Over thinking it?

[nickdog1]

Ok so the more I read here the more confused and stressed I am getting. I have a 2014 Dodge Ram with a tow rating to 8000lbs. I am considering a travel trailer with a weight of 6600. What else do I need to consider? Am I pushing the limits even though we are under the trucks max tow weight. Or am I stressing over nothing.

[Crusadernoob]

Most people will say it'll pull it just fine, some will say not enough truck. That weight, you need to include the battery, propane, and ALL your stuff, then you'll be at max for your truck.

[fonzie]

If you post actual door jam stickers of your truck and which trailer you are looking at, members will be able to give you a better answer

example of sticker:

[phillip252]

This is funny, every time I see one of these post. Add this take this out take to scale what does the door sticker say load. Lol good luck.

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by nickdog1

Ok so the more I read here the more confused and stressed I am getting. I have a 2014 Dodge Ram with a tow rating to 8000lbs. I am considering a travel trailer with a weight of 6600. What else do I need to consider? Am I pushing the limits even though we are under the trucks max tow weight. Or am I stressing over nothing.

No, your under thinking it..
I went in like you are doing, My f150 ecoboost had a tow rating near 10,000 lbs..I chose a trailer with a dry weight of 5,186 pounds.. So nearly half my tow rating.
AT this weight I had almost exceeded my cargo capacity. This will be what you exceed first typically on 1/2 tons.. You need to know what you have available in cargo capacity. Then subtract out the tongue weight of your trailer, then the occupants of your truck, any accessories, etc... and see if you have any room left.

[phln]

This is something I do have a lot of experience with as I was in the business as a Ram specialist. What engine, what rear end and what cab configuration do you have? I am guessing a 3.55 or a 3.21 hopefully with a hemi and not an ecodiesel.

[nickdog1]

Crew cab 4X4 6.4 bed, 5.7 hemi, rear 3.21

[dbledan]

Originally Posted by ronheater70

No, your under thinking it..
I went in like you are doing, My f150 ecoboost had a tow rating near 10,000 lbs..I chose a trailer with a dry weight of 5,186 pounds.. So nearly half my tow rating.
AT this weight I had almost exceeded my cargo capacity. This will be what you exceed first typically on 1/2 tons.. You need to know what you have available in cargo capacity. Then subtract out the tongue weight of your trailer, then the occupants of your truck, any accessories, etc... and see if you have any room left.

X2 - same issues

Over think it before you buy or you will end up either upgrading your truck early or downgrading your trailer.

Start with the stickers (door tire stickers, hitch stickers, trailer stickers) its like an electrical circuit. The weakest link is your limit. If you fix that the next weakest link is the limit. It gets complicated but payload is where the 1/2 tons run out first. Just because it can pull it does not always mean you will want to.

I am just glad I talked DW out of a 5er until we got a bigger truck. That would have been an expensive trade somewhere.

[phln]

Originally Posted by nickdog1

Crew cab 4X4 6.4 bed, 5.7 hemi, rear 3.21

Do you have a Ram box?

[nickdog1]

Originally Posted by phln

Do you have a Ram box?

No Ram box

[phln]

Originally Posted by nickdog1

Crew cab 4X4 6.4 bed, 5.7 hemi, rear 3.21

What trim? Also, what transmission? Do you have a gear shift bar or the turn dial?

[nickdog1]

Originally Posted by phln

What trim? Also, what transmission? Do you have a gear shift bar or the turn dial?

Big Horn, 5.7 hemi automatic, turn dial

[phln]

I say you are playing with fire. That's way too close to your capacity. Remember its maximum not comfortable towing weight. Unfortunately too many dealers both RV and Teuck dealers don't consider this when dealing on a purchase for their customer. I work in a Ram dealership in the finance office and boy do I see plenty of people pushing it too far to the limit. I have always towed with a half ton but this last year I took home a cummins and boy does that change my comfort level when towing. I know it's overkill like Mike Holmes does but I won't go back to towing with a half ton. There is a secret little website out there for Ram fleet dealerships which I used to use daily. RamBodyBuilder.com

It opens like a PDF with links to baseweights and towing capacity. But don't read the numbers too hard. 7000lbs for a half ton of any brand is a heavy tail to be dragging behind you.

[phln]

By the way your actual towing capacity is 7,900 lbs as per spec build with bighorn 8speed on a 3.21 gear set.

[phln]

Here are the tested specs as per FCA.