Max weight

[rp53]

OK guys i know a lot of you tow with a 1500-150 series truck, what is the max weight you would tow with your Chevy, ford, gmc, dodge
what is your engine size and your gearing

[Keith_Schumaker]

I don't know what the max weight I would have pulled with my 2015 ram 1500 ecodiesel would have been as I have pulled my skidsteer and equipment trailer that weighs 9k easily but I ended up trading it in because it had a hell of a time pulling my 9k gvw travel trailer. Weights are not everything as you have placement of that weight and shape of the trailer. On a low boy I would have towed the world with it, but in a big box I probably would have felt safe around 8k fully loaded. Now I went with overkill and bought a cheap commuter for work. The 2018 f350 powerstroke will pull anything and my 2019 Chevy spark gets almost 50 mpg on the highway if I baby it. It's just funnier than hell watching me (6' 260 lbs) get in and out of a spark.

[Blackrock]

Originally Posted by rp53

OK guys i know a lot of you tow with a 1500-150 series truck, what is the max weight you would tow with your Chevy, ford, gmc, dodge
what is your engine size and your gearing

I tow close to 9K with my 2016 Ram 1500 5.7 8spd and 3.53 gears.

[HONDAMAN174]

‘11 Tundra w/5.7. Max is 9000 but I pull 7500 and that is the line for me. Especially since I have hills all around. Lots of people say to pull 20% less than max.

[bigmurph]

2007 Chevy 1500, 5.3, 3.73, 4 speed. I tow 7500ish. Max is 7500. I'm in that area in when we are loaded heavy for a long trip. Weekend trips are little lighter. I'm fine on flat ground but steep grades are hard because I'm under powered for the weight.

[rp53]

Interesting, is sway much of an issue I would like to think you are all using a WDH with that much weight

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by rp53

OK guys i know a lot of you tow with a 1500-150 series truck, what is the max weight you would tow with your Chevy, ford, gmc, dodge
what is your engine size and your gearing

I'm wondering why you are asking this question. There is so much difference between any particular 1/2 ton that you will get many different answers.

If you look in your Sierra's owners manual, starting on pg 309, you will find that there are about 87 variations of the Sierra (axle ratio, cab size, box size, 2WD vs 4WD, transmission, what you're pulling, etc) with towing capacity ranging from 4,600 to 11,800 lbs - a HUGE range. And most of us run out of payload before we run out of towing capacity.

There are 31 variations for the 2500 and 32 for the 3500.

The other manufacturers are similar.

So I'm wondering what you are expecting to get from this question?

[rp53]

I'm well aware of what I can tow with my Sierra but I see so many 1/2 tons towing huge TT's even 5th wheels I am just curious what others will tow. Sorry if I offended you somehow

[moose074]

With my previous 2014 Tundra or Eco boost with WD up to 10k. With my 2018 1500 not even 1/2 that. Doesn’t have anything to do with the 3.6 everything to do with rear suspension.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by rp53

I'm well aware of what I can tow with my Sierra but I see so many 1/2 tons towing huge TT's even 5th wheels I am just curious what others will tow. Sorry if I offended you somehow

You didn't offend me. I just don't understand the purpose of the question as you asked it. Unless you know the exact version of someone's truck, as well as knowing the towing capacity of that exact version, knowing what they're pulling doesn't really tell you anything. You asked for engine and gearing, but you didn't ask for tow capacity. But you're right, there are a lot of people overweight. Usually payload, because all they know is towing capacity.

Basically like the RV salesman looking out the window and seeing you have a pickup truck and saying, "Oh sure, you can pull this trailer." How the heck does he really know??? You could have the 4,600 lb 1/2 ton or you could have the 11,800 lb 1/2 ton. But you can't tell by looking out into the parking lot.

Even looking at the info on my 2500HD in my signature below won't tell you what my towing capacity is. You need more information.

[bikendan]

3.5 Ecoboost with the Max Tow package and 1828lbs of payload capacity. Rated to tow 11,200lbs.
I wouldn't tow anything over 9000lbs because I'd probably run out of payload capacity above 9000lbs.

[Larry0071]

2017 Ram 1500 5.7L 3.92 gears with max tow package. Towing weight is never the issue at 10,160 lbs.... but the 1050 payload is my limiting factor every time.


Pulling a 2020 Apex Ultra Lite 289TBss with 750 lb tongue weight and my 200 lbs means that my wife, son/friend and 2 dogs follow in a SUV. I just do not have the legal payload to put 3 more humans or any additional coolers/stuff into the truck.


My trailer weight is well within that side of the legal limits, it's the dang payload that kills you.... or puts you in jail should a serious accident go down that has you hurting other people. My lease is up in March 2020 and I will make sure that my next truck is at least a max tow and max PAYLOAD half ton like my father just bought. He has a 2019 F-150 that is rated at 12,800 towing and over 1800 lbs payload. That 1800 lbs payload is a HUGE STEP UP over my 2017 Ram Rebel max tow. A 3/4 ton of any brand puts you typically into the 2500-3000 lb payload area, that is also another huge step up.... but one that I really do not think I need. I do think that a more properly ordered "heavy duty" set up half ton is going to be fine for my 9,990 car hauler, 7,000 lb utility trailer and 7500 lb camper.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by bikendan

3.5 Ecoboost with the Max Tow package and 1828lbs of payload capacity. Rated to tow 11,200lbs.
I wouldn't tow anything over 9000lbs because I'd probably run out of payload capacity above 9000lbs.

