins is much heavier).

[Labzy]

Yes, and we had some other additions at the dealer. Running boards, tonneau, and bed liner was added after yellow sticker so our payload is probably even less (<1000lbs?)
Live and learn I guess.

[boubou]

towing Jayco Eagle HT 23.5 weighing at 6800 lbs loaded with the 1500 Ram 2010
I don't know mileage because the trip odo is off since the Michelins LTX/AT2 are a big higher. Tows fantastic, no problem going up or down hills.

[EODtruck]

Originally Posted by ryand

I tow with 2011 Ram 1500 Crew cab with the 17" wheels and 3.93 gears. Pull a Coachmen TT that has a loaded weight of 7k. The truck does not lack power even on hills and will accelerate with no problem. I do wish Dodge had higher payload numbers on the 1500's. By the time I load up gear and people the heavy Tounge weight puts me almost to the payload cap....Lets not forget the 32g gas tank. Hmm.

EODtruck- We have darn near the same setup. The trailer sounds like it might be a twin!

Your right! Identical setup!