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Old 05-25-2020, 09:11 PM   #1
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Tow Vehicle and Trailer advice

Hi y’all.

Wife and I figured we’d had enough of staying in other people’s rooms and it was time to go RVing.

So I’ve got two goals for the next 12-24 months.
Look for both an RV and a Truck.

For RV size I’m looking at something like a coachmen 238BHS or smaller. It lists the following:

Hitch Weight: 780 lb.
GVWR: TBD
UVW 5312 lb.
CCC 2288 lb

I’m thinking of going with a new Ram 1500 Hemi and 3.92 gears. This has the following ratings:
gvwr: 7100
Payload: 1780.0
Gcw: 17000
Gcwr: 17000
Max trailer: 11250.0
Gawr front: 3900.0
Gawr rear: 4100.0

How’s this lookin so far? I could either go bigger truck, or go smaller RV. Wife and I would rather go smaller RV, but you never know. I figure I actually need to learn to drive the thing, so better not bite off more than I can chew!

Any and all comments welcome!
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Old 05-25-2020, 09:21 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonjm View Post
Hi y’all.

Wife and I figured we’d had enough of staying in other people’s rooms and it was time to go RVing.

So I’ve got two goals for the next 12-24 months.
Look for both an RV and a Truck.

For RV size I’m looking at something like a coachmen 238BHS or smaller. It lists the following:

Hitch Weight: 780 lb.
GVWR: TBD
UVW 5312 lb.
CCC 2288 lb

I’m thinking of going with a new Ram 1500 Hemi and 3.92 gears. This has the following ratings:
gvwr: 7100
Payload: 1780.0
Gcw: 17000
Gcwr: 17000
Max trailer: 11250.0
Gawr front: 3900.0
Gawr rear: 4100.0

How’s this lookin so far? I could either go bigger truck, or go smaller RV. Wife and I would rather go smaller RV, but you never know. I figure I actually need to learn to drive the thing, so better not bite off more than I can chew!

Any and all comments welcome!
Your GVWR is UVW + CCC so 5312 + 2288 = 7600 lbs. So figuring 13% on the tongue, the tongue weight would be 988 lbs. Add 100 lbs for a WDH and you're at 1088 lbs. This leaves you 1780 - 1088 = 692 lbs for you, wife, kids, dogs, and stuff.

I hope the payload you're quoting is the number you actually read on the drivers door frame sticker. If you got it off a website or brochure, it is almost certainly the best payload of any RAM i.e., the one they tout in advertisements. The only way to know the actual payload of any specific truck is to look at the sticker on the truck. Many posts here where people got bamboozled by websites or brochures touting max numbers.
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Old 05-25-2020, 09:27 PM   #3
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truck payload is the most overlooked item in purchasing trailer/truck combos...

Do not rely strictly on internet published truck payload numbers as individual truck options change that number... only true number is the YELLOW sticker on driver side door frame showing payload for that truck... every car/truck has a yellow sticker.

Also be very wary that unloaded and hitch weights are fictitious numbers from trailer manufacturers numbers. Always use gross weights when figuring what you will actually be loading on your bumper, as that will be more accurate then using the smaller numbers.

For instance, the trailer numbers are 5312# + 2288# loaded or call it 7600# MAX...
hitch weight needs to be minimum of 12% of total weight so figure 12% of 7600 is 912# hitch weight NOT 780# published ( that number is for when it leaves the factory without propane or battery(s)... then add another 100# for a WDHitch to include in hitch weight, then add all cargo and people except driver and subtract from the yellow sticker payload of a particular truck.

I have the 5.7 with 8 speed and it tows great, but fully loaded I am only 5,000# and my payload is 1309# shown below

Be prepared to put LTX tires on the new RAM for stiffer sidewalls and less sway then stock tires give you.
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Old 05-26-2020, 12:03 AM   #4
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That combo will be fine. You will get many opinions forums combined with factual reading will get you to where YOU can make your own educated decision. As for Ram payload one is my Ram 1500 the other is my Dually I think they fair ok Click image for larger version

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Old 05-26-2020, 02:04 PM   #5
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We bought a 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Laramie 3.92 last November.





If you saw:


Payload: 1780


On the Ram website. It is misleading.


Here is the same info for our RAM from web site. Then here the info for our RAM with VIN Number. Same info as door sticker.