This is spot on. Notice how the tow capacity is a bogus number? That's because it is.

I would tow as heavy as you like until one of myriad ratings/specs is exceeded. That is, tow as much as you can without exceeding any weight limits. Especially for 1/2 tons, the payload (GVWR) will limit your tow long, long before any other rating comes into play.

And, tow as much as the manufacturer allows. You don't have to outsmart them. Sure, the less you haul, the less wear and tear you'll put on various components. Stopping 8,000 lbs is easier than stopping 9,000 lbs. But, your TV is designed to handle the ratings that are specified. Going 5, 10, 20% below these ratings are arbitrary and unnecessary, unless where directed by the manufacturer.

Originally Posted by Larry0071

[...] it's the dang payload that kills you.... or puts you in jail should a serious accident go down that has you hurting other people. [...]

In over a decade of searching, I haven't found even a single case where that is true for non-commercial towing of RVs. I'd love to see your source where exceeding payload causes legal liability. While it seems plausible, I literally haven't seen even one case where that is true.

[moose074]

Originally Posted by 67L48

This is spot on. Notice how the tow capacity is a bogus number? That's because it is.

I would tow as heavy as you like until one of myriad ratings/specs is exceeded. That is, tow as much as you can without exceeding any weight limits. Especially for 1/2 tons, the payload (GVWR) will limit your tow long, long before any other rating comes into play.

And, tow as much as the manufacturer allows. You don't have to outsmart them. Sure, the less you haul, the less wear and tear you'll put on various components. Stopping 8,000 lbs is easier than stopping 9,000 lbs. But, your TV is designed to handle the ratings that are specified. Going 5, 10, 20% below these ratings are arbitrary and unnecessary, unless where directed by the manufacturer.


In over a decade of searching, I haven't found even a single case where that is true for non-commercial towing of RVs. I'd love to see your source where exceeding payload causes legal liability. While it seems plausible, I literally haven't seen even one case where that is true.

My 1500 might be the exception Ram says payload is 1885 tow is 6730 for the tradesman 3.6. I pulled around a 12ft trailer with motorcycle with it. I didn’t like the feel. Pulled 10 k with my Tundra and Eco Boost and felt in total control.

As for the finding of one case or law. I started a thread asking for one. One person provided law but by time got done. My interpretation was there weren’t any examples and most cars are rated at registration not by tire guidance sticker on door.

[Larry0071]

Originally Posted by moose074

My 1500 might be the exception Ram says payload is 1885 tow is 6730 for the tradesman 3.6. I pulled around a 12ft trailer with motorcycle with it. I didn’t like the feel. Pulled 10 k with my Tundra and Eco Boost and felt in total control.

As for the finding of one case or law. I started a thread asking for one. One person provided law but by time got done. My interpretation was there weren’t any examples and most cars are rated at registration not by tire guidance sticker on door.

For the RAM line it is super easy to look up your own specific build ratings by using the towing lookup program on the official RAM website.

Just get your complete VIN and plug it in here, click "LOOK UP MY VEHICLE" and enter your VIN.
https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

[TitanMike]

The vehicle door sticker is a good place to look for max weight capacities for the specific vehicle involved. No guessing on which model or equipment package the "book" is talking about.

Front and rear axles are shown separately with a combined number for the tow vehicle. Also listed is the gross combined vehicle weight which is simply the truck and trailer weights combined.

The GCWR only shows what the factory says the truck is capable of moving down the road. Doesn't necessarily mean that's what one should be driving down the highway.


Mfr of my truck states I can tow a 9300# trailer. That's OK, I feel totally comfortable towing one that weighs 3,000# less.

[GLBCamper]

Originally Posted by 67L48

And, tow as much as the manufacturer allows. You don't have to outsmart them. Sure, the less you haul, the less wear and tear you'll put on various components. Stopping 8,000 lbs is easier than stopping 9,000 lbs. But, your TV is designed to handle the ratings that are specified. Going 5, 10, 20% below these ratings are arbitrary and unnecessary, unless where directed by the manufacturer.

This is true as far has vehicle capabilities go. But towing at close to 100% of your GVWR is a much different experience than towing at 75%.

You have to consider other factors. Are you going long hauls for 10 hour days over mountain passes with steep grades? Windy areas, especially cross winds?

All of these things can make a 90% of GVWR tow a much more fatiguing experience compared to being well under. (Of course, still assuming a properly adjusted WDH in either scenario.)

Just because your TV can do it doesn’t mean YOU can do it.

[moose074]

Originally Posted by Larry0071

For the RAM line it is super easy to look up your own specific build ratings by using the towing lookup program on the official RAM website.

Just get your complete VIN and plug it in here, click "LOOK UP MY VEHICLE" and enter your VIN.
https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html

Yes that’s what I did before posting. I like the feature but gives different payload for my 3500 than what’s posted on door

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by moose074

Yes that’s what I did before posting. I like the feature but gives different payload for my 3500 than what’s posted on door

The door sticker is what that individual vehicle is rated for.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by moose074

[...] Ram says payload is 1885 [...]

Are you sure?

I don't know, but you might be leaving out a word: maximum. As in, "Ram says maximum payload is 1885." That means that if you get zero options, 2WD, and the stars align, sure, you could see the maximum number.

Look on your door jamb. There will be the actual payload rating of your 1500.