Ok another tow question,think I'm ok but any opinions

[Amcmachine70]

I have a 2012 ram 1500 big horn, crew cab, auto,4x4,tow package,factory brake controller,3:55 rear,tow capacity 8500 lbs,1455 lbs payload, on the door sticker says 6800 lbs gvwr,3900 lbs each axle, I am ordering a wildwood 30kqbss and the sticker says dry weight 6884 and hitch weight 899 lbs.I added a few extra factory options and figure I'm just under 7000 lbs on the dry weight.My question is I want an equalizer hitch with sway controller, do I get a 1200 lb hitch and does anybody tow this trailer with this truck.I think I will be ok with this set up,anybody see any problems here,i am guessing i need to keep payload,people,accessories,water,etc under 1500 lbs.thanks

[MtnGuy]

That is a big trailer.

The dry weight of that trailer is going to be around 7300 lbs. with options, propane, and a battery. Still under the 8600 lb. tow rating of the truck, but after loading with camping gear, I betcha you will be close. The website does not list the GVWR, but if you add the dry weight and the cargo carrying capacity, that adds up to 11,000 lbs. You are gonna have to load the camper really lite.

The listed 899 lb. tongue weight will grow significantly, but 1200 lb. spring bars should work.

Many times, the receiver hitches are rated just at or a little above the tow rating. This probably mean that your hitch is rated for something like an 860 lb. maximum tongue weight when using a WDH. The tongue weight of that camper is probably going to be in the 1100-1200 neighborhood. There should be a sticker on the hitch stating the weigh capacities.....make sure the hitch is up to the task.

Another problem is going to be the truck payload. Even if you had a "true" 1455 lbs of payload, the tongue weight is going to seriously dip into that number. Even if the trailer has only a 1000 lb. tongue weight, that is going to bring your left over payload in at 455 lbs. Figure your weight, your spouses weight, and your kids weights (presumed since that trailer is a bunk house model), and bed cargo might be, and see if that number comes in under 455 lbs. The best thing to do before signing the order form, is to load up the family, load up the bed with expected camping gear, fill the tank, and head to the local quarry or landfill and see if they will weigh your truck. Take that weight, subtract it from the 6800 lb. GVWR, and then see if you can add another 1100 lb. tongue weight and still stay under the 6800 lb GVWR.

IMHO, that trailer would be better pulled by a long wheelbased, 3/4 ton truck or bigger.

[Dave_Monica]

The payload of 1455 lbs is with a 150 lb driver and nothing else. It's always best to head to the scales with full fuel, people and gear that you'd be carrying and get the front and rear axle weight. The payload available for tongue weight will be the truck's GVWR (6800) less the actual scaled weight. It's interesting to look at the scaled rear axle weight and compare it to the truck's RAWR (3900). You will have more payload available by this method.

Don't be surprised that the actual payload by GVWR is only around 1000 lbs (my '05 Ram was 950 lbs and it was RWD). The payload by RAWR should be 300 - 400 lbs more.

The camper you're buying will probably be closer to 7200 lbs by the time you add a battery and propane and any dealer installed options. Typically you carry about 1000 lbs of stuff in the camper which would put the loaded camper weight around 8200 lbs. The recommended tongue weight of 13% would be 1066 lbs.

I think that you'll be over the truck's GVWR but below the RAWR, plus near the max tow limit. You'll be at or near the max limits of the truck...may not make a comfortable towing situation.

Dave

[dwaynerz]

im sure there are some out there, but when was the last time any of us saw a 150 lb driver, or even 150 lbs for that matter ourselves

[acadianbob]

And your hitch may not be rate for 1,000 pounds? Better check.

[Amcmachine70]

Ok good advice coming in thanks, checked my factory hitch rating it is 12,000 lb towing and 1200 lb tongue weight with weight dist. Hitch.so far it seems I may be at max capacity here,tough situation here, truck is mine for 3 more years and wife really likes the outdoor kitchen setup on this model.what to do. What to do.

[bakken]

Of course it depends on what you intend to do with your camper.
If it is mostly for "nearby" camping trips, where you can take your time and be safe, while maxed out, you should still be ok. I assume you have a hemi.
But if you intend to go on long trips at freeway speeds, and possibly forced to travel in high winds or other tough conditions, that is a different matter.

[asquared]

As others have stated you may have too much tt for the truck which can make for a white knuckle ride. Yes 1200 lb bars should be adequate but you may want to step up to something like a hensley arrow hitch to help you out. Your trailer is likely to weigh over 8000 lbs loaded and could weigh upwards of 9000 lbs depending on how you load it. Most people add between 1000 and 1500 lbs of stuff to a trailer. All those plates, pots, pans, clothes, chairs etc add up quickly. If it helps you at all, my tt weighed 5700 lbs when we left the dealership and now weighs 7000 lbs loaded ready to camp, this is for a family of 3. Remember your loaded tongue weight should be 13-15% of the loaded tt weight.

As others have said go weigh your truck with a full tank of fuel, all passengers, pets and gear. Take the weight you obtain and subtract it from your gcwr to get your adjusted towing capacity. Take the scaled weight and subtract it from the tv gvwr to get your available payload. Your tongue weight needs to be subtracted from your available payload. If this results in a positive # then you are probably ok. If it results in a neg number then you are in for a rough ride and probably a tv upgrade in the near future.

