Ram 1500 /3.21 rear ''tows '' fine

[BIGBEAR-FRF]

So I heard /read all kinds of expert advice on towing and tow vehicles...........................here is what we experienced since leaving Vancouver Island on Oct 16.
tow vehicle 2015 Ram hemi Sport. q cab, 6 ft.box
8 speed 3.21 rear end.
10 ply COOPER Discouverer at3 tires filled to 75psi.
trailer 2019 Forest river Grey Wolf 27 dbs. weight 7400 lbs.
EZ equalizer hitch....

we are now in YUMA AZ. at an rv resort on 32nd.street,east.
averaged 10.2 m.p.g. on mid grade gas.........NO TRAILER SWAY at all.
Interstate I-5 is pretty beat up, but the hwys in California are the WORSE I have ever driven on.
going over the SISKYOU PASS was no big deal.....shifting to lower gears on steering wheel slowed us down and only used trailer brakes twice...
the pass in between BAKERSFIELD and BARSTOW was a little more twisty and used the brakes a bit more.......the only thing I would change is the rear springs or install air bags.............lots of power and no issues braking.....the poor condition of the I-5 did cause ''hoby-horseing'' and wife was not impressed. TRANSMISSION only once went to 212 f. mostly was 190-195......coolent was 192-215 on long haul up.....the oil 10w30 full syn. only once went to 256 f on the siskyou pass.......after that,241 one time....mostly 225-234 f.
Before leaving the ISLAND, I removed 3 active grill shutters on each side.....2000miles plus and no engine lights...I also went to the 192 T STATE.
SO HERE WE ARE......in YUMA........dogs loved the trip......we arrived in good shape.........
theGREY WOLF, WELL,every bit of ''facia'' on the big and bunk slide-outs fell off.......make of it whatever you like...........
I sweated bullets before leaving,only to find out, 55-62 mph....worked fine
m,y ;;china-bomb'' Rainier trailer tires set at 65 psi FAILED to blow up and cause major damage to our unit.......
so ,it all worked for us just fine...........did have a couple travel trailers and quite a few 5'ers pass us,well above the legal speed limit...... could be why folks have blowouts on tires, not built to run that fast...........gas, payed over $ 5 gallon in California.......here in YUMA, Arco
across the road is $3.20 and another in town,near the old YUMA PRISON is $3.09. Water really sucks, but beer and mex. food is cheap....81 f. as I type this by the pool, life is good.
cheers Glenn

 

[TitanMike]

I'm headed that way in January and have done same for last 4 years. Have a new truck with 3:31 final drive ratio and contrary to many opinions freely given on the internet I shouldn't be able to climb all those mountain grades you mentioned. In late September I hit all of them and maintained legal posted speed just letting the 10-speed pick the gears it liked. RPM's never went above 3200 RPM and most times hovered around 1700-1800.

Modern trucks are great compared to the ones I've had in the past.

 

[BIGBEAR-FRF]

I did get a little lost one night in SALEM OR. We were at HEE-HEE rv resort across the road behind HARBOR FREIGHT........All in all, we enjoyed the trip, great food at SKI INN, -skinners bar at BOMBAY BEACH by the SALTON SEA, EAST SIDE ON ROUTE 111. Oh ya, 111 was a pretty newly paved road,along with I-8 .... Personally, just taking our time, not towing at night. In spring, we probably will take the 101 home.....ran it in the ''old days'' on motorcycles.....
NEWS FLASH, Wife just said (GAS BUDDY ) Costco gas is $2.78!!!!!
guess we go to costco today.
cheers Glenn

 

[TitanMike]

I did get a little lost one night in SALEM OR. We were at HEE-HEE rv resort across the road behind HARBOR FREIGHT........All in all, we enjoyed the trip, great food at SKI INN, -skinners bar at BOMBAY BEACH by the SALTON SEA, EAST SIDE ON ROUTE 111. Oh ya, 111 was a pretty newly paved road,along with I-8 .... Personally, just taking our time, not towing at night. In spring, we probably will take the 101 home.....ran it in the ''old days'' on motorcycles.....
NEWS FLASH, Wife just said (GAS BUDDY ) Costco gas is $2.78!!!!!
guess we go to costco today.
cheers Glenn

The "Costo Gas Prices" are the only reason I keep my membership although I dud save some money when the Dealer I bought my truck from saw my Costco Card.