Big DIFFERENCE!


You can only trust the actual sticker as to payload.
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Old 05-26-2020, 02:12 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by U.S.ArmyVeteran View Post
We bought a 2019 Ram 1500 4X4 Laramie 3.92 last November.





If you saw:


Payload: 1780


On the Ram website. It is misleading.


Here is the same info for our RAM from web site. Then here the info for our RAM with VIN Number. Same info as door sticker.



Big DIFFERENCE!


You can only trust the actual sticker as to payload.


This ^^^^^^

Please look at the sticker on any truck you are looking at! Everything adds up and takes away from payload. For example, if the truck you buy does not have a tonneau cover that came equipped straight from the factory and you add one or a topper of some sort, the weight of that item will eat up more payload. Newer RAM 1500’s are a little better than years past. However, a barebones tradesman will likely have a few hundred more pounds of payload than the loaded Limited.
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Old 05-26-2020, 02:25 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by billybigrigger View Post
This ^^^^^^

Please look at the sticker on any truck you are looking at! Everything adds up and takes away from payload. For example, if the truck you buy does not have a tonneau cover that came equipped straight from the factory and you add one or a topper of some sort, the weight of that item will eat up more payload. Newer RAM 1500’s are a little better than years past. However, a barebones tradesman will likely have a few hundred more pounds of payload than the loaded Limited.

I was not asking for help. But thanks


You may want to redirect your information to the OP.


Have fun.
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Old 05-26-2020, 02:29 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by U.S.ArmyVeteran View Post
I was not asking for help. But thanks


You may want to redirect your information to the OP.


Have fun.
He was simply agreeing with your post. Like putting x2 under your post. That's why he put the arrows next to THIS.
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Old 05-26-2020, 02:44 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by bikendan View Post
He was simply agreeing with your post. Like putting x2 under your post. That's why he put the arrows next to THIS.



Thanks.

Ahh... "arrows" another convention to follow. I think we should all get on a conference call.
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Old 05-26-2020, 02:54 PM   #10
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Thanks.

Ahh... "arrows" another convention to follow. I think we should all get on a conference call.
I think it would help if this website got an update.
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Old 05-26-2020, 04:02 PM   #11
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I'll throw in a real world example for my Chevy 2500HD:

2,950: Brochure cargo capacity (base truck, no options)
2,754: What my yellow and white sticker says on my truck is my cargo capacity (all the options for my truck)
2,240: What my weight chit from the CAT scales says is my cargo capacity (stuff I added: bed mat, gooseneck hitch, toneau cover, step bars, me, wife, tools)

Good thing I didn't run out and buy a 5er with a pin weight of 2950 lbs.
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Old 05-27-2020, 12:00 AM   #12
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Find and buy the trailer FIRST! That way, you'll know EXACTLY how much truck you'll need (after you've CAREFULLY run ALL the numbers). Most people buy the truck first and, are then surprised that trailer they'd like to get, once fully loaded, is too heavy to be SAFELY towed by the truck they bought. Towing on flat ground is EASY but, not something you'll be doing most of the time. Don't forget to add in a good "fudge factor" / safety margin when calculating just how much truck you'll need. I've never heard anyone complain that they bought too much truck. I've heard LOTS of people lament that their truck was really NOT up to the job of towing their trailer; especially when towing in less than ideal conditions (wet roads, going downhill, challenging hills etc, etc, etc). LOTS of "white knuckle" experiences reported by people who had too litter truck for the trailer they'd bought. You can thank me later.
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Old 05-27-2020, 12:34 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by corn18 View Post
I'll throw in a real world example for my Chevy 2500HD:

2,950: Brochure cargo capacity (base truck, no options)
2,754: What my yellow and white sticker says on my truck is my cargo capacity (all the options for my truck)
2,240: What my weight chit from the CAT scales says is my cargo capacity (stuff I added: bed mat, gooseneck hitch, toneau cover, step bars, me, wife, tools)

Good thing I didn't run out and buy a 5er with a pin weight of 2950 lbs.
Slippery slope, those cargo numbers.

Brochures are not even worth looking at as the numbers they give generally ae for work trucks in that body style with little to no options. Diesel engines eat up more Payload than Gas. Accessories eat up more. Higher trim will have less Payload than lower trim's.