[FarmerJim]

I have a 2012 1500 5.7 2 wh 3:55 rear . First you will need air bags in the coil springs . You will for sure need a good WD hitch ! The coil spring air bags is an easy DIY IF, IF you are handy . If you are towing local , you will be all right if you have the WDH & the air bags . Air lift 1000 are the best best bags . Here (below) is a link to what I used . Cheap $86 . Took me 2 hrs to install . Be careful . I hope this isn't your first towing experience ? Jim
2009-2012 Dodge Ram 1500 1/2 Ton Pickup 2WD & 4WD - Air Lift 1000 Air Helper Springs [REAR] - 60818 | $88.62

[goduc]

Originally Posted by Amcmachine70

Ok good advice coming in thanks, checked my factory hitch rating it is 12,000 lb towing and 1200 lb tongue weight with weight dist. Hitch.so far it seems I may be at max capacity here,tough situation here, truck is mine for 3 more years and wife really likes the outdoor kitchen setup on this model.what to do. What to do.

Cancell the order and find something smaller/lighter. You'll be stuck with that combo fo years and hate it.

[buzzmonster]

I would have to say I agree - you are going to be bust on payload. We have a payload capacity of 1864 in our ecoboost, and an actual tongue weight of 630lb. Believe it or not that payload goes mighty quick. Full tank of gas 223lb, driver 200lb, wife and kids, hitch, 2 mountain bikes, 2 kids bikes, stroller, kids toys, chairs, and a mass of fire wood we have about 500lb of extra payload. Now we can seat 6 in the truck so when the grand parents come we get closer and closer. No issue towing the trailer as we can tow 11,300 lb but payload .... another matter.

having been there and done that with an undersized TV (we originally tried a v6 pathfinder) you will be amazed at how much the weights add up, and you don't want to be second guessing the weights the whole time.

[Night_Wolf]

Originally Posted by dwaynerz

im sure there are some out there, but when was the last time any of us saw a 150 lb driver, or even 150 lbs for that matter ourselves

47 yrs old and I'm at a heavy weight for me at 150lbs 5'7"

Have a friend with a 2012 F150 Max Tow/Max Payload Ecoboost who recently purchased a 5'er & I've warned him that he has too much trailer for his truck

[Bodean614]

We had 07 f150 with tow package and got the 5.7 2012 hemi 1500 and the dodge out preform the ford in every aspect. Not find of fords since they have issues with cam sensor and won't fix them.

[arlee453]

Keep the TT and get a bigger truck!

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by Night_Wolf

Have a friend with a 2012 F150 Max Tow/Max Payload Ecoboost who recently purchased a 5'er & I've warned him that he has too much trailer for his truck

I know we're straying from the original post, but your friend with the F150 with max payload has as much payload capacity (by GVWR) as 3/4 ton diesel trucks. They have a GVWR of 8200 lbs and depending on equipment, weigh around 6200 lbs loaded ready to camp.

Dave

[lbrjet]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

I know we're straying from the original post, but your friend with the F150 with max payload has as much payload capacity (by GVWR) as 3/4 ton diesel trucks. They have a GVWR of 8200 lbs and depending on equipment, weigh around 6200 lbs loaded ready to camp.

Dave

While that may be true the RAWR of only 4800 lbs. still needs to be watched closely.

[Herk7769]

Ford is one of the manufacturers that offers several different "tow packages" and suspension packages.

You may think you can use the MAX TOW numbers and/or the higher GVWR numbers but few dealers order lot trucks with both (or even any).

Unless your window sticker said MAX TOW and HD Suspension package you may be shocked to find out you are no where near the advertised numbers.

[goduc]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

I know we're straying from the original post, but your friend with the F150 with max payload has as much payload capacity (by GVWR) as 3/4 ton diesel trucks. They have a GVWR of 8200 lbs and depending on equipment, weigh around 6200 lbs loaded ready to camp.

Dave

True but the 3/4 diesel is only a rear spring away from a 1 ton. The F150 is maxed out in the HD model, but theres still an upside to the 3/4 ton.

[Night_Wolf]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

I know we're straying from the original post, but your friend with the F150 with max payload has as much payload capacity (by GVWR) as 3/4 ton diesel trucks. They have a GVWR of 8200 lbs and depending on equipment, weigh around 6200 lbs loaded ready to camp.

Dave

His truck has the Max Tow and AFAIK Max payload. That being said his 5'er will put almost 1500lbs in the box on the king pin and will weigh really close to 10K when loaded. Not a combination I'd want to run and I own an Ecoboost, so I am very familiar with how it hauls. I'll be shocked if it doesn't get pulled over in BC due to their normally strict enforcement on towing TT's and 5'ers

I should note that Ford doesn't even offer the option of a Kingpin or Goose neck in the F150 series; you need at least a 3/4 or 1 ton and then you need to have the 8' box to get that option (at least from Ford) I've seen many 5'ers being towed with 6.5' boxes

[Night_Wolf]

Originally Posted by Bodean614

We had 07 f150 with tow package and got the 5.7 2012 hemi 1500 and the dodge out preform the ford in every aspect. Not find of fords since they have issues with cam sensor and won't fix them.

Your 07 and the current Ecoboost 3.5 are worlds apart Now that 5.7 Hemi is a sweet motor; I have driven one and was very impressed, but I haven't towed with one