Towing 10k lbs with a 2019 RAM 1500

[Kimo7]

I’m having a tough time finding true tow capabilities on my recently purchased 2019 RAM Longhorn and looking for someone who has experience towing a TT around 10k lbs. I’m a little confused on all the math and conflicting opinions so I’m looking for solid info and real world experience. I know a 3/4 or 1 ton would be better but I’ve only had my current truck for 6 months so it’s too early for me to trade up to a 2500 without losing big money so I’m stuck with it.

I never had to worry about this kind of stuff before because the vehicle I had prior to this was a 2017 Limited with the 6.7 Cummins. Unfortunately it started leaking oil around the crank seal at 29k miles. That repair required the front of the engine to be taken off. Within 2k miles it had to be done again. It was under warranty but I didn’t have confidence in it after that. FCA was nice enough to make a payment for me since I was without it for over a month total, I thought that was pretty decent of them. The major repairs combined with all the recalls, I decided it was time to trade when the low coolant light lit shortly after the second engine repair. As we all know when towing a TT reliability is important and it was also my daily driver. I’ve owned several Dodge/Ram trucks and have always had good experience until that one.

I bought another 1500 because they had really upped the towing capability and it was rated to tow within the weight range of our TT we had at the time. Before I purchased the truck on Sept 8, 2019 I did the VIN search which showed the specific truck to have a tow capability of 11,300 lbs and max payload of 1840. Fast forward to Feb 7, 2020 I decided to search again and was shocked to discover it had dropped to 11,255.53 tow and 1355.53 max payload. I kept screen shots of both. I’m not sure what happened there but I lost a lot of cargo carrying capability. I’m concerned about my true capability since we recently purchased a new TT a Rockwood Signature 8329SB that weighs 9,058 lbs with 2013 lbs cargo carrying capability. We tow dry and only carry 1,000 lbs or less so we would be under 10,000. I weigh stuff as I take it in the trailer so that‘s a solid estimate.

The tongue weight for the new trailer is 1130 lbs which was 5 lbs over factory specs. I called RAM and spoke to their reps, let them know I was using a weight distribution hitch but was thinking of upgrading the receiver to a class V that would give me a higher tongue weight capability of 1700 lbs and asked if it would void my warranty. They advised I was ok in either situation as long as I wasn’t towing above the factory weight of 11,255. I could hear her typing so hopefully they have the record if something goes wrong. I kept my notes too.

So as it stands now I believe the truck to have the following ratings:
GVWR - 7100
GAWR Front - 3900
GAWR Rear - 4100
Max tow - 11,255.53
Max cargo - 1355.53
tongue - 1700 lbs

Factors for consideration in towing:
Family including dog - 500 lbs
10,000 lb trailer loaded

I’m going to add a Hellwig adjustable rear sway bar to strengthen the rear end of the truck and eliminate as much sway as I can. I realize the upgraded class V receiver and sway bar will add some weight but not much, approx 62 lbs. It has 4 corner air suspension and seems to work well under the stress of our old 6,500 lb trailer. I intend to weigh everything on the CAT scales once we pick up the new unit.

The plan is leave early, drive slow, closely monitor the operating systems on the truck and take breaks. We’re on the East coast so most travels won’t have steep grades, the longest trip we will take this year is 350 miles each way.

Anyone out there have any experience in a similar situation. Looking for someone to say they tow similar and I should probably be ok. I will definitely upgrade to a HD truck when I break even or get close on trade value.

[corn18]

You are going to be so overweight as to be a hazard to your family and all others on the road. You will exceed the GVWR of the truck by a wide margin.

[tomkatb]

The numbers would concern me.

With a weight distributing hitch system your hitch weight will likely be near the truck payload on a 4 foot lever arm. That is without passengers.

The length will have a sway issue, so a good hitch is a good plan. Pro pride comes to mind.

I predict you will not be thrilled with it.

Generally it is better to error on half ton trucks to the conservative side.

Get the truck specs off the sticker.

[Steve52]

While the Ram is a very capable truck, your trailer will far exceed its capabilities. In terms of GCW and vehicle load capacity, you're in unsafe territory.

You're solidly in 3/4 ton truck territory.

[Flybob]

Rather than use the internet to get your cargo carrying capacity, use the sticker on the drivers door jamb. That is the number for your TV. Add 100lbs for WDH and the weight of passengers and cargo in TV. Changing the class of the hitch will increase the hitch carrying capacity but not your load capacity as that is determined by the structure of your TV. Towing capacity is a marketing term to sell vehicles. Cargo capacity is almost always the limiting factor in towing. You will not enjoy towing that TT as you are way over weight.

[MR.M]

some things don't make since ? payload drop per online look up ? whats the door sticker say . you have the truck no debating what the sticker says . 1700 TW capabilities means nothing . to much wrong in your post to correct with out getting new truck

[Chuck_S]

GVWR - 7100
GAWR Front - 3900
GAWR Rear - 4100
Max tow - 11,255.53
Max cargo - 1355.53

My "country club" Ford Expedition has more capacity than this -- other than only a 9200 pound max tow rating.