Corn18's example above is a perfect one of just that. And 98% of the truck salesmen either don't know enough about towing, payload and cargo carrying capacity to advise you properly or don't care enough to talk you out of the truck you picked out for the proper one because they are afraid they will alienate you and lose the sale.

What I did on my most recent trailer was narrowed it down to about 3 models of trailer I could live with. Took the heaviest one when adding UVW and CCC of the trailer together which theoretically would be the MAX you should legally carry in the trailer. I took 15% as a worst case scenario of that weight as an expected tongue weight and went shopping for a truck that had that plus 700 lbs (for my wife, daughter and a guest and stuff I usually put in the truck bed) or more of Payload.

Plan for worst case and always have room.

GVWR for my trailer is 11258 lbs. 15% tongue weight is 1688 lbs.
1688+300 lbs of tonneau cover and step rails I added after buying it+100 lb hitch+ 700 lbs of people and truck bed stuff=2788 lbs.
Payload on my truck is 3338 lbs.

550 lbs of safety margin on a worst case scenario and glad to have it.
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Old 05-27-2020, 06:39 AM   #14
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I will not get into the debate about that particular vehicle or its suitability. What I will do is give you some practical advise.

Look at and decide what camper you want. You can also go around driving the 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks of all the makes, see which one you like best in each weight classification. Do not make the truck purchase first!!

When you decide on a final selection of the camper, look at the weight on its yellow sticker. Add in the weight of persons clothing, cooking utensils, propane tanks, grills, chairs, etc (1000 lbs to be safe) to get the tow weight.

NOW look at the capabilities of the trucks vs the actual weight of the camper. If you are bumping up against the max of the truck's capacity, upgrade to a larger truck. You will avoid having too little truck and have a much more pleasant towing experience by doing this.

If you buy the truck first, you will have to limit the camper selection based on the trucks capabilities plus there will most likely be no room for upgrades so when you need a new bigger camper, you also need a new bigger truck
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Old 05-28-2020, 09:08 PM   #15
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All great info all! Why is this so complicated to the point so many people can’t agree?

I’ll be looking at stickers for the trucks as one of the first I do now. About the travel trailers, they’re all pretty nice.

The thing that worries me is I’ve never hauled before!
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Old 05-28-2020, 10:54 PM   #16
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Main think just relax, I started driving at 12(1986) My grandfather gave me the keys to his 1974 F250. Told me that when I could successfully and consistently back the golf cart trailer he used to haul stones on into its correct spot. I could start driving on the street. By the end of the summer I drove from Odessa TX to southern Ok towing a 20ft trailer. while he slept in the passenger seat. Remember no internet or you tube videos to help or scare you. Find a friend that has done this before and plan a short trip together for a weekend. That way someone can be their to help set up and answer questions not yet known
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Old 05-28-2020, 11:35 PM   #17
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This site is a great resource for towing questions. I have learned quite a bit here. That said, unless you get a popup and one of these, somebody here is going to tell you that you're grossly overweight and tempting the grim reaper.
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Old 05-28-2020, 11:52 PM   #18
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All great info all! Why is this so complicated to the point so many people can’t agree?

I’ll be looking at stickers for the trucks as one of the first I do now. About the travel trailers, they’re all pretty nice.

The thing that worries me is I’ve never hauled before!
When I first started looking at F-150s the sales guy shows me the brochure and shows me 2000# payload. Then I go look at the Lariats on the lot and some are 1500#! I ended up ordering mine but left off heavy options like sunroofs and motorized running boards and I was able to get a Lariat trim level with 1700#. My tongue weight measure with a Sherline scale and full water tanks is 780#. Advertised weight was 635#. So, mine was 150# heavier than the fictional spec weight and that is with me putting in lithium batteries and moving them off the tongue!
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Old 05-28-2020, 11:52 PM   #19
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You don’t pull your trailer with one I thought everybody did[emoji860]🤡🤡
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Old 05-29-2020, 12:08 AM   #20
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That combo will be fine. You will get many opinions forums combined with factual reading will get you to where YOU can make your own educated decision. As for Ram payload one is my Ram 1500 the other is my Dually I think they fair ok Attachment 229922Attachment 229923
I have a friend who has a RAM 1500 with 1000# payload!
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