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05-25-2020, 08:25 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 73
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I need more truck!
So I bought a 2019 ram1500 (v6) last summer with the thought of maybe buying a travel trailer at some point. I knew we would have to have a somewhat light trailer with that truck. Bought a rockwood mini light 2509s in October of 2019. 5130 dry weight. Only took it out once last year and now have taken it out once so far this year. Last trip was about 4 hours away to the hocking hills region in Ohio. I have now quickly realized this truck should not be towing this size camper. Driving straight into a headwind on the expressway was zero fun and went through gas at an insane rate. Then we got to the hills and wondering if we were gonna make it to the top of some of them was pretty sketchy. Now trying to figure out if I should bother with another 1/2 ton truck that is better equppied or go straight to the 3/4 ton truck. Of course the trailer dealer said I was fine with this truck! I have a blue ox sway pro hitch. This is the first thing I have towed other than a small utility trailer and a very small popup camper years ago. Take it easy on me!
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05-25-2020, 08:26 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 73
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05-25-2020, 08:34 AM
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#3
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Now a "Top Member"
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Roman Forest, TX
Posts: 4,310
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Yeah, you learned the hard way, as many do, that even if what you intend to tow is within the numbers, it is still not a pleasant tow with a lighter truck. And with the V6, which is a very capable engine under most circumstances, you are just never going to be happy with it. I would definitely skip the 1/2 tons and go directly to 3/4 ton. It is a much more stable truck all the way around, built for towing and hauling. You know...the right tool for the job.
Now some will say skip the 3/4 ton and go big, or go home. While I am not opposed to this, I don't believe it is the answer to all ones ills. A 3/4 ton will certainly get the job done for what you currently have. The questions is, what are your future plans with a trailer??
Anyway, good luck, and let us know if you have any specific questions going forward.
__________________
Ed and Sharon
2010 Wildcat 28RKBS
2019 Ford F-250 XLT - AWESOME Truck!
Retired AF MSgt
I thought I was wrong once, but I was wrong!
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05-25-2020, 08:41 AM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 73
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EdJunior
Yeah, you learned the hard way, as many do, that even if what you intend to tow is within the numbers, it is still not a pleasant tow with a lighter truck. And with the V6, which is a very capable engine under most circumstances, you are just never going to be happy with it. I would definitely skip the 1/2 tons and go directly to 3/4 ton. It is a much more stable truck all the way around, built for towing and hauling. You know...the right tool for the job.
Now some will say skip the 3/4 ton and go big, or go home. While I am not opposed to this, I don't believe it is the answer to all ones ills. A 3/4 ton will certainly get the job done for what you currently have. The questions is, what are your future plans with a trailer??
Anyway, good luck, and let us know if you have any specific questions going forward.
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We love the trailer we have now but i have heard you always want something bigger and better a few years down the road. As of now we plan on keeping this for quite awhile.
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05-25-2020, 09:01 AM
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#5
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from south Louisiana
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Crowley
Posts: 122
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Is the truck used for a daily driver? How much do you plan to pull your camper?
The f150 with the eco boost engine would do fine with that trailer. The 3/4 would be better but if u r only using the camper occasionally I wud go with the right equipped 1/2 ton. I have driven 3/4 tons my whole life and much prefer scooting around in my 1/2 ton for my daily driving now.
__________________
2020 Rockwood Mini Lite 2109S
2018 F150 3.5 EcoBoost
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05-25-2020, 09:03 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Farmer
Posts: 4,988
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If you're planning on keeping the trailer for quite awhile, as you stated. What made you go with a V6? What's the gear ratio for your Ram?
__________________
2016 Coachmen Apex 250RLS Ultra Light 2023 Ram 2500 Big Horn Sport 3.73
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05-25-2020, 09:06 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 1,713
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Your 1786lb payload is actually pretty good, no doubt due to the lighter V6 drivetrain. But you traded towing capacity for payload.
Just trade up to the hemi if you like the truck otherwise. MPG will be the same or a bit better than the V6 when towing.
__________________
2018 Ram 2500 Tradesman, CTD/CC/SB/4X4/Equalizer WDH
2019 Forest River Surveyor Legend 19BHLE
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05-25-2020, 09:08 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Farmer
Posts: 4,988
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Quote:
Originally Posted by upflying
Your 1786lb payload is actually pretty good, no doubt due to the lighter V6 drivetrain. But you traded towing capacity for payload.
Just trade up to the hemi if you like the truck otherwise. MPG will be the same or a bit better than the V6 when towing.
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X2, I was thinking the same thing with not knowing the gear ratio of his truck. That could also be a contributing factor as well.
__________________
2016 Coachmen Apex 250RLS Ultra Light 2023 Ram 2500 Big Horn Sport 3.73
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05-25-2020, 09:09 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Warwick, RI
Posts: 379
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For the minimal amount of time you spend towing with the truck you currently have I would just learn to live with it. The motors are designed to rev high when towing, some people get scared hearing them wind up but it really isn’t a big deal.
If you want to have a more stable towing experience with the truck you have the easiest change and biggest improvement will come by changing the P rated passenger tires out to LT light truck series tires. This will eliminate most if not all sway you feel provided your weight distribution hitch is setup correctly.
You can certainly move up to a HD truck, but just know you are going to have a significant drop in fuel mileage and ride comfort.