-- Chuck

[upflying]

The Hellwig sway bar on the truck will do nothing to prevent trailer sway.
With 1130lbs of tongue weight, your truck will be overloaded with another 200lbs of cargo.

[frank4711]

I had that exact set up only my payload was 1870 and a 10300 lb 5th wheel ... I was over payload by 4-500 lbs but under max tow by 1300 lbs and under GCWR by 1400 lbs which just proves the number that means anything is payload and never shop for your truck and look at max tow it means nothing ... if you can carry it you can tow it ... traded 2019 Ram Big Horn for 2019 Ram SRW 3500 ...

[rsdata]

Kimo7'

this is the only true number you can believe: on drivers side door jamb

[Mad Cow]

Yeah, to do the job, one is going to have to move into 3/4 ton pickup territory.

[U.S.ArmyVeteran]

Originally Posted by Kimo7

I’m having a tough time finding true tow capabilities on my recently purchased 2019 RAM Longhorn .

Before we made the purchase. I also saw 2 different ratings on the Ram web site for our 2019 Ram Laramie. I have no idea why that is??
After purchase I double checked and this is verified by my door sticker.



Our 2019 Ram Laramie 1500 with the 5.7 Hemi. 4X4 with 3.92 gears. It is rated for:

1,840LBS Load carrying capacity.

11,340LBS Trailer towing capacity.


So assuming your truck is similarly equipped.


Personally I would not carry or tow anywhere near my truck's capabilities. But that is me. Our new trailer is 6000 lbs empty.



Best of luck and have fun!

[SniperDroid]

Make your life simple and go here with your VIN...


https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html


You can thank me later...

[Lee Pedrick]

You better consider your insurance libilities ,if you get,, or ,,cause an accident DON"T GO OVER THOSE NUMBERS. Hated to bring that up, BUT!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by SniperDroid

Make your life simple and go here with your VIN...


https://www.ramtrucks.com/towing-guide.html


You can thank me later...

The individual truck's payload sticker will be more accurate than looking up the VIN.

[primo20]

I wasn’t comfortable in my 17 ram Cummins CC (silly coil springs) with a 10k bumper pulltrailer. And was well within my limits. And the numbers show you are overweight.

Interesting about the crank seal. Mine went at 80,000 km. That was the end of that truck. Traded for a 1 ton chev.

[REL]

Your door sticker will have all that actual data... You don't have to guess (believe).

I guess (believe) with the tounge weight of 1200 and additional cargo and passengers of 500+ you ran out of cargo capacity (max cargo) and possibly GAWR Rear.

Once you get the data from the sticker load up and hit the scales...again you will have real data and won't have to guess.

[GlennFC]

My son tows his 2017 Avenger ATI 27DBS with his 2011 Ram 1500 4X4 Hemi.
The specs on his trailer as:
WeightDry - 6,652 lbs.
Payload Capacity - 2,869 lbs.
GVWR - 9,521 lbs.
Hitch - Weight721 lbs.
He has an excellent hitch that is properly set up and has towed it to Florida and back to Michigan 3 times.
2 issues: 1) He had to add air spring helpers in the rear to keep the truck from "porpoising" and 2) He can "feel" the truck is close to it's limits in terms of handling the load.

Based on the numbers you mentioned my honest opinion (based on real world experience) is that you have way too much trailer for a 1500 series truck.

[MR.M]

Originally Posted by Lee Pedrick

You better consider your insurance libilities ,if you get,, or ,,cause an accident DON"T GO OVER THOSE NUMBERS. Hated to bring that up, BUT!

And if he did have an accident the ins would kick in and pay for what every amounts he is insured for . Any thing above what his insurance covered you can be libel for and that goes for everybody .

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by corn18

You are going to be so overweight as to be a hazard to your family and all others on the road. You will exceed the GVWR of the truck by a wide margin.

Ditto. Tongue weight exceeds your max cargo capacity. I pull a 9999 lb GVW toy hauler at about 8200 lbs actual and with a tongue weight that gives me a good stable towing I am pushing the gross weight limit of the rear axle on our truck but I am fully loaded with gear and family. We have far more cargo carrying capacity than your truck. The configuration you described sounds like it is way beyond the safe limitations of your truck.

And by far the most important figure. Load it and put each axle on a scale. Then drop the trailer and go back and weigh your truck axles. I can't imagine any way to make that load safe . Sway bars load levelers airbags booster springs. All of that will make your ride better but they won't make you safe or legal. 39 years I have practice law and can safely say that your insurance will drop you like a hot potato when you cause a fatality driving an already unsafe vehicle. They may offer your policy limits if that doesn't settle the claim any good plaintiffs attorney Will make mincemeat out of you for running a truck that heavy