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05-25-2020, 09:10 AM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 73
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Quote:
Originally Posted by st4
Is the truck used for a daily driver? How much do you plan to pull your camper?
The f150 with the eco boost engine would do fine with that trailer. The 3/4 would be better but if u r only using the camper occasionally I wud go with the right equipped 1/2 ton. I have driven 3/4 tons my whole life and much prefer scooting around in my 1/2 ton for my daily driving now.
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It is a daily driver and i drive 27 miles each way to work so I do appreciate the v6 gas mileage.
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05-25-2020, 09:10 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Southern California
Posts: 595
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Apologies to Christopher Walken, but "Guess what, you've got a fever . . . and the only prescription is more truck!!"
Sorry, that's the first thing I thought of when I read the subject line of the post!!
__________________
2015 Berkshire 34QS
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05-25-2020, 09:14 AM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 73
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tapex
If you're planning on keeping the trailer for quite awhile, as you stated. What made you go with a V6? What's the gear ratio for your Ram?
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3.21. We bought the truck before the trailer. We had been talking about buying a TT for years and never did it. So when I bought the truck I wasnt really sure we would ever buy the TT. Then one day my wife said lets just do it and buy the trailer we were looking at. I was kind of weary about maxing out the truck but when the wife says do it, you do it before she changes her mind. Lol
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05-25-2020, 09:15 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 73
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GoneSouth10
Apologies to Christopher Walken, but "Guess what, you've got a fever . . . and the only prescription is more truck!!"
Sorry, that's the first thing I thought of when I read the subject line of the post!!
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Lol
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05-25-2020, 09:15 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,405
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If you get a 3/4 ton with the same engine and axle ratio you'll have the same troubles with headwinds and hills. Bigger is only better with bigger engines and higher gear ratios.
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05-25-2020, 09:17 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Loveland, OH
Posts: 963
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I agree that you don't need more truck. Maybe look for a tuner for that V6. If not, just rev it like you stole it when towing. It won't blow up. My 2005 Tundra had a small V8 in it and when traveling in the WV hills (which aren't horrible) it would be screaming @ 5000 RPM @ 35 mph up some of the hills. I had it floored for 10 minutes once going up a hill on I68. I have a Chevy 2500HD with the 6.0 gasser and even it loves to rev when towing.
BTW, we are in the Cincinnati area and we love Hocking Hills.
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05-25-2020, 09:28 AM
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#16
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 73
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Quote:
Originally Posted by corn18
I agree that you don't need more truck. Maybe look for a tuner for that V6. If not, just rev it like you stole it when towing. It won't blow up. My 2005 Tundra had a small V8 in it and when traveling in the WV hills (which aren't horrible) it would be screaming @ 5000 RPM @ 35 mph up some of the hills. I had it floored for 10 minutes once going up a hill on I68. I have a Chevy 2500HD with the 6.0 gasser and even it loves to rev when towing.
BTW, we are in the Cincinnati area and we love Hocking Hills.
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High rock hideaways. It was awesome. Full hookups. Spacious sites. There are only 4 rv sites. They have caves and waterfalls and cool trails right on their own private property.
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05-25-2020, 09:30 AM
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#17
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 73
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike134
If you get a 3/4 ton with the same engine and axle ratio you'll have the same troubles with headwinds and hills. Bigger is only better with bigger engines and higher gear ratios.
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I would upgrade the engine and ratio for sure.
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05-25-2020, 09:31 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Farmer
Posts: 4,988
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crispie0206
I would upgrade the engine and ratio for sure.
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X2...
__________________
2016 Coachmen Apex 250RLS Ultra Light 2023 Ram 2500 Big Horn Sport 3.73
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05-25-2020, 09:32 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Summit Township
Posts: 870
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If you do decide to go to 3/4 ton I dont think you need a 1 ton. Most normal 1 tons o ly get you more truck GVW. The gross CVW likely will.stay the same. We have a 2015 Ford F250 crew cab gas. If this truck were a 1 ton, same gear and motor, the truck GVW would go to 11000lbs instead of the 9900, but the GCW for towing stays the same at 19,000lbs. Just do yourself a favor and research the numbers very closely. Double check everything you are told and read for the specific truck you are looking at. Pay close attention to rear gear and engine size. Understand GVW and GCW. Many run out of GVW before GCW. We have about 700 lbs reserve weight for GVW and about 1600 lbs reserve GCW. We can easily eat up the 700 GVW with the current TT before using up the GCW. We have a 2007 Chevy 2500 gas. It only has a GCW of 16000lbs. That is why this truck is a Ford. The Chevy is still great for work, not so much for towing.
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05-25-2020, 09:35 AM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 1,140
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MT Biker
You can certainly move up to a HD truck, but just know you are going to have a significant drop in fuel mileage and ride comfort.
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Not necessarily true at all. The correct sized engine and drivetrain may very well give a significant increase in fuel economy by letting the truck operate near torque peak at a lower rpm and less effort.
My F350 will get 18-19 mpg empty and 11-13 mpg pulling my fifth wheel. All the time, effortlessly.
__________________
2016 F350 CC Dually Powerstroke 4x4
2014 Cedar Creek 34RLSA w/Level Up
2007 HD Ultra Classic 103
USS Pyro AE-24 WestPac MM2 '71-'75